Context is important. Find out how the social, religious and political context of Israel influenced biblical events and literature. Ancient Document and Date Language Chief Enemy Gilgamesh Epic around 1700 B.C.; some versions circulated as early as 2100 B.C. Akkadian Gilgamesh, the ruler of Uruk,… Read More

The invention of money transformed the ancient world. Find out how the emergence of the monetary system influenced the biblical world. As trade increased in Israel during the time of Solomon, so did the use of gold and silver to pay for goods. Around this time, merchants and a… Read More

Biblical characters couldn’t use trains, planes or buses, but they did use camels, chariots, sailing boats and the occasional giant fish. Means of Travel Distances Examples Walking about 20 miles per day Peter walks 40 miles from Joppa to Caesarea in two days (Acts 10.23-25) Camels As a pack… Read More

The Bible isn’t the only ancient text with a flood story. Read about the flood stories other flood stories in the ancient world and why these accounts are important. Many ancient Near Eastern stories describe a terrible flood that destroyed much of humankind. Ancient flood stories are also… Read More

The New Testament didn’t appear out of thin air. Find out how the New Testament was compiled and explore the reliability of the canon. In the ancient world, pseudonymous writing was not unknown. Letters written in the name of an apostle, originating in a circle of early Christians, perhaps… Read More

Political struggles have often clouded the understanding of God’s enemies. Learn what the Bible says about God’s enemies—who they are and how Christians are called to treat their enemies. The bloody carnage of war and the overshadowing presence of terror and destruction have caused many to question the presence… Read More

What does it mean to approach the Bible from a historical-critical perspective? How does this method of study affect divine revelation? Read more to find out. The relationship between historical-critical approaches to biblical interpretation and matters of revelation and faith is quite complex. Modern biblical scholarship is dominated… Read More

Learn about the issues behind The Da Vinci Code. What is fact and what is fiction? Revealing the Truth Behind the Fiction The Da Vinci Code which is loosely based on Gnosticism, a diverse series of early Christian literature, has created a stir among readers who seek to “decode”… Read More

Gnosticism, a line of thought referenced extensively in The Da Vinci Code, emphasizes the importance of a special knowledge for faith. Read more about the origins and influence of Gnostic thought. The Origins of Gnosticism The term, gnosticism, comes from the Greek word, gn´sis, which means a knowing or… Read More

The Gnostic ideas in The Da Vinci Code are not new. In fact, Irenaeus addressed these ideas thousands of years ago in his work Against Heresies. The Bible did not arrive by fax from heaven. … The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of… Read More