Tag Archives: Roman Empire

Saul/Paul: What’s in a Name? by James R. Coggins

Posted on August 6, 2025 by jrcoggins

Acts 9 describes how Saul was converted from being a devout Jew who persecuted Christians to being a Christian himself. A little later, when Saul, along with Barnabas, started out on his first missionary journey, Acts 13:9 says, “Then Saul, … Continue reading →

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged Apostle Paul, Greek, Latin, Paul, Roman Empire, Saul | Leave a comment

Mysteries by James R. Coggins

Posted on July 2, 2025 by jrcoggins

I write murder mysteries (and lots of other things). But, in a sense, my stories do not remain mysteries. A good murder mystery presents a murder, offers a variety of suspects (red herrings), and in the end reveals whodunit. Readers … Continue reading →

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged Apostle Paul, Christianity, John Smyth, murder mysteries, mystery religions, Roman Empire, Stephen King | 1 Comment

Medieval Torture Devices by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 30, 2024 by jrcoggins

The Middle Ages in Europe are often considered to be an era of “economic, intellectual, and cultural decline” between two great eras of civilization. They lasted about a thousand years, from the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth … Continue reading →

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged Christian church, classical Greece and Rome, Dark Ages, Enlightenment, Middle Ages, Roman Empire, torture | Leave a comment

The Wars of the Maccabees by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 1, 2023 by jrcoggins

After the Jews returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon and rebuilt the temple and the city wall under Ezra and Nehemiah, there is a gap in the biblical record of about four centuries. During this time, the Jews struggled … Continue reading →