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Kickstarter update April 1st Acts of the Apostles

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APRIL NEWSLETTER: Time is Running Out… Kickstarter, Free Luke’s Gospel

KICKSTARTER ENDS SOON

Have we mentioned our latest Kickstarter… The Acts of the Apostles is one of our most ambitious projects to date, and time is running out to back our campaign and receive your special limited edition. Our final stretch goals are in sight, but time is running out, so click the link below and make your pledge.

Thank you! Our most successful yet!

To everyone who has already backed the Kickstarter, you did a fantastic job of helping us hit our initial goal in just 8 hours! We rocketed up at the start; we’ve now had more backers and funding than ever before!

We’ve unlocked two stretch goals, giving all Kickstarter copies of Acts a holographic cover and a special period replica coin with every physical reward!

For the last few days, we've been hovering around the £31K mark, even dropping a little on some days, but I believe we can reach these last goals to get over £35K, unlocking the next two stretch goal rewards! We’ve had over 450 backers, but there are nearly 3K people in this newsletter, so if you’re still considering which option to go for, head over and make your pledge.

Easter present for you

Over Easter, the Gospel of Luke Word for Word Bible Comic has been available for free on Kindle. This offer runs out tomorrow (2nd April) at midnight, so get yours today.

Prayer Request

Kickstarter: As we enter the final stretch, please pray we grab the attention of numerous new backers and all those planning to go back so they can hear about it and take action!

Acts Production: I’m just drawing the last 10 comic pages. Please pray we get the whole book coloured, proofread, formatted, and printed by the deadline without any obstacles or errors!

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HAVE YOUR SAY!: THE COVER OF ACTS

On the cover of Acts of the Apostles, as I originally drew it the disciples have their eyes filled with the colour that represents the Holy Spirit in these comics, but recently and over the years I've had people say that the glowing eyes look creepy or that they are possessed.

I haven't worried about this on the inside of the book as it's a consistent motif and I believe people who read comics are very used to glowing eyes representing being filled with power more than possession, but covers are a different kettle of fish.

People can judge the whole book and get misconceptions from the cover without picking it up, and maybe we need to accommodate non-comic readers (mums, grandfathers etc). Therefore, should I revise the cover to have the disciples have normal eyes, and why/why not?

Add your comment below :)

We currently have a Kickstarter running. Don’t miss your opportunity to get the Kickstarter Edition or even a Collectors edition of Acts of the Apostles :

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Drawing Paul's Escort to Caesarea Acts 23

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Acts of the Apostles: Word for Word Bible Comic Kickstarter

 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/word4wordbiblecomic/acts-of-the-apostles-word-for-word-bible-comic-niv?ref=19hmf3

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MARCH NEWSLETTER: The Kickstarter is Live!

The Kickstarter is LIVE!

I’m excited to announce that our new Kickstarter has begun, if you plan to back the campaign and preorder your copy please can I encourage you to do so at the start.

5 reasons to back at the start

1) Early Bird and unique rewards go extremely quickly!  2) Whenever you pledge, payment is not required until after the campaign ends. (Sunday April 7th)  3) The faster a Kickstarter funds the more highly it is ranked for being "popular". This gives "social proof" to the project and can also lead to getting featured on Kickstarter's top projects page! 4) We are utilising a marketing agent this time and I'd like for all my existing supporters to back early using this specific link so we do not pay a commission on your pledge.  5) Stops us stressing about whether the project will fund. D:

❤ Great Reviews for Song of Songs ❤

The Song of Songs was officially released in shops this week. We’ve had some really great reviews linked below, but what would be amazing is if you could add your own short review to our Amazon listing too! You could write how it went down as a Valentine’s gift too if you’re one of the lucky ones who received it as a gift!

Reviews:

Extract: “It is in no way vulgar or crass. As a matter of fact, in reading my review copy, I was reminded how pure and revered our marriages should be, how tenderly we are to treat one another, and how respectfully we are to regard one another. Pillario's renderings of the bride and her groom are passionate and sweet, a reminder to us all of the good things God intends for a man and a woman in marriage”. Read more

Extract: “…it even exudes an authentic ambience of love that moves the heart deeply, to captivate the vivid imagination of the modern reader of today’s fast-moving world." Read more

Youtube Review Extract: “[I thought] This is going to be ridiculous in comic form, but it turned out...it wasn't. The Song of Songs actually might rank up as the best books in the Bible, maybe even the book of the Bible that could benefit the most from being turned into a comic book! They totally won me over. [...] I cannot think of a single negative thing to say about this comic book” Watch the video

 Add your Amazon Review 

Prayer

Kickstarter: Please pray this crowdfunding goes really well and really catches peoples attention, even getting into blogs and news reports and going viral!

Health: Please pray for the good health of the team, particularly during KS campaigns we tend to get unwell and I pray the whole team is 100% healthy in mind and body!

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Ancient love poems like Song of Songs

One of the fascinating things that helps to date the Song of Songs is the strong parallel with other Middle Eastern love poems of the period. There are examples of Akkadian ("Nebo and Teshmetu") and Sumerian poems ("Bridal Sheets", "Ishtar and Tammuz") all with several parallels but the most similar are the Egyptian examples.

