The traditional date of 4 BCE for Herod's death, as set forth by E. Schurer (1896), has been accepted by historians for years without notable controversy. However, according to the texts of Luke and Matthew, Herod died shortly after Jesus' birth, which can be fixed in 2 BCE. Consequently, there is apparently a major chronological contradiction, however Josephus gives a dozen synchronisms that enable us to date his death on 26 January 1 BCE just after a total lunar eclipse (9 January 1 BCE) prior to the Passover. Two important events confirm the dating of Herod's death: the 'census of Quirinius' in Syria which was a part of the 'Inventory of the world' ordered by Augustus when he became 'Father of the Country' in 2 BCE and the 'war of Varus' after Herod's death conducted under the auspices of Caius Caesar, the imperial legate of the East, and dated during the year of his consulship in 1 CE."

The Trojan War is the foundation of Greek history. If Greek historians had little doubt of its existence they remained extremely sceptical regarding its mythological origin. Archaeology has confirmed one essential point: there was indeed a general conflagration in the Greek world around 1200 BCE, the assumed period of that war, which caused the disappearance of two powerful empires: Mycenaean on one hand and Hittite with its vassals on the other hand. The inscriptions of Ramses III's year 8 describe actually a general invasion of the Mediterranean by the "Sea Peoples". A precise chronological reconstruction shows that there was a confrontation between a Greek heterogeneous confederation, consisting of pirates, and a set of vassal kingdoms of the Hittite empire, such as Troy and Ugarit, which ended with their complete mutual destruction in 1185 BCE, the climax of the Trojan War. This conclusion was already that of Eratosthenes.

Historians consider the biblical account of Noah and the Deluge as a myth. However, this famous event occurred at the earliest times of recorded history (Sumerian King List). Today scientists believe in the last ice age called Pleistocene ending in 10,000 BCE, but there is no witness of this planetary cataclysmic event and its existence is based solely on the controversial interpretation of its consequences and their dating. The existence of erratic blocks and the disappearance of mammoths are presented as evidence of the last glaciation. However, despite dating obtained by 14C (calibrated by dendrochronology) is considered absolute by most experts its confrontation with the Egyptian chronology, in which some dates are fixed by astronomy, reverses this widespread belief and shows that dates obtained by 14C increase exponentially before -2200. Thus the rate of 14C tends gradually to 0 around -3500, which implies an important consequence: before -3500, 14C dating is no longer possible.

It is an attempt to reconstruct biblical dates and chronology. For this purpose, chronological calculations had to be made all over again to see how they match with each other. The results were very satisfactory. The calculations and explanations are presented in a simple way, so that anyone could verify them. In conclusion, the book addresses some of the issues related to reforming the Church calendar and suggests possible solutions.

Life is full of big questions. Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? Where do the universe, earth, and humans come from? Do humans have free will? What is the meaning of life and death? Do humans and animals have souls and spirits? Where do good and evil come from? Who is Satan? What was his original offense? Why does the devil tempt humans? Why is there pain and suffering? Can the nefarious attitudes in human spirits change for the better? Before the Beginning to Beyond the End clearly presents answers to the above questions based in Scripture. The book seeks to unpack the creation of the world and its implications for mankind through the lens of the Bible. Furthermore, it expounds on the cause for human’s fall, God’s redemption plan, Jesus’s fulfillment of Messianic prophecies, future events in the world, and what will happen to us beyond the end of time.

How credible are the Gospel narratives in the Bible? What did really happen during the life of Jesus of Nazareth? This ground-breaking book is destined to revolutionize the discipline of New Testament studies. Its aim is to provide a novel, original, and credible explanation of the origins and contents of the Gospel narratives in the New Testament of the Bible, as well as some extra-biblical writings, using critical, scientific, and rational methods and techniques, from the perspective of a non-partisan historian. This book examines the value of the narratives as historical sources for the life, teachings, and execution of Jesus of Nazareth and to reconstruct his life as far as possible after the mythological, metaphysical, dogmatic, legendary, and obviously skewed descriptions of his life have been exposed and cleared away. New insights regarding the background of the Gospels are presented and the previously ignored and hidden role of astronomical and astrological phenomena in the life of Jesus is highlighted. No serious student of the Bible can ignore this book.

