The Roman Empire used local rulers to maintain order in the regions they conquered. Find out who these leaders were and what authority they had. Roman policy was to respect local customs and the laws of the peoples they ruled. They let local people form councils to control local… Read More

Everything in changes. In the years before Roman rule, Palestine changed frequently. Find out what these changes were and how they affected New Testament society. The centuries leading up to Jesus’ birth were not politically stable in the area known as Palestine. The Jewish people who returned to Judah… Read More

How are miracles different from magic? What role does medicine play in magic? Find out here. The Bible is a book of faith, telling the story of how God acted in history to protect and save humankind. Miracles are an important part of that story. Read More

Archaeological finds have helped scholars understand the world in biblical times. Learn about how archaeology came about and why it is important to biblical scholarship. Serious study of the remains of the ancient Near East began around 1800 when Napoleon invaded Egypt, taking with him artists and scholars to study… Read More

In Genesis God promised to give Abraham land for his descendents. Although it took hundreds of years, Abraham’s descendents finally returned to the land. Read about the important events that occurred while the Israelites occupied the Promised Land. Moses led the people of Israel in the desert for forty years… Read More

Peter fished. Matthew was a tax collector. Find out what other jobs were available in New Testament times. The Bible describes a wide range of cultures and lifestyles. The time from Abraham to the time of the early church spans a period of about two thousand years. How people… Read More

People are often intimidated by laws. But in the Old Testament, the nation of Israel’s relation to God was based upon the law. It governed their religious practices, their government and the way they lived their daily lives. People Of The Law: The Religion of Israel The faith of… Read More

Both the ancient Israelites and early Christians were surrounded by people with different religious beliefs and practices. Read about what these beliefs were and how they influenced God’s people. Religions and Philosophies in Bible Times Both the faith of Israel and the faith of the early Christians developed… Read More

Context is important. Find out how the social, religious and political context of Israel influenced biblical events and literature. Hundreds of years before the people of Israel took over the land known as Canaan, their ancestors came from Mesopotamia, a land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers far to the… Read More

Even without planes or trains, travelers in biblical times had options. Find out what their options were and the benefits of each option. Donkeys are mentioned in the Bible as an early means of transportation (Exod 4.20). Balaam, the prophet, rode a donkey (Num 22.22-35). And the “humble king”… Read More