New Testament History

This remarkable work paints a comprehensive and colorful picture of the world that Jesus knew. From detailed, convincing portraits of John the Baptist, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Jesus himself, and other key figures, to the Jewish and Hellenistic leaders often ignored in scripture, Who's Who in the Age of Jesus is a critical, in-depth look at one of the most tumultuous eras in human history.

Alexandria was the epicenter of Hellenic learning in the ancient Mediterranean world, yet little is known about how Christianity arrived and developed in the city during the late first and early second century CE. In this volume, M. David Litwa employs underused data from the Nag Hammadi codices and early Christian writings to open up new vistas on the creative theologians who invented Christianities in Alexandria prior to Origen and the catechetical school of the third century.

How did the movement founded by Jesus transform more in the first 75 years after his death than it has in the 2,000 years since? This book tells the story of how the Christian movement, which began as relatively informal, rural, Hebrew- and Aramaic-speaking, and closely anchored to the Jewish synagogue, became primarily urban, Greek-speaking, and gentile by the early second century, spreading through the Greco-Roman world with a mission agenda and church organization distinct from its roots in Jewish Galilee.

This book welcomes listeners to appreciate the origins of Christianity within the Roman world in which early Christianity got its first foothold. It does that by immersing listeners in the life and culture of two thriving first-century towns—Pompeii and Herculaneum. Those towns (destroyed in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE) act as showpieces of the world into which the early Christian movement was spreading.

In this audio recording of Covenant History, listeners will learn about God’s creation, humanity’s rebellion, and God’s plan to renew the world. The books of the Bible are arranged in an order that helps you hear the unfolding drama more easily. Each book of the Bible is accompanied by an...

Long before the followers of Jesus declared him to be the Son of God, Jesus taught his followers that they too were the children of God. This ancient creed, now all but forgotten, is recorded still within the folds of a letter of Paul the Apostle. This ancient creed said nothing about God or Christ or salvation. Its claims were about the whole human race: there is no race, there is no class, there is no gender. Followers of Jesus proclaimed: "You are all children of God. There is no Jew or Greek, no slave or free, no male and female, for you are all one."

Two thousand years ago, a former construction worker wanders around the back streets of a third-rate country in the Roman Empire. For a couple of years, he preaches in obscure parables. He never writes anything down. He has a handful of close disciples—all of whom run away when he is arrested. He dies in ignominious agony, nailed to a cross as a criminal. That should be the end of that sad tale.

The Zondervan Biblical and Theological Lectures series provides a unique audio learning experience. Unlike a traditional audiobook's direct narration of a book's text, 2 Corinthians: Audio Lectures include high-quality live recordings of college-level lectures that cover the important points...

The New Testament starts with the three Gospel books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These three are known as the Synoptic Gospels. Gospel means “Good News,” and Synoptic refers to the fact that all three give an account of the same general events from the same point of view. The fourth book, John, is distinctly different from the three Synoptic Gospels and includes much information not in the other three Gospels. The four Gospels differ in what stories they include and how the stories are told. None of the four Gospels are meant to be a complete, detailed life of Jesus.

James was possibly the first New Testament book written, probably penned in the very late 40s AD. It is generally accepted that the book was written by James, the leader of the Jerusalem Church, also known as James the brother of Jesus. From the very first, some people objected to having James in the New Testament. Martin Luther pushed for its exclusion (as well as some other books) because he thought it crossed some Protestant doctrines.

Jesus Christ has been undoubtedly one of the greatest leaders in the history of mankind. He has been so powerful that he keeps leading billions of human beings 2,000 years after his death. Discover the lessons from Jesus Christ that can transform your business and your life!