Bible backgrounds reveal the real world of Scripture, making its people, places, and events vivid and guarding us from reading modern ideas into God’s Word.
Bible Backgrounds of the Old and New Testaments
Josephus’ Youthful Quest for Wisdom: Testing the Sects and the Desert Discipline of Banus
From Essenes to Banus to Pharisees, Josephus tested the ways of Israel and chose disciplined, public fidelity to teach the people under God’s Law.
Josephus’ Childhood in Jerusalem: How a Priestly Boyhood in the Holy City Formed a First-Century Historian
Josephus’ Jerusalem childhood—priestly, scriptural, and Temple-centered—formed the historian who would later explain Israel’s fate to the world.
The Early Life of Flavius Josephus
Josephus’ early life in Jerusalem reveals his priestly heritage, spiritual searching, and adaptability, shaping the historian who bridged Judaism and Rome.
What Was the Census That Led to Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem?
Luke’s census is real history: an Augustan enrollment adapted to Judea under Herod, earlier Quirinian oversight, and a 2 B.C.E. birth in Bethlehem.
Why Did Jesus Wash the Feet of His Apostles?
Jesus washing His disciples' feet symbolizes humility, love, and servant leadership, challenging conventional notions of greatness in Christian fellowship.
What Did It Mean for a Person to Be Anointed?
Anointing in biblical context symbolizes divine appointment and empowerment, culminating in Jesus Christ as the ultimate Anointed One.
What Did Jesus Mean When He Said to Saul: “To Keep Kicking Against the Goads Makes It Hard for You”?—Acts 26:14
The discussion highlights Saul's resistance to divine truth, illustrated by Jesus' metaphor of kicking against goads during his conversion.
How Did First-Century Jews Keep Time at Night?
First-century Jews used clepsydras to measure time at night, adapting Roman hour divisions for religious and communal observance.
To What Does the Expression “Bosom Position” Refer?
John 1:18 illustrates Jesus’ unique closeness to God the Father, highlighting His intimate relationship, divine favor, and incomparable role.
