That the World May Know

Fertility Cults of CanaanOnly recently have scholars begun to unravel the complex religious rituals of Israel's Canaanite neighbors. Much of our knowledge of the origins and character of these fertility cults remains tentative and widely debated. ...

First Fruits

The City of JerichoAs one of the few gateways into the Judean Mountains, Jericho was a natural place for the Israelites to begin conquering the Promised Land.Jericho has a fascinating location and history. It is the lowest city in the world (more ...

From Galilee to Asia

From Galilee to AsiaThe remains of the towns and villages of Galilee give evidence to the simple lifestyle of the Jewish people of the first century. Few were wealthy or poor. Most were hardworking people living comfortable lives as extended famil...

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Encyclopedia

Elijah

Why Did God Choose Elijah? It's easy to think that Elijah was morally or spiritually superior to us, but he wasn't. Elijah needed correction, encouragement, and the knowledge that other believers were standing against Baal as well.God uses ordin...

Emperor Worship

The Demands of Emperor WorshipThe demands of Emporer WorshipEvery person in Ephesus and other cities that worshiped the emperor was expected to:- Participate in festivals honoring the emperor(s). This included offering incense on altars carried by...

Ephesus

The port city of Ephesus, located on what is now the western coast of Turkey, was the crown jewel of Asia Minor. It had the population of nearly 250,000 people and was home to more than twenty pagan temples. Artistic beauty, cultural learning, ero...

Features of the Gymnasium in Sardis

The Palaestra In this large (six hundred by one hundred fifty feet) open area in front of the Marble Court, physical education was done on the sand floor. Smaller rooms around the outside were also used for physical training, conditioning (weights...

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Glossary

Elders Definition

Older men who were leaders of God's chosen people.

Essenes Definition

A highly organized religious group that renounced the priestly establishment and saw themselves as God's soldiers. They strengthened their bodies, minds, and spirits for the battle they believed would usher in the new age. The Dead Sea Scrolls fou...

Feast Definition

A special time of celebration and eating. In the Bible, feasts celebrated the ways God helped his people.

First Fruits Definition

The first crops that God's people would collect from their fields and give to God. This was a sign that everything the land produced belonged to God. In the New Testament, firstfruits is the first part of a blessing that is received as a promise o...

First Jewish Revolt Definition

Revolt against Rome by the Jewish people that resulted in the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in AD 70.

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