Egyptian examples

The Egyptian love songs containing the closest parallels with Song of Songs are from the nineteenth and twentieth Dynasties (c.1300-1150) which corresponds with the date of Solomon's reign. Solomon himself had an Egyptian wife, the daughter of Pharaoh (1 Kings 3:1), so his familiarity with this style of literature is assured. This gives us an even greater indication that it was the king who composed the Song of Songs to fit with that contemporary genre of literature.

Similarities can be seen in the overall structure of the poem, as the male and female lovers each take turns to sing and also when the lovers break off into a soliloquy, speaking their thoughts aloud whilst they are alone. In addition both use the words "brother" or "sister" as an affectionate term for their loved one. (In the translation below I replaced these words to aid understanding but they are underlined).

In both the Song of Songs and these poems the singers describe their passion and aspects of their lovers with metaphors from the world of plants (lotus lilies, trees, etc) and animals (gazelle, horses, etc) and in both the man's love is said to be better than beer or wine.

Examples of Egyptian love poems include the Cairo Loves Songs, The Turin Love Songs and the Papyrus Harris 500. Below are examples from the Chester Beatty Papyrus I: Love Songs. These examples below have been created as modern language equivalents to A.H. Gardner's translations from 1931.

Recto C.41-47 (extract)

Third Stanza, from The Nakht-Sobek Cycle of Papyrus Chester Beatty I

The wind may bring her fragrance to you,

Perfume spreading all around

So that all those present are intoxicated.

The goddess of love has destined her

For you as a reward.

So she will to restore you to life.

How clever is this woman in casting a noose,

She defies comparison.

She casts a noose upon me with her hair,

She will catch me with her eyes.

She will subjugate me with her thighs,

And then may brand me with her seal.

Poem 2, from IIC, The Third Collection,

Papyrus Harris 500

You summon me like a flower summons a bee.

I am your woman, the best one;

I belong to you like a plot of ground

That you plant with flowers

And sweet-smelling herbs.

Sweet is its stream,

Dug by my own hand.

A beautiful place to wander in,

Refreshing in the north wind.

Your hand is in my hand.

My body thrives, my heart rejoices

As we walk together;

Your voice is as sweet as pomegranate wine,

I live to hear it.

Every glance of your eye,

Strengthens me more than food or drink.

Verso C from the Papyrus Chester Beatty I

First Stanza : The Boy

She stands alone, my lady is without peer, the most beautiful of all mankind.

She is like the star-goddess rising at the beginning of a happy year.

Shining, pale-skinned, exquisite, her lovely eyes are constantly gazing.

Her sweet are her lips with which she speaks but not a word too much.

Her neck is long, her breasts are white, her hair is like lapis lazuli.

Her arms surpass gold, with fingers like lotus petals,

Full buttocks, narrow waist, and legs bring forth her splendour.

Her stride is a like a magic-spell; my heart is spellbound in her embrace.

She’ll turn the head of any man and they will be dazzled at the sight of her.

Joyous would be the any man who embraces her, he would be the chief of lovers.

When one sees her going forth, it is like the arrival of the goddess.

Second Stanza: The Girl

My man's voice unsettles me and leaves me feeling lovesick.

He is a neighbour to my mother's house but I cannot go to him.

My mother may be right to charge me, "Stop staring at him!"

My heart is in turmoil when I think of him; My love for him has captured me.

He may be reckless, but I am reckless too.

He must not know how I long to embrace him or he would contact my mother.

Oh my love, I was destined for you by the goddess of love.

Come to me and let me gaze on your beauty, surely my parents will approve.

All men will rejoice at you with one accord, they will honor you, my love.

Third Stanza: The Boy

My heart decided to search out her beauty while I was sitting in at home.

But on the road, there was Mehy in his chariot, together with his lusty men.

I didn't know how to remove myself from his path. Should I just walk boldly by?

But no! The road is like a raging river - I don't know where to put my feet?

Oh, my heart is so stupid, why are you so afraid of Mehy?

Look, if I pass him by he'll see where I am going!

“Hey, I am yours” I might as well say, and he will boast of my name,

And put me in first place in the harem of one of his cronies.

Fourth Stanza: The Girl

My hearts races quickly when I think of you, my love.

It will not suffer prudence and bursts out of its place.

It won't allow me to get dressed or attire myself with a fan,

To put on my eye-shadow or even anoint myself in oil.

“Don't stay here, go to him” it says to me when I think of him.

Don’t be a fool, my heart, why are you being so crazy?

Be calm, be still, your lover will come. My eyes will see him soon.

I don’t want people saying about me, “She is a woman hysterical with love”

Stay calm when he comes to mind. Oh heart, stop pounding!

Fifth Stanza: The Boy

I adore the goddess of love, I extol her majesty,

I exalt the mistress of heaven, I give worship to Hathor,

And praise to my lover. I prayed to her and she heard my petition.

She decreed for me my lady. She came of her own accord to me.

How great is this, which has happened to me!

I rejoice, exult and am proud ever since it was said “Look, there she is!”.

When she came the young men bowed in reverence

for the greatness of their admiration of her.

I prayed to my goddess, that she may give me this lady as a gift.

