Does The Old Testament Condone Involuntary Chattel Slavery?

Egyptian Slave Market of Nubian Salves

I previously posted on this subject back in 2015, just showing some of the many passages in the Bible that were used to justify the slave trade but I did not go as far as to address the specifics of slavery in the Bible or the various types of slavery. I intend to address all … Read more

Why Did The Apocryphal Books Get Removed From The Bible?

Apocrypha KJV

Introduction For many Christians the topic of the Apocryphal books is far from a burning interest. In fact, a large number of Christians might give you a blank stare if you ask them if they even know what they are. The Apocryphal books, also known as Deuterocanonical, are books of the Old Testament that fall … Read more

The Purpose of Towers and Temples in The Ancient Near East

Ziggurat Dūr Untash

Introduction The biblical narrative about the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) has been the source of many interpretations and even more questions. Why did God destroy the tower? Why did the people build it? What did it mean when the people wanted to “make a name” for themselves? Did the tower have any connections with other similar structures in … Read more

Acts Devotional Commentary [Acts 11:18-30] The Church In Antioch

Expulsion of the Jews in the Reign of the Emperor Hadrian CE 135

The Church In Antioch Acts 11:18-30 (NRSV) 19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen [had] traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. 20 But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, … Read more

Who Was Ishtar and What is Her Connection to Easter?

Old-Babylonian Plaque of Ishtar

By now, many people are aware that Ishtar has nothing to do with Easter. However, there are still a number of Bible teachers, such as Chick.com and LastTrumpetMinistries who preach that Easter is derived from the cult of Ishtar. Is there a reason for this myth? What about the Easter symbols, like bunnies and eggs? … Read more

Was Codex Sinaiticus Found In The Trash?

Codex 1 Add MS 43725, British Library

Sometimes a lie can be repeated so many times that even educated people believe the lie. One example is the myth that Easter came from Ishtar. Easter has nothing to do with a goddess from Mesopotamia. Another myth is that one of the popular manuscripts used in translating modern Bibles (the Sinaiticus) was discovered in … Read more