Welcome to the Love Where You Are podcast! 

In today’s episode I am welcoming back my friend, THE Red-Haired Archeologist, Amanda Hope Haley. 

Amanda Hope Haley has a bachelor of arts in Religious Studies from Rhodes College and a master of theological studies in Hebrew Scripture and Interpretation from Harvard University.

She is a lover of the Bible–its God, its words, its people, and its history. She writes and podcasts as the Red-Haired Archaeologist, bringing readers and listeners on her journeys to understand artifacts that can contextualize Scripture. She contributed to The Voice Bible as a translator, writer, and editor; and she has been a content editor and ghost writer for popular Christian authors. Last time she was on the podcast, she shared some things we may have missed from our translations of the Bible. 

In this episode, Amanda and I discuss the Christmas story and things you didn't know you didn't know. Amanda shares about the common traditions surrounding Christmas, such as the nativity scene and the Three Wise Men, that give us a historically inaccurate and misrepresented picture of our savior's birth.   Amanda and I discussed:   - The historical timeline surrounding the birth of Jesus - Why Mary and Joseph had to stay in a stable - Where and when our common Christmas traditions began  

Thank you for listening today!

You can connect with Amanda  through Facebook, Instagram, and her website!  

You can also find her books on Amazon or wherever you buy your books! They make excellent Christmas presents. 

 

FAVORITE TAKE-AWAYS:

*The iconic nativity scenes we see all around us this time of year and grew up with, are not historically accurate! But we can still love and appreciate them. 

*"There was no room in the inn" is a poor translation... there was room, just where the animals were. 

*The "Three Wise Men" may not have even been three! We have no idea how many men came or even when they came. All we know is what they brought and how significant that was. 

*The B.C. and A.D. dating system is flawed... it's contradicted by Scripture! Jesus was born when Harod was alive, and he died before year 1 A.D. 

*We may try to look to science and history to "prove" Scripture, but God used miracles for a reason. 

 

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Stay connected to Somer and the Love Where You Are podcast through her Facebook & Instagram!

Now, go love where you are and live on mission for Jesus today.