It was already three days yesterday since I first made my petition in her name,

but she has gone for five days.

Sixth Stanza: The Girl

I walked through the neighbourhood of his house and I found his door open.

My love was standing beside his mother, all his brothers and sisters with him.

Love of him must capture the heart of everyone who walks past.

An excellent youth, there is no one like him; a man outstanding in virtue.

He saw me as I passed by, and I was in heaven.

My heart rejoiced with jubilation, 

My love, when you looked at me.

If only your mother had known my heart,

she might have gone indoors for a time.

Oh goddess of love, put that idea into her mind;

Then I will run up to my man and will kiss him before all his siblings;

I would not be embarrassed. I'd be glad that they saw and see that you bless me.

I will make a festival for my goddess. My heart is all aflutter,

Seventh Stanza: The Boy

It has been seven days since I have seen my girl,

a sickness has crept up upon me.

My limbs have become heavy and I can barely move.

The master physicians come to me,

but my heart has no comfort in their remedies.

The magicians are useless;

they don't understand my ailment.

I have told them what will revive me,

her name is what will raise me up.

The coming and going of her messengers revives my heart.

More beneficial to me is my girl than any remedy.

She’s more vital to me than an entire

compendium of medicine!

My salvation is her coming to me.

When I see her I will be well;

One look from her eyes and my limbs will

become young again;

Hearing her voice will make me strong.

And when I embrace her, she will banish all

darkness from me.

But she has been gone for seven days.

Verso G and H from the Chester Beatty Papyri I

The lady sings:

Oh, I wish that you would come to your lady quickly.

Like a royal envoy whose lord is impatient for his message,

And his heart is set upon hearing it;

An envoy for whom all the stables have been requisitioned,

And there is a horse at every way-station

And chariot already harnessed.

There's no time to rest the road.

When you reach the house of your lady

Your heart will rejoice.

Oh, I wish that you would come to your lady quickly.

Like a horse belonging to the king,

Selected from a thousand steeds,

The best in all the stable,

Distinguished above all others in its diet.

Its master knows its paces.

If it hears the sound of the whip, there's not holding it back.

There is not master charioteer who can match its speed.

Your lady knows well that you are not far away.

Oh, I wish that you would come to your lady quickly.

Like a gazelle bounding over the plain,

Its feet stumbling and its legs faint.

Panic having entered into its bones;

For the huntsman is after it,

And the hounds are with him!

But they don't even see its dust,

For it sees a resting place like a snare,

It has taken the river like a road.

You will reach my cave,

And your hand will be kissed four times.

You are in pursuit of your lady's love,

And the goddess of love has destined her for you, my dear.

——-

The Song of Songs Graphic Novel is out now! Buy your copy via our online store

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Is the Song of Songs like a Zajal/Ghazal

In Arabic culture today there is a tradition called a Zajal. A Zajal is a semi-improvised and semi-sung verbal contest or debate between two or more zajjalin (improvisational poets). Such contests are often performed at weddings, accompanied by drums, tambourines, flutes, and other instruments as well as a chorus of men or women (Reddadi) who sing choruses or call-and-response sections.

The specific Zajal tradition is said to have originated in Andalus around the mid 4th century, but I wonder if the general format may have more ancient roots in the Middle East. The genre is still lively today in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. These are all areas mentioned in the Song of Songs (Lebanon, 4:15; Jerusalem and Tirzah, 6:4; Gilead, 4:1).

At a Zajal, the debate or verbal duel between the zajjalin is followed by a recitation of love poetry called Ghazal. The Ghazal is a type of amorous poetry which includes central themes of love, desire, and beauty as well as the pain of loss or separation from one's paramour, themes similar to the Song of Songs. The Ghazal tradition is renowned for its ambiguity and double entendre. Learning the common tropes such as the garden, birds and flowers, etc. is the key to appreciating the song's meaning.

The scant evidence that there is for wedding traditions in early Iron Age Israel/Canaan suggests that there was music at weddings, intended to gain divine blessing for the marriage and to ensure the couple had healthy children. Although there is no external evidence to suggest that there were any type of oral competition/debate at weddings, once I discovered this musical art form, I became convinced that the Song of Songs was very similar to a wedding Zajal improvised poem for the amusement of their guests. That is therefore how I have portrayed the book in the comic.

The Song of Song graphic novel is available now in our online store:

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Did Solomon Write Song of Songs?

Scholars and historians love to question and challenge every detail of the Bible and some even question the authorship of this book. So what evidence supports the idea of Solomon as the author of this book?

For many the matter is put to bed in verse one: "Solomon’s Song of Songs."

However, the Hebrew term phrase “Song of Song of Solomon” is very complex and may be variously understood as "of/to/for/about Solomon". The title may therefore imply that Solomon wrote the poetry, that the poems were dedicated to him, or that the songs were composed about him. There is no definitive way of deciding between the four meanings. The most straightforward way to understand it seems to be that the author is identified within the text. However, some suggest the song is merely dedicated to Solomon and a later fabrication.

