検索キーワード： 聖書の歴史・文化

The Book of Jasher stands as one of the most captivating, enigmatic, and influential texts outside the traditional Biblical canon. Mentioned explicitly in the books of Joshua and Second Samuel, this ancient chronicle has long intrigued theologians, historians, and seekers of spiritual depth. It serves as a majestic, sweeping companion piece to the Torah, offering an expanded lens through which to view the foundational stories of the Western world.

Did you know that the apostle Simeon was nicknamed Niger… pronounced NEE-GER in Latin? Growing up, I was taught that it was pronounced ny-jer, so I never gave it any additional thought. A couple of years ago, a friend of mine brought up the reference in Acts, which motivated me to give it a second look. Let’s start by looking at the verse:

The Chinese Communist Party and their world dominion objective is the biggest enemy of religion and religious people around the world. China is at war with faith. It is a war they must not win. The future of the free world depends on it. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spends billions of dollars annually to either control or exterminate people of all faiths. It is a strategic imperative for them. Christians, Buddhist, Muslims, Falun Gong, and more are seen as a threat to the control of China and the world by the CCP. Three genocides are going on right now inside China.

Amos Decoded breaks down the entire Book of Amos — sentence by sentence — in plain, modern English so you can finally understand what God was actually saying to Israel. Written as part of the Decoded Faith Empire Series by Brittany Johnson, this educational guide pairs every verse from the King James Version with a clear, modern-language translation designed for today's listener. No theological jargon. No assumptions about what you already know. Just the text, decoded.

The Arrival is an invitation to step into the Christmas story that has been shaping humanity from the beginning. For generations, people had heard whispers of Someone who would come. A promise carried through stories, hopes, and expectations. Some were watching. Some were waiting. Many had stopped paying attention. And then… He arrived. But the arrival was not what anyone expected. Told through the lives of ordinary people —those who were curious, skeptical, searching, or simply trying to survive —The Arrival explores what it feels like to encounter Jesus in real time.

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.

Who wrote Great Expectations? That’s easy: Charles Dickens. Who’s the author of Beloved? Toni Morrison, of course. Now how about the Old Testament? You’d think for a book as widely known, studied, and distributed as the Bible, the question of authorship would have been sorted out by now. But the question is more complex (and fascinating) than it seems. Why? Because asking it is to challenge everything we might assume about the Bible’s identity as a book, about what “writing” and “authorship” really mean, and about how a written text could become sacred.

Is Christianity the White Man's Religion? affirms that ethnic diversity has played a powerful role in the formation of the Old and New Testaments and that the Bible is a book of justice, promoting equality for all people. Contrary to popular Eurocentric conceptions, biblical Christianity is not just for White Westerners. It's good news for all of us. 

Unearth the fascinating material culture of the Holy Land. A palimpsest of unique proportions, the Holy Land traces its history back across the many hands through which it passed: Roman, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim alike. By excavating the region’s rich grounds, archaeologists allow us to...

Join one of the 20th century''s most inspiring spiritual writers on a journey of self-discovery. Society teaches us to define ourselves by the things we have: belongings, education, experiences. Our inner worth depends on our surroundings, and, as the Gospels say, we "belong to the world."...

God has a plan for your life. More often than not, it's a detour - one that can leave you feeling temporarily stalled and slowed down. Which nobody likes. But detours are necessary if any improvements are going to be made on the paths we travel. Or if any wreck is going to be cleaned up or a hazard avoided. Detours are designed for our own good, regardless of how we view or feel about them. Detours are a good thing that often feels bad. Tony knows a thing or two about detours.

Mary Magdalene is one of the most influential symbols in the history of Christianity - yet, if you look in the Bible, you'll find only a handful of verses that speak of her. How did she become such a compelling saint in the face of such paltry evidence? In her effort to answer that question, Cynthia Bourgeault examines the Bible, church tradition, art, legend, and newly discovered texts to see what's there.

As we all know, and as many of our well-established textbooks have argued for decades, the Inquisition was one of the most frightening and bloody chapters in Western history, Pope Pius XII was anti-Semitic and rightfully called "Hitler's Pope", the Dark Ages were a stunting of the progress of knowledge to be redeemed only by the secular spirit of the Enlightenment, and the religious Crusades were an early example of the rapacious Western thirst for riches and power. But what if these long-held beliefs were all wrong?

Combining research from Asian scholars with his many years of experience living and working in East Asia, Brad directs our attention to Paul's letter to the Romans. He argues that some traditional East Asian cultural values are closer to those of the first-century biblical world than common Western cultural values. In addition, he adds his voice to the scholarship engaging the values of honor and shame in particular and their influence on biblical interpretation.

Why are we so fascinated by the Dead Sea Scrolls? In the mid-twentieth century, several Bedouin shepherds happened upon ancient scrolls housed in a cave. These documents, called the Dead Sea Scrolls, are often considered the most important manuscript discovery of the modern era. A veil of...

 Encountering Jesus in the Real World of the Gospels draws listeners into a deeper understanding of ancient Israel and first-century Judaism to better understand Jesus' ministry. Instead of viewing the Gospels through 21st-century eyes, author Cyndi Parker introduces listeners to the larger context with the weight of the Old Testament behind them. 

Millions are getting lost in the evangelical maze: inerrancy, indifference to the environment, deterministic Calvinism, purity culture, racism, LGBTQ discrimination, male dominance, and Christian nationalism. They are now conscientious objectors, deconstructionists, perhaps even "none and done". As one of America's leading academics speaking to the issues of religion today, David Gushee offers a clear assessment and a new way forward for disillusioned post-evangelicals. 

Best-selling author and national radio host Dr. Andrew Farley is known to challenge legalistic and lifeless interpretations with his discerning take on controversial scriptures. In Twisted Scripture, Andrew skewers sacred cows and shatters destructive lies, bringing the undiluted truth about God's love and grace in a colorful and conversational look at the most controversial passages in the New Testament.

Warum fasziniert uns die Geschichte von Adam und Eva noch heute? Unsere Vorstellungen vom Paradies, von Scham und Sünde, unsere Ideen von Gut und Böse und unser Frauenbild – wie sehr wurden sie von dieser Urerzählung geprägt? Bestsellerautor und Pulitzer-Preisträger Stephen Greenblatt widmet sich diesem mächtigsten aller Menschheitsmythen. In vielen Geschichten schildert er nicht nur das Erbe von Adam und Eva in der christlichen Kultur seit Augustinus und Dürer.

What if your faith was never meant to be blind… but understood? Most people grow up being told what to believe. Few ever stop to ask why. The Evolution of the Bible is not about destroying faith… It's about examining it. This book takes you on a journey through: The origins of the Bible. The power structures behind its influence. The questions many people are afraid to ask. The space between belief, doubt, and truth. It doesn't tell you what to think. It challenges you to think for yourself. Because real faith…is not about avoiding questions—it's about having the courage to face them.