Should “Ekklēsia” Really Be Translated as “Church”?
In the King James translation of the Hebrew scripture (so-called ‘Old Testament’), the translators consistently employed the gloss ‘assembly,’ while in the New Testament they used ‘church.’
Thecla’s Fight for Independence
Thecla is willing to die, but she doesn’t patiently endure violence toward her. … So that’s a very different dynamic than what is often presented as the pattern that a good submissive woman should follow. An interview with Dr. Deborah Niederer Saxon.
How After Jesus Before Christianity Could Rewrite History
The book challenges the general public, many churches, and most scholars to re-consider how to think about Jesus and these hundreds of years before there were ‘Christians.’
Early Christians Answer “Where Is God When Things Go Wrong?”
The modern world is so impoverished in its ideas. We have such a narrow range of ways of responding to situations and issues compared to all the ideas that people had before. An interview with Dr. Jason BeDuhn.
A Lesson from Jesus on How to Heal in the Gospels of Thomas and Matthew
If I’m reading this right, it sounds like the power to heal in the Gospel of Thomas … belongs to those who love unselfishly and unpretentiously.
Ancient Roman Families and Household Models Elucidate the Biblical Book of Philemon
"It’s interesting to read (Paul’s) letter to Philemon and imagine yourself hearing it as Onesimus. We do not often imagine life from the viewpoint of the slaves in the ancient world. " An interview with Elli Elliott, PhD.
How Can Ancient Texts Help Us Find Meaning in Our Lives?
I have worked for thirty-plus years on early texts from the Christ movements, the rest of the Bible, and all kinds of ancient writings, because it has been one of the ways I claim meaning.
Great News! Hal Taussig Joins Early Christian Texts
He brings what we love most about the Early Christian Texts project: his willingness to listen like a pastor, his eagerness to probe the scholarly questions …, and a healthy dose of surprise.
Re-thinking the Meaning of Jesus’s Passion
In the second century we have images of Jesus as a healer, as a teacher, as a good shepherd, but we have no image of Jesus on the cross. An Interview with Dr. Arthur Dewey
Sing One of the Odes of Solomon Today
We’re so accustomed to reading about early Christians, but now try to imagine them singing! And today, we invite you to sing again.