Dating: One interesting detail is that in verse 6:4, Solomon compares his bride's beauty to Jerusalem and Tirzah. Jerusalem is obviously the throne's seat of power during Solomon's day and Tirzah is another major city within his kingdom. However, shortly after Solomon's death, during the reign of his son Rehoboam, Tirzah was lost to David's line when the northern kingdom broke away from Judah after the people revolted against the heavy taxes levied by the new king. Tirzah became the early capital of the rebel state in the north and so it is scarcely conceivable that if a later Jewish author had written the book, that author would have referred to both Jerusalem and Tirzah in such favorable terms. Indeed, various locations in both the north and the south are referenced equally (Engedi, Hermon, Carmel, Lebanon, Heshbon etc), so from the internal evidence, the author seems to be unaware of a divided Kingdom, which strongly indicates a date that precedes the reign of Solomon's son. 

Language: Scholars who try to advocate a later date for the Song of Songs, point to certain linguistic elements within the text that they claim are influenced by later Greek and Aramaic. However, the supposed Aramaic words have been proven to be part of much earlier text (Job, Judges etc). The alleged Greek words for "palaquin", (3:9) and "orchard" (4:13) in each case, could equally be derived from the contemporary Sanskrit from India. Solomon likely traded with India, given the references to spikenard and ivory.

Frame of reference: While it is not conclusive proof of Solomon’s authorship, throughout the song, there are references to and comparisons with truly rare and precious items. These include not only gold, silver and gemstones but ivory, cosmetic powders, spikenard, myrrh and frankincense. Many of which were imported from far-off countries. Also, Pharaoh's cavalry is referenced in verse 1:9, which ties in with the statement in 1 Kings 10:28 that "Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue —the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price." all of this implies the author's familiarity with both royal luxuries and international trade.

In 1 Kings 4:32-33, it says of Solomon that "he spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish." So not only was the King known for his many songs, he had a keen interest in the flora and fauna of the world. The Song of Songs refers to twenty-one varieties of plant life and fifteen types of animals, so both elements support the authorship of King Solomon himself. 

For a more detailed breakdown of this discussion, please consult "A Survey of the Old Testament Introduction" By Gleason L. Archer.

—-

The Song of Song graphic novel is available now in our online store:

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How were Paul and Silas beaten?

In Acts 16:19-24, Paul and Silas are dragged before the two magistrates (Phillipi having duumviri - meaning “The two men”), and they “ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods” and they were “severely flogged”.

When creating the Word for Word Bible Comics, I have to really dig into the culture and research how things actually happened at that time and in the places we’ve come to recognise from Scripture. In order to draw this event featuring Paul and Silas, I needed to understand what kind of rod they would use and how it was done.

We learn from verse 16:37 that the beating was in public and “the Greek verb gives the special Roman form of punishment, that of being beaten with the rods of the lictors. This, therefore, takes its place as one of the three instances to which St. Paul refers in 2 Corinthians 11:25.” (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers)

Lictor is the title of a special position: “A lictor (possibly from Latin ligare, meaning 'to bind') was a Roman civil servant who was an attendant and bodyguard to a magistrate who held imperium (Imperial authority). […] They carried rods decorated with fasces and, outside the pomerium, with axes that symbolized the power to carry out capital punishment. Dictatorial lictors had axes even within the pomerium. They followed the magistrate wherever he went, including the Forum, his house, temples, and the baths. Lictors were organized in an ordered line before him, with the primus lictor (lit. 'principal lictor') directly in front of him, waiting for orders. If there was a crowd, the lictors opened the way and kept their master safe, pushing all aside except for Roman matrons, who were accorded special honor. They also had to stand beside the magistrate whenever he addressed the crowd. […] Lictors also had legal and penal duties; they could, at their master's command, arrest Roman citizens and punish them.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lictor)

More info can be found here: (https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-constitution/roman-republic/lictor/)

So the Lictor carry a fasces. This turns out to be a specific bundle of elm rods or whips. When I saw how they looked, I wasn’t sure if the Lictor struck with one rod of the whole bundle. But In this image (below), we can see that he has one from the set. Also, I read the Fasces was “the insignia of their office, as well as the dignity of the magistrate on whom they attended, consisted of a number of elm rods, bound with a thong into a bundle, which they carried on their shoulder. An axe was bound up in the bundle, and its head jutted forth from it. [...] The bundle, in fact, comprised the apparatus of the lictor as the executioner of the magistrates' sentence. The thong served him to bind the criminal, with the rods he inflicted beatings, and (in capital punishment cases) with the axe he beheaded." (https://donna-connections.blogspot.com/2009/07/stripes-and-rods.html)

From subtleties in these verses and the wider scripture Paul and Silas may have been struck more than 39 times, as it says “‘And when they had laid many stripes on them‘ - The Jews were by law prohibited from inflicting more than 40 stripes, and usually inflicted but 39, (2 Corinthians 11:24). But there was no such law among the Romans. They were unrestricted in regard to the number of lashes, and probably inflicted many more. Perhaps Paul refers to this when he says ‘In stripes above measure.’ (2 Corinthians 11:23) that is, beyond the usual measure among the Jews, or beyond moderation.” (Barnes' Notes on the Bible)

It seems the lashing was not limited to the back as a quote from Cicero gives an account of a man named Gaius Servilius who was beaten by a Lictor “[He was beaten] until finally the senior Lictor Sextius…took the but end of his stick, and began to strike the poor man violently about the eyes, so that he fell helpless to the ground, his face and eyes bleeding profusely. Even then his assailants continued to rain blows on his prone body…Such was the treatment he then received; and having been carried off for dead at the time, very soon after did die.” (In Verrem 2.5.142)

It’s not coloured yet, but this is the Lictor with his fasces from my current work on the up and coming Word for Word Bible Comic.

