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What People are Saying about “The ” TV Series

and ’s , , proves that when talent and passion collide, the outcome is spectacular. Having spent time with them on the set, Victoria and I witnessed firsthand not only the genius of Mark Burnett and Roma Downey but the deep and abiding passion they possess for God’s Word. Every aspect of this production from the acting to the poignant storytelling is accomplished with excellence. In particular, I found Roma’s portrayal of Mary, the mother of , to be both moving and genuine. Mark and Roma have succeeded in doing what few before them have done; they have produced a work that truly reflects the masterpiece that is the Holy Bible.” – Joel Osteen, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church, #1 NY Times bestselling author

“I’ve probably seen most, if not all, of the films about the Bible produced in the past 50 years. This one stands alone, in a class by itself, as the best I’ve ever seen. Brilliantly produced with stunning cinematography, a score and academy-worthy acting, it stands head-and-shoulder above the rest. Too many ‘Bible’ films end up feeling like documentaries, with stilted dialog, second-class sets, and narration that feels like a lecture. In contrast, this series, draws you into the story from the start. The key to its effectiveness is that it lets the Bible speak for itself, without commentary, excuse or qualification, which makes it unique. This is living history at its best!” - Dr. , Author, What On Earth Am I Here For?, The Purpose Driven Life

“Thanks for the opportunity to view clips from the upcoming series “The Bible.” What I saw impressed me a great deal. It’s quite a challenge to get hold of both the Old and New Testaments in only 10 hours of film, but Mark and Roma did a fantastic job. I’m anxious to see the entire series in the spring. I was especially pleased to meet Mark and Roma and have the opportunity to experience the love and passion with which they produced this series. It’s truly something that has come from their hearts. May God bless them, and may many souls be led to Christ by their viewing The Bible.” - Bishop Michael Sheridan, Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs, CO

"Unlike any other film or miniseries I’ve ever encountered, The Bible brings the Word of God to life in the full richness of its scope, diversity, power, and magnificence. History and mystery collide as Mark Burnett and Roma Downey infuse every scene with their divinely inspired vision for sharing the poetic beauty and timeless wisdom of Scripture. This series helps us all to experience the flesh-and-blood stories of the Bible in a new light and draws us to the Divine Author who continues writing His eternal masterpiece. You will be enthralled, encouraged, and inspired by The Bible – seeing really is believing!" - Bishop T.D. Jakes, author, pastor, The Potter’s House

"The Bible mini series is beautiful, majestic and epic! The story of the Bible has never been taught like this. These stories will be illuminating to those who have grown up with the Bible as well as the millions of intellectually curious people who want to better understand the greatest stories from the greatest book of all time. Roma and Mark are giving the world a beautiful gift and it will be life changing for millions of people.” - Anthony “Tony” Robbins, speaker and author

“I love the passion and enthusiasm that my friends Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have invested in their new History Channel series, The Bible. Rather than a word-for- word documentary, this project combines drama and history in a way that captures the essence and heart of the Gospel and the broader biblical story. I’m convinced that The Bible represents a unique opportunity to convey God’s redemptive message to a broad audience—many of whom may be unfamiliar with the narrative of Scripture. My prayer is that many lives will be impacted not only by the beauty and quality of the production, but by the Truth that lies at the center of the story.” - Jim Daly, President,

"Mark Burnett and Roma Downey's mini-series The Bible is an unqualified success. It rises above its forebears, shining with cinematic artistry, dramatic creativity, and essential biblical fidelity." - Frank Wright, Ph.D., President & CEO, National Religious Broadcasters

“Because I grew up knowing about the bible but not understanding it, I’m overwhelmed with excitement about The Bible series. It’s impossible to put into words the awe- inspiring emotions I felt watching the Bible stories come to life on the screen. The attention to detail is impeccable. The acting is deeply moving. The music is breathtaking. I’m waiting with anticipation to see all the lives The Bible Series will impact. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have given the world a gift.” - , pastor, Lifechurch.tv

"Mark Burnett and Roma Downey created a masterpiece. Never before have we seen a work of visual and audio artistry that captures the passion of God's word, the purpose of faith full narratives and the promise of a redemptive outcome like The Bible. Mark and Roma's commitment to a project that engages the heart and the head of each viewer serves as a catalytic platform for the purpose of engaging generations with the greatest message of all; hope and eternal life. I am honored to be associated with this powerful and life changing project." - Rev. Rodriguez, president National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

