Believers in general accept the Bible as God’s Word.  They appreciate its teachings and consider the Bible to be the authoritative document in matters of faith.  However, appreciation and understanding are not the same thing. 

Many people who read the Bible every day and whose faith is firmly founded on the teachings of Scriptures have discovered that the Bible is not an easy book to understand.  Many people who have a deep love for God’s Word do not feel they have the proper skills to understand the social, cultural, and historical backgrounds of the Bible.

The purpose of this site is to provide help to pastors, seminary students, and all people who desire to study and understand the Bible.  My goal is to pass on the results of years of study and research in biblical studies in an uncomplicated, easy to understand manner to those who are interested in accessing the accumulated findings of biblical scholarship.

The serious study of the Ancient Near East world can be fully rewarding.  We must remember that the people of the Old Testament did not live in a cultural vacuum. The stories we read in the Old Testament are related to people and nations who lived in the same general area where the Hebrews lived.  It is for this reason that the study of the biblical text can be very fascinating.  We invite you to come along as we join in this worthwhile endeavor.

I welcome your participation in this journey.  Write to me with your questions, comments, and suggestions.  If you are genuinely interested in a deeper study of God’s Word, let us explore the stories of the Bible together, and invite others to join us in this journey.

Thank you for visiting ClaudeMariottini.com

Claude Mariottini

Professor of Old Testament