Research Articles: New Testament Era

Archaeological and historical articles dealing with events from the Intertestamental and New Testament Era, circa 400 B.C. - 150 A.D.

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Shechem: Its Archaeological and Contextual Significance 6/25/2010 - by Col. (Ret.) David G. Hansen PhD

Jesus and the woman at Jacob’s well in John 4 is an excellent example of the importance of context in developing a passage. The story takes place near the Old Testament city of Shechem. Shechem is mentioned 60 times in the Old Testament. The city had been abandoned by New Testament times, but Stephen reiterates its importance in his speech in Acts 7:16. A small village, Sychar, was near the ruins of Shechem in New Testament times and is mentioned in the John 4 account (Jn 4:5). Unfortunately, most Bible studies of events at or near Shechem, and commentaries on the Book of John, omit Shechem’s pivotal role in Bible history and how it fit into God’s salvation plan.

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Who Framed Jesus? Putting the Recent Discovery Channel Special in Perspective 5/14/2010 - by Scott Lanser MA

In March of this year we were treated to yet another edition of information media’s relentless infatuation with reinterpreting and redefining the Bible with its insufferable post-modern spin. The Discovery Channel’s, Who Framed Jesus? was released just in time to throw a wet blanket on anyone who might actually believe the Bible’s account of the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. Paraded before us was the predictable mixed bag of scholars and pseudo-scholars, who, in the typical fashion of those who have rejected the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, offered their mush-minded opinions of what must have “really” been the cause of Jesus’ supposed “framing”...

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“Meat Offered to Idols” in Pergamum and Thyatira 4/6/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

This article deals with understanding the phrase “meat offered to idols” in two of the letters that the Lord Jesus addressed to the seven churches. Dr. Charles A. Kennedy has set forth, in my opinion, the best explanation for the phrase “meat offered to idols.” The phrase should be understood as a memorial meal for the dead that sometimes degenerates into an immoral affair. If this understanding is correct, the interpretation will help clarify the message of the letters to the churches at Pergamum and Thyatira...

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Is the Resurrection Historically Reliable? 3/31/2010 - by Jared M Compton

Is the Resurrection historically reliable? The writers of Scripture, particularly Paul and the gospel writers, seem to have thought so....

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Resurrection: Reason to Believe or Wishful Thinking? 3/28/2010 - by Brian Janeway PhD (c)

At Easter you may have unique opportunities to share your faith with others who otherwise pay little attention to the Christian creed. Are you prepared to provide them reason to believe?

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Thinking Clearly About the "Jesus Family Tomb" 3/26/2010 - by Michael S Heiser PhD

According to James Tabor, after John was executed by Herod, Jesus went to Jerusalem and confronted the Jewish religious leadership with their corruption, demanding a return to righteousness and the kingdom of God. Jesus expected God’s help and protection in this mission, but was instead crucified. Jesus did not rise from the dead—an idea Tabor argues developed much later...

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From The Mailbox 3/18/2010 - by Rick Lanser MDiv

We frequently find that skeptics and atheists visit our website, read something that sets them off, and post a diatribe to the Comments area. Most of the time these remarks are never published, since they represent emotional outbursts rather than an honest wrestling with facts. But once in a while, even if we do not make the comments public, we nevertheless send a personal reply to the writer...

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Silver Coins in Syria and Rejoicing in Heaven 3/17/2010 - by Gary Byers MA

A March 2, 2010 press release by the official Syrian news agency, SANA, and a March 4, 2010 AP article by Albert Aji provide information about the discovery of 252 silver coins from the time of Alexander the Great. A man in the Manbej area of northern Syria found them while digging the foundation for a new house. Youssef Kanjo, head of the excavations department at the Aleppo Department of Archaeology and Museums, confirmed there were 115 silver drachmas and 137 silver tetradrachmas found in a bronze container...

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“Searching for Paul’s Shipwreck on Malta”: A Critique of the 700 Club’s February 26, 2010 Program 3/2/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

On Friday morning, February 26, 2010, on CBN’s 700 Club program, Chuck Holton submitted a report about a man who believes he found an “amazing Biblical discovery” on Malta. This nine-minute video segment featured Robert Cornuke presenting his theory about the location of the Apostle Paul’s shipwreck on the island of Malta...

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The King and I: Opening The Third Seal, Part 3 2/11/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

This is the third and final article in a series on the background to Revelation 1:9. This article examines some modern prophetic interpretations of events related to opening the Third Seal. Drawing on ancient and modern agricultural practices in the region, the author offers some fresh insights into the phrase “do not harm the oil and the wine.”

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Interrupting Ehrman: Critiquing His Latest Polemic Against the Faith 2/4/2010 - by Henry B. Smith Jr. MA

The indefatigible skeptic is at it again...His most recent polemic is entitled: Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (and Why We Don't Know About Them). Easily identified and refuted by committed Christian scholars and apologists who take Biblical authority seriously, this book targets the unsuspecting layman in the pew. And THAT makes it worth critiquing...