“This series is stunning – superbly acted and beautifully produced. It brings the stories of the Bible to life in an extraordinary way.” - Nicky Gumbel, Alpha International

“When I heard of Mark and Roma’s The Bible project, I thought, ‘I hope they get it right!’ As an Advisor on the project, I now know they’ve done just that. From the moment I read the first scripts, through the process of refining them, I was thrilled to see how the classic stories of the Bible were being dramatically portrayed with loving care for biblical integrity and attention to core theological truths. The desire to produce The Bible in a way that honors God and the Bible has permeated the project. This is an exceptional gift to the faith community…and the world!” - Dr. Bob Beltz, Sr. Pastor, Highline Community Church in Denver; Sr. Advisor to Chairman of The Anschutz Corporation

“Not since Cecil B. DeMille’s production of The has a powerful, major Hollywood production like ‘The Bible’ been released worldwide. This miniseries, featuring the music of Oscar-winner Hans Zimmer, will help millions to experience God’s Word in a visual, dramatic way.” - Geof Morin, American Bible Society

“We have read all the scripts, spent time on the set and viewed some remarkable footage. The World Evangelical Alliance stands fully behind this incredible Bible project. It could be one of the greatest gifts provided to the global church for this and future generations.” - Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, Chief Executive Officer/Secretary General, World Evangelical Alliance

“We were extremely impressed by the production quality of Mark and Roma’s mini-series The Bible, and thankful for their personal testimonies and commitment to spreading the good news of Jesus to the world.” - Tom Peterson, Catholics Come Home® / Virtue Media™

"I'm passionate about leveraging technology and media to help millions of people experience the Bible through the YouVersion Bible App. I'm convinced that Mark and Roma's series The Bible will bring God's Word to life in the hearts of millions of people who may have never opened the book or launched our app. I am in full support of this project and can't wait for everyone to see it." - Bobby Gruenewald, Pastor, Innovation Leader at LifeChurch.tv and founder of YouVersion

“The dedicated artistry of Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, in their portrayal of seminal stories from the Bible, greatly strengthens my confidence in truths I hold close to my heart. The passages I have known intellectually for many years have now come to life. This series is going to evoke a significant and important discussion and I feel deeply indebted to Mark and Roma for their courage and their commitment to authenticity and essential truth.” - Andrew K. Benton, President, Pepperdine University

“This celebration of The Bible will inspire people around the world to rediscover a beloved text in new ways. This is a passion project nurtured with love and care by Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and the entire creative team. I was thoroughly impressed by the deep faith expressed throughout this epic series.” - Craig Detweiler, PhD, Director, Center for Entertainment, Media, and Culture Pepperdine University

"Today's entertainment obsessed generation needs a striking visual presentation of the Gospel to grab their attention and hearts. Mark and Roma's mini series The Bible achieves exactly this with unforgettable images, dialogue and music in a never-before- seen synergy that God is going to mightily use to reach this generation." - Dr. Tabor, MD, CEO of Jesus Daily®

"The Bible is visually stunning and spiritually evocative - I couldn't stop crying the first time I watched it! This incredibly realistic depiction of the divine love story between our Creator-Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and humanity is a huge gift for both the church and culture at large." - Lisa Harper, Ministry Director of Women of Faith

“I can’t think of anyone better than producer Mark Burnett and his wife, Roma Downey to bring to television The Bible. The Holy Bible is the greatest book ever written, for in its pages God Himself speaks to mankind. I’m thrilled that this coming Spring 2013 millions of people, many for the first-time, will discover through this 10-hour docudrama the history, power, inspiration and life changing message of the Bible. The Bible alone truly answers the greatest questions of life. I’ve seen video clips of Mark and Roma’s straightforward interpretation of some of these greatest stories in history as told in The Bible and the production is absolutely captivating, especially the telling of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This will easily do for the History Channel what did for ABC-TV back in 1977.” - Luis Palau, president of Luis Palau Ministries

“This TV series of snapshots from biblical history makes these events dramatically come alive and generate involvement that can have transformative effects on the viewers. I expect the TV series The Bible to be the subject of conversations for a long time. I give it 2 thumbs up!” - Tony Campolo, Professor Emeritus, Eastern University

“Once in a great while a television series comes out that is so meaningful in its message, so extraordinary is in its presentation, and so deeply touches the heart and soul, it is not only a must see for you, but it is a must see for everyone you know. The Bible, by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, is that kind of series. I highly recommend it.” - Ken Foreman, Senior Pastor, Cathedral of Faith

