Ancient Documents

Library of Congress Exhibit on the Dead Sea Scrolls

Background information on the Dead Sea Scrolls, and images of those fragments and artifacts displayed at the Library of Congress exhibit. [Ancient Documents] [Collections]...

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Prayer of Manasseh

The Prayer of Manasses is an apocryphal writing which purports to give the prayer referred to in 2 Chronicles 33:13, 18-19. Its original is Greek... [Apocryphal Book Listing]...

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Census Edict for Roman Egypt

This document shows a census ordered by Gaius Vibius Maximus, the Rmoan Prefectus of Egypt. GREEK TEXT (from Hunt & Edgar 1934:108), TRANSLATION by K. C. Hanson (Adapted from Hunt & Edgar). Language: Greek; Medium: papyrus; Length: 21 lines of writing; Genre: Official Edict; Date: 104 CE; Place of Discovery: Egypt Date of Discovery: ? Curre...

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Marriage Contract From Egypt

This Greek document shows a Marriage Contract From Egypt written in 13 BC. It mentions Caesar Augustus and a Roman Drachma....

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Divorce Agreement from Egypt

This Greek document shows a Marriage Contract From Egypt written in 13 BC. It mentions Caesar Augustus and a Roman Drachma....

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Widow's Petition Ostracon

This pottery was discovered with 8 lines of Hebrew text. Legal Petition written around the 9th""7th centuries BCE....

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The Pilate Inscription

The Pilate Inscription [text & interpretation] Language: Latin; Medium: limestone; Size: 82 centimeters high 65 centimeters wide; Length: 4 lines of writing; Genre: Building Dedication Dedicator: Pontius Pilate (praefect of Judea) Approximate Date: 26-37 CE; Place of Discovery: Caesarea, Israel; Date of Discovery: 1961; Current Location: Israel...

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Josephus' References to Crucifixion

"Josephus (b. 37 C.E.) is our best literary source for the practice of crucifixion in Israel during the Greco-Roman period. As a general in command of the Jewish forces of Galilee in the Great Revolt against Rome (66-73 C.E.), he reports his attempts to save the lives of three crucified captives by appealing directly to the Roman general Titus. One...

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Quotations from Ancient Documents

Ancient documents (including the books in the Apocrypha). From Dr. K. C. Hanson's website. Israel in the Time of Jesus. The translator is indicated at the end of each passage; those marked "KCH" indicate K. C. Hanson's translations, and those marked "DEO" indicated Douglas E. Oakman's translations....

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Life of Christ: Gospels in Harmony

Ken Palmer organizes events from the life of Christ. The events are in approximate chronological order. When an event appears in more than one gospel, the parallel accounts are grouped together. Understand that this is a general guide. Since many passages omit clear time references, some of the sequencing is speculative....

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