Biblical Heritage Center Blog

In 1982, the Guatemalan military massacred the villagers of Dos Erres, killing more than 200 people. It murdered innocent villagers and fellow citizens. Young girls and women were raped and then the villagers were lined up at the village well, blindfolded, and then soldiers would hit them in the back of the head with sledge hammers. Their bodies were pushed into the well until it was completely full. Two young boys were abducted by soldiers. Thirty years later, a Guatemalan living in the US got a phone call from a woman who told him that he was one of the two boys that had been abducted during the massacre.  Two of the soldiers that were involved in the massacre have been tried for their crimes and found guilty. Other military and political leaders are under investigation now. “I was simply following orders” is not a valid defense for those committing the horrible crimes. Read the complete story at -- http://www.propublica.org/article/finding-oscar-massacre-memory-and-justice...

Those engaged in the academic study of religions, and specifically the origins and development of early Christianity, draw a sharp distinction between what they call the historical Jesus and the “Christ” of Christian faith and devotion. How and when this transformation took place–from Jesus the itinerant messianic Jewish teacher and healer, to the preexistent, eternal, divine, Son of God–is called “Christology.” What receives much less attention is a similar, perhaps even greater, transformation–that of Mariam, the Jewish mother of Jesus to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and the Queen of Heaven. Read the complete article at -- http://jamestabor.com/2012/05/25/mary-mother-of-god-or-jewish-mother-of-seven/

They’d talked a few times about how soccer was the basis of their pan-Abrahamic friendship, and thought it could bridge religious divides for others. Their message is simple and pragmatic: While all three feel spiritual bonds to a different religious text, they believe their tenets can co-exist. A lot of hatred is done in the name of religion. We hope we can show religion isn’t that way. Read complete article at -- http://www.carynews.com/2012/05/19/57518/for-peace-400-miles-of-dribbling.html

Dr. James Tabor’s recent blog addresses the question of the source of Paul’s authority and his teachings. How did Paul receive his apostolic authority? Was it something that was well-known in the Jewish culture or did it reveal links to a pagan origin? Since Paul’s writings are used as proof for many of the primary doctrines of modern Christianity, then the question of the validity of Paul’s authority is very important. Read James Tabor’s discussion at – http://jamestabor.com/2012/05/23/paul-as-clairvoyant-2/

The recent documentary Resurrection Tomb Mystery made by Simcha Jacobovici and Dr. James Tabor, and their related book The Jesus Discovery have created lots of interest and sparked a great deal of scholarly discussion. Professor James H. Charlesworth of Princeton Theological Seminary has just posted his analysis of the "Jonah" ossuary from the Talpiot "Patio" tomb. It is detailed report that contains some great images and photos. The report is at -- http://foundationjudaismchristianorigins.org/ftp/pages/pdfs/from-charlesworth-Talpiot-II-y12-0430-opt.pdf Professor Mark Goodacre of Duke University makes some interesting comments on his blog about Charlesworth’s report. View his comments at -- http://ntweblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/james-charlesworth-on-talpiot-tomb-b.html Professor James Tabor, University of North Carolina, responded: “Prof. Charlesworth and I respectfully disagree on the identification of the nearby “garden” tomb as most likely that of ...

Newly discovered wall writings found in Guatemala show the famed Maya culture's obsession with cycles of time. But they also show calendars that go well beyond 2012, the year when the vanished civilization, according to popular culture, expected the end of the world. "So much for the supposed end of the world," says archaeologist William Saturno of Boston University, lead author of a study in the journal Science, which reported the discovery on Thursday. Discovered in the ruins of Xultun (SHOOL-toon) , the astronomical calendar was unearthed from a filled-in scribe's room. While about 7 million Maya people still live in Central America today, the "Classic" Maya civilization of pyramid temples had collapsed there by about 900 A.D., leaving only a few birch-bark books dating to perhaps the 14th century as records of their astronomy, until now. Read complete article at -- http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/story/2012-05-08/maya-apocalypse-calend...

All Jews should read the New Testament. As paradoxical as it sounds, it will make us better Jews, just as the study of the New Testament — which we did in preparation for our book — has made us better Jews. . . Study of the New Testament does more than provide information on painful texts. It also reveals the rich diversity of late Second Temple Judaism, a diversity that gave rise to both rabbinic Judaism and the Christian Church. In studying the New Testament and understanding how it came to take shape in its historical context, we also recover Jewish history.  Read complete article at -- http://www.shma.com/2012/05/reading-the-new-testament/

The Gospels contain many clues that Jesus was a Jew who taught in Hebrew and that he taught other Jews living in Galilee and Judea in the Late Second Temple Period.  When we recognize and understand the cultural and linguistic clues found in the teachings of Jesus a whole new understanding of his message and mission emerges. His lesson on what to do when we become angry is as relevant for people today as it was when he taught it nearly 2,000 years ago. Read the article at – http://www.biblicalheritage.org/DTB/0512_%20LOB_Jesus_Teaches_About_Anger.pdf Watch Rabbi Leynor’s videos (about 5 minutes each) on Jesus’ lesson. Part 1 at – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODw67R_IUWo Part 2 at – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_x93mMohbY Part 3 at -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7jLvMg_X2U

How many of each kind animal did Noah take on the ark? See if your answer is the biblical answer. The biblical answer to this question can create some serious challenges to the belief systems of millions of people. It can also transform the way we read our Bible!    To read complete article click on -- http://www.biblicalheritage.org/DTB/0512_%20DTB_Noahs_%20Ark.pdf