“The Bible Series is powerful beyond words. Mark and Roma’s unrelenting dedication to principle and the investment of their hearts is abundantly apparent in this wonderful project. As president of Parents Television Council I spend much of my time criticizing the ubiquitous flow of graphic and gratuitous sex and violence and profanity in entertainment, especially when marketed to children. It is gratifying to see industry leaders working to give families something so positive, uplifting, inspiring, educational and entertaining.” - Timothy F. Winter, President, Parents Television Council

I was blessed and blown away by the miniseries, THE BIBLE. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have done an outstanding job in capturing both the power of God and the frailties of humanity as they bring the Old and New Testament to life on the screen. I believe the Lord is going to use this miniseries to touch lives and generate meaningful conversation about the greatest story ever told ... the story of God. Thank you, Mark and Roma for your faith, courage, and dedication in getting God's Word of love and salvation to the masses. -Pastor Jeff Schreve, First Baptist Church, Texarkana, Texas and From His Heart Ministries

“Before meeting Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, I knew of them from their vast television credits. Who knew that they would tackle a dramatic scripted mega-series based on the Bible? And yet, they’ve succeeded with this profound project; not by just telling Bible stories, but by revealing truly inspired events from Genesis to Revelation with tender care and authentic biblical accuracy. The result is a masterful portrayal of an intimate, loving God and how He relates to His people. The Bible Mini-series should be watched by every living person, now and into the future. It has the potential to change lives and entire cultures!” -Dick Rolfe, co-founder and CEO, The Dove Foundation

“Today’s children and youth are fascinated and moved by stories. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have given us a profound gift by capturing the dramatic narratives of the Bible. The Bible helps bring the basic stories of scripture to life. I’m excited to see how this dramatic portrayal of the scriptures will be used to stimulate our children and youth to examine the redemptive truths of the Bible in a deeper way.” -Daryl Nuss, Executive Director/CEO, National Network of Youth Ministries

"We are at a time in history where visual story is the communications medium whereby people get and give information – through cells phones, computers, TV's and movies. Visual Media is the literature of our times. The Bible miniseries by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey is a great example of leveraging today's technology and media allowing their great creativity for storytelling to bring to life the Word of God in a way that will move people to the truth of these powerful biblical stories. I think you can count on one hand the number of meaningful and well-done movies that present the Bible is some form or fashion, and I would say that The Bible series is one of those masterpieces, with passion and heart to bring the Truth to the masses. I thank Mark and Roma for paying attention to God's leading to bring this powerful series to life and pouring their hearts and souls into this incredibly dramatic and life-moving project!" - Jess Stainbrook, Executive Vice President of Scripture Union USA

"The Bible has come alive through stories, sermons, ancient scrolls, paintings, stained glass windows, and printed translations. This series by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett is the Bible for the 21st century. Add it to the list of masterpieces!" -Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals

“This Bible series is one of those rare things that comes from the heart. In our world we should cherish things that are made with such love. Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast. It is not proud. When everything else is gone, faith, hope, and love remain. But the greatest of these is love. If you have love in you, you will see love in this series. And you will see something of us all in these series.” - Dr. Maya Angelou

“When I viewed The Bible, I soon forgot I was watching a film---I felt I was on the scene, a bystander as the incredible and eternally important events took place. There is no glamorization, no "Hollywood" production; there is instead a gritty, unpretentious realism, an observed humanness and naturalness that brings the Bible to life before your eyes. I felt I was living and breathing it myself, and I now know every person.and Jesus Himself...as if I'd been there when each thing happened. What other film has ever done that?” -Pat Boone, CEO, Pat Boone Enterprises

"From what we’ve seen so far, Movieguide highly supports this wonderful adaption of the Bible. We consider this a must see!" -Evy Baehr, Movieguide®

“I am especially glad to recommend this amazing History Channel presentation on the Bible. With great skill, the filmmakers both faithfully adhere to the biblical text and wonderfully capture the drama and emotion that biblical figures like , , King , and even Jesus Himself experienced. Even if you have never read a word of the Bible, you will find this series compelling and meaningful. I believe this series on the Bible will answer a of questions that people have about modern life today.” -Fr. Dave Heney, Pastor, St. Paschal Baylon

