Olive Tree Blog
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Historical

Category

Articles on Studying Christian History

Whether we’re talking about ancient Christians, cultures, or events, you can find it here under the historical category. We at Olive Tree think that ancient Christian history is important. It is our hope that the articles on studying Christian history will inspire you in your learning.

So, what are you waiting for? Start reading Augustine’s thoughts on the beatitudes, or learn how the Protestant reformation began. Get an overview with 14 Facts About Biblical Life or a short bio on John Wesley. Or, better yet, learn why you should care about ancient Christian history at all.

Historical

Letter Writing in the Time of Paul

epistle New Testament letter

The majority of the New Testament is made up of letters to infant churches, called epistles. But just how common were letters at this time? Could everyone read? Could everyone write? Did Paul and the other authors dictate to someone else or write them themselves? There are so many interesting…

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ancient genre consolation
Historical

The Biblical Genre of Consolation

The church in Thessalonica faced a crisis of faith, which has generally been reconstructed as being precipitated by the interaction between their existing teaching on death and the reality of losing beloved church members. Therefore, Paul saw fit to provide encouragement through proper teaching to the church. Interestingly, Paul uses…

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Wesley hymns
Historical

Why are Hymns Sung in Church?

The modern church has a complex relationship with hymns. Some branches sing them exclusively. Others have entirely given them up in favor of contemporary worship. Maybe you only sing hymns for Easter, Good Friday, Lent, Pentecost, or special occasions like weddings and funerals. Beyond your own tradition, it’s important to…

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Historical

What is an Asherah Pole?

IVP Bible Background Commentary

Have you ever read the Old Testament and wondered what the references to “Asherah poles” meant? Why were they so popular? To answer these questions, we have the IVP Bible Background Commentary. Let’s see what it has to say about Asherah and her poles. The Short Answer Asherah poles were…

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how to read Song of Solomon
Historical

Song of Songs: 4 Interpretive Approaches

Song of Songs is, to many, one of the greatest love poems ever written. It is patently a collection of ancient Hebrew love poems celebrating the experiences of a lover and his beloved as they taste the beauty, power, agony, and joys of human sexual love. Is that appropriate, however,…

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Historical

What Happened Between the Old and New Testament?

between old and new testament

Have you ever wondered what separated the Old and New Testaments? Why isn’t there just one testament? Maybe you’ve heard that, during this Intertestamental Period, God was silent. If you have more questions than answers, you’re in the right place! The period between Malachi and Matthew is full of history…

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gregory the great and his writings
Historical

Gregory the Great FAQ

Wanting to learn more about Gregory the Great? Look no further! Below you’ll find helpful information we gathered from some fantastic resources. First, we’ll do a quick Q&A. Next, we’ll take it a bit more in-depth. Lastly, we’ll give you the ability to hear from Gregory himself. Even if you…

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Character Study James
Bible Study Tips

James: A Brief Character Study

James is one of my favorite books in the Bible. I’ve read through it many times, heard it preached, studied it verse-by-verse, wrote a devotional commentary on it, and more. There is so much to explore and learn in this short letter. So, I’m excited that we’re exploring James’ epistle…

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Historical

Augustine and Gregory of Nyssa on Matthew 5:8

Matthew 5:8 Augustine Gregory Matthew

D.H. Williams is professor of religion in patristics and historical theology at Baylor University and the author of Retrieving the Tradition and Renewing Evangelicalism. The following is an excerpt from Matthew: Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators, part of The Church’s Bible commentary series. It features the reflections of Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine on…

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