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The Resurrection of the Jerusalem Saints at the Feast of the Firstfruits 2/1/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

I would like to examine Matthew 27:51-54 in light of what we know of Jewish burial practices in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period, and then ask two questions, “What happened to these resurrected saints?” “What is the prophetic significance of the veil of the Temple being torn in two from top to bottom and the saints being resurrected?”

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The King and I: Exiled To Patmos, Part 2 1/28/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

Second in a series on the Book of Revelation, this article examines the physical and historical evidence for the Aegean island of Patmos. The author draws from both ancient sources and his own exploration of the island to provide a greater understanding of the Book of Revelation.

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The King and I: The Apostle John and Emperor Domitian, Part 1 1/18/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

Emperor Domitian, the self-proclaimed “Lord and God” and ruthless dictator, reigned from AD 81 to 96. He was the son of Emperor Vespasian and the brother of Titus, the conquerors of Jerusalem in AD 70. Late in life, Domitian become very superstitious. In fact, on the day before he was murdered...

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Golgotha: A Reconsideration of the Evidence for the Sites of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Burial 1/11/2010 - by Joan Taylor

Currently, the most popular alternative site to traditional Golgotha, located in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem, is the area of Gordon’s Calvary, with the so-called ‘Garden Tomb,’ but scholarly endorsement of this locality has never been very strong. Generally, the current consensus holds that Golgotha was located in the vicinity of the traditional site, somewhere north of the first wall of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus, and west of the second wall, though specificity is impossible. In this article, I would like to consider how specific we might be about the localizations of Jesus’ death and entombment...

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The Ultimate Sign: Isaiah 7 12/17/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

In Isaiah chapter 7, God demonstrates His faithfulness to a promise that He made with King David concerning the Davidic dynasty by giving the ultimate sign to the House of David. The sign would be a virgin born Son named Immanuel, God with us. As we examine this passage carefully, we will see from the historical context that Matthew is not taking verse 14 out of context in order to “proof-text” the virgin birth of Jesus. Moreover, the context is clearly pointing to the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus as the fulfillment of this passage in Isaiah 7. The Lord Jesus Christ is the sinless Immanue and God manifest in human flesh.

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The Slaughter of the Innocents: Historical Fact or Legendary Fiction? 12/9/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

In the December 2008 issue of National Geographic there was a well illustrated article on the recent excavations at the Herodian. This was the final burial place of Herod the Great, located 5 ½ kilometers southeast of Bethlehem as the angels fly. In the article, the author made this bold statement, reflecting current historical and theological understanding: “Herod is best known for slaughtering every male infant in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill Jesus. He is almost certainly innocent of this crime” (Mueller 2008:42). Was Herod the Great really innocent of this crime, or did this criminal act actually happen?

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Jesus Celebrates Hanukkah! 11/17/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that commemorates the purification and rededication of the Temple by Judas Maccabeus on Kislev 25, 165 BC (usually in December). Three years prior, Antiochus IV, the Seleucid (Syrian) king, defiled the Temple by erecting an idol to Baal Shamen (the Canaanite counterpart for the Greek god Zeus), sacrificing a pig on the altar in the Temple and proclaiming himself to be a god...

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The Pastor and the Christmas Story 11/8/2009 - by Gary Byers MA

It was my 12th year as pastor of the same church. I had done a Christmas series of messages every December each year. Over the last couple of years it became increasingly difficult to come up with a new take on the old story. You might not have considered it before, but finding new material for every Christmas is not an easy task for a pastor – especially after being in the same church for a dozen years!

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In Quest of the Temple Mount 11/3/2009 - by Gary Byers MA

In a sense, this book is the culmination of Leen Ritmeyer’s life and career. Of the April 1984 International Congress of Biblical Archaeology in Jerusalem, when his collaborative work with Benjamin Mazar was presented, Ritmeyer wrote, “At this defining moment in my life, I realized the unraveling of the mysteries of the Mount had become my personal quest”...

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Once More: Quirinius's Census 11/1/2009 - by Jared M Compton

For those of us with a high view of Scripture, the fact that Luke’s record is indeed part of Scripture suggests that conclusions that claim the Bible is in error are not only premature but are, in the end, simply wrong. Further evidence will only demonstrate this more conclusively...

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Away In a Manger But Not In a Barn 10/26/2009 - by Gary Byers MA

We all know the Christmas story…or do we? I would like to suggest a slightly different view on the subject, based on a careful reading of the Biblical text and insights from archaeology. I admit it makes some people mad, but most folks not only appreciate the new understanding, they even have a greater appreciation for what happened that night in Bethlehem. So go ahead and read the story for yourself offsite in Bible Study Magazine and you can decide – Away in a Manger, but Not in a Barn...