To keep up to date with the project subscribe to our monthly newsletter:

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YOUR JANUARY NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year! In 2024 we are building towards the release of the Acts of the Apostles Bible Comic in September (God willing), with our Kickstarter getting underway in March to get it printed! This month you can have your say, discover more about the book of Acts and find out about our January sale!

Have your say: The Acts Cover Design

Right now, on our social media, you can vote for your favourite cover design. Join the Word for Word FB group to share your thoughts and feedback.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/wordforwordbiblecomiccommunity

The Year Ahead

Here’s a rough timeline of what we’ll be working on in 2024 and when the new books will be released.

January: Continue working hard on Acts

February: You can preorder Song of Songs

March: Kickstarter for The Book of Acts begins, and Song of Songs is released.

April: Kickstarter for The Book of Acts ends

May: Finish and proofread Acts

June: Print Acts

July: Fulfil Acts Kickstarter rewards

August: Finish mystery book

September: Acts of the Apostles released

October: Print mystery book

November: The next mystery book released and Christmas Cards

December: Christmas

Acts Themed Blogs

I have created some blogs to answer questions that have come up within the Book of Acts. Here is the link to two and more will follow, so keep an eye on our social feed.

TUE, JAN 09

HAVE YOUR SAY: ACTS 8:37: The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

WED, JAN 10

How were Paul and Silas beaten?

January Sale on Marks Gospel

For the month of January, the Gospel of Mark will be available at the reduced price of £11.99 (RRP £14.99). Grab it now at a discounted rate! You can even combine the sale price with our discount for spending £50 or more so you could be getting an even bigger saving.

Prayer

Spanish editions: Two of the opportunities with Spanish distribution have closed now so we are pursuing new avenues. Please continue to pray we can get the Spanish books into expert hands to get them out to the vast Spanish audience.

Progress: As always, please pray I can continue to make good progress on the Book of Acts.

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HAVE YOUR SAY: ACTS 8:37: The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

HAVE YOUR SAY: ACTS 8:37: The earliest manuscripts don't include what is labelled verse 37. Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

In the comic, I was thinking I could use it even though it's thought to be a later addition because it flows better with the conversation pictured, then add a note. Or I could not include the verse and add a footnote instead.

Have a look at the two options, what do you think?

Overview of that section of the comic:

Side by side example of how they’d be. The Second with the footnote at the bottom of the page.

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OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

News about how to preorder your Christmas books, a Kickstarter update and more this month.

Frankfurt Bookfair 2023

While I won’t be there myself, our agents will be in Frankfurt licencing the rights to produce our comic in other languages to foreign publishers. I’ve sent over samplers and leaflets and bought an ad in the show preview, so I’m really hoping we’ll get some new publishers on board to recreate the Bible comic in their languages! Frankfurter Buchmesse Oct 18th-22nd.

Preorder Christmas Books

In November our new Christmas Nativity Books are out on general release. They will make brilliant Christmas gifts and giveaways in churches. On our UK online shop, I’ve set them up so that if you want to buy bundles of these books. The price goes like this:

Single copy: £8.99

5 copies: £29.99 (£6 each)

10 copies: £44.99 (£4.49 each) by using discount code FIFTYQUIDPLUS

(We can’t do bundle deals in the US/Canada store as it’s through our distributor, so if you’d like a big bundle please check out via the UK store and we’ll get them to you).

 Go to Shop 

Kickstarter Update

All the Kickstarter bundles* went into the post last Monday, so most of you should have received yours by now (unless you are very far away or have slow mail).

Please can I encourage all of you to post about it on your social media feed, photos of your parcels or your thoughts about the book, and be sure to tag @wordforwordbiblecomic

If you are waiting for a T-shirt, all the UK ones are printed but the printer mistakenly sent them to me instead of directly to you, so they will be with you shortly.

(* All except anyone who did not fill in their Backkit survey with their address and shipping payment.)

Please could you add a review?

Book reviews on sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and ChristianBooks really help convince people to buy a copy. They also increase the book’s ranking in searches so it is doubly helpful. If you like the books and you’ve got a few minutes to add a quick recommendation or even just hit 5 stars, it would be a massive blessing!

(You’re unable to review the Christmas Nativity on Amazon yet, but I’d love everyone to add a review to it when it’s released. I’ll include it in the email on November 7th).

Using this blog you can easily link to all my titles on various platforms. https://wordforwordbiblecomic.squarespace.com/blog/reviews-really-help

Prayer

Books on Amazon: The Book of Judges still has an issue with the ISBN on Amazon, although the Christmas one seems to be fixed. Please pray the Amazon team sort this out. Spanish editions: The Lord has opened a door in the Spanish books world but nothing is settled yet. Please pray we can get the Spanish books into expert hands that will get them out to a wide Spanish audience.

