Latest articles byDr. Zachary Porcu
Two biblical figures: Belteshazzar or Belshazzar
There was no king “Belteshazzar” in the Bible, though you may be misled by the similarity of this name to “Belshazzar.” The latter was a king, the last king of the Neo-Babylonian empire, and some scholars believe that he was th...
Is Gadreel a real angel?
The name “Gadreel” is not found in the Bible. It comes from another highly influential ancient text called the Book of Enoch. In that book, Gadreel is listed as one of the mighty angelic beings called “Watchers,” many of whom f...
Abishai: Military leader for King David in the Bible
Abishai was a military leader who served under King David. He was the oldest son of David’s sister Zeruiah, who married a man named Suri. He commanded one of the three divisions of the army in the battle against David’s betraye...
Benaiah, soldier of David and Solomon: What did he do?
Benaiah, son of Jehoiada was one of King David’s “mighty men” in the Old Testament. He was one of the supporting characters in the life of King David, especially in the complicated struggle for the throne among David’s sons. W...
The story of Epaphroditus, missionary of St. Paul
Epaphroditus is mentioned in Philippians 2:25 and 4:18 as one of St. Paul’s fellow missionaries. Paul was on a missionary journey around the Mediterranean, and he had several fellow missionaries under his direction. He also had...
A PhD explains Isaiah's phrase: “Forget the former things”
The past is a powerful thing. Through pictures, videos, and other types of “time capsules,” we can create powerful messages that endure into the future and offer a window into the past. Certain sounds, tastes, and especially sm...
What is the Month of Abib?
While you won’t find the word “Abib” in English translations of the Bible, it was the Hebrew name for the first month of the year. In our modern Gregorian calendar, it corresponds roughly to April. The Hebrew calendar is more c...
The Best Order to Read the Bible for the First Time?
The Bible is not a single book. It’s a collection of books by many different authors across thousands of years. Where to begin reading, therefore, depends on your goals. If you’re a new reader of the Bible, I would suggest a re...