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Rethinking The Crucified Man From Giv’at Ha-Mivtar 10/15/2009 - by John J Davis ThD

The 1968 discovery of the remains of a crucified man in a cave at Giv’at ha-Mivtar in Israel created considerable interest among both Biblical and archaeological scholars...

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New Discoveries Relating to the Apostle Paul 10/8/2009 - by Brian Janeway PhD (c)

Any visitor to the imperial city of Rome cannot help but notice its antiquity on display. Indeed, the prominence of Christian monuments is a testament to the rise of the early church during the first centuries after Christ’s death and its continued development over nearly two thousand years. The best known of these is St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican. But lesser known are those relating to the Apostle Paul...

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The Nazareth Inscription: Proof of the Resurrection of Christ? Part II 7/28/2009 - by Clyde E. Billington PhD

As was seen in Part One of this study, the textual evidence strongly suggests that the Nazareth Inscription was written by the Emperor Claudius. Claudius had an excellent...

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The Nazareth Inscription: Proof of the Resurrection of Christ? Part I 7/22/2009 - by Clyde E. Billington PhD

The Nazareth Inscription is a Greek inscription on a marble tablet measuring approximately 24 inches by 15 inches. The exact time and place of its discovery is not known...

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The Jesus Tomb Unmasked 3/29/2009 - by Henry B. Smith Jr. MA

See the 'Jesus Family Tomb' debunked in this new cutting edge video from Sourceflix.

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Easter Readings 3/29/2009 - by Henry B. Smith Jr. MA

It is hoped that during this Easter Season, these articles will edify you and help you evangelize to people who do not know the unfathomable mercy and grace of the Son of God...

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The Imperial Cult and the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus 3/23/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

Paul writes that the Lord Jesus was “born of the Seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” It was the covenant promise of God to David and the bodily resurrection that set Him apart from all the Roman emperors...

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Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead 3/20/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

There are two incidents recorded in the Gospels when a disciple requested a “leave of absence” in order to “bury” his father (Matt. 8:21-22; Luke 9:59-60). Although the requests appear reasonable, Jesus gave a seemingly harsh reply in each case: “Follow Me, let the dead bury their own dead.”...

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Jesus and the Sea of Galilee 3/6/2009 - by Todd Bolen

According to the gospels, Jesus’ earthly ministry centered around the Sea of Galilee. While important events occurred in Jerusalem, the Lord spent most of the three years of His ministry along the shore of this freshwater lake. Here He gave more than half of His parables and here He performed most of his miracles...

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Gods, Gold And The Glory Of Philippi 2/13/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Apostle Paul’s visit to Macedonia marked the first time he set foot on European soil. However, this was not the first time the gospel was proclaimed in Europe...

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Christmas Readings 12/27/2008 - by Henry B. Smith Jr. MA

This holiday season, as you celebrate the birth of our glorious God and Savior, Jesus Christ, feel free to peruse through a variety of Christmas related articles posted here online by the ministry of ABR...

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The Angelic Proclamation to the Shepherds 12/23/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

I would like to draw back the curtains on the Drama of World Redemption and take a peek at what was going on behind the scenes...

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Who Is Immanuel? 12/17/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Incarnation is at the heart of the Christmas message. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Tm 3:16). The only way the Second Person of the triune God could take on human flesh without being tainted by Adam’s sin was to be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin...

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Mary's Magnificat: The Mercy of God 12/11/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

I would like to tell you a story that is true. I am not making it up...

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Oh Little Town of Bethlehem 12/7/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

During the Christmas season, we are inundated with images of Bethlehem from Christmas cards or Sunday School material that depicts somebody's imagination of what Bethlehem looked like 2,000 years ago. Some Christmas cards...

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Incomprehensible 12/7/2008 - by Henry B. Smith Jr. MA

As the pages of redemptive history unfold, they reach a culmination in the early pages of the Gospels, at the birth of Jesus Christ, the mysterious incarnation of the Lord of Glory...

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The Manger and the Inn 11/8/2008 - by Kenneth Bailey PhD

Our understanding of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus are usually formed by our exposure to the traditional Christmas story. Upon further examination of the Biblical references, archaeological evidence and 1st century cultural context, the details surrounding Jesus' birth may be quite different than we have traditionally thought...

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A Brief Comment on the Census in Luke 2 10/16/2008 - by Stephen Caesar MA

The issue of the Luke 2 census has been debated for decades, but there are solutions to the apparent Bible problem...

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For Young Archaeologists: Herod the Great 9/18/2008 - by Lisette Brody

Herod the Great was the first Herod to rule over all of Israel. Among his list of accomplishments are numerous fortresses, buildings and cities he erected, including rebuilding the great Temple in Jerusalem, and expanding the Temple Mount where it stood...

