Church and Biblical History

“A message from one of the last two untranslated Dead Sea Scrolls may contain a clue to help Bible scholars reconstruct the chronology of Jesus’ final week on earth.” BPNews

“Professor Jonathan Ben-Dov and Dr. Eshbal Ratson of Haifa University pieced together disparate scroll sections over one year to decipher their composite meaning.” WRN

“Pilgrims Hold First Worship Service in America - January 21, 1621” CPost

“[T]he ‘when necessary use words’ statement does not appear in any documents ‘prior to the 16th century,’ long after Francis’ death in 1226.” CPost

Intolerance against Christians is highest in Central and Southeast Asia, after North Korea. The situation worsens dramatically in Africa. In Europe, two people were murdered because of their faith last year.

When Spurgeon was Invited to Preach at Barnum & Bailey Circus

“A study published Jan. 3 in the journal Nature claims DNA extracted from the remains of an infant girl buried in central Alaska suggests an ancient migration of people from East Asia, across a frozen land bridge, to North America.” BPNews

Every winter, Central Seminary conducts the MacDonald Lectures Series in Bible and Theology. This year, Paul Hartog, professor at Faith Baptist Bible College and Seminary, will present lectures on early Christianity’s relationship with Roman culture.

“Israeli archaeologists working for Israel Antiquities Authority dug up an ancient artifact, a clay seal dating back 2,700 years, in Jerusalem’s Old City . This artifact may have belonged to the city’s governor during the First Temple period.” WRN

Vatican Issues Anti-Contraception Encyclical – Dec. 31, 1930 … Protestant Reformer Ulrich Zwingli is Born – Jan. 1, 1484 … Thomas Jefferson Writes ‘Separation of Church and State’ Letter – Jan. 1, 1802. CPost