Scrolls transferred God’s Word to subsequent generations. Find out how these items were made and used in the ancient world. In ancient times, writing was done on scrolls made of leather or papyrus. The papyrus plant, which grows abundantly in Egypt, provided the material for scrolls. Carbon-dating has shown… Read More

It symbolizes the Holy Spirit, flows out of rocks, decimates armies and acts as a cleansing agent. Water is a key image in the Bible. Find out why. In the ancient Near East, great civilizations grew up in the areas close to rivers, such as the Nile in Egypt… Read More

Wine was an important beverage in the ancient world. As a result, wine is a significant symbol throughout the Old and New Testaments. In the Middle East, wine is made from grapes that are picked late in the summer and then spread out on the ground for a while… Read More

In biblical times, feet were very useful – most travel was done by foot. Find out what it was like to travel over land in biblical times. Most travel in Bible times was done on foot. People walked along paths or roads known as “ways.” Many places in the… Read More

First century Judaism revolved around the temple. So did the Sadducees. Read about what these Jewish leaders believed and why they eventually disappeared. This group’s name may come from Zadok, the high priest of Israel at the time of King David. The Sadducees may have also been descendants… Read More

Perfection. The Essenes would settle for nothing less. See what role this disciplined and secluded sect of Judaism played in the New Testament world. The Essenes may have been formed as a group at about the same time as the Sadducees. Instead of trying to influence the priesthood… Read More

Literacy was low in the biblical world, so people who could read and write held important roles in government and religion. Those Jews who filled jobs set up by the Romans to help run the government in the land were called “scribes.” Because they could read and write in… Read More

The Hasmoneans began a revolt that changed the shape of Palestine between the New and Old Testaments. Read more about this influential family. “Maccabees,” the family nickname of the Jewish dynasty that ruled Judea from the time of the Maccabean Revolt (167 B.C.) until the Roman conquest of Palestine… Read More

Use this Bible-reading guide to encounter Scripture in three new ways: by asking questions, and by considering the social and historical context of the text. Check out our online guide now. Reading any document, even the Bible, can often become routine. And reading the Bible in the same… Read More

Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about divorce, loneliness, anger and stress? Use this guide to help you learn the Bible’s stance on issues you face every day. Dealing with tough stuff Anger Proverbs 15.1; Matthew 5.21-26, 43-48; Ephesians 4.26,27,31,32; James 1.19-21… Read More