The ancient Israelites believed things that the writers of the Bible wanted them to forget: myths and legends from a pre-biblical world that the new monotheist order needed to bury, hide, or reinterpret. Ancient Israel was rich in such literary traditions before the Bible reached the final form that we have today. These traditions were not lost but continued, passed down through the ages. Many managed to reach us in post-biblical sources: rabbinic literature, Jewish Hellenistic writings, the writings of the Dead Sea sect, the Aramaic, Greek, Latin, and other ancient translations of the Bible, and even outside the ancient Jewish world in Christian and Islamic texts. The Bible itself sometimes alludes to these traditions, often in surprising contexts. Written in clear and accessible language, this volume presents thirty such traditions. It voyages behind the veil of the written Bible to reconstruct what was told and retold among the ancient Israelites, even if it is “not what the Bible tells us.”

"Published by the University of Nebraska Press as a Jewish Publication Society book."

This volume in the Library of Early Christianity series explores the early Christian movement, especially as it is described in the book of Acts, and uses information about other religions being practiced during the same time period to fill in the story of religious confliect.The Library of Early Christianity is a series of eight outstanding books exploring the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts in which the New Testament developed.

This is an analysis of how 16th- and 17th-century astronomers and theologians in Northern Protestant Europe used science and religion to challenge and support one another. It argues that these schemes can solve the enduring problem of how theological interpretation and investigation interact.

From the social philosopher and New York Times–bestselling author of The Sane Society: An analysis of the Old Testament as a revolutionary humanist work. The Old Testament is one of the most carefully studied books in the world’s history. It is also one of the most misunderstood. This founding text of the world’s three largest religions is also, Erich Fromm argues, an impressive radical humanist text. He sees the stories of mankind’s transition from divided clans to united brotherhood as a tribute to the human power to overcome. Filled with hopeful symbolism, You Shall Be As Gods shows how the Old Testament and its tradition is an inspiring ode to human potential. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Erich Fromm including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.

Filled with adventure, the New Testament book of Acts tells of thrilling escapes, people in peril, conflict and intrigue, travel through the ancient world, storms and shipwrecks, and steadfast faith amidst overwhelming obstacles. Join Pastor Ray Stedman in what he calls God's unfinished book, as he brings the history, adventure, and profound but practical meaning of this book to life in readable, everyday language.

"Lively… points out that the conflict between the worship of many gods and the worship of one true god never disappeared." —Publishers Weekly "Jonathan Kirsch has written another blockbuster about the Bible and its world." —David Noel Freedman, Editor-in-Chief of the Anchor Bible Project "Kirsch tackles the central issue bedeviling the world today - religious intolerance… A timely book, well-written and researched." —Leonard Shlain, author of The Alphabet and the Goddess and Sex, Time and Power "An intriguing read." —The Jerusalem Report "A timely tale about the importance of religious tolerance in today’s world." —San Francisco Chronicle "Kirsch is a fine storyteller with a flair for rendering ancient tales relevant and appealing." —The Washington Post

God in Heaven and the LORD on the Earth This book will captivate you as soon as you begin to see the five Gods in the Bible. The Hebrew Bible is written in allegories to differentiate God in heaven from the LORD on the earth. Moses mentions God and the four different LORDS (Yahwehs) on earth in the book of Exodus. Jesus illustrates these five different deities in depth throughout His parables, and so do the prophets Daniel and Enoch, as well as the Psalms. Jesus gave several distinctions to differentiate the Son of God from the Son of Man, and that these two Sons have their own monarchy. The ancient writers of the Hebrew scriptures gave certain continuously characteristic clues to differentiate God in heaven from the LORD on earth--for instance, that God in heaven lives in His palace among women, whereas the LORD on the earth lives in His temple among men. Literally hundreds of scriptures throughout the Bible mentions the four different LORDS on the earth, whereas God is in heaven. As soon as you start studying the Torah, the five books of Moses, and all the prophets, you will see that the entire Bible is written in a secret royal language to explain the five Deities and their kingdoms. This book will challenge your views on and opinions about the Bible forever, and you will find that these scriptures are not actually religious texts per se, but that the Hebrew scriptures, in fact, explain in depth the five different Gods and the two main monarchies.