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Biblical Resources, LLCTravel Study Programs

Serving inqisitive minds since 1973

With each itinerary we try to include new archaeo-logical sites, enjoy local foods and to stay at lovelyhotels. Join us to explore these exciting destinationsas you discover the amazing Biblical world!

1. Israel and Palestinian Areas: (10-12 days)The Life of Jesus in Galilee and Jerusalem Contact for Dates and Details

Highlights Include:We follow Jesus’ ministry from

Nazareth to Cana, and Capernaumon the Sea of Galilee, where westay at a holiday village touchingthose same shores. We will visitsignificant excavations which addlight to the Gospels, at Bethsaida,

Hippus, Caesarea Philippi, Scythopolis, and Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea. InJerusalem our visits continue following Jesus’ ministry in the sequence of Holy Week. Special Features: Our group of travelers will enjoy seeing and learning about the amazing settings ofimportant Biblical stories in the life of Jesus. Together we will learn more about thepeople and places important to Jesus and consequently to our faith. Our trip will focusnot only on churches with archaeological excavations under them, but also on nontra-ditional sites not seen by many Holy Land tours. Our Jerusalem time includes a visitto nearby Bethlehem, important museums, and there will be time for reflection and prayer.

2. Israel and Palestinian Areas: (12-14 days)Extended Life of Jesus and Southern Israel

Highlights Include: The longer Life of Jesus trip be-gins by heading into the Negev(the Southland) and the biblicalWilderness of Zin. We will visitBeersheba, founded by Abrahamand Sarah, and Tel Arad, whichhas an altar and Holy of Holiesfashioned after the Tabernacle texts of the Book of Exodus. We will overnight at theDead Sea, which allows time for a float if you like, and to experience its silent wonder.We will be able to have a longer visit of the important sites of Masada and Qumran.Special Features:The Galilee trip will have an extra day or two to more thoroughly explore recent exca-vations of this ancient land, and enjoy additional beautiful views. Our Jerusalem timewill include an extra museum and will include at least a half a day of free time. Bothtrips will offer optional lectures on many mornings.

Contact for Dates and Details

* Experience more than “traditional” sites

* Travel with lecturers and archaeologists

* Diagrams and notebook additional helps

* Hear the broader theological meanings

* Evaluate authentic and unauthentic places

Sea of Galilee

Sheep at Tel Arad in the Negev Desert

Jerusalem

Qumran at the Dead Sea

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A Note on Safety in Travel

Biblical Resources, LLC is convinced of the impor-tance of travel to enhance the study of scripture and tounderstand cultures other than one’s own. Slight incon-veniences with extra security procedures at airports shouldnot deter anyone from these experiences. We choose notto be intimidated by terror organizations who seek tomake westerners afraid to enjoy international travel.

Our participants’ safety and security are of the high-est importance. We have a Biblical Resources associatein Jerusalem, who has spent much of his adult life servingwith the U.S. State Department in the Middle East. Inour over 40 years of experience planning itineraries, wecontinuously monitored U.S. Government, regional andlocal travel advisories. We are satisfied that our currentprograms meet the demanding standards of securitywhich you would expect from a responsible travel com-pany. Be assured that the staff of Biblical Resourceswill do all we can to insure that you have a well planned,exciting and safe trip.

A Note About Theological SensitivitiesMost of the participants who travel with us wish to

learn more about the origins of the Judeo/ Christian her-itage and in applying the experiences of their trip to theirown faith perspective. Any religious implications dis-cussed will not be from a particular denominational per-spective. Our classes will discuss insights to what thepeople at the time of the text believed. Each participantthen applies this, if they wish, to their own tradition. Ouroptional classes encourage questions and discussion.

Since 2005 the offices of Biblical Resources, LLChave been at a museum we have started known as theExplorations in Antiquity Center in LaGrange, GA.Jim Fleming is the CEO of this museum of daily life.It features archaeological reconstructions and a collec-tion of 250 artifacts from the Israel AntiquitiesAuthority. Hannaniah Pinto is the museum’s Directorof Programs and the Coordinator of Biblical Resourcestours, which are run out of offices there. Educationalmaterials created by Biblical Resources are available atthe museum bookstore.