“Mark and Roma fulfill their definitive purpose with The Bible. This epic mini-series will shift the eternal destiny of millions of people throughout the planet - past, present and future. I am also impressed with the increased cultural diversity represented throughout the series. This depiction of people of color is closer to the people that live during Biblical antiquity. Every human on the planet must embrace The Bible.” - Bishop Rodney Sampson, International Bishop's Conference, Author, Kingonomics

"Mark and Roma have provided a true gift to this generation. The Bible project is part of the continuous legacy of faith that seeks to bring Scripture to people everywhere in the lingua franca. This cinematographic presentation is not just moving but inspiring. May all who view it be blessed like we were.” - & Jeanette Salguero, Co-Founders, National Latino Evangelical Coalition

"The Bible is outstanding. In some ways, it does the same kind of thing that trips to Israel do. That land is actually no more "holy" than any other land. But being physically there re-enforces the critically important fact that the events described in Scripture took place in space and time. Christianity is thus far more than a philosophy; our faith is founded on historical events. "The Bible" powerfully does the same kind of thing and because it does, viewers will find their appreciation of the Bible and, even more important, their understanding of the God of the Bible significantly enhanced. And it doesn't get much more important than that!” -Dr. Samuel Logan, International Director, The World Reformed Fellowship

“I was inspired by the quality you put into the Bible project. I was just thinking how young people today rarely read the book first, they normally see the movie and then get the book to see how accurate the movie was. It is my prayer that the same happens with the Bible Mini-series and after viewing it that they begin reading the Bible to continue their journey to God!” -Randy Raus, President / CEO, Life Teen

“I think when people see The Bible, I think their hearts are going to be touched, desiring to embrace the word of God, to live the word of God more, to integrate it to the word of God and to share the word of God. I think when people see it, they’re going to say, “Did you see the series? You’ve got to see this series because it's something beautiful.” “ -Bishop Sam Jacobs- Bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

“The Bible clips were amazing. I was really touched by them. It was filled with life, with emotion, and with historical sensitivity. Being from that area myself, from the Middle East, from the Holy Land, it was very touching. It gives us an accurate as possible biblical sense, it emphasizes the reality of the scriptures from Genesis, to the Book of Revelations. And so you can see the Bible as it is, the word of God in the word of man, and the Spirit of God working.” -Bishop Gregory Mansour, Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

“What The Bible accomplishes and what has been needed for a very long time, is a realistic thoughtful, but accurate portrayal of the mayor events of the Old and New Testaments, by giving this to us, it's given us the opportunity not only to reacquaint ourselves with these events those of us who’ve seen them before, but, to introduce them to another generation of young people who have never, ever thought about the Bible in a serious way. ” -Deal Hudson, Founder of Catholic Advocate and Crisis Magazine

“Mark Burnett”s new Bible series is really special because it takes you through the Old Testament and the New Testament and gives you a really wonderful introduction to the Bible in a way that even non-Christians will be intrigued by its storytelling… Following this story the way Mark produced it allows you to kind of feel like you’re there. They hit all the major points without being preachy, and even the sophisticated Bible people will get a lot out of it.” - Steve McEveety, Producer of The Passion of the Christ, Founder and CEO of Mpower Pictures

“Well it wasn’t what I was expecting. You know, I was expecting some Old Testament Bible stories, Noah, the fun stuff and that type. I was very impressed that they’re making a tie from Old Testament to New Testament to Jesus. It was just absolutely wonderful! This is something that every Christian needs to watch and every non believer, every seeker, everyone needs to see this. For me it’s as if God is saying, ‘Okay I’m coming soon. I want you to get the real picture of what’s going on’. It’s good.” -Al Menconi, Al Menconi Ministries

“Just got finished seeing the Bible and it is absolutely astounding, amazing, anointed. What a presentation that we can bring the gospel, real life on screen to show the story, the love of God, the power of Christ, the presence of God. You have to get involved. You need to be apart of this. It’s life transforming and I know that this is not just a project, this is an assignment that God has given not just Mark and Roma but given us as the Body to carry forth to the world. God Bless you.” -Pastor Paula White, Paula White Ministries and New Destiny Christian Center

“The Bible! It’s epic, it’s life changing, life altering. I think the thing that stands out to me the most is how raw it is. It’s raw. It’s immediate life application. You see yourself maybe in ways you do want to see yourself or don’t want to see yourself as you see the characters. It promises to be life changing.” -Charles Jenkins, Pastor, Fellowship Baptist Church

