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

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

How did we get our Bible? When were the writings that make up the New Testament selected, arranged, and collected? Learn more about what biblical scholars have discovered. The New Testament we have today is a collection of writings that have been gathered and edited. The titles, the fixed number… Read More

The Greek term for feeling compassion is used by Luke in several key stories, including the Widow of Nain and the Prodigal Son. This verb includes a physical aspect in the tone of its feeling because the related noun means “bowels, viscera.” Both the Greek verb and noun match our… Read More

Paul wrote more books than any other New Testament writer, but often his thoughts can be complex and difficult to understand. In this book, Wright helps readers see the bigger picture of Paul’s themes and messages. N. T. Wright, (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005) Looking for an easy way into… Read More

How does the New Testament differ from and build on the Old Testament? Learn more about the language, background and use of the New Testament. Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic and used the Hebrew version of the Jewish Scriptures, but the apostle Paul and many other early Christians… Read More

He experienced a dramatic conversion, wrote more books in the New Testament than any other individual, and witnessed to kings and prisoners. Find out more about this important New Testament figure. Thirteen books, nearly half of the books in the New Testament, name Paul as their author, and another… Read More

This disciple of John was an important leader in the early church. Read more about his life and faith. In the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, there are seven letters addressed to the “angel” of each of seven churches. The second letter is addressed to… Read More