The term Hellenism describes the military and political control by Greek leaders over five centuries beginning with Alexander the Great (336–323 B.C.). Hellenism also refers to the large cultural movement that expanded across the empire. This epoch produced a new view of humankind. Education was responsible for this advance. Read More

Even before the time of Jesus, Jewish teachers had discussed the Law of Moses and whether there were one or more commands that summarized the whole law. This debate is easily seen in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. The debate also seems to be behind Luke’s account, which immediately… Read More

A negative view of Samaritans is found in many sources. These include the Hebrew scriptures, the New Testament, first century historian Josephus, and rabbinic writings. Learn more about the history of the Samaritans. The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.29–37 plays upon, and reverses, the typically negative… Read More

In “The Good Samaritan,” an interesting and subtle dynamic has gone mostly unnoticed. A recklessly eager lawyer schemes to draw Jesus into an argument. Instead of offering an answer that would be open to legal nitpicking, however, Jesus tells a story. In Luke’s telling of “The Good Samaritan,” an… Read More

Although parables are related to other kinds of speech like riddles and proverbs, parables emphasize story. Jesus’ parables are short stories that refer to God’s realm of power, God’s kingdom. In Luke’s Gospel the parable of the Good Samaritan is part of Jesus’ conversation with a lawyer about… Read More

Jews in Jesus’ time believed that God revealed his will not only through the written Torah, but through unwritten traditions as well. The rabbis claimed that the oral law, transmitted by word of mouth, was also given to Moses at Mount Sinai. The term “law” in the English Bible… Read More

We do not know who wrote Luke and Acts. Like many ancient types of writing, the author does not identify himself. The first verses in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles show that they were both written by the same person – a man many believe… Read More

Right before Luke’s story about the Good Samaritan, Jesus and a lawyer discuss the way to have eternal life. In that talk the lawyer says that the whole of the Law of Moses is contained in Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19.18. Immediately before Luke’s story about the Good… Read More

Jericho is located near the southern end of the Jordan Valley. It has been an oasis and a population center in the otherwise mostly barren valley. Some scholars think Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Jericho is located near the southern end of the Jordan… Read More

An “inn” in the world of the Bible might refer to one of several possibilities. It could be merely a place to stretch out on the ground for a night’s sleep, or a room in someone’s home situated by the highway. It could also be a public building where rent… Read More