About Biblical Nomad
The British novelist L.P. Hartley commented, “The past is a foreign county: they do things differently there.” Yet, it’s difficult to understand history if you have no sense of geography. This is true of the ancient past, and our own. The Bible belongs to the past, its geography, its history, its culture; in short, its world. For this reason, most of us feel like travelers in a foreign country when we read the Bible, confused, disoriented, and in need of a guide. “Not all those who wander are lost.”
This newsletter is for those who want to enter the world of the Bible to understand the words of the Bible.
It’s for people who recognize the foreignness of the past and want to explore it, yet feel understanding it has value for our present. It’s for people who want to travel the lands of the Bible as a doorway to explore its world as a means of applying it in ours. It’s for people who find the Bible confusing and want to gain clarity. It’s for people who enjoy a good journey.
For over twenty-five years, I’ve lived, studied, hiked, traveled, and taught in the lands of the Bible. I journeyed there initially for myself because I felt that issues of physical, historical, cultural, and spiritual setting enable us to understand the Bible. Only by entering its world can we understand its words.
I’m still learning. And I love the journey.
This newsletter is for those who want to join me on this journey as we travel into the world of the Bible, travel through its lands, explore its history, archaeology, and ancient literature, engage the modern cultures in those lands, especially the cuisines. Sometimes I’ll write articles on my travels with the Bible, other times my thoughts and notes on the Bible. I will also recommend books, culinary experiences, and introduce you to people I learn from and admire.
Biblical Nomad is a regular newsletter that explores the intersection of travel, biblical geography, history, culture, and the Bible emailed to free sign-ups with extra newsletters, videos, and Q&A sessions for paid subscribers.
My aim is for us to learn together and participate in civil discussion—something that has become increasingly difficult on the Internet and in real life. With this in mind, please note that I will remove comments that attack or harass people (no ad hominem attacks). We can challenge and disagree, but the rule of thumb: be civil and be kind.
I hope Biblical Nomad helps you enter the world of the Bible and helps you know how to do so in order to understand the words of the Bible. I’m glad you’re here. Let’s journey together.
About Marc Turnage
Marc Turnage holds an MA in Jewish History and New Testament Backgrounds from Jerusalem University College. He is currently finishing his PhD in the Land of Israel Studies Department at Bar Ilan University located in Ramat Gan, Israel. Living, studying, traveling, hiking, and teaching in the lands of the Bible (Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Italy) for over twenty-five years, Marc fell in love with the lands of the Bible and the intersection of the Bible with the physical, historical, and cultural contexts of its world. His passion is to help others understand how to read the Bible with clarity and enjoyment by entering its world to understand its words.
Marc has taught graduate and undergraduate studies at several universities in the United States and abroad. He has published widely for both academic and popular audiences. His most recent book, Windows Into the Bible, was named by Outreach Magazine as one of its top 100 Christian living resources. Marc is a widely sought after speaker, and a gifted teacher. He resides in Springfield, MO with his family.
Why subscribe?
Benefits
Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and website. This is where you’ll get:
Explanations on how to enter the world of the Bible to understand its words.
My travel log, which comments on the intersection of geography, history, culture, and the Bible.
Commentary on faith in the Bible and faith in the twenty-first century.
Updates on what I’m writing and thinking as a scholar.
Book and culinary reviews!
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