Showing titles in Biblical History & Culture

It was an outlawed book, a text so dangerous "it could only be countered by the most vicious burnings, of books and men and women." But what book could incite such violence and bloodshed? The year is 1526. It is the age of Henry VIII and his tragic Anne Boleyn, of Martin Luther and Thomas More. The times are treacherous. The Catholic Church controls almost every aspect of English life, including access to the very Word of God. And the church will do anything to keep it that way.

In The Day the Revolution Began, N. T. Wright once again challenges commonly held Christian beliefs, as he did in Surprised by Hope. Demonstrating the rigorous intellect and breathtaking knowledge that have long defined his work, Wright argues that Jesus' death on the cross was not only to absolve us of our sins, it was actually the beginning of a revolution commissioning the Christian faithful to a new vocation - a royal priesthood responsible for restoring and reconciling all of God's creation.

Guiding us through a rich tapestry of new discoveries and ancient scriptures, The Jewish Gospels makes the powerful case that our conventional understandings of Jesus and of the origins of Christianity are wrong. In Boyarin's scrupulously detailed account, the coming of the messiah was fully imagined in the ancient Jewish texts. Jesus, moreover, was embraced by many Jews as this person, and his core teachings were not at all a break from Jewish beliefs and teachings. Jesus and his followers, Boyarin reveals, were simply Jewish.

Satan's transformation from opaque functionary to chief antagonist is one of the most striking features of the development of Jewish theology in the Second Temple Period and beyond. Once no more than an "accuser" testing members of the human community, Satan, along with his demons, is presented by Jewish apocalyptic texts and the New Testament as a main source of evil in the world. In Satan and the Problem of Evil, noted scholar Archie Wright explores this dynamic in both its historical and theological trajectories.

In this book Christie shares personal stories and encounters, mostly from her journals that span over three decades. Her discoveries will broaden your understanding of Scripture from their Jewish perspective and reveal to you the family and culture that Romans 11 says you have been grafted into. Most importantly, we pray your heart will be strengthened in the love story that is woven throughout all of the biblical feasts.

This book presents the history of various doctrines in identical order to their appearance in Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. Rather than following the history of Christianity and learning about various doctrines as they arise, listeners can trace the development of vital Christian theology topic by topic.

William Barclay brings to these "best-known stories in the world" new force and significance for the modern reader/listener. Each chapter analyzes an individual parable - identifies its theme, explains it in the light of the language and customs of the ancient world, and clearly interprets its meaning for us today.

Embark on an extraordinary journey through time and legend as you delve into the captivating Kebra Nagast, the illustrious Ethiopian text that weaves together the threads of Solomonic bloodline, political power, and spiritual legacy. This is more than a book; it's a portal into a rich tapestry of history, belief, and intrigue.

In this third volume of The Masks of God - Joseph Campbell’s major work of comparative mythology - the preeminent mythologist looks at the pagan religions of Greece, Rome, and the Celts, as well as the Abrahamic religions - Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Exploring the West’s shift from female-centered to male-centered mythology, Campbell examines the distinguishing characteristics and the shared root concepts of these mythologies. The Masks of God is a four-volume study of world religion and myth that stands as one of Joseph Campbell’s masterworks.

Volume 1 - Essene History and the Prophetic Calendar: According to ancient texts that contain completely accurate prophecies to date, we are on the precipice of entering the final jubilee of the Church Age. Who could have known how much influence the writings of a mysterious group of prophets and scribes hundreds of years before Christ would have on our understanding of end-times prophecy? As it turns out, much of what we’ve been taught about Israel in the First Century is incomplete. There were, in fact, Jewish believers who knew exactly what to expect in His first coming: that He would ...

Embark on a transformative journey with "Boethius for Beginners: A Journey Through Philosophy and Faith." This compelling guide opens the door to the timeless wisdom of Boethius, offering insights that are as relevant today as they were centuries ago. Unlock the secrets of happiness and virtue: Discover how Boethius' reflections on true happiness and inner virtues can guide you towards a more fulfilling and meaningful life. His teachings provide practical wisdom for navigating the complexities of modern existence. Explore the power of resilience: Learn from Boethius’ own experiences of ...

Too often when we come to the Bible, we settle for easy answers.

How the Bible Actually Works makes clear that there is no one right way to read or listen to the Bible. Moving us beyond the damaging idea that “being right” is the most important measure of faith, Enns’ freeing approach to Bible study helps us to instead focus on pursuing enlightenment and building our relationship with God - which is exactly what the Bible was designed to do.

In this classic of comparative religion, Manly Hall marshals his considerable familiarity with world religious traditions to argue that sound biblical interpretation requires cross-referencing all the great schools of ancient religion and considering them as one composite structure.

This remarkable work paints a comprehensive and colorful picture of the world that Jesus knew. From detailed, convincing portraits of John the Baptist, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Jesus himself, and other key figures, to the Jewish and Hellenistic leaders often ignored in scripture, Who's Who in the Age of Jesus is a critical, in-depth look at one of the most tumultuous eras in human history.

How God Shaped Dr. Cho and His Ministry of Hope "I looked into the eyes of the people of Daejo-dong, the little town that held our ragged, old tent church and saw only suffering, hunger, sickness, hopelessness, and helplessness. But in my mind I saw these people as beautiful people of God, and my heart was ignited with a love spark that became a burning flame of desire to fill their hearts with hope by teaching them about God, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit" (Dr. David Yonggi Cho). Dr. Cho carried this vision with him throughout the years, as he struggled to bring hope to people and ...

Church History, Volume One offers a unique contextual view of how the Christian church spread and grew from its development in the days of Jesus to the years leading up to the Reformation. Looking closely at the integral link between the history of the world and that of the church, Church History paints a portrait of God's people within its setting of times, cultures, and events that both influenced and were influenced by the church.

What would God say about those who blatantly misrepresent His Holy Spirit; who exchange true worship for chaotic fits of mindless ecstasy; who replace the biblical gospel with vain illusions of health and wealth; who claim to prophesy in His name yet speak errors; and who sell false hope to desperate people for millions of dollars? The Charismatic movement has always been a breeding-ground for scandal, greed, bad doctrine, and all kinds of spiritual chicanery. Best-selling author and pastor John MacArthur chronicles the unsavory history behind the modern Charismatic movement.

It’s not often that you come across a document of such religious and historical importance as The Septuagint Genesis – in fact its significance would be hard to overstate. But what is the Septuagint? Well, its name refers to the “seventy’ (actually 72) translators – six from each tribe of Israel – who translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, the primary language of Jews in Egypt at the time. This, the oldest and arguably most important translation, was the version of The Bible that Jesus himself would have read – and the one from which almost all the New Testament’s writers were quoting.

The preaching of the truth, brother, and the confession of Orthodoxy is more needful for us than everything else, and we must make this confession before all mankind. For this is the foundation of all who believe. On account of this confession Peter was called blessed and was appointed to bear the keys of the kingdom of God. Paul, too, bore the hope of receiving the crown of life, since he kept and preached the faith. Indeed, the whole choir of the saints who did likewise and finished the race well has been glorified. We must also build up our neighbor, as much as we are able.