What Does a Little Silver Amulet Say About Early Christian History?

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“The amulet shows that Christianity had spread further north into Germania more quickly than we previously realized. We know there was a robust presence of Christianity north of the Alps in places like Lyons, Gaul (modern-day Lyon, France), where Irenaeus ministered as a priest from AD 161–80.” - TGC

Discussion

What Did People Eat and Drink in Roman Palestine?

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“…in the Mishnaic passage prescribing food for a woman separated from her husband, ‘wine was not included in the minimum diet … The Tosefta reports that a woman “has no claim for wine, for the wives of the poor do not drink wine.”’ Accordingly, wine seems to have been a more common drink among the wealthy.” - Biblical Archaeology Society

Discussion

An Assyrian Genie in First Temple Jerusalem

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“With a hole drilled through it, the seal was likely worn around the neck and served as both the personal seal and as a protective amulet of a local official….it may have originally been owned by a man named Hoshʼayahu, who held a senior position in the kingdom of Judah.” - Biblical Archaeology Review

Discussion

Does a New Gospel Fragment Detail Jesus’ Childhood?

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“If the reports are accurate, then this 1,600-year-old fragment would be our oldest copy of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas—not to be confused with the so-called Gospel of Thomas. Neither text deserves to be called a Gospel” - AiG

Discussion

Tasting Roman Wine from the Time of Jesus

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“Many other Roman-era techniques would have separated Roman wine in the time of Jesus from what we drink today, including natural fermentation. Additionally, while Roman wine could come in a wide range of colors, the Roman world lacked the modern distinction between red and white wines” - Biblical Archaeology

Discussion

Alternative Facts: Domitian’s Persecution of Christians

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“Despite a lack of evidence, Jones observes that the tradition concerning Domitian’s persecution persists: ‘From a frail, almost non-existent basis, it gradually developed and grew large.’ Thus the alternative facts sown by these ancient historians grew to a truism of Christian history.” - Biblical Archaeology Society

Discussion