This book brings a fresh perspective on how important dates in the life of Jesus of Nazareth can be understood in relation to prophecy, number, calendar, religious feasts, the rotation of the priestly divisions and astronomical events of the day. It seeks to reconcile a theoretical framework provided by the Old Testament with actual observations recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The chronology resonates with Old Testament paradigms established in the Torah, including Sabbath, Tabernacles, and the Flood. It provides a reconciliation of the priestly divisions across the First and Second Temple periods. It fulfils the prophecies of Daniel and Jeremiah and ensures that the words of the Psalmist that ‘All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them cane to be’ are quite literally true. This book provides the first comprehensive chronology for the life of Jesus of Nazareth. It is fully consistent with biblical paradigms and Old Testament prophecy. It reconciles the biblical text to modern scientific and astronomical data. It provides hard scientific evidence to support its conclusions. Like most major scientific breakthroughs, the solution is logical, elegant, and comprehensible. It will stand the test of time.

What Christ suffered during his Passion — for you — is a powerful source of reflection and meditation. While we know that Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem around A.D. 33, the details of his sufferings and death have been confused and obscured over the past two millennia. In What Christ Suffered: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Passion, Dr. Thomas W. McGovern provides the most accurate, up-to-date understanding of the physical sufferings of Jesus Christ, drawing on ancient Greek and Latin literature about crucifixion, discoveries of ancient images, archaeology, medical reenactment studies, and medical case reports. This volume corrects decades of myths and misunderstandings presented in books and articles and on websites — myths the author himself disseminated for years until he reanalyzed the data utilizing twenty-first-century advances in modern medicine and archaeological discoveries. This medical investigation of the Passion allows readers to enter more fully than ever into the reality of what Jesus suffered for our redemption. Drawing on the teachings of Pope Saint John Paul II in Salvifici Doloris, this book invites the reader to a deeper understanding of the meaning and value of human suffering — and how to practically apply it in their lives. By his sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus has won salvation for the whole world, redeeming even our sufferings through his incredible act of love. ABOUT THE AUTHOR A native of Escanaba, Michigan, Dr. Thomas W. McGovern completed his M.D. at Mayo Medical School. His eight years in the U.S. Army included two years of infectious disease and vaccine research and a dermatology residency at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Denver. He trained in Mohs surgery and Cutaneous Oncology at the Yale University School of Medicine and has practiced Mohs Surgery and Reconstruction for skin cancer in Fort Wayne since 2000. He serves on the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) national board and chairs the Young Member Advisory Committee. He is “living the dream,” cohosting Doctor, Doctor, the official weekly radio program of the CMA, which airs on EWTN and is available as a podcast. He and his wife of 30 years, Sally, are raising seven homeschooled children who gladly get a break from his “dad jokes” when he speaks at conferences.

Examine the Evidence Surrounding Jesus No other figure has impacted history like Jesus. Yet today, he’s often seen as a mythical character whose legend increased over time. So what does the historical and archaeological evidence say about Jesus? Archaeologist Dr. Titus Kennedy has investigated firsthand the discoveries connected to Jesus’ birth, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. He has visited and excavated where Jesus walked, and examined the artifacts connected to Jesus’ life. Here, he presents an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the research and findings that illuminate the historicity of Christ as presented in the Bible. Excavating the Evidence for Jesus progresses chronologically through the Gospels, noting the many relevant archaeological, historical, geographic, and literary findings. As you read, you’ll be able to decide for yourself whether the evidence confirms the existence and story of Jesus, and determine whether the Gospels are worthy of being approached not as legends, but as history. Further, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the historic basis of Christianity, a richer knowledge of the ancient world, and an evidence-based perspective on the reliability of the Bible.

A leading Israeli archaeologist surveys the architecture and urban design of Herod the Great, one of the most famous builders of the biblical world.