Most people know that Apostle Paul was a pious Jew. Many New Testament readers would note that he was a Pharisee trained with the rabbis at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). And at the same time, most Christians would also see Apostle Paul as a radical convert to...
t is very common to think of Paul as a Christian. After all, so much of what is called Christian is based on his teachings which are a part of the Scriptures all Christians recognize. But surprisingly Paul did not actually refer to himself as a Christian. That is a...
The Koren Hebrew-English Tanakh (Magerman Edtion) offers an eloquent and faithful modern translation of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings with beautiful Koren Hebrew text. This 2096 page volume uses the standard Hebrew text broken up in a traditional way and supplied with some minimal notes. Though this edition follows the...
During the Second Temple Period, many Jews lived outside of Israel. And the city of Cyrene in Northern Africa was one of the major Jewish Diaspora centers. Many people have not heard about this city for its glory has disappeared from the pages of history. But the presence and the...
In 2016 during an underwater excavation in the Mediterranean Sea, Israeli archaeologists from Haifa University uncovered a large stone with an ancient inscription. The writing was determined to be roughly 1900 years old and bore the name of mostly unknown procurator of Judea – Gargilius Antiquus. The stone laid at the...
Anyone familiar with stories about Jesus, even those who have never read the gospels for themselves heard of Pontius Pilate who ordered the crucifixion. Besides the New Testament Pilate was also mentioned by Josephus at the end of the 1st century CE. Yet, skeptics have doubted the existence of Pilate...
There is a long-standing debate over Sunday and Saturday among Christ-followers, both Jewish and non-Jewish. The institution of Sunday in historical Christianity is a well-known fact and for many Christians, their very identity is tied to Sunday and what it means. It carries deep meaning and substance. On the other...
Back in 2012 some volunteers and archeologists have uncovered a number of important discoveries while sifting through dirt in the vicinity of Jerusalem Archaeological Park near the Siloam Pool. Among the findings was an ancient clay seal (bulla) which was probably used to seal a shipment of tax payments to...
Researchers from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority and Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, believe they have discovered the Philistine town near Kiryat Gat, immortalized in the Biblical narrative. Ziklag is mentioned multiple times in the Bible in relation to David (in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel)...