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“But what does it mean?”
How often have you tried to read an ancient text only to find things that just don’t make sense? If only you could find someone who really knows the text and knows how to take you on a bit of a guided tour.
Well, now you do.
We have invited some Bible and Beyond experts to take us beyond the surface of some of their favorite ancient texts, and to show us what to look for, what’s happening behind the scenes, and why these writings can be so meaningful to us today. Some texts are obscure, and few people know about them. Others are well known, but their meaning remains a mystery.
We invite you to enjoy the beauty and inspiration hidden beneath the surface of these remarkable early Christian texts, here in our Bible and Beyond Articles section.
The Shepherd of Hermas: All Slaves of God
"For Hermas, self-control meant a redirection of desire by taking pleasure in the joy of helping the poor. Such redirection was a means to overcome double-mindedness by reorienting wealthier members to focus on the community rather than themselves."
The Odes of Solomon: Jewish Wisdom and Christian Worship
"Virtually unknown until ancient manuscripts began to surface in 1785, this surprising and superlative collection of odes offers a rare glimpse into the unbridled spirituality of early Eastern followers of Jesus."
What 1 Timothy Says about Women
"[The text] prohibited women from teaching only in that time because it was important that they first learn and only then begin to teach."
The Thunder: Perfect Mind
She has much power, speaks her own truth even when it is not easy, brings different persons and characteristics together in herself, and enacts surprising connections.
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