The Symbolism of Birds in the Bible
As a general category, birds don’t symbolize any particular thing in the Bible, but different species are used for a variety of different types of symbolism. Owls and other birds of prey are often used to represent desolation. ...
St. Dismas, the good thief at Golgotha
All four Gospel accounts related the fact that Jesus was crucified along with two other men. According to Luke’s account, one of the thieves mocked Jesus, while the other thief recognized that Jesus was the Christ, humbled hims...
Anna in the Bible: The Prophetess and the Mother of Mary
There are two women named “Anna” who were very important in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. One is the prophetess Anna who lived in the temple and constantly fasted and prayed. She was old by the time she encountered...
Where in the Middle East was the country of the Gerasenes?
The country of the Gerasenes (also known as Gergesenes or simply as Gergasa or Gergesa) was a land to the south or southeast of the Sea of Galilee, though it isn’t clear where exactly it was. This site is famous because it is ...
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...
The Weapons of Our Warfare Are Not Carnal
Where in the Bible is the phrase, “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal”? It comes from St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, verse 10:4. Here is the passage in context: For though we walk in the flesh, we are not w...
What is the prayer to put on the full armor of God?
Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians ends with a powerful chapter filled with memorable exhortations. Central to this passage is his long analogy about putting on “the armor of God,” in which he describes a variety of spiritual...
Jesus went to Hell for 3 days as seen in Scripture
Because telling someone to “go to Hell” is an insult, the idea that Jesus went to Hell is probably a bit unnerving to many people. Yet the idea that Jesus descended into Hell when he died is all over the writings of scripture, ...