Peter J. Leithart

Defending the historicity of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt and the exodus, GE Wright pointed to the prevalence of non-Semitic Egyptian names in the early history of Israel: “Moses, an abbreviation of a longer name, is from an Egyptian verb meaning ‘to bear, beget.’ The same . . . . Continue Reading »

Peter James, et. al., ( Centuries of Darkness: A Challenge to the Chronology of Old World Archaeology ) are no fans of the “devout breed of archaeologist happy to dig with a trowel in one hand and a Bible in the other.” At the same time, they are critical of the knee-jerk skepticism . . . . Continue Reading »

Peter James ( Centuries of Darkness: A Challenge to the Chronology of Old World Archaeology ) notes: Going Ussher one better, “Dr John Lightfoot, author of the wonderfully titled A Few and New Observations on the book of Genesis, the most of them certain, the rest probably, all harmless, . . . . Continue Reading »

According to Josephus ( Antiquities , 2.10), Moses spent his youth leading Egyptian armies against invading Kushite/Ethiopians: “Moses, at the persuasion both of Thermuthis and the king himself, cheerfully undertook the business: and the sacred scribes of both nations were glad; those of the . . . . Continue Reading »

According to the Jewish historian Artapanus (quoted by Eusebius in his Preparation for the Gospel ), the Pharaoh of Moses’ nativity was Palmanothes, and his daughter, who rescued Moses, was named “Merris.” Josephus says that the daughter’s name was Thermuthis, Greek for . . . . Continue Reading »

My son Sheffield and some of his friends have launched a YouTube program. Also a dating service. You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/user/greatgranduncletv . . . . Continue Reading »

Josephus ( Antiquities 1.3) says that the pre-diluvians lived a long time so they could make astronomical discoveries that required a lifetime of at least 600 years: “God afforded them a longer time of life on account of their virtue, and the good use they made of it in astronomical and . . . . Continue Reading »

A description of war in heaven from The Fall of Troy by Quintus of Smyrna sounds familiar to Bible readers: “Yet men feared not, for naught they knew of all That strife, by Heaven’s decree. Then her high peaks The Gods’ hands wrenched from Ida’s crest, and hurled Against . . . . Continue Reading »

I discuss the ancient question of the active and contemplative life over at http://www.firstthings.com/ . . . . Continue Reading »

Derived from the Greeks, the contrast between the contemplative and active life early on became a Christian commonplace. It was systematized by Thomas Aquinas, who regarded the distinction as both “fitting” and “adequate.” Fitting, because each human being, as a rational being, occupies himself with what is most delightful to him, whether that is the pursuit of knowledge or a life of active service. Adequate, because Jacob had two wives and no more, and Lazarus had only two sisters… . Continue Reading »