Center for the Study of Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins

01/25/2025

Join us the Biblical Archaeology Society to hear from leading scholars as they discuss the latest research on what the New Testament, ancient texts, and archaeology reveal about the first-century world of Jesus and his earliest followers, including recent excavations in Jerusalem

01/16/2025

Hear from the chief excavators at el-Araj, the probable location of ancient Bethsaida, Dr. R. Steven Notley and Dr. Mordechai Aviam, as they present the latest discoveries surrounding the sacred structure believed to be the house of the apostles Peter and Andrew.

01/08/2025

From the CSAJCO director, Dr. Steven Notley,

Dear Friends, I wanted to reach out and invite you to join us in this adventure of a lifetime, following in the footsteps of St. Paul May 24-June 7, 2025. In our travels we will look closely at the challenges that faced the Early Church as it introduced the Gospel to the Greco-Roman world, or in the words of Jesus, "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The complex issues of faith and culture that faced the early Christians are ones that challenge every generation. How do we adapt the faith and make it relevant in an everchanging world without compromising its essence. Together we will explore newly excavated sites and ponder their ancient history. We will trace the routes of Paul (Acts 16-21) and also visit the cities of Revelation (Rev. 2-3). An added element in this trip, unlike most to Turkey, our journey will take us inland to the region of Cappadocia with its underground cities that played such an important role in the early history of Christianity. Come and learn! Come discover! Come and be changed!

We are excited to welcome you to join us for an unforgettable trip to Turkey- led by Dr. Steven Notley, Dean of Religious Studies at Pillar College, and hosted by Tom and Lori Guilliams. 

01/05/2024

From ancient Israelite DNA to a moat around Jerusalem, these are the discoveries that made scholars of the biblical world say “wow” this year.

12/27/2023

It’s that time of the year when I look back over the past 12 months and choose the top ten discoveries from the world of biblical archaeology. As part of my work with the Associates for Biblical Re…

12/04/2023

Glad to see this back in print! And, I am the author, not Hendrickson.

Online shopping for Christian books, DVDs, pamphlets, maps, timelines, and basic Bible charts for classroom, church, or personal Bible study.

08/07/2023

Season 7 — Week 2, Day 3

El Araj Archaeological Excavations Season 7 - Week 2 Day 3 - The next three posts come after the fact. The flurry of activity and extra responsibilities at the end of the dig overwhelmed my ability to post daily. Apologies. Today was marked by important finds, continued teamwork in the various squar...

07/31/2023

Week 2 of Season 7 has begun! Follow the El Araj Excavations here.

El Araj Archaeological Excavations Season 7 - Week 2 Day 1- This post will be a bit shorter. Heat and fatigue are starting to take a toll. Work in the squares along the northern wall of the church is making real progress. They have worked hard to dig down to the Roman level and in the process have u...

07/28/2023

Week 7, Day 4

El Araj Archaeological Excavations Season 7 – Week 1 Day 4 – One of the lasting memories from today’s excavation was being joined by 6 volunteers from a group being led by Steve and Jackie Green. As one of our archaeological team noted, “Most visitors like to talk, but these folks came to wo...

07/26/2023

El Araj Excavations Project Season 7 – Week 1 Day 3 - Today was a day of small finds but good progress in the various squares. Area D is finding lots of pottery and coins as they clear the Roman period houses in their squares. The team from Hong Kong is making steady headway lowering their squares...