To learn more about the dates, schedules, and pricesof the exciting travel possibilities in this brochure see:

web: www.biblicalresources.netemail: [email protected]: 706) 885-0363; Fax 706) 885-0364Mail: P.O. Box 3900; La Grange, GA 30241Address: 130 Gordon Commercial Drive

LaGrange, GA 30240

Let us help you make sense from the tumbled ruins of the history of our faith

Jim Fleming has livedand taught at severalcollege and graduate insti-tutions in Jerusalem for37 years. He continues tooffer classes to both Araband Jewish students study-ing to become tour guidesthere. He also leads con-ferences on implicationsof archaeological disco-veries to biblical studiesaround the world.

Hannaniah Pinto bringsto our trips the richness ofa Jewish background andcomes with good qualifi-cations in biblical cultureand languages. With asensitivity to Christianityand sharp sense of humor,his teaching and guidingon our study tours aroundthe Mediterranean havebeen received with super-latives by our participants.

Learn more about us and our work atthe Explorations in Antiquity Center

Trip Teacher- Archaeologistand Guide- Lecturer

Jim Fleming, teacherand archaeologist

Hannaniah Pinto,guide and lecturer

Highlights Include: In Istanbul we will have a roof-

top dinner as we view Aya SophiaChurch and the Blue Mosque. Onthe drive along the Dardanelles wewill note the WWI battle of theAnzac Brigade against the Turks.At Troy we will examine the ruinsof the Homeric battle. InHierapolis we will see the recentlydiscovered church of Philip and

the current excavations under the Apollo Temple where the gods Hades and Pluto werehonored. We will of course visit the apocalypse churches of Pergamum and its healingtemple, Sardis, Philadelphia, the current excavations of Laodicea (above), Smyrna, andEphesus, including its famous theater as well as the newly opened terraced houses andthe churches in honor of Mary and the Apostle John.Special Features:

Some of the most spectacular excavated archaeological sites in the world are alongthe rugged Aegean coasts of Turkey. We will better understand the key to interpretingthe Book of Revelation, by visiting the sites of all seven churches to whom the writ-ings are directed. We will also be able to add insights into the traditional letters of Paulto the Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and to Timothy by exploring the earthquake andgeo-thermal “entrances to the underworld of the gods below” characterizing this region.

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4. Turkey:Central Turkey and the Book of Acts

Highlights Include: After visiting the main attrac-tions in Istanbul, we will enjoya relaxing moment sailing onthe Bosphorus Sea, followed bya sunset fish dinner. We willthen fly to Cappadocia andspend several days exploringthe remarkable formationsmade from eroded volcanicash. We will see amazing rockcut churches adorned with ancient frescoes. Some may even take an optional hot airballoon ride over the spectacular terrain pictured at the left. We will visit the mainRoman sites mentioned in the book of Acts: Antioch on the Orontes, Tarsus, Derbe,Lystra, Iconium, and end with a drive through the mountains to Ephesus.Special Features:

A special feature of our trip will be discussions about a variety of Turkish minorities,such as the Armenians, Alowites, the Syrian Orthodox Church, Kurds and the WhirlingDirveshes. We will have a mini lecture on their spirituality and witness their spin-ning prayer ritual. Dr. Fleming will present lectures about St. Paul’s ministry at theactual sites where it took place almost two thousand years ago. Of course we will alsotake time to walk on typical Turkish streets and khans, and shop for carpets andleather goods if you wish.


