Beginnings are important. Rosh Ha-Shanah celebrates the beginning of creation and simultaneously looks forward the future. Annual cycles are good for us, because they get us to ask what has been accomplished in the past twelve months. Our birthdays, for example, mark the milestones of our lives, and as… Read More

Check out these fun ideas to learn more about African American history. February is African-American Heritage Month. Why not uncover the history and share the celebration with the young people in your life? Here are a few activities that you and your children can do. But why stop there?… Read More

War is a reality for millions of people. Does the Bible justify war? Read more to learn about biblical texts related to war and peace. The Bible does not give a definitive answer concerning the question of war. Like so many other ethical questions in contemporary society that are… Read More

Suicide can be a divisive and painful issue within the church. Read about biblical texts and church tradition that have shaped the Church’s view of this issue. The issue of taking a life has been at the center of civic debate for centuries. Today, in the United States, many… Read More

What is the Gospel of Mary? Why is it important to readers today? Read more to find out. Forgotten by history until its rediscovery in the late nineteenth century, the Gospel of Mary (GM) exists now only in three incomplete manuscripts. Two manuscripts from the early third century CE… Read More

The modern dating system is based on the birth of Christ. Find out when this practice started and how it relates to the Christian calendar. The initials B.C. (an abbreviation for “Before Christ”) are applied to dates of events that occurred before the “Christian” (or Common) era. If the… Read More

Festivals played a significant role in Jesus’ ministry. Pesach, or Passover, was no exception. Read more about this important festival here. Pesach, or Passover, is the second and probably best known of the three ancient biblical pilgrimage festivals to the sacred Temple in Jerusalem. It occurs in the spring,… Read More

In ancient times, individuals reached agreements by forming covenants. Covenants were also the means by which the Israelites related to God. Read about the significance of biblical covenants – from God’s first covenant with Abraham to the new covenant spoken about in the prophets. The Bible often speaks of… Read More

This table gives a larger context for biblical history by mapping the progression of ancient civilizations according to the technology used in each time period. Archaeologists classify ancient civilizations according to a series of technological “Ages.” By naming an Age by the common technology and objects of an ancient… Read More

It was the center of life in biblical times. What did it look like? What took place there? Read more to find out. The market place was a focal point for ancient society. Much like today’s malls, people not only shopped in them, but also socialized there. See why… Read More