Samson: Hero or Psychopath?
Of all the problematic heroes in the Hebrew Bible, Samson takes first prize. Samson is hailed as a hero of the Israelites — a "Nazirite" consecrated to God with superhuman strength — but he's also a m...
13 Maj 202442min
Gnosticism and the Nag Hammadi Library Explained
In 1945, dozens of previously unknown Christian texts were discovered near the Egyptian desert town of Nag Hammadi. Some texts were closely tied to the New Testament, like the Gospel of Thomas, but ot...
6 Maj 202450min
Surgery or Spit? Healthcare in the Ancient World
Countless things could sicken or injure you in the ancient world, so where did people turn for help? Much like today, there were no shortage of healthcare options: herbs, drugs, surgery, saliva — even...
29 Apr 202443min
Passover: Did the Exodus Really Happen?
Every Passover, Jewish families gather to recount the miraculous story of Moses leading the Hebrews out of captivity in Egypt. But how much of this age-old tale is true? Helen and Dave welcome Carol M...
22 Apr 202449min
How Horrible Were Ancient Prisons? LIVE from SBL
If you thought everyday life in the 1st century was disgusting, wait until you step inside a Roman prison. In our very first LIVE episode, we talk with Matthew Larsen, historian of ancient incarcerati...
15 Apr 20241h 18min
Enslaved Christians and the Making of the Bible
In the 1st-century Roman world where Christianity was born, 20% of the population was enslaved. Enslaved people were laborers, farmers, artisans, scribes, teachers, servants and sex workers. And as ou...
8 Apr 202440min
Easter: Behind the Scenes of "The Chosen"
"The Chosen" is a global phenomenon. The streaming series about the life of Jesus is now in its 4th season, which is building toward Jesus's final week in Jerusalem. Helen and Dave were thrilled to ch...
1 Apr 202436min
Easter: A Closer Look at the Resurrection
The Resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity, but the reality of the empty tomb is largely a matter of faith, not history. All of the evidence pertaining to the Resurrection is found w...
25 Mars 202447min