Progress: Please pray I can continue to make good progress on the Book of Acts. Summer was a bit disrupted with one thing and another and now it’s time to get lots of pages finished.

If you’d like to support the project on a regular basis from just $1 a month. Head to www.patreon.com/WordforWordBibleComic

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September Newsletter

We’ve got a sale on the Book of Joshua, news on our Summer events, Kickstarter updates and more this month.

Sale: The Book of Joshua W.E.B.

We’d previously sold out of the original Joshua books that had the World English translation inside, but the other day I discovered a couple of boxes while we were doing a full inventory check. I’ve added them for sale on the website and 20 copies have already sold! If you preferred the W.E.B. translation don’t miss this chance to get one of the last copies.

 Go to Shop 

New Book of Judges

The new version of The Book of Judges is out now! This new edition features the NIV translation but also even more pages, going from 128pp to 176pp, with the panels made bigger and brighter! You can buy it now.

 Go to Shop 

Events

We had a great time at the Commission Festival with our family of churches. Welcome to those who have joined the mailing list there.

I also just got back from Christian Resources Together. Where I had a surprise bookstall! I’ve had a table at CRT in previous years but didn’t reserve one this time, however, when I got here I DID have a table waiting for me. Surprise! Luckily I had a sample copy of 6 books, two boxes of others and a bunch of leaflets so it seems God wanted me to have a stall after all. Above is the image of the impromptu stand with a scrounged tablecloth and order forms.

I also met Lou Fellingham. We had a great chat and she's now got a couple of comics for herself and her kids. It was great to have her and Nathan lead worship there.

Kickstarter Update

All the books and extras are here. We are just waiting for the last dozen or so people to complete their survey, the packaging material to arrive and for the weather to cool down and we will get these out to you in the post. Those in the UK might even get them before the end of this month, God willing.

NOTE: Some of you got notifications from BackerKit and asked if they were legit. Yes, Backerkit is who we are using to collect your addresses and take payment for the shipping costs this year.

Can we reach 100 patrons?

We recently had a few more patrons and now it's getting very close to 100. It would be so great to get there.

You can support it from just £1 a month, receiving exclusive access to pages before they are published and at higher tiers, you can get videos about the research and history drawn into every page. Even £1 a month would be amazing as it really adds up and every new patron increases our ranking on the searches which really helps.

Below are some examples, and here's the link: https://www.patreon.com/WordforWordBibleComic

Prayer

Books on Amazon: On Amazon Judges and the Christmas Book have an issue with the ISBN. We’ve been trying to fix it for months and it’s still a problem. Please pray the Amazon team sort this out. Spanish editions: Please continue to pray for a door to open for a distributor for our Spanish editions.

Opportunities: After CRT I have a lot of great opportunities and new potential partnerships and/or people to work with. Please pray God has his hand on this and makes the right things happen.

Ps: Thank you for praying for the printing to be without error, it all went smoothly this time.

[wordforwordbiblecomic]

AUGUST NEWSLETTER

We’ve got news on the new edition of Judges, events, Kickstarter updates and more this month.

New Book of Judges

In September, we will be officially releasing the new version of The Book of Judges. This new edition features the NIV translation but also even more pages, going from 128pp to 176pp, with the panels made bigger and brighter! You can preorder it now.

Events

Youthscape Satellites: I've recently returned for 5 days at a Youth event for 5,000 young people. As it was a long event I even set up a workstation at the stand so that I could keep drawing at quieter times and as people were browsing. Plus I got this photo with kids TV presenter Gemma Hunt. I'm hoping some of these connections with youth leaders in the UK will help get these comics more and more into the hands of young people. 

Commission Festival: At the end of this month I’ll have a stand at this event for 4 days. I hope I’ll see many of you there! We’ve got a number of new books since the last one in 2019!

Kickstarter Update

The digital version of this book has recently been sent out to all Kickstarter Backers! Check your KS update for the link :)

We have also just sent out the first backer surveys via BackerKit, if you haven’t got it today you’ll receive it in the next couple of days. You’ll need to add your address and settle your shipping costs if you are due to receive physical rewards. This includes the opportunity to add on further upgrades too.

Prayer

Books in libraries: Please pray we can find a way to get the books into libraries across the world and especially USA and the UK. Spanish editions: One of our options for Spanish distribution is off the table, but now we will move to another really promising opportunity. Please pray we can establish this partnership to get the Spanish books out into the world.

Printing: We are currently printing the Song of Songs and more Nativity books, it’s always a nerve-racking time as we think about errors, misprints or books getting damaged. Please pray all goes smoothly. 

If you’d like to support the project on a regular basis from just $1 a month. Head to www.patreon.com/WordforWordBibleComic

[wordforwordbiblecomic]

July Newsletter: Discounts, new Book of Judges and more

We’ve got news on the new edition of Judges, discounts, blogs and more this month

New Judges with more pages!

In September, we will be officially releasing the new version of The Book of Judges. This new edition features the NIV translation but also even more pages! Now, I know what you’re thinking but we didn’t add anything to the biblical text, we spread the existing panels over more pages making it so the pages are not so cramped and the illustrations are larger, we also lightened up the images as our first edition was very dark.

