Historical Context of the Bible

Nothing is Really That Remote. Psalm 89.

Statue of Liberty During Pink Sunrise. Copyright Matthew Chimera Photo. Prints available online. “I can’t believe it. I mean, there she is! It’s really her!” My wife was so excited. We were bouncing gently on the bow of a Circle Line Tour boat in New York Harbor. Everyone around us had camera phones pointing atContinue reading “Nothing is Really That Remote. Psalm 89.”

Big Erik Won’t Be on Top Forever. Isaiah 10:15.

When I was in junior high my friend Chris got jumped by a kid named Mike at the 7-11. The two were in the grass outside the store fighting when Big Erik, a much larger, much older boy came along and attacked Mike. Fortunately for Chris, he happened to be losing that particular fight. BigContinue reading “Big Erik Won’t Be on Top Forever. Isaiah 10:15.”

A Lawyer Looks at the Trials of the Apostle Paul. Acts 24-26.

Laws are built on beliefs about the nature of man, of justice and fairness, and how best to operate a society. No source played a larger role in the development of Anglo-American (“English-American”) law than the Bible. Not only did the Archbishop of Canterbury write the first draft of the Magna Carta, but the bookContinue reading “A Lawyer Looks at the Trials of the Apostle Paul. Acts 24-26.”

Editing on Horseback. Romans 15:1.

Did you know that the sixty-six books of the Bible were codified into a single book long before the chapter and verse divisions were added? Stephen Langton, the Archbishop of Canterbury (and a key writer of the Magna Carta), first introduced chapters in the year 1228. The first Bible to be published with both chaptersContinue reading “Editing on Horseback. Romans 15:1.”

Five Points From History.

Never forget the historical context of the Bible. For example, did you know Jews were history’s first MONOTHEISTS? Before Abraham, the world believed in many gods, worshipping the sun, moon, stars, and idols. The Jews were actually called “atheists” because they rejected every ‘god’ but their own. Second–a related point—these monotheists were the first toContinue reading “Five Points From History.”