Jesus and the First Century
of Christianity in Jerusalem
Elizabeth McNamer and Bargil Pixner
Paperback, 100 pp., $19.95
Paulist Press (May 28, 2008)

Beautifully illustrated with maps and photos, this book focuses on the first century in Jerusalem after the death of Jesus. Its thesis is that the Jerusalem community remained true to their Jewish heritage and had a connection with the Essenes. After the Bar Kohaba rebellion a gentile bishop was appointed. The Jewish church was inundated by gentiles and eventually integrated into the Byzantine church. The purpose of the book is to bring to light our Jewish connections, and, as the state of Israel is being threatened, an appreciation of our Jewish heritage.

101 Questions & Answers on the
Historical Books of the Bible
Victor H. Matthews
Paperback, 160 pp., $15.95
Paulist Press (November 2, 2009)

Interviewed by Fr. Lawrence Boadt (Paulist Press) at this year’s SBL Annual Meeting, author Victor Matthews speaks on his forthcoming book, 101 Questions and Answers on the Historical Books of the Bible.