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The synoptic Gospels — Matthew, Mark, and Luke — are historical biographies of Jesus. And John is…something else, but not history. That’s what some Bible scholars have been saying for the past 150 years. But John actually has more historical information than those other three Gospels, sometimes the only historical account of what we commonly believe about Jesus. Paul Anderson is professor of Biblical and Quaker studies at George Fox University and cofounder of the John, Jesus and History Project. In this new book which he has edited, an astounding list of Bible scholars weigh in on the importance of John’s historic...

Part 3 of our interview with Steven Notley, academic director of the el-Araj excavation project along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. WIthin the last decade, surprising discoveries have confirmed that el-Araj is indeed the site of New Testament Bethsaida, home of the Apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. While there are a number of important New Testament sites around the Sea of Galilee, this is one of the few examples of where archaeology is currently taking place.

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Part 2 of our interview with Steven Notley, academic director of the el-Araj excavation project along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. WIthin the last decade, surprising discoveries have confirmed that el-Araj is indeed the site of New Testament Bethsaida, home of the Apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. The basilica they have uncovered may mark the site that ancient Christians believed was the home of Peter and Andrew.

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The question "where is Bethsaida" has finally been answered, the debate resolved. In this interview with Steven Notley, the academic director of the el-Araj excavation project along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, we discuss the search and the controversy. Bethsaida was the home of the disciples Peter, Andrew, and Philip. But it was also more than just a fishing village. A final note, we want to hear from you if you're a regular listener to our program/podcast. Please take our short survey to give us your feedback. 

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In King Solomon's day there was so much gold that silver "was considered as nothing." After Solomon the kingdom split, an Egyptian pharaoh invaded, and there went the gold, and silver. But that's not the end of the story. In this interview we follow the trail with professor Clyde Billington, my co-editor on ARTIFAX magazine.

In King Solomon's day there was so much gold that silver "was considered as nothing." After Solomon the kingdom split, an Egyptian pharaoh invaded, and there went the gold, and silver. But that's not the end of the story. In this interview we follow the trail with professor Clyde Billington, my co-editor on ARTIFAX magazine.

Among the stories we've been covering is the recent excavation of burnt wooden beams from the 586 BC destruction of Jerusalem. Other stories include secret excavations under Jerusalem's western wall plaza, and a tunnel surprise at kibbutz Ramat Rachel, justs outside of Jerusalem.

Among the latest biblical archaeology news stories reported in ARTIFAX magazine is our cover story on the new museum display about the excavation of the biblical mosaics at the Huqoq synagogue and the untold story of how Herod the Great planned to be buried alongside the patriarchs at the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron. These stories and more are discussed with professor Clyde Billington.

Tel Shiloh is annually one of the largest excavations in Israel, digging into the site that was the home of the tabernacle (including the Ark of the Covenant) and the unofficial capital of Israel before Jerusalem. This year the excavation continued in three areas: a monumental building that appeared to be the same size as the biblical dimensions of the tabernacle, the city gate, and the favissa (where sacrificial offerings are discarded). Scott Stripling is the director of the excavation for Associates for BIblical Research, as well as provost of The BIble Seminary in Katy, Texas, and president of the...

Tel Shiloh is annually one of the largest excavations in Israel, digging into the site that was the home of the tabernacle (including the Ark of the Covenant) and the unofficial capital of Israel before Jerusalem. This year the excavation continued in three areas: a monumental building that appeared to be the same size as the biblical dimensions of the tabernacle, the city gate, and the favissa (where sacrificial offerings are discarded). Scott Stripling is the director of the excavation for Associates for BIblical Research, as well as provost of The BIble Seminary in Katy, Texas, and president of the...

For the first 30 years of TB&TS, we enjoyed the expert commentary of professor Keith Schoville, who taught biblical archaeology at the University of Wisconsin. He was the author of the textbook BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY IN FOCUS, and has served as president of the Near East Archaeological Society. He and his students excavated at Tel Dan, Tel Lachish, and Aroer. He lived an interesting life and when he passed away recently he was 98 years old. In 2008 he shared his spiritual journey at a CBMC luncheon, telling a story that started in a crowded 3-room farmhouse in rural Wisconsin. He built a...

In1992: an estimated 600 kilograms of reddish-brown organic powder was found in a sealed cave near the Dead Sea, a find that has raised questions that have yet to be definitively answered. The search team was led by Vendyl Jones, an unconventionial archaeologist who devoted himself to deciphering the Copper Scroll found in 1952, which supposedly had directions for finding the hidden treasures of the Temple. Tests back then identified the power as Temple Incense. But because Jones held a news conference before an official report had been submitted, the antiquities authorities revoked his excavation permit. Jones died in 2010, and though the "...