3. Turkey:Churches of The Revelation in Asia Minor


Laodicea Forum

Cappadocia formations

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Hierapolis hot spring

Highlights Include: On this trip we will see

three of the most importantislands of the Eastern Mediter-ranean: Cyprus, Crete, andSantorini. On Cyprus we willvisit Kition, Nicosia, Salamis,Pano, Lefkara, the TroodosMountains, and Paphos. Aftera flight to Crete we will exploreKnossos, Festos, Kournia, Sitia,

and Agios Nikolaos. On Santorini we see Fira, Oia, Thera and Akrotiri, thevolcanic ash covered “Pompeii of Old Testament times.” Special Features:

After we explore each major archaeological site we will sometimes be able toexamine ancient artifacts in nearby museums and hear explanations of their impor-tance to the biblical materials. Each islands visit will have a different emphasis.Our visit to Cyprus will follow St. Paul’s visit. On Crete our focus will be on themysteries of the ancient Minoans and the origins of the Sea Peoples of the Bible.On Santorini we will seek to date the island’s volcanic eruption and possible bib-lical implications. We end our study on the mainland in Athens. We will visit Cor-inth as well as Mycenae, a major seafaring power in the Late Bronze Age (1550-1200 BCE.) There will be great shopping and delicious cuisine throughout the trip.

Highlights Include: What a wonderful way to enjoya vacation and have a learningexperience as well. The cruiseitinerary is certain to includeinteresting Caribbean islandsand probably also includelandfall in the westernCaribbean at a CentralAmerican country withimpressive Maya ruins. Wewill have classes to better appreciate Maya culture, (strongest from about 400-1000CE). For each island visited we will disscuss the history of early western contactand information about economic, religious and various sociological concerns.

Special Features:The theme of the biblical conference is to be determined separately for each sem-

inar at sea. The subjects tend to revolve around the implications of recent archaeo-logical discoveries to the life of the church. The seminar will be held in a privateroom and be accompanied by power point projection and a participant notebook.None of the lectures will be at the same time as shore excursions, which each pas-senger can book according to their own preferences. Our ship will be large enoughto have a variety of family-friendly activities throughout the day.


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14. Caribbean Islands / Central AmericaSeminars at Sea for 5-7 days

13. Cyprus, Crete and Santorini:Enchanting Mediterranean IslandsContact for Dates and Details

Apollo Temple, Cyprus

Maya Temple, Belize

Shipwrecked canons inBarbados

Knossos Palace, Crete

Highlights Include: The itinerary normally has anoon departure from Athens tothe Island of Mykonos forshoping and exploring. Thereis then an overnight crossingthe Aegean Sea to Kusadassi,Turkey, for a visit to Ephesusand the Church of St. John. Anearly afternoon departure sailsto nearby Patmos and the

Monastery of St. John (right). The next overnight sail heads for a day on the islandof Rhodes, where we also visit Lindos. Another overnight brings us to Crete for avisit to the amazing site of Knossos. An afternoon sail takes us to our last island ofSantorini to walk through the streets of Fira (above) and return overnight to Athens.Special Features:This trip can be added to other trips to the Mediterranean. Normally it runs fromAthens to Athens, though one can join in Ephesus for a three day trip. Unusual sitesinclude the Greek and Roman city of Ephesus, the St. John monastery with its rareicons from the Middle Ages, the port of Rhodes, which used to be entered throughthe famous Colossus of Rhodes statue, the intricate halls of the palace of Knossos(1400-1200 BCE and perhaps the famous Labyrinth of the Minotaur), and the expe-rience of sailing into a collapsed caldera from an eruption almost 1,600 BCE.

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6. Greece: Greek Island Cruise Extension: (4 days)

5. Turkey:Yachting the Mediterranean Coast


Highlights Include: Our trip begins in Istanbul and

then we fly south to the Perge ofPamphylia to visit the archaeologi-cal site and museum. From therewe will begin our cruise along thespectacular Mediterranean coast.Our trip includes stops at manyarchaeological sites which helpinterpret New Testament stories.There will also be some optionaleasy-moderate walks from one to two hours long offered daily, as well as threecharming ports for shopping. A bus will follow our itinerary along shore be availableto takae us inland to important archaeological locations.

