From the earliest days of colonialism, American slaves were hindered, proscribed, and persecuted. Like their ancient Christian predecessors, they bore witness to the Christian gospel despite the threat of punishment and even death at the hands of fellow Christians. Some slaves suffered willingly. With deep faith in God, they brought their sufferings to Him and experienced the amazing transformation of their sadness into joy. This paradoxical combination of suffering and joy permeated slave religion, as the spirituals attest.
Scriptures referenced include Matthew 5:10 and 2 Timothy 3:12.
Barabbas, as Mark 15:6-15 indicates, was a criminal who had led a band of rebels against the Roman occupation. During their act of rebellion,...
The earliest known complete list of the 27 books of the New Testament is found in a letter written by Athanasius, a 4th-century bishop...
The second commandment, which forbids the making of “carved” or “graven images,” addresses the subtle temptation to make God manageable. This is not necessarily...
