On the Day September 17 2002

The Contentious Ossuary of James

Khen Lim




Ossuary of James (Image source: en.wikipedia.org)

On this day, fourteen years ago, in 2002, one of Christian archaeology’s most anticipated news in years seemed ready to effervesce to the top of the heap. The Geological Survey of Israel in Jerusalem in their letter to Hershel Shanks of Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR) tersely said, “No evidence that might detract from the authenticity of the patina and the inscription was found.” The letter referred to what we know as the Ossuary of James.

Letter of James (Part Four)

Part Four of the New Testament Survey Series

Khen Lim




Image source: traditionalcatholicnetwork.com

From his letter’s traditional introduction of addressees (1:1), we know that it is an outreach to the twelve tribes of Israel that were, by then, scattered abroad. For them, James offered instructions as to their code of conduct in anticipation of the return of the Messiah (5:7-8). As such, the letter has a strong moralistic tone as James exhorts his readers to behave piously and uprightly.

Are You Listening?

If the Lord gifted us two ears but one mouth, is He telling us something?

Image Source: jasonwhitehurst.org

By Khen Lim

“Mortified at what he had just said to the woman and catching her completely unaware, he peered into the mirror but all he could see was a monster. Was that him? Did he just let loose and caused all around him to consternate? In return he now felt a sense of horror and contrition. But it was too late. The words were out. And nobody could return them to his putrid mouth.”

The above paragraph could have come easily from any novel but it resonates for many of us because we know what it’s like to not engage our brains before we speak. Persistently through our lives, we have hurt many people simply because we don’t think and often, we do not step back and calm ourselves.