FAQs Speed Round!

Alright everybody, with the countdown on to the close of our Kickstarter campaign (August 31st), we decided to offer up a speed round of FAQs from the questions you've sent in over the past few weeks. Let's go!

Q: What kind of book is this exactly? (Garin Hill)
A: A rectangular one.
Q: Is Bethlehem really in Pennsylvania, and was Jesus born there? (Brian Austin)
A: Yes and no, but you know who was born in Bethlehem, PA? Actor Daniel Roebuck, who played the high school science teacher Dr. Leslie Arzt in Lost.
Q: Why did you choose to start with the Christmas story? (Why not something like 2 Kings 2:23-25)? (Joe McKee)
A: It’s the only part of the Bible Chad has read.
Q: Did Jesus appropriately appreciate the Christmas shoes the little boy bought for his mama right before she died? (Mary Baldridge)
A: Sadly, the boy’s mother was cremated, Christmas shoes and all. Very tragic. Completely understandable why they cut that verse from the song.
Q: Knowing that the modern bible translations are centuries from the original texts, do you have a modern translation that you believe to have the most fidelity to the original? (Clyde Smith)
We recommend this one or this one.
Q: I have a question I would love to read your thoughts on. The Christmas story in Luke explains that Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem because Caesar Augustus declared that all the world must be taxed.  We know that Rome taxed non-Romans based on their possessions.  So wouldn't it be counter-intuitive for Mary and Joseph to leave their home and travel a great distance away from all their possessions to somehow be taxed? If the purpose of the story is to make Jesus's birth fit a prophetic narrative, shouldn't Luke have written a story that his readers would believe, as they would have known that's not how we pay our taxes? Does that make sense? (Nick Smith)
A: Yes.
Q: Here’s a question I need y’all to answer... when the Bible says “She wrapped him in swaddling clothes” what are we talking about? We talking a Kaylin Batman onesie? Some sort of romper? What was the kiddo wearing?! (Megan Potter)

A: