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Making Sense of Kosher Laws
The origins of Jewish dietary or kosher laws (kashrut) have long been the subject of scholarly research and debate. Regardless of their origins, however, these age-old laws continue to have a...
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How December 25 Became Christmas
Read Andrew McGowan’s article “How December 25 Became Christmas” as it originally appeared in Bible Review, December 2002.—Ed. A blanket of snow covers the little town of Bethlehem, in Pieter...
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A Feast for the Senses … and the Soul
Dating to the third millennium BC.E, this limestone plaque, discovered at Nippur depicts a well-sated goddess (center) holding a cup in one hand and a fish in the other as she relaxes on her...
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Jesus’ Last Supper Still Wasn’t a Passover Seder Meal
Many people still assume that Jesus’ Last Supper was a Seder, a ritual meal held in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover. In this exclusive guest post, Boston University Professor of Religion...
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The 10 Strangest Foods in the Bible
There are hundreds of passages in the Bible that describe food, drink and dining. Many Biblical stories are set within the context of a meal. While most of these are about regular meals, others refer...
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Was Jesus a Jew?
Was Jesus a Jew? Some people claim that Jesus was a Christian. Some have claimed that he was an Aryan Christian. But in recent decades scholars have been returning to ancient historical settings and...
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The Hungry Jesus
In this blog post, Andrew McGowan, McFaddin Professor of Anglican Studies at Yale Divinity School and Dean of the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, challenges the tradition that Jesus was a welcoming...
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Fruit in the Bible
Carbonized raisins from Iron Age I (12th to 11th centuries B.C.) Shiloh were published by Israel Finkelstein in BAR in 1986. Seeds and fruit remains are exciting discoveries for archaeologists. Not...
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A Feast for the Senses … and the Soul
Few activities in life are as seemingly mundane yet vitally important as eating. Food is one of the bare necessities of life, and everyone—man or woman, young or old, king or servant—must eat. Thus it...
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Gospel of John Commentary: Who Wrote the Gospel of John and How Historical Is...
The evangelist John rests one hand on his gospel book, in this 83-inch-tall marble sculpture carved by Donatello in about 1415 for a niche in the facade of the Cathedral of Florence. Scholars writing...
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How December 25 Became Christmas
Read Andrew McGowan’s article “How December 25 Became Christmas” as it originally appeared in Bible Review, December 2002.—Ed. On December 25, Christians around the world will gather to celebrate...
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Did Jesus’ Last Supper Take Place Above the Tomb of David?
Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover. […] As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. […] He will show you a large room...
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When Was the First Communion?
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he...
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On What Day Did Jesus Rise?
On what day did Jesus rise? After three days or on the third day? In his Biblical Views column “It’s About Time—Easter Time” in the May/June 2016 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, Ben Witherington...
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The Last Days of Jesus: A Final “Messianic” Meal
This article was originally published on Dr. James Tabor’s popular Taborblog, a site that discusses and reports on “‘All things biblical’ from the Hebrew Bible to Early Christianity in the Roman World...
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Was Jesus a Jew?
Was Jesus a Jew? Some people claim that Jesus was a Christian. Some have claimed that he was an Aryan Christian. But in recent decades scholars have been returning to ancient historical settings and...
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How Was Jesus’ Tomb Sealed?
“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.”—John 20:1, NRSV What kind of stone sealed the tomb...
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Jesus’ Last Supper Still Wasn’t a Passover Seder Meal
Many people still assume that Jesus’ Last Supper was a Seder, a ritual meal held in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover. In this exclusive guest post, Boston University Professor of Religion...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Did Jesus’ Last Supper Take Place Above the Tomb of David?
Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover. […] As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. […] He will show you a large room...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Was Jesus a Jew?
Was Jesus a Jew? Some people claim that Jesus was a Christian. Some have claimed that he was an Aryan Christian. But in recent decades scholars have been returning to ancient historical settings and...
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