Jesus performed much of his ministry in urban settings, yet many of his most transformative moments occurred in outdoor settings—bodies of water, mountaintops, and wilderness. The wilderness of the Bible is a liminal space—an in-between place where ordinary life is suspended, identity shifts, and new possibilities emerge. Through the experiences of the Israelites in exile, we learn that while the Biblical wilderness is a place of danger, temptation and chaos, it is also a place for solitude, nou
Images of water pervade the Gospel stories, symbolizing chaos, rebirth and new life. Jesus was baptized, walked on water, and turned water into wine. These and other narratives and others are grounded in the stories and experiences of the ancient Israelites, who used ideas about water to better understand their God. To consider Jesus’ relationship with water, we must first consider water imagery in the Hebrew Scriptures.
The richest 1% of the world’s population controls 40% of the world’s wealth, and the poorest 50% of the population controls a mere 1% of the world’s wealth. The Bible explicitly calls us to help those who are economically disadvantaged.
Many North Americans are well aware that our lands and waters are being depleted of the very natural resources that sustain us. We struggle with the tension between conservation and consumerism, not wanting to acknowledge that our own consumption contributes to the depletion of resources.
Although Jericho is northeast of Jerusalem, travelers go “down” to Jericho. A traveler must come down from Jerusalem’s height, approximately twenty-five hundred feet above sea level, to Jericho’s depth, some eight hundred twenty-five feet below sea level. The climate and the land changed dramatically from lush to desert as one went down.
Stoicism was a prominent philosophy in ancient Greece. In fact, Paul addressed Stoic thought in his speech on Mars Hill. Read more about this philosophical line of thought here.
Shepherds were important figures in the Old and New Testaments. David was a shepherd before he was king, and Jesus called himself a shepherd in the New Testament. Read more about the significance of shepherds in the Bible.
The Books of Wisdom and Poetry, Job through Song of Songs, make up the section of the Christian Bible that follows the Pentateuch and the Historical Books. The exciting narratives of the Pentateuch and the Historical Books tell the story of the people of Israel from the creation of the world to their settlement in the land of Canaan, their defeat by foreign nations, and their return from exile in Babylonia.
The books beginning with Isaiah and ending with Malachi belong to a section of the Christian Bible called the Prophetic Books. These books record God’s messages to the people of Israel and Judah in the form of speeches or sermons, visions, and life experiences of prophets who preached between about 750 and 450 B.C.
The “Pentateuch” is a term used to describe the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis—Deuteronomy). In the Jewish Scriptures these books are referred to as the Law, or Torah, a Hebrew word that means “guide” or “instruction”.
The “Old Testament” is the name Christians have given to the Jewish Scriptures and the first part of the Christian Bible. When the earliest Christians quoted from “Scripture,” they quoted from the Jewish Scriptures. It was not until after the New Testament books were written in the first and second centuries A.D. that Christians started referring to the Jewish Scriptures as the “Old Testament.”
Sometimes Christianity can seem complicated by doctrines. So in this book Wright gets down to the basics by exploring why Christianity makes sense in belief and practice.
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.
From children’s poems to Moliere translations, this collection contains over 60 years worth of work by Wilbur, a World War II veteran and two-time Pulitzer Prize winning author.
Dig deeper. That’s the conclusion McKibben draws from studying the book of Job. McKibben challenges readers to apply this concept of looking beyond conventional wisdom to their own lives, specifically on the topic of climate change.
In the New Testament world, genealogies were important. In fact, two of the four Gospels include records of Jesus’ ancestry. Find out more about Jesus’ lineage and its significance.
During Advent, Christians celebrate Christ coming to earth for the first time. But the Bible also promises that Christ will come again. Use this devotional to reflect on Christ’s Second Coming.
By coming to earth, Christ made a way for people to have a relationship with God. During this Advent season remember to invite the Lord into your own life.
John knew what it meant to follow Jesus. He witnessed the Transfiguration and stayed at the foot of the cross during Jesus’ crucifixion. Learn more John’s life of faith.
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is best known for his death. But he also lived an inspiring life of trust in Christ and dedication to the gospel. Read more about Stephen.
Thomas is most known for his disbelief; however, he also made an important statement of faith (John 20:28). Learn about the life and legacy of St. Thomas.
Although Andrew was the first disciple to follow Jesus, he is often overshadowed by the legacy of his brother, Peter. Read more about Andrew’s life and ministry.
Today there are countless translations and paraphrases of the English Bible. Find out how the English Bibles we have today were influenced by people and events in the past.
Even before the time of Jesus, Jewish teachers had discussed the Law of Moses and whether there were one or more commands that summarized the whole law. This debate is easily seen in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. The debate also seems to be behind Luke’s account, which immediately precedes the parable of the Good Samaritan.
When the Jewish community gathered in annual rituals to confess their faith in God, they did not formulate abstract creeds and doctrines. They told stories--stories about what God has done. Likewise, the Gospels of the New Testament consist almost entirely of stories about Jesus. Some also involved stories Jesus himself told. We encounter one such double story with the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Who were these bandits who attacked the stricken traveler? There are two distinct terms in the Greek language of the New Testament. The first is kleptes, “thief,” which describes a nonviolent offender who commits his crimes in secret. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, however, Luke chooses another term. The term lestes describes a violent member of a group.