In this example below, the top left page is the original page, which becomes three pages in the new edition including two new panels and verse reference numbers in the corners.

If you can’t wait until September you can preorder it via the UK online shop and pay postage to your location and you’ll receive it before the official release. (Note: Kickstarter Backers of Song of Songs who added Judges will get this new version)

The new Judges graphic novel was showcased at the American Library Association Convention of over 10,000 librarians last month and this month will be at the Christian Product Expo in Kentucky.

Discount!

If you are ordering books direct from us (via the UK online shop), you can now get a discount when you spend £50+ you’ll get 25% off! Just enter the discount code FIFTYQUIDPLUS at checkout. Includes books, t-shirts and digital items!

(T&Cs: Offer works on direct purchases from the UK, not available on US and Canada domestic delivery which is handled by our distributors).

Patreon Hangout

On Saturday 15th July, we’ll have one of our Patreon Hangouts, a Zoom call between myself, some of the team and our patrons will be there to chat, answer questions and connect. The talk will likely be around the new title The Book of Acts which has started production but won’t be Kickstarted until next year. To get the inside scoop, see pages before anyone else and join us at the hangout, become a patron today:

The Gathering

We had a great time at the Gathering in June despite nearly melting in the sun. I did some sword training and we saw dozens of men make a first-time commitment or recommitment to Christ on the weekend. Welcome those that joined the newsletter at the event.

Blogs

I wrote a couple of blogs on the research I’ve been doing recently, I showed the top one to Dr. Mark Woolmer (our history consultant and history lecturer) and he said he’d have given me a First for the essay if it had been submitted in his class which made me happy

In this blog, I explore the question of whether the Golden Calf of Exodus was likely a statue of an Apis Bull?

https://www.wordforwordbiblecomic.com/blog/was-the-golden-calf-an-apis-bull

In this blog, I ask if Moses was tall.

https://www.wordforwordbiblecomic.com/blog/wasmosestall

Kickstarter Update

The creation of the Song of Songs is complete and the digital copies will be sent out to you very soon. They've had their first round of proofreading and corrections are being added. Once the second round of proofreading is complete will be sending it out, before the end of this month.

They'll also be heading to the printers in the next month or so in good time for delivery to backers by the end of November (or before). They will be released in shops in March 2024.

Prayer

Books in libraries: As you saw above our book was featured at the ALA con. Please pray with us that libraries really discover the benefits of the Word for Word Bible Comic and decide to stock them all across the USA. Spanish editions: We have some potential leads to getting distribution of our Spanish editions in Latin America and Europe. Please pray we can get these books into the hands of Spanish speakers very soon!

Technical issue: We have had some trouble with the ISBN registration on Amazon and other places for the new books. Some progress has been made since last time but please pray this is miraculously sorted out very soon so it does not hamper sales.

[wordforwordbiblecomic]

Was the Golden Calf an Apis Bull?

In the Bible comic, I now need to draw the Golden Calf of Exodus 32. I’ve thought for a long time that this would be an Apis Bull so I did some research into whether this is actually likely…

What is an Apis Bull

The Apis was a live bull that was considered to be a sort of physical incarnation of the god Ptah; the "soul of Ptah" or "herald of Ptah, kept in the temple of Ptah, in Memphis. The bull was, therefore, a kind of servant or intermediary, who was itself divine. It was revealed to the populace in a procession and its movements were interpreted as oracles and were thought to reflect the responses of Ptah. It was fed the best foods, slept on luxurious bedding, given hot baths, massaged, and perfumed and upon its death, the body was embalmed, and then solemnly interred in the temple of Serapis at Memphis.

The Apis is usually depicted as a black bull a sun disk between his horns and an uraeus snake emerging before the disk.

The Apis is described by the Greek researcher Herodotus:

The Apis is the calf of a cow which is never afterwards able to have another. The Egyptian belief is that a flash of light descends upon the cow from heaven, and this causes her to conceive Apis. The Apis-calf has distinctive marks: it is black, with a white square [or triangle] on its forehead, the image of an eagle on its back, the hair on its tail double, and a scarab under its tongue.

(More info on Apis : https://www.virtual-egyptian-museum.org/Collection/FullVisit/Collection.FullVisit-JFR.html?../Content/MET.LL.00887.html&0 )

Was the Golden Calf an Apis?

I think the key thing to remember is that the Israelites had lived in Egypt for generations, the people Moses lead might have been genetically Hebrew, but they were also Egyptian nationals through and through. Some of the multitudes that left of the Exodus were even non-Jewish (Exodus 12:38).

When the people thought they’d lost Moses, they turned back to their old ways. I do not believe they plucked the idea of a bull out of thin air or as a lottery, it was something they already knew.

