Maybe the Nativity doesn't look quite like we think it does
The history of the Mesopotamian Empires as they affect nativity story. Assyria, Babylonia, Seleucia, Parthia; and the nativity story from the point of view of the Magi.
Surena, also known as Rustaham Suren, was a Parthian general during the first century BCE. He is best known for defeating the Romans, under the command of triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus at the Battle of Carrhae in 53 BCE. According Read More …
German-American sinologist (expert in Chinese studies) Friedrich Hirth (b.1845-d.1927), wrote China and the Roman Orient: Researches into Their Ancient and Medieval Relations as Represented in Old Chinese Records in 1885. In his book, he cites The Records of the Grand Read More …
The Parthian legislature was a bicameral institution. “Camera” is Latin for “chamber” hence, bi-cameral = two chambers. (Not to be confused with “two camels”.) The “upper house” was essentially the royals, or royal family—the Arsacid dynasty. The “lower house” consisted Read More …
Frankincense was an aromatic tree resin used as incense. It was a luxury item, but was traded in large quantities because of significant use in religious observance and by the wealthy. According to the Roman author and naturalist Pliny the Read More …
God Save the King Radio Show on the Truth Be Told Radio Network. Episode 22: Biblical Archaeoastronomy Part Three. Tim discusses three specific clay cuneiform tablets that help us decipher the history of celestial observation in ancient Mesopotamia–Tablet K8538, called Read More …
Strabo was a Greek historian, philosopher, and geographer who lived in Asia Minor during the transition of Rome from a Republic to an Empire (lived ~64 BCE– 24 CE). His most significant work is his Geographica (Geography), written in approximately 20 CE. In Geographica, Strabo mentions Read More …
Or was it something supernatural–like an angel or the shekinah glory? John Chrysostom, (~349–407 CE) was a “notable Christian bishop and preacher from the fourth and fifth centuries in Syria and Constantinople.” He was famous for his eloquent public speaking Read More …
I recently watched a new YouTube video that briefly and quite inadequately discusses how we historically arrived at a December 25 birthday for Jesus of Nazareth.1 During the video, the host plays clips from a different video that challenges a Read More …
Part One of a four-part series for Time Out with Kevin Gallagher. Kevin interviews Tim and they discuss “Who Were the Magi?”
The “Jerusalem Chronicle” is one of a series of historiographical clay tablets recovered from ancient Mesopotamia. Also know as the Assyrian and/or Babylonian Chronicles (“ABC”), they record events in Mesopotamia starting in the second half of the second millennium through Read More …