With episode 2001 its tempting to reference Stanley Kubricks famous Space Odyssey, and then maybe go on to the current (and controversial) Odyssey movie, but no. With program #2001 we continue our conversation with Michael Wise, professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Languages and Scholar in Residence at the University of Northwestern - Saint Paul. We discuss the intersection of his research with the latest news stories about the Dead Sea Scrolls, the single most important discovery in Biblical Archaeology in the last 100 years.

This is program #2000 for The Book & The Spade and we celebrate this landmark in a conversation with Michael Wise, professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Languages and Scholar in Residence at the University of Northwestern - Saint Paul. We discuss the intersection of his research with the latest news stories about the Dead Sea Scrolls, the single most important discovery in Biblical Archaeology in the last 100 years.

Following in the footsteps of Paul was our theme, from Antioch to Ephesus. But there was more. We also visited the seven cities of the churches of Revelation. (Ephesus fits both categories.) John DeLancey, of Biblical Israel Ministries and Tours, is our travel partner and is featured on two of these programs. In between we had the chance to talk with Mark Wilson. Mark is the author of Biblical Turkey, a great reference for discovering what’s left of the biblical sites in Turkiye. Listen to our programs for a chance to win a copy of his book.

Following in the footsteps of Paul was our theme, from Antioch to Ephesus. But there was more. We also visited the seven cities of the churches of Revelation. (Ephesus fits both categories.) John DeLancey, of Biblical Israel Ministries and Tours, is our travel partner and is featured on two of these programs. In between we had the chance to talk with Mark Wilson. Mark’s home and office was just a few minutes from our seaside hotel in Antalya. He joined us for this program #1998 which became the first ever TB&TS program recorded before a live audience. Some technical iss...

Following in the footsteps of Paul was our theme, from Antioch to Ephesus. But there was more. We also visited the seven cities of the churches of Revelation. (Ephesus fits both categories.) John DeLancey, of Biblical Israel Ministries and Tours, is our travel partner and is featured on two of these programs. In between we had the chance to talk with Mark Wilson one more time. Mark’s home and office was just a few minutes from our seaside hotel in Antalya.   Mark is the author of Biblical Turkey, a great reference for discovering what’s left of the biblical sites...

The glass fibers that are so critical to modern computerized communication have their roots in the biblical world. Recent archaeology has discovered locations in Israel where glass was created and exported across the Roman empire. Meanwhile, in Alexandria, Egypt, underwater archaeologists are measuring the rocky ruins of the Pharos lighthouse in order to create a digital reproduction.

The oldest still-operating church in the world, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, is due for some much-needed restoration amongst the smoke stained walls surrounding the traditional grotto of Christ’s birth. The aqueduct at Caesarea Maritima also needs some work to preserve this unique monument to Roman engineering. Perhaps they can get the water running again.

The ongoing excavations of the seven churches in the decapolis city of Hippos/Sussita has revealed that in the largest church, no doubt the seat of the bishop, there were two separate baptismal areas. At one of them they found a block of marble with three cup-shaped depressions that appear to have been for holding anointing oils. Also included in this discussion, the latest discoveries related to Rujm el-Hiri, ancient stone circles in the Golan.

To better understand the writings of the Apostle Paul, which make up much of the New Testament, it helps to trace his history, which makes up much of the book of Acts. In this 2-part interview, based on his new book Archaeology and the Ministry of Paul, David deSilva takes across across the Turkish landscape and into several cities in Greece where the remains of the Roman empire and its Emperor cult are still in evidence.

To better understand the writings of the Apostle Paul, which make up much of the New Testament, it helps to trace his history, which makes up much of the book of Acts. In this 2-part interview, based on his new book Archaeology and the Ministry of Paul, David deSilva takes across across the Turkish landscape and into several cities in Greece where the remains of the Roman empire and its Emperor cult are still in evidence.

One of the mysterious men of the Bible is Theophilus, whose name is found at the beginning of Luke's Gospel and also at the beginning of Luke's history of the early church, The Acts of the Apostles. Various suggestions of his identity have been postulated, but lately I discovered that archaeology has an answer.

Shane Rosenthal, through his podcast The Humble Skeptic, has been researching and reporting on an ossuary that has an inscription that names not only Theophilus but his granddaughter Joanna. The only other place in history where those two names are found together is in...

This is the 5th and final interview of this series on the current Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Museum of the Bible. It features Risa Levitt, one of the curators of this traveling exhibit. She is also Executive Director at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. I thought it would be interesting to find out what this exhibit looks like from one of its creators. What goes in to putting this exhibit together and what are the goals for the exhibit. It turns out that this is a unique presentation and provides elements that can only be seen in...

One of the mysterious men of the Bible is Theophilus, whose name is found at the beginning of Luke's Gospel and also at the beginning of Luke's history of the early church, The Acts of the Apostles. Various suggestions of his identity have been postulated, but lately I discovered that archaeology has an answer.

Shane Rosenthal, through his podcast The Humble Skeptic, has been researching and reporting on an ossuary that has an inscription that names not only Theophilus but his granddaughter Joanna. The only other place in history where those two names are found together is in...

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