Category: Ancient history

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Ancient history Book excerpts Old Testament

How Does the JPS Torah Commentary Introduce the Book of Exodus?

Artistic rendering of Mount Sinai at sunrise, evoking the sacred and ancient setting of the Book of Exodus as described in the JPS Torah Commentary.

Present-day editions divide the Book of Exodus into 40 chapters. This practice is not rooted in Jewish tradition but was borrowed from Christian Bibles. In the late Middle Ages, the Church forced Jews to engage in disputations, which usually focused upon the interpretation of scriptural passages. This necessitated a common, standardized system of reference, and so the Christian chapter and verse numberings were introduced into the Hebrew manuscript Bibles by Rabbi Solomon ben Ishmael (ca. 1330).1

Editorial Note: This is an authorized excerpt from “The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus” published by the Jewish Publication Society.

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Ancient history Old Testament

What Is the Meaning of the Akedah in Genesis 22?

Silhouetted Abraham and Isaac walk up Mount Moriah at sunrise, Abraham carrying wood for the offering, in an oil-painted style evoking Genesis 22 and the Akedah.

The Akedah—Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22—has long been read as the Bible’s ultimate test of faith and obedience. The Hebrew word means “to tie up” or “to bind,” describing what Abraham does to Isaac in response to God’s command to kill his son. He sets out without telling Sarah, fully intending to murder his child, only for the Lord to intervene at the last moment with a critical message. Abraham’s trial of faith is so devastating that he never again speaks to Isaac, Sarah, or God. Philosophers and theologians have interpreted the story in strikingly different ways: Did God expect Abraham’s obedience—or yearn for his “pious irreverence”? In this interview, scholar Aaron Koller explores the history of interpreting the Akedah, examining what this haunting episode means for readers of faith.

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American History Ancient history Latter-day Saint History Theology

The Best of From the Desk: 2025 Year in Review

Illustrated scholar’s desk with an open annotated book, stacked manuscripts, and parchment sketches, with “2025” engraved on the wooden surface, symbolizing a year-in-review of historical and theological scholarship.

Another year is in the books—and it’s resulted in some thought-provoking scholarship. We’ve put together a list of 2025’s most influential interviews, along with fan favorites, and identified recently published pieces that are already trending. Plus, we’ve cut through the stats to highlight this year’s hidden gems. From Bruce Chilton’s groundbreaking work on the Aramaic Jesus to Jonathan Stapley’s unprecedented history of Latter-day Saint temple worship, these are 2025’s most noteworthy interviews in history, religion, and theology.

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Ancient history New Testament

How Close Were Jesus and the Pharisees?

A painting of Jesus healing a blind man while surrounded by Pharisees, as portrayed by Jorge Cocco in "I was Blind, but Now I See."
"I Was Blind, but Now I See," by Jorge Cocco. Used by permission.

The relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees is often reduced to hostility and hypocrisy. But the New Testament tells a more complicated story—one of shared meals, theological debate, and overlapping commitments to the Torah. Far from being outsiders to Judaism, Jesus and the Pharisees were part of the same religious world, sometimes clashing, sometimes converging. In this interview, New Testament scholar Jens Schröter helps unpack that complexity.

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Ancient history

Reading the Herculaneum Scrolls

An aerial of Herculaneum, the sister city of Pompeii destroyed by Mount Vesuvius

Everyone knows the story about Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius. It’s as famous as the Dead Sea Scrolls. But did you know that the city of Herculaneum (or Ercolano) met a similar fate? Join Kenneth Lapatin, curator of the J. Paul Getty Museum, for a discussion of the book, Buried by Vesuvius: The Villa dei Papiri at Herculaneum. 

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Ancient history New Testament

Did Herod the Great Claim to Be the Messiah?

While Herod the Great is portrayed as an anti-Jesus in the Gospels, archaeologists think that the ancient king claimed to be a Messiah.

Herod the Great is perhaps best known for the massacre of the innocents portrayed in the Gospel of Matthew. Interestingly, many scholars believe that Herod claimed to be a messiah, and Ehud Netzer’s discovery of King Herod’s tomb at Herodium led to additional evidence. In this interview, biblical archaeologist and Masada expert Jodi Magness expounds on her related article in the Journal of Ancient Judaism.

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Ancient history New Testament

Who Was the Virgin Mary in Early Christianity?

A composite painting of the Virgin Mary generated by AI to represent the nuanced way she was viewed in early Christianity.

The Virgin Mary is best known today as the Mother of God. Ancient Christians held the same belief, but it’s unclear what else they knew about her. The New Testament, apocryphal writings, and biblical archaeology shed light on certain aspects of her life, such as her likely age was when Jesus was born. Mary also serves as a lens through which we can view the history of Christian theology and the nature of Jesus. In this interview, biblical scholar Mary Joan Leith discusses the role of Mary in early Christianity.

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Ancient history Book of Mormon Come Follow Me

Do Book of Mormon Names Have Ancient Origins?

S. Kent Brown says that this altar with an inscription of Nahom is the first archaeological proof of the Book of Mormon

The prophet Brigham Young spent two years studying the Book of Mormon before he accepted it as the word of God. He said that he “wished time sufficient to prove all things for myself.” Today, scholars seek historical confirmation of the scripture’s origins to complement their own divine witnesses. In this interview, Stephen D. Ricks discusses evidence that names in the Book of Mormon have ancient origins.

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Ancient history Come Follow Me New Testament

N. T. Wright on the New Testament in Its World

New Testament scholar N. T. Wright posing in front of an ancient site

N. T. Wright is one of today’s most influential biblical scholars. His one-volume introduction to the New Testament illuminates the history, theology, and literature of the first Christians. Co-authored with Michael F. Bird, the book is accessible to lay readers and scholars alike. In this interview, N. T. Wright discusses The New Testament in Its World, gives tips for understanding the Apostle Paul, explains why the Bible isn’t a guide for getting into heaven, and more.

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Ancient history New Testament

Was Jesus a Rabbi? An Interview with Bruce Chilton

An AI-generated image of Jesus as a rabbi teaching students in an ancient Jewish synagogue.

The Gospels repeatedly designate Jesus as a rabbi. For some, the term adds an extra layer of depth to the historical Jesus. But it’s not that simple for everyone. For example, calling Jesus a rabbi associates him with Judaism. It also reinforces his role as a historical figure. Both implications go against the grain of certain ideologies. In this interview, Mary Magdalene author Bruce Chilton explains more—and reflects on reactions to his book, Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography.

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