Bible Passages Blog

Dear Jackson, You sure remind me of your dad. You notice things other people miss. The other day you were studying that Apologetics Press Bible action card and noticed Damaris seated in a large outdoor theater, and you asked, “How did they hear without a microphone?” Greek and Roman Theater at Ephesus (Theater Photo taken by Ya Ya) That’s a mighty good question. Most folks don’t think about things like that. But you do. She was indeed seated a long way from the front. Did you

Saying good-bye to those we love is always difficult. Saying goodbye for the final time is often hard to bear. From the top row of this theater, a spectator could have easily seen the ancient harbor of Miletus and the place where the elders of Ephesus walked with the apostle Paul to a ship headed for Judea (Acts 20:38). The ancient harbor of Miletus, once a thriving maritime center, no longer exists. Silt from the Meander River closed its access to the Aegean Sea, and the ci

At left - Caesar Augustus in his role as Emperor: At Right the veiled Cesar Augustus in his role as Pontiff Maximus (photos taken at the Vatican Museum and the National Archaeological Museum in Rome) Gender distinction, religious observance, and social equality were some of the hot button topics under discussion in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth. In particular, the question of whether to cover your head during the worship assembly was addressed. Why would the apostle

IMAGE INSIGHTS (Arch of Titus and 2 Corinthians 2:14): The Arch of Titus with its depiction of the Jewish menorah and table of showbread reminds us of the fulfillment of a prophecy made by Jesus in Matthew 24. Longing to throw-off Roman hegemony which had been in place in Israel since 63 BC, the Jews revolted and fought bitterly against the armies who had occupied their land. Vespasian and Titus, of the Flavian dynasty that ruled the Roman empire from AD 69-96, reconquered m

On the slope of Mount Parnassus the temple of Apollo sits with a mysterious aura just longing to confess its ancient secrets. In the centuries leading up to the time of Christ, this sanctuary at Delphi, Greece was alive with the sounds of sacred activity and toxic induced religious utterances emanating from the famed and respected oracles called sybils. Today, only the chatter of curious visitors and an occasional eerie sound of the wind can be heard swirling through the six

By John W. Moore It might be unfamiliar. It might even sound to us like one of those peculiar literary devices discussed in a course on biblical hermeneutics (the science of interpretation). Even pronouncing it can be challenging, but verisimilitude is a helpful term used in such disciplines as philosophy, literature, and law. It is also important to biblical archaeologists as I came to observe in our production of Go Now to Shiloh, when Dr. Scott Stripling spoke of it duri

by Jordan Moore While no one is sure who first made the statement, there are those in the world who ascribe to the idea that “the Bible is the most dangerous book in the world… [and that] it must be kept under lock and key.” Through history, many attempts have been made to try and thwart the influence of the word of God. Holy scripture has been tossed into fire, outlawed, and blacklisted. However, Christians can thankfully have confidence in the words of Paul to Timothy, that