Special Features:There will be two themes for our lectures: following Saint Paul through the book of

Acts, as well as principles of guidance in the lives of the early followers of Jesus.Our yacht will frequently overnight in remote, forested coves next to picturesque

archaeological sites of significant Lycean, Greek, Roman and Byzantine ruins.Accommodations will be in double cabins, each with private bath. Food will be fresh(re-stocked at three ports along the way) with hot breakfasts, lunches and dinners,including international cuisine and many local recipes. Temperatures will be comfort-able, ranging from the upper 60’s to the low 80’s.


Lycean Coast tombs

Monastery of St. John,Patmos Island

Santorini caldera cliff

Yacht cove for the night

11. Egypt: Life of Moses and the Sinai Desert

Highlights Include: We begin the trip visiting the

main sites in Lisbon, Portugal. Wethen motorcoach eastward with avisit to the town of Troia and aRoman Villa at Sao Cucufate.

We will appreciate Spain fromthe time of the Apostle Paul byspending several days in Merida,exploring its theater, amphitheater,Temple of Diana, aqueduct, bathsand Roman bridge. We will continue then to Southern Spain we will visit see the reli-gious and architectural influence of the Moores at Cordova, Granada and Seville.

Switching to the Middle Ages we will visit Medellin, and then continue to Caceres.In Toledo we see the works of El Greco, and then end our tour in Madrid, visiting theMuseo del Prado and various other important sites.Special Features:

The optional lectures throughout the trip will seek to understand Roman expansionto Spain in the First Century and how this may have influenced Paul’s desire to visitthere (Rom15:28). We will discuss the theological and political challenges that facedthe church with the Muslim invasion. We will not hesitate to also discuss the theolo-gical trajedies that came in the Middle Ages with the Crusaders and Spanish Inqui-sition. We will end with lectures on a more positive note with the great explorationsof Cortes and the way the Enlightenment brought new ways of thinking to the church.

Highlights Include: This trip to Egypt is normal-

ly scheduled in winter, the mostcomfortable time to travel.First class boat cruises up anddown the Nile River avoid thecrowds and possible politicaldifficulties within Egyptiansociety. We have a flight toAbu Simbel where we willbegin a full week of cruising of

Lake Nasser. There will be short daily excursions to isolated archaeological recon-structions of temples rescued from the rising waters of the Aswan Dam. Endingour lake cruise we will transfer to another cruise ship stopping to see magnificenttemples as we continue down the Nile to Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings.Conditions permitting we will visit the Monastery of Saint Catherine and the tradi-tional Mount Sinai. We end our visit with the main archaeological sites in Cairo.

Special Features:The leisurely week on Lake Nasser gives us plenty of time to have our lectures

about the Exodus to prepare for the rest of the trip. We will also relax in the loungeor the top deck pool. The stillness of this desert lake dark nights will facilitate oursecond lecture theme which will be understanding desert spirituality in the Bible.



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12. Portugal and Spain:From the Romans through the Middle Ages

Monastery of St. Catherine, Sinai

Roman Aqueduct, Merida

Roman bridge at Merida

Amun-RaAmun-RaTemple at LuxorTemple at Luxor

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8. Northern Italy:Church Art and Architecture

Highlights Include: We will see major new exca-

vations in the Roman Forum(Nero’s Palace) and thePompeii/ Herculaneum/ Naplesarea in the shadow of Mt.Vesuvius. We will visit artmuseums, sculpture and cathe-drals in Rome, the Vatican,Florence (the Duomo, Michel-angelo’s David), Ravenna (theByzantine church), Venice (St. Mark’s the Doge Palace, the Municipal Museum),and Milan (including Da Vinci’s Last Supper.) Our last evening will be on theshores of a lake in the Italian Alps.Special Features:

Our lectures will attempt to help you better understand the history of ideas thatdefine what it means to be “Western” in thought. This will be traced from the earlychurch onward through the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment and Rennaissance.Because of the current conflict between East and West, there will also be an emphasison differences in Islamic thought. We will stay in charming Italian hotels (in theTuscan countryside and the Italian Alps) and eat in local restaurants in order to expe-rience the full flavor of Italy.