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Ehrman on Abiathar: Is the Bible Ever Mistaken? 6/17/2008 - by Daryl Witmer

It seems possible that Bart Ehrman’s mission in life would have been altered had he only realized that resolving the “Abiathar problem” was not so impossible to solve — that it certainly didn’t require anyone to conclude that either Mark or Jesus or both had made a mistake. Other intellectually credible resolutions have been proposed...

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BLOODLINE: Serious Documentary or Hollywood Hoax? 5/26/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

Incontrovertible proof to refute Christianity?

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What is the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls? 5/21/2008 - by Will Varner PhD

The Dead Sea Scrolls have demonstrated that the Old Testament was accurately transmitted during this interval. In addition, they provide a wealth of information on the times leading up to, and during, the life of Christ...

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The Parable of the Two Builders 2/6/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

When Jesus preached a sermon, told a parable, or gave a discourse, He always used object lessons that were familiar to His hearers in order to illustrate His point...

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Greatest Fish Stories Ever Told 12/5/2007 - by Gordon Franz MA

As the calm waters reflected the slowly rising sun over the Sea of Galilee, a lonely figure walked from Capernaum along a path near the rocky shore of the lake. On this spring day, He noticed the flowers...

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Divine Healer: Jesus vs. Eshmun 11/28/2007 - by Gordon Franz MA

This article addresses itself to the background of the third miracle or sign, the incident which took place at Bethesda (John 5). When did the event take place? Where did it take place? How do the archaeological discoveries shed light on this passage? And what are the practical and theological implications of this event?

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Three Woes! 8/15/2007 - by Henry B. Smith Jr. MA

The center of Jesus' Galilean ministry was an area now called the "evangelical triangle." At the points of this triangle were the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum...

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The So-Called Jesus Family Tomb 'Rediscovered' in Jerusalem 3/17/2007 - by Gordon Franz MA

On Monday morning, February 26, 2007, I heard this opening statement by Matt Lauer on the NBC Today show: "Is this the tomb of Jesus? A shocking new claim that an ancient burial place may have housed the bones of Christ and a son. This morning a Today exclusive that could rock Christianity to its core."...

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The Tyrian Shekel and the Temple of Jerusalem 11/1/2006 - by Gordon Franz MA

Every year, a Jewish man, 20 years old and older, paid a voluntary half shekel Temple tax to the Jerusalem Temple. This tax, instituted by Moses (Ex 30:11–16), was paid in either the Tyrian shekel...

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After the Hype: The Significance of The Gospel of Judas 6/14/2006 - by Gary Byers MA

The Judas Gospel comes from a well-known genre of ancient literature called Gnostic Gospels. We know of about 50 of these ancient texts from discussions by early church fathers who rejected them as heretical...

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Latest Developments on the Shroud of Turin: Part II 4/19/2006 - by John Long

The results of the 1988 radiocarbon dating were shocking to many Shroud watchers...

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Latest Developments on the Shroud of Turin: Part I 4/12/2006 - by John Long

ABR subscribers and readers may have noticed that interest in the Shroud of Turin continues in scientific and historical researches, books, articles, conferences, TV documentaries, etc. If you have a modest interest in the Shroud, then there is a perfect place to go to keep up with recent developments...

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Fact and Fiction: Checking the Da Vinci Code History 3/6/2006 - by David Witmer

Daniel Brown’s 2003 novel, The Da Vinci Code, has sold over 36 million copies in 44 languages and has been a best seller for months. Has the real truth about Jesus been repressed? Is Christianity a fraud?...

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The Cave of John the Baptist: The Stunning Archaeological Discovery that has Redefined Rabbinic Judaism (at least, that's what it SHOULD have said!) 2/22/2006 - by Gary Byers MA

The title of this article is a take-off on the book 'The Cave of John the Baptist: The Stunning Archaeological Discovery that has Redefined Christian History', by archaeologist Shimon Gibson. I am sure his title will sell a lot more books...

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Does "The Lost Shipwreck of Paul" Hold Water? 12/19/2005 - by Gordon Franz MA

Mr. Cornuke’s investigations on the island of Malta led to the conclusion that the shipwreck occurred on the eastern end of the island of Malta, rather than the traditional site at St. Paul’s Bay on the northern side of the island...

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The Historical Basis of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code 11/28/2005 - by Gary Byers MA

There is none! But that doesn't make for much of an article, and I have some really important things to say about this book. This article is not a book review, but a response to the novel because of the impact it has had on the general public...

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The Star of Bethlehem 10/17/2005 - by William Geating

Many possibilities have been suggested to explain the astronomical phenomena known as the "Star of Bethlehem" as recorded in Matthew 2:1-12 . Is there a scientific explanation for this "Star of Wonder" that remains true to the Scriptural account?

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