December 2009
Welcome to the monthly electronic publication, Teaching the Bible — TB for short. Designed to support teachers of high school Bible electives, it features easy to read and reliable resources that you can use in your classroom. Send your comments to: Moira Bucciarelli.

Definitions
Maccabees, Magi, and Manger, all from the new Harper Collins Bible Dictionary (condensed).
Definitions

Audio
Pauline letters – the spoken word
By Mark Goodacre

In this 6 minute podcast, Duke Professor Mark Goodacre explains how the Pauline letters would have been spoken, or dictated, to a scribe. His podcasts conveniently provide links to the specific biblical texts discussed.
NT Pod

About the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL)
The SBL was founded in 1880 and is an international academic membership organization for people who teach, study, or are interested in academic study of the Bible and its related contexts and literatures. The Society’s mission is to foster biblical scholarship and does not hold any denominational or confessional stance, though many of our members are religious leaders.

Feature Essays

The Nativity According to Luke: An original work of art
by Ben Witherington III

This article adapted from Bible Review Magazine (www.bib-arch.org/) explores the historical aspects of the nativity, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke.
Read more >>

The Maccabean Revolt: Between Tradition and History
by Steven H. Werlin

Steve Werlin looks at the books of the Maccabees as a way to explore the importance of memory, oral tradition, and points of view within biblical accounts of past events.
Read more >>

Timeline
Timeline of the Maccabees
by B. Breed and S. Spitzner

A short, interactive timeline marking out the key dates and events surrounding the Maccabean revolt.
Open timeline >>

Active Learning
“Braveheart” and the Maccabees,
by Nicola Denzey Lewis and Patrick Gray

This excerpt shows teachers how to use a famous speech scene from the film Braveheart (1995) to discuss the points of view about going to war contained in 1 Maccabees.