On this website “Why a Golden Calf and not any other symbol?” Jonathan Frankel writes:

There were other Egyptian and Canaanite bull cults, e.g. Buchis, Mnevis, El, which could have been the inspiration for the Golden Calf, however, the specific chronicity, procedures and celebrations of the Apis Calf are highly suggestive that it was the motivation behind the Golden Calf. Moshe [Moses] had been on Har Sinai for 40 days and presumed dead and the Golden Calf arrived on the 40th day, just as an Apis Calf is prepared and revealed after 40 days following the death of its predecessor. The calf was made of gold, just as the Apis Calf arrived at the temple in a golden cabin. The people wanted an intermediate to serve between them and god, so Aharon created for them the religious entity they were familiar with in Egypt that served as an intermediate between them and god. And just as the Egyptians would celebrate the arrival of a new Apis Calf, so too the Israelites celebrated the arrival of their new intermediary. 

Next is the statement which is the source of the above statements:

“Since the Apis Bull was a living creature, it would eventually die, prompting… the search for a new Apis bull…. This new Apis would be a calf…. they took it to Nilopolis for 40 days of feeding after which time it was transferred via a boat inside a gold cabin to the temple of Ptah where it was greeted by the people who came to view their reincarnated god and hoped to have their questions answered.” (A Popular Account of the Ancient Egyptians: Volume 1: John Gardner Wilkinson)

As these elements pertain to a living bull, if the Golden calf was a statue (see below) it would not have been able to move, but this may have been the symbolic significance.

If they viewed the Golden Calf as a sort of reincarnation of Moses (whom they presumed dead) and a divine entity then it makes a little more sense of the statement said about the Golden Calf “Then they said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’” (Exodus 32:4b)

Examples of Apis Bull statues are evident in this era (the example below is from within approx 50 years of the Exodus).

Looking at many commentaries and Archaeological study bibles most seem to land on the opinion that the Golden calf was “most likely” an Apis Bull.

I made my own mind up when I read a different website which struggled with the language used regarding Aarons's creation of the bull. Exodus 32:4 is rendered in the NIV “He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool.”

How exactly did Aaron form this calf? The only other use of the word cheret suggests that it means a stylus:

ישעיה ח:א וַיֹּאמֶר יְ־הוָה אֵלַי קַח לְךָ גִּלָּיוֹן גָּדוֹל וּכְתֹב עָלָיו בְּחֶרֶט אֱנוֹשׁ. : Isa 8:1 Then the Lord said to me, “Get yourself a large sheet and write on it with a human stylus” (my translation).

Some translations rendered it in Exodus according to this meaning:

- LXX: “formed them with a graving tool” (ἔπλασεν αὐτὰ ἐν τῇ γραφίδι);

- Onkelos: וְצָר יָתֵיהּ בְּזִיפָא, “and he formed it with a chisel,”

- Martin Luther’s 1545 translation: “designed it with a stylus” (entwarf's mit einem Griffel),

- King James (KJV): “fashioned it with a graving tool.”

I think this detail of this engraving tool/stylus in the language which translators struggle to conceive of as useful in moulding a golden sculpture is actually a big conformation of the gold calf being an Apis, to my mind.

Look closely at the idol and the engraved patterns around the neck, the eagle over the shoulders and flanks, the blanket and other lines. (Also on the idol from c. 1400 BC above)

Who is Ptah

The fact that the Apis is connected to Ptah is an additional reason why the connection makes sense. As I mentioned above, the Israelite people were Egyptian nationals born and bred, and their understanding of YHWH was likely coloured by the national religion of the Egyptian pantheon, or at the very least they might think about which of the pantheon of gods would most equate to YHWH. So who was Ptah? Wikipedia states it succinctly:

Ptah is an Egyptian creator god who conceived the world and brought it into being through the creative power of speech. A hymn to Ptah dating to the Twenty-second Dynasty of Egypt says Ptah "crafted the world in the design of his heart," and the Shabaka Stone, from the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty, says Ptah "gave life to all the gods and their kas [souls] as well, through this heart and this tongue." […]

Epiphets: Ptah the begetter of the first beginning, Ptah lord of truth, Ptah lord of eternity, Ptah who listens to prayers, Ptah master of ceremonies, Ptah master of justice.

As the pre-existent creator god and lord of truth and justice, you can imagine how the Israelites would equate him with YHWH. If they did and sort a new intermediary between them and God then following the pattern for Ptah is somewhat understandable.

What if the Golden Calf was alive?

I also wondered if it is possible that the Golden Calf could have been a living Apis bull. I.e. a living calf dressed up in golden finery or a golden covering perhaps. Looking at the verses it all seems very possible except for Exodus 32:4 which says it is moulded and 32:24 where Aaron says (stupidly) he put the gold in the fire and the calf came out. So it doesn’t seem that the text can support a living Apis Bull in gold.

Other Ideas

Some scholars suggest the calf was merely a pedestal or mount, as other idols are depicted atop a bull. The idea was that the golden calf was a pedestal for an invisible God. This however doesn’t seem consistent with the language used about the idol and the reaction of Moses and God to its creation. If the Golden Bull was supposed be a divine intermediary replacing Moses and telling them the will of YHWH, then the reaction does fit well.

Conclusion

For the reasons stated of the connection to Ptah, the people’s desire for a new intermediary, the engraving work on the statue and the cultural connections I think it is very likely that what they created was an idol statue of an Apis Bull.

Here is the uncoloured image I created for Acts 7: 40-41

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