Tag Archives: Travel

Archaeological project underway at Colossae

Posted on August 11, 2025 | 2 comments

My first visit to Colossae was with two friends and teaching colleagues at Florida College. I was concluding a Bible Land tour in Rome. Melvin Curry and Phil Roberts agreed to meet me in Athens, Greece. I arrived in Athens after they had already turned in for the night, but early the next morning we took a short flight to the island of Samos, and from there we boarded a ferry to Turkey. We visited the area of the Seven churches addressed in the book of Revelation as well as other sites in the general area.

Colossae is not one of the Seven churches mentioned in the Apocalypse but it is a short distance from Laodicea. Our photo was made with a view of the tell or huyuk of ancient Colossae. We went near the site on a dirt road. The road to get to the mound is now paved.

This photo shows Ferrell Jenkins and Melvin Curry gazing across a small brook at the mound of ancient Colossae. Phil Roberts snapped the image.
I am in the blue shirt. Melvin Curry is standing behind me, and Phil Roberts snapped the photo.

Because of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church many scholars hoped for an excavation. We all wanted to know more about the city that was home of the church we read about in Colossians. Timothy joins Paul in the address to the saints at Colossae.

The modern city known as Honaz stands in the shadow of Mount Cadmus. In this photo the town is hidden by the mound of Colossae.

Anarchaeological excavation of the site is now in progress under the direction of Dr. Barış Yener of nearby Pamukkale University. Good news.

Tell your friends about our blog and encourage them to sign up to receive each blog when it is posted. If the pictures we use are credited to the author you may use them freely in your teaching and preaching. Use for publications, etc. requires purchasing the right. Follow the link at the top of the page for details.

2 Comments

Posted in Bible Study

Tagged , , , , , ,

Conversions at Corinth in the mid first century A.D.

Posted on August 8, 2025 | Comments Off on Conversions at Corinth in the mid first century A.D.

Subscribe to continue reading

Subscribe to get access to the rest of this post and other subscriber-only content.

Comments Off on Conversions at Corinth in the mid first century A.D.

Posted in Apostle Paul, Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Biblical Studies, New Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged , , ,

The Capitol of King Saul

Posted on February 18, 2025 | 1 comment

Saul was the first king of Israel. He built his capitol north of Jerusalem in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. The city is referred to in the Bible as Gibeah of Saul (1 Samuel 15:34). It is also called Gibeah of Benjamin (1 Samuel 14:16). Remnants of the small fortress from that time have been uncovered at the site. The flat-top building you see was being constructed by king Hussein of Jordan when Israel captured the area during the Six day war in 1967. Today the entire area around the tel is covered by residences and business buildings.

Photo (c) by Ferrell Jenkins about 1970 or 1971.

1 Comment

Posted in Bible Study

Tagged , , ,

Wild Goats at Mitzpe Ramon

Posted on August 22, 2024 | 2 comments

Ibex enjoy the view at Mitzpe Ramon, Israel, in the Wilderness of Zin. These two Ibex are lying on the edge of a steep cliff over a major highway below. Use the blog Search box to locate more photos of Ibex and additional information. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Ibex enjoy the view at Mitzpe Ramon in the Wilderness of Zin. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins
Wild Goats at Mitzpe Ramon
https://wp.me/p1zOp-5yt
Wild Goats at Mitzpe Ramon

2 Comments

Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Study, Flora and Fauna, Israel, Old Testament, Travel

Tagged , , , ,

Choppy Water at Sunset: A View of the Sea of Galilee from the East

Posted on July 19, 2024 | 1 comment

Many photos have been made of the sunrise on the Sea of Galilee. I certainly have made my share of them. On a rare occasion I have found my tour group or myself on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee at sunset. The photo below was made from En Gev. It illustrates several important things. The water looks choppy. This is more typical in the late afternoon than in the morning. The wind comes from the North East and causes turbulence on the water. That is what you see in this photo. Let me emphasize that this is NOT an AI generated picture..

The Sea of Galilee from the east at sunset. The water is choppy.
A view of the Sea of Galilee from the east at sunset. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Something resembling this happened on the occasion when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water. See Matthew 14, Luke 5 and John 6. Notice that a strong wind was blowing on the sea (John 6:18).

If you have traveled in this region of Israel you will recognize Mount Arbel and the Horns of Hattin in the distance on the western side of the Sea of Galilee (or Kinneret).

1 Comment

Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, New Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged , , , , ,

John baptized in the Jordan River

Posted on June 4, 2024 | Leave a comment

John, the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth, was born in a village west of Jerusalem. The Lord gave him a special responsibility as the one preparing the way for Jesus the Messiah. The Gospels record some of his early work. John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
(Mark 1:4-5 ESV)

John began to preach a baptism of repentance and many from Jerusalem and Judah came to him to be baptized.

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John (Matthew 3:13-17). His baptism was an exception to all the others John baptized. Jesus had no sin, but this was the occasion of the Father’s acknowledging him as his son.

A specific location is mentioned as “Bethany across the Jordan” (John 1:28). This location very near the traditional site that many have visited at Qasr el-Yahud near Jericho. Jordanian scholars claim that the baptism of Jesus took place on the eastern side of the Jordan River, a place they call Bethany beyond the Jordan. The photo below shows my long-time traveling friend, Leon Mauldin, very near this site.

Leon Mauldin on the banks of the River Jordan. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

When I was leading tours I often said to my group about some proposed site of a Biblical event, “If it was not here (pointing directly in front of me), it was here (spreading my arms wide). In Israel one is never far from a significant Biblical event.

