The Realm of Religion in the Ancient World

“There is no such word as “religion” in the languages of the ancient Near East.

How Paul Changed the World

Tom Holland and Tom Wright, both accomplished historians of the ancient Roman world, have a fascinating discussion on how Paul, a figure unknown or if known most likely reviled in his own time, surprisingly ended up revolutionising the world, so deeply and thoroughly that today we are completely unaware of his impact even though our world is indelibly shaped by it.

The Meaning of Resurrection

The resurrection is the linchpin of Christian faith yet most believers are not quite sure what it actually is and what it means. Leading scholar on the resurrection of Jesus, N.T. Wright, in a classic lecture which you can find here, explains what resurrection means in the world of the New Testament. For a summary of this lecture go here.

The Meanings of Grace

Grace is everywhere but not everywhere the same.

With insights from anthropology, leading New Testament scholar John M.G. Barclay explores the different meanings of grace in the world of the New Testament.

The Ancient Economy of Favours and the New Testament

How did people in the Greco-Roman world, the era to which the New Testament belonged, get what they wanted? Living in modern consumer driven economies you might think the same thing happened then. In fact a totally different system, one of patronage, ran the ancient world. Dr David A. deSilva digs into this strange, even shocking, economy of favours and returns.