Sermons and Biblical Studies

Gordon Franz The Apostle Paul’s visit to Macedonia marked the first time he set foot on European soil (Acts 16:11). However, this was not the first time the gospel was proclaimed in Europe (cf. Acts 2:10). In fact, the “Macedonian call” (Acts 16:9) seems to imply that there were already believers in Macedonia that needed … Continue reading “GODS,
GOLD AND THE GLORY OF PHILIPPI”

Ariel view of Jerusalem, with the Temple Mount and City of David. The new excavations are on the west side of the City of David. Letter “A” is where the traditional Pool of Siloam is located, but what archaeologists now believe is not earlier than the Byzantine period. Just south of that, at letter “B,” … Continue reading “HISTORY
UNEARTHED”

Joseph L. Thimes In the era of Ramses II (about 1250 BC), the sacred plants of Egypt were lotus and papyrus. In addition, the sea reed, Juncus maritimus, was used as the “reed “ pen of the scribes at that time (Thimes 2000a). Later on, after the Greek writing techniques became prevalent (about 650 BC), … Continue reading “PAPYRUS
IN ANCIENT EGYPT AND THE BIBLE”

Gary A. Byers The Bible indicates that many important Biblical characters spent time in Egypt: Abraham (Gn 12:10–13:1, Jacob (Gn 46–50), Joseph (Gn 39–50), Moses (Ex 2–12), Joshua, (Nm 14:26–30), Jeremiah (Jer 43:6–8) and even baby Jesus (Mt 2:14–21). Trade routes led from Canaan directly to the Nile delta region, where Goshen was located. Called … Continue reading “THE
BIBLE ACCORDING TO KARNAR”

Paul L. Maier Christians used to assume, quite confidently, that the spade was the Bible’s best friend, and that the hard evidence unearthed by archaeologists digging in the Holy Land would, once the dust of controversy was cleaned off, unfailingly support the Biblical record. Early excavations in the Near East were often funded by Christian … Continue reading “ARCHAEOLOGY—BIBLICAL
ALLY OR ADVERSARY?”

Gary A. Byers The Land The land known today as Egypt has remained a remarkable constant through the millennia in Africa’s northeast corner. The modern name “Egypt” is Greek (Aigyptos), originating in the hieroglyphic hi-kuptah, “palace of the ka (soul) of (the god) Ptah.” Called Misr in Arabic today, it was Misrayim (Hebrew) in the … Continue reading “EGYPT
AND THE BIBLE”

Gordon Franz A sport shoe company ran an advertisement during the 1996 Olympics, with the line, “You do not win the silver medal, you lose the gold!” That line caught the essence of Greek athletic competition. The athlete enters the competition with the goal of winning the event, not losing it. The legendary coach of … Continue reading “GOING
FOR THE GOLD!”

Charles F. Aling For those that hold a high view of Scripture and believe the Hebrew Exodus from Egypt actually happened, there are two major positions today regarding when that event occurred: the so-called Early Date, which places the Exodus in the mid-15th century BC, most probably during the reign of Amenhotep II, and the … Continue reading “HISTORICAL
SYNCHRONISMS AND THE DATE OF THE EXODUS”

Bryant G. Wood Introduction When Jacob and his family migrated to Egypt, they were settled in “the land of Rameses.” Initially, they were property owners there (Gn 47:11, 27). Soon, however, the Egyptians subjected the Israelites to bondage, using them as slave laborers to build the city of Rameses (Ex 1:11). When Israel left Egypt … Continue reading “THE
ROYAL PRECINCT AT RAMESES”

Paul J. Ray, Jr. [For an explanation of the technical terms used in this article, see the Glossary at the end of the article—Ed.] From possibly as early as the LXX (ca. 250–150 BC)1 , there has been a tradition that the 430 years in Exodus 12:40 (or apparently rounded to the 400 years of … Continue reading “THE
DURATION OF THE ISRAELITE SOJOURN IN EGYPT”