, , , , ,

Leave a comment

Posted in Bible Study

Tagged , , , , ,

Bringing in the Sheaves

Posted on May 28, 2024 | 3 comments

The two main grain crops in Bible times were wheat and barley. Barley tended to be used mostly by the poor and for the feeding of the animals. It was planted and ripened about a month earlier than wheat.

Here is a list of the Biblical references to cutting the grain, binding it into sheaves so they could be brought into the barns.

The Psalmist said ” He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm126:6 ESV). And again, the Psalmist says, with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms (Psalm 129:7 ESV)

Sheeves of grain bound to be gathered into the barn near ancient Samaria. The tell can be seen on top of the hill to the left of the photo. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
Grain that has been cut and bound so that it can be brought into the barn. The ancient hill of Samaria can be seen in the distance.
, , , , , , , , ,

3 Comments

Posted in Bible Study

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

The Resurrection of Jesus

Posted on March 30, 2024 | 1 comment
A Roman period tomb cut from stone with a rolling stone. This tomb is located near the Jezreel Valley in Israel. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
A Roman period tomb cut from stone, using a rolling stone to cover the opening.

The following text is taken from the Gospel of John, chapter 20.

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there  and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as ye they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. (Jn. 20:1-10 ESV)

Imagine the emotions of the disciples of Jesus, both women and men, when they were told that the tomb that had been so carefully secured on Friday was found empty on the first day of the week, with only the grave clothes and the cloth that covered the head still in the tomb.

[The second photo showing the disciples of Jesus at the open tomb was made in Leonardo AI. David Padfield assisted me in this project.

Subscribe

Go back

Your message has been sent

1–2 minutes

1 Comment

Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Study, Culture, Israel, New Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged , , , , , ,

Where Sweet Waters Meet

Posted on March 15, 2024 | 1 comment

Thomas Moore (1779-1852) is known as one of Ireland’s best writers. A little south of Dublin, in Wicklow County, the Avonmore and Avonberg rivers meet. Moore made this spot famous in his poem The Meeting of the Waters.

The Meeting of the Waters

There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet
As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet
Oh the last rays of feeling and life must depart
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart

Yet it was not that nature had shed o’er the scene
Her purest of crystal and brightest of green
‘Twas not her soft magic of streamlet or hill
Oh No ’twas something more exquisite still
Oh No ’twas something more exquisite still

‘Twas that friends, the belov’d of my bosom were near
Who made every scene of enchantment more dear
And who felt how the best charms of nature improve
When we see them reflected from looks that we love
When we see them reflected from looks that we love

Sweet vale of Avoca! How calm could I rest
In thy bosom of shade, with the friends I love best
Where the storms that we feel in this cold world should cease
And our hearts, like thy waters, be mingled in peace
And our hearts, like thy waters, be mingled in peace

How fortunate is any person to have a special place to recall as a place of peace. I have enjoyed several of these places through the years. First, there is home. My study, when my desk is clean and it’s raining outside, is another. I think also of the Sea of Galilee at sunrise, or sunset. Spiritually we find peace in Christ.

Where the Sweet Waters Flow

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NAU)

SHARE THIS:

Customize buttons

https://widgets.wp.com/likes/index.html?ver=202402081217#blog_id=375993&post_id=3163&origin=ferrelljenkins.wordpress.com&obj_id=375993-3163-65f492c9baf5b&domain=ferrelljenkins.blog

This entry was posted in Bible Study, Photography, Travel and tagged Ireland, Poetry. Bookmark the permalink. Edit

LEAVE A COMMENT

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


							

	
			

				
1 Comment

													

						Posted in Bible Study					

								
Tagged , , , 
							

		


		
	


			

			
Moses’ View of the Promised Land


			

				Posted on September 25, 2023 | 4 comments
			


				

				

The past few days I have been looking through my photos of Mount Nebo in Jordan. My first visit to the site was in 1967 when the Old City of Jerusalem was in Jordan. Our group got up early on Tuesday May 2 and packed into some of the larger American cars for the ride to Mount Nebo and other sites in the area. For my first two tours the tour operator used cars to transport the group from place to place. We had 19 tour members on that first tour. The tour operator used Mercedes autos on the second tour. When we arrived at the site the tour members would gather to listen to the guide make his presentation.





I recall the guides for the early tours making comments about the view from Mount Nebo when they were younger. Several said they used to be able to see Mount Hermon from the site, before there was so much haze from pollution. I can recall a time or two that we might have had a fairly decent glimpse of Jericho.





Most times we could see only the wilderness of Judea on the west side of the Dead Sea. We might see a little bit of the northern end of the Dead Sea.





Because of the sin of Moses in failing to give credit to God for the water he provide in the wilderness Moses was not permitted to enter the promised land (Numbers 20:1-13).





Mount Nebo is the place from which Moses viewed the land that the LORD had promised to Abraham’s seed (Deuteronomy 34:1-8).





He could see the land but he was not permitting to lead the people across the Jordan into the land. This responsibility would fall to his successor Joshua.






The reconstructed Byzantine church built on Mount Nebo to commemorate the Biblical event.
The approach to Mount Nebo in the Biblical land of Moab






The building on Mount Nebo is a reconstructed Byzantine church built at the site to commemorate the event of Moses viewing the promised land before his death and burial in the vicinity.





The next photo show the typical view we have today when we look to the west from Mount Nebo.






Typical view from Mount Nebo to the West.
Typical View from Mount Nebo to the West.






Here is a map showing Mount Nebo in the time of Moses.






Map showing the area near the Biblical site of Mount Nebo. Credit: BibleMpper.com.
The map is a portion of one of the outstanding maps available at BibleMapper.com. Highly recommended.




							

	
			

				
4 Comments

													

						Posted in Bible Study					

								
Tagged , , ,