Biblical Heritage Center Blog

  In August 1980 I began a journey of collecting information that led to this email. It started when I prayed this short prayer: “ Dear God, please show me what you want me to read in the Bible. Amen .” And immediately, these words literally popped into my mind: Unless you know how words work, you cannot understand the words in the Bible! Was this God answering my prayer? Obviously, I cannot provide any proof to claim that it was. However, I can provide facts related to the words that popped into my mind. Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/d6981e3f06a6/introducing-the-bhc-lives-1st-educational-network

  Today, I want to tell you a story that will provide a context in which you can better understand why exploring the Bible is so important. Once upon a time, a professor, a rabbi and a pastor agreed to follow a guideline and explore the Bible. Their names are Ike Tennison , Jeffrey Leynor , and Jim Myers . (that’s me). We are the First Exploring the Bible Team. We explored the Bible for over 30 years and became very good friends. Agreeing to follow the guideline creates safe and open environments to explore belief systems; and that is priceless! Continue reading at – http://mailchi.mp/100c706d4971/why-exploring-the-bible-is-important

  My email about Judgment Day in the Gospel of Matthew linked the parable Jesus taught to the First Story in Genesis. My previous email, The Miracle of Rediscovering the Ancient Alliance, revealed the miracle that makes it possible for understand why Jesus linked the parable to the Genesis Story. The Alliance in the story in Genesis is the standard the King used to judge all the nations of the earth, including Israel. Understanding how words work transforms the way we read the Bible. Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/adcf0cbb94fb/the-valuable-benefits-of-exploring-the-bible

  We would have never known anything about the Alliance Jesus referred to in the Parable About the Great Day of Judgment without the Guidelines and Linguistic Models we use to Explore the Bible. They allowed us to track the journey of the Alliance from Jesus back to ancient Babylonian texts. Some of those texts existed before Abraham was born. In order to do this, and accurately understand the words of the Bible, we had to learn how words work. Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/f9b2116bcf6e/the-miracle-of-rediscovering-the-ancient-alliance

  In 90 CE, the Sanhedrin adds t he Birkat haMinim ("Blessing on the heretics") to synagogue services. It is a curse on heretics. The doors of synagogues are now closed to members of the Jesus Movement. The Pharisees had always controlled the new Sanhedrin. However, it is important to understand that there were sects within the Pharisees that ranged from being “doves” (men of peace) to “hawks” (men of war). Emperor Vespasian chose “a man of peace” to create the new Sanhedrin. But, in 90 CE it appears that the hawks had gained control. The men of peace were members of the “school of Hillel” and the “Jesus Movement.” Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/6eeb62e2b734/judgment-day-in-the-gospel-of-matthew

  We are committed to Increasing Bible Literacy by teaching people how to use BHC Guidelines, Models, and Exploring Skills. Being familiar with the order of the creation of the seven areas, the things that occupy each area, and how each of them function will allow you to more accurately understand the Bible stories that follow it. Continue at = http://mailchi.mp/92a85f59deba/the-stories-of-the-seven-areas-in-the-first-story-in-genesis

  The new Sanhedrin’s ruling delt a deadly blow to the relationship between Judaism and the Jesus Movement. The 90 CE Sanhedrin also created a new Jewish canon. It would be the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls that revealed something else this council or another council did. It excluded some very old and popular scrolls that were “scripture” in Jewish communities, and they were probably read frequently at the Temple. Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/d2ec7b6e2a70/new-sanhedrin-ends-relationship-with-the-jesus-movement

  Yochanan ben Zakkai converted his school to function as a re-establishment of the Sanhedrin in Yavneh. He was chosen to do this by Roman Emperor Vespasian because the Emperor had heard that he was “ a man of peace .” Zakkai was student of Hillel had been president of the Sanhedrin at the Temple and leader of the Pharisees. Hillel is one of the greatest rabbis of the Jewish tradition. The teachings of Jesus reflect many of the wisdom lessons taught by Hillel . As we will see as we follow the proceeding of the new Sanhedrin, Luke and Matthew shaped their Gospels in ways that would link the Jesus Movement to the school of Hillel. Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/b79bcaf5da34/hillel-holy-spirit-peace-the-new-sanhedrin-and-the-gospels

  At the end of my last email about the Gospel of Mark, I added a note about the new Sanhedrin . I was planning to write about the Gospel of Luke next. However, I wanted to dig a little deeper into the role the new Sanhedrin would play in the events that unfolded in Judaism and Christianity immediately after the Temple was destroyed. I realized I had stumbled into something that not only related to ancient Judea – it related to us in 2024 CE . Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/b272239e095d/jewish-sects-roman-empire-and-the-gospels  

  I decided to revise and update my previous email on the Gospel of Mark to make it more “reader friendly” and easier to understand. I also add new information that will make it more accurately fit within the historical context of the history Israel in period of great uncertainty. Mark, Luke, and Matthew are clearly the products of members of the Jesus Movement actively engaged in being part of the new Israel after the destruction of the Temple. You may listen to the audio version of this email or read it or do both. http://mailchi.mp/c239b8fccf70/exploring-the-gospel-of-mark-revised-and-updated

  The Gospel of Mark was written around 72 CE. Roman armies were wrapping up their operation in Judea. It had been two years since the Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed. After Mark wrote his Gospel and before Luke wrote his, a very important event took place that isn’t mentioned in the New Testament . Johanan ben Zakkai was the youngest of all the learned disciples in the academy of Hillel. Before the Temple was destroyed, it became clear him that the Jews would lose to the Romans. If Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, which was inevitable, how would the Jews survive as a people?  Roman Emperor Vespasian made a decision changed history. Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/9caa06c0d67c/the-new-sanhedrin-and-the-gospels-of-luke-and-matthew