Bible & Bible Times – Page 3

Bible Occupations: The Marketplace

Ancient marketplace scene: a seated merchant serves a veiled customer beside colorful textiles, pottery, and onlookers in warm, dusty light.

As we have learned earlier in this series, the occupations and tasks performed by men and women were many and varied. And we have also learned that because many occupations were a mixture of cottage industry and manufacturing on a larger scale, the home and field section tends to overlap with jobs in the marketplace.ContinueContinue reading “Bible Occupations: The Marketplace”

Try My Bible School: More Than Theology

White ASUS laptop on a glass table beside a coffee mug reading “Make Today Feel Good,” an open magazine, and soft pillows, creating a cozy workspace.

I’ve enrolled in an online Bible school —yes, even at my age!—but you’re never too old to learn new things! It’s never too late to learn, to try something new, or even to start over. The only things that can stop us are our own fears or insecurities. Important note: Although the school is primarilyContinueContinue reading “Try My Bible School: More Than Theology”

The Role of Women in Bible Times

Three women in colorful traditional robes and headscarves sit together against a stone wall, smiling warmly at the camera.

In most ancient cultures women were accorded a low status in society, sometimes even lower than animals. Even the great Greek philosophers, with their vast culture, considered them inherently inferior creatures. Aristotle once said, “Woman may be said to be an inferior to man.” Jewish Scriptures elevated woman’s status. But the Hebrew Scriptures valued womenContinueContinue reading “The Role of Women in Bible Times”

A Shepherd’s Life in Bible Times

A bearded shepherd in green traditional clothing and a white turban sits on rocky desert terrain, holding a staff amid barren mountains.

Shepherding is one of the oldest human occupations, second only to gardening and farming. It played a crucial role in biblical times. Sheep were central to the economy and religious life of Israel. And the contribution shepherds made, though invaluable, was often overlooked or undervalued. Abel was the first in the Bible to keep sheep.ContinueContinue reading “A Shepherd’s Life in Bible Times”

The Importance of Fishing in Bible Times

Bearded biblical man raises a hand beside a towering wire-mesh fish sculpture on a lakeshore, with blue water, mountains, and sky behind him.

Fishing and fishermen form an important element in the New Testament narrative. Most of Christ’s earthly ministry centered around the Sea of Galilee. It is where he imparted most of his parables and performed all of his miracles, and 4 of the 12 apostles were fishermen. Old Testament fishing Bible scholars believe, however, that fewContinueContinue reading “The Importance of Fishing in Bible Times”

Pottery Making in Bible Times: He is the Potter, We Are the Clay

Ancient earthen alcove displaying rows of handmade clay pots, jars, bowls, and vessels on shelves and floor, evoking rustic domestic life.

In modern times, the image of a heavily laden caravan of camels and donkeys with clay pots hanging from their saddles or bundles holds a certain fascination for us. In biblical times, however, it presented a common sight, as clay was readily available and frequently used. Both clay and potters played important roles in ancientContinueContinue reading “Pottery Making in Bible Times: He is the Potter, We Are the Clay”