Articles to help you understand what you are reading.

An introductory guide to the first major part of the Christian Bible, its relationship to the Hebrew Bible, and its variety of books.

An introduction to the Gospels, Acts, apostolic letters, and Revelation from a historical and literary perspective.

Understand the relationship between the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, and the Old Testament without confusing Jewish and Christian terminology.

A guide to three names used for the first five books of the Bible and their Jewish, Christian, and academic nuances.

Understand the four canonical Gospels, the meaning of the word gospel, and why this genre calls for careful reading.

An introduction to New Testament letters and how to read them with attention to recipients, context, and purpose.

Meet 1 Clement, one of the earliest Christian works outside the New Testament and an important witness from the church of Rome.

A guide to the Epistle of Barnabas, its allegorical reading of the Old Testament, and its place among the Apostolic Fathers.

Understand Ignatius' letters, their martyrdom setting, concern for church unity, and importance for early Christianity.

A guide to the Shepherd of Hermas, its visions, commandments, parables, and place in ancient Christian literature.

Understand the Epistle to the Laodiceans, its relation to Colossians 4:16, and its place among Christian apocryphal texts.

A guide to 3 Corinthians, an ancient Christian text connected with the Acts of Paul and received differently in ancient traditions.

A guide to the popular question about books removed from the Bible without sensationalism and with historical distinctions.

Understand the place of the Book of Enoch, its historical importance, and why its canonical reception differs across traditions.

A direct guide to three terms often confused in discussions about biblical books and ancient texts.

A comparative overview of major Christian biblical canons and why their lists of books are not identical.