7. Greece:With St. Paul in the Book of Acts:

Highlights Include: This trip follows the Second

Missionary Journey of Paul,Silas and Timothy in the Bookof Acts. We go from Mace-donia in the north to thePeloponnesian Peninsula in thesouth. Paul landed in Greeceat Neapolis (Kavalla today).We will spend a night on thenearby Island of Tassos. Wewill continue in his footsteps along the Via Egnacia and visit Philippi, then south-ward to Beraea and Thessalonica. From there we will proceeded to Athens andonward to Corinth and Cenchrea. At Corinth we will take time to explore parts ofthe excavations that illustrate Paul’s first and second letter to the Corinthians.Special Features:

A unique addition to our itinerary will be visits to non-biblical sites of impor-tance, such as the tomb of Philip II and his capitol at Verginia, Mount Olympus,Delphi, and sail along the Greek Orthodox monastic coast of Mr. Athos. This tripincludes many sites not normally included in tours of Greece. There will beoptional lectures on the life and letters of the Apostle Paul several mornings beforethe excursions begin. Our noon meals will be in tavernas for a local flavor offood, rather than the hotel fare for tourists.


Florence bell tower

Venice Grand Canal

Philippi Agora

Lechian Road, Corinth

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9. Malta, Sicily and Southern Italy:With Paul from Shipwreck to Rome

Highlights Include: We begin this unusual trip by fly-ing directly to Malta. We visitboth the islands of Malta andGozo, which boast an amazingpre-historic temple. We will seecastles from the Knights ofMalta and rare catacombs deco-rated by early Christians. Wewill transfer to the Island ofSicily by ferry where our high-

lights will include the cities of Syracuse and Taormina as well as ascending majesticMount Etna. Another ferry takes us to southern Italy’s Reggio Di Colabria . Headingup the mountainous “toe” of Italy we will stop to see the impressive Greek Templesat Paestum (above). In the Amalfi area we stay at the cliff-top site of Sorrento. Fromthere we visit the Island of Capri and Pompeii. Our final leg of the journey will be toNaples, where we travel along the famous Appian Way from Peuteoli to Rome.Special Features:

Our lectures will feature points of guidance in the early Church as we followPaul’s fateful shipwreck and subsequent journey to Rome. In Rome we see sites anddiscuss Paul and Peter’s last days under the persecution of Emperor Nero. We willvisit important museums and archaeological sites of relevance to the theologicalthemes in Acts. Enjoy charming hotels and learning in a relaxed atmosphere.

10. Jordan: The Jordan Extension

Highlights Include: We begin by heading south

to the Israelite Temple at Arad,fashioned after the Tabernacleof the Exodus narratives. Wethen go through the Wildernessof Zin and see the Nabateanand Byzantine site of Avedatand a canyon oasis. Passingthrough the Wilderness ofParan (called the great and ter-

rible desert) to Timnah with its Exodus period forced labor mining camp, andTemple to the cow goddess Hathor. We will overnight in Elath and the Red Sea.Then we cross over to southern Jordan to visit Wadi Ramm and Petra for a full dayof touring the rock-cut city. Special Features:

Winter is a perfect time for the desert because the days are a comfortable temper-ature and it rarely rains. We will see dry farming techniques of the Nabateans andByzantines in Israel’s Negev Desert. We will take short walks to surprise desertoases, hidden around the corner, study of bedouin life, and learn about plants andanimals of the desert at a desert habitat preserve. These experiences will make thedesert narratives in the Bible more meaningful. We will not be “roughing it” toomuch, however, because we will stay in four-star hotels in Elath and Petra.

Pompeii

Paestum Poseidon Temple

Wadi Ramm, Jordan

Petra “Treasury”

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