Christians often see Jesus in the figure of the merciful Samaritan in Luke's gospel. Given the hostility between Jews and Samaritans in the first century, it would be ironic indeed if Luke’s Jesus, the ideal Jewish person — were at the same time the ideal, or good, Samaritan.
Injustice permeates governments, societies and relationships. Yet God calls Christians to actively work for justice in the world. Read more about the value of justice.
Education in Israel remained a constant and powerful force in Israelite homes and society. The form and content of education changed with the needs of various times and places. In early days, the educational needs had primarily been served by the tribe and the family. By the first century B.C., education became universal and compulsory for Jewish boys and men.
The term Hellenism describes the military and political control by Greek leaders over five centuries beginning with Alexander the Great (336–323 B.C.). Hellenism also refers to the large cultural movement that expanded across the empire. This epoch produced a new view of humankind. Education was responsible for this advance.
Jews in Jesus' time believed that God revealed his will not only through the written Torah, but through unwritten traditions as well. The rabbis claimed that the oral law, transmitted by word of mouth, was also given to Moses at Mount Sinai. Whether it is written or oral, “the whole Law is summed up in a single commandment, You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5.14).
The two silver coins in the parable of the Good Samaritan may be more than small details in the story. They are potential clues for understanding the kind of compassion exercised by the Good Samaritan. Luke calls these coins denaria. In Jesus’ day a denarius amounted to the average daily wage of a worker. It was also the coin that Jews used to pay their annual temple tax.
This 30-day reading tool will guide you through the Deuterocanon/Apocrypha, books accepted by individuals from the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox traditions.
This 45-day reading tool will guide you through the Deuterocanon/Apocrypha, books accepted by individuals from the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox traditions.
Within 100 years of Jesus’ death, Christianity had spread throughout the Middle East into Africa and northern Europe. Check out this map of the world influenced by early Christianity.
After the death of King Solomon, the nation of Israel split into two parts: Israel and Judah. This map shows the boundaries of both nations and the people who surrounded them.
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. Several places in Luke, such as the Good Samaritan parable, suggest that one should look beyond negative stereotypes. The basic ethical and spiritual stance of the individual should also be considered.
In the time of Jesus, the Samaritans were despised by most Jews for two reasons: (1) many of them were following the lifestyle of the Roman world and ignoring the Law of Moses; (2) the Samaritan religious traditions denied that God was present among his people in Jerusalem and scorned the Jews.
What is meaningful about the road from Jerusalem to Jericho? The priest and Levite are tied to the life of the temple, located in Jerusalem. The Samaritan, on the other hand, is an “outsider.” Samaritans did not recognize Jerusalem and its temple as holy.
Jericho is located near the southern end of the Jordan Valley. It has been an oasis and a population center in the otherwise mostly barren valley. Some scholars think Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.
This 45-day reading tool will guide you through the Deuterocanon/Apocrypha, books accepted by individuals from the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox traditions.
The Bible is a complex book that includes poetry, history and narrative sections. This guide will help you read, understand and interact with the Word of God.
There can be a lot of things that may make you uncomfortable at a church. The paint may be peeling off the walls, and rain might be dripping through the roof. The church members may all dress up in fancy clothes and hold services in a language which sounds remotely like English, but you can't be sure.
Prayer was an important part of Jesus’ life. The following scripture passages show the different ways in which Jesus prayed to God the Father. They also show what Jesus teaches us about prayer – why we should pray, how to pray, and when to pray.
In the opening chapters of the Bible we find the story of the two brothers, the children of Adam and Eve. Theirs is a story of how jealousy led to anger, causing one brother to turn against the other.
Since the earliest days of human civilization, people have worried about making God angry. “Good things” were normally seen as signs of God’s favor or blessing. On the other hand, “bad things” were considered the result of God’s disfavor or anger. We must have done something to make God angry with us, people might have thought. Something has displeased God, and God is now getting back at us.
The Sacred Chest held the Ten Commandments, was kept in a special part of the Tabernacle and symbolized God’s presence with the Israelites. Read how this important artifact caused plagues and inspired worship in ancient times.
The “New Testament” is the second part of the Christian Bible. Its twenty-seven books continue the story of God’s people begun in the Old Testament (the Jewish Scriptures). The word “testament” comes from a Latin word that means “will,” which was used to translate the Greek word diatheke, which means “will” or “agreement” (covenant).
Different faith traditions include different books in the Old Testament. This table helps compare and contrast the Old Testament canons in different faith traditions.
For nearly 200 years of ongoing ministry, American Bible Society invites people to experience the life-changing message of the Bible. Offering an increasing range of ministries to address core life questions and struggles, we partner with Christian churches and national Bible Societies to share God’s Word in the United States and around the globe.
There are numerous ways to support American Bible Society. You can give monetary contributions to many of the worthy projects that bring God’s Word across the globe. You also can contribute to our mission through planned giving.