“I just had the opportunity to screen part of the Bible and it is awesome! It’s a marvelous telling of the Scriptures that I think any viewer, whether they are familiar with the Bible or never encountered it before. It’s a great human story that answers the question is there anything more beyond just me and my life?, is there something bigger?, is there a plan for me?, and I think this movie will be an awesome experience for those who watch it to see their questions answered in a way. I thought the performances of the actors were right on target. I was moved by many of the performances and many of the portrayals of the Scripture stories that I have read and proclaimed and preached on years and years, but it just brought it to a whole new level. I thought that the scene and then Jesus ripping the bread saying this is my Body, just brought it to life, what was happening, and just made it so much more real to me. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that clip.” -Father Eric Andrews, President, Paulist Productions

“I was just able to see the vision of the Bible. The thing that struck me so forcefully were the bridges that it made, filled with all kind of drama, and challenge. But it made bridges not just to Christians, but to Jews, and to Muslims, and even people who are disenchanted with the whole idea of religion. Stories of how people have encountered God in a wonderful way. I’m really filled with hope that this is going to be a powerful movement not only here in our own country, but around the world. With an awareness of God’s presence in our life and the bridges that God wants to make with people of all denominations and all religions. Thank you.” -Father Mike Manning, Presiden, Wordnet Productions

“I really liked the Bible. I think that it’s a wonderful series. There are moments in it that I liked; especially, I will give an example, the nativity is wonderful. In the sequence of the way of the cross I thought was really well done. There are moments that will really touch your heart and I think that that is probably the strongest part of the series.” -Sister Rose Pacatte, Pauline Center for Media Studies

We all hunger for something greater than ourselves, but in our generation many see Christianity as “old school,” outdated, irrelevant. “The greatest story ever told” is that for a reason, though – and Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have done a masterful job of bringing that story to life for a new generation. Their new show The Bible has all the hallmarks of a successful miniseries. Superb acting, brilliant cinematography, and compelling drama all work together to touch the heart and help the viewer enter into the story of God’s loving plan. - Christmyer, Director, The Great Adventure Study Program

“When The Bible comes out, my hope is that it will be seen by millions of people and I plan to make sure that people in my parish … are exposed to it as well. I think it’s a work of art, that it’s faithful to the word of God, and it’s a way to get to know the Incarnate Word of God even better which is the most important thing of all.” -Fr. Willy Raymond C.S.C., National Director of Family Theater Productions

"The Bible mini-series is an inspiring, top-notch production that will resonate for generations to come. Successfully telling the love story between man and God in such a vibrant and cinematic way is desperately needed, and the fact that this series has accomplished it is miraculous." -Greg and Jennifer Willits, Catholics Next Door radio show; NewEvangelizers.com

Superbly paced, brilliantly acted, wonderful cinematography and, of course, very moving. The miraculous was all very well done. Some Jesus films in the past have shied away from tackling the miracles, perhaps thinking that skeptical modern audiences would struggle with them. But I think the exorcisms, the feeding, the walking on the water were all perfect. I thought the issues were treated with sensitivity to questions about the depictions of Jews and Judaism, and full and sympathetic understanding of potential difficulties. Another sensitive issue, Judas's betrayal, is well-handled -- and his motivation and disappointment clear. As a result, I think the piece works well both dramatically and historically -- and that's a tall order! - Mark Goodacre, Associate Professor in New Testament, Duke University,

“The Bible documentary beautifully captures the story and message of the Bible. It will educate and bless all who view it. I congratulate everyone involved in this ambitious project. The Bible documentary gets the story and message right. The actors have done a superb job. Even hard-nosed historians and Bible scholars will be deeply moved by the many compelling scenes. It gives me great pleasure to recommend it to everyone. The Bible documentary is a masterpiece. Never has the story of the Bible been captured so compellingly on film. The script is excellent and the acting is superb. I watched episode 8 with great enjoyment. Everything about it was skillfully crafted and beautifully presented. I was again impressed at how many distinctive details of the Gospel of John were worked into the story as told by the Synoptic Gospels. This is no easy task, as any Gospels scholar will tell you, but the script and the actors managed to pull it off in a very convincing and compelling way. Good job. They are beautifully done. I thought the depiction of the call of Matthew (episode 7) was brilliant. Roma herself was the best Mary ever. Although brief, the history of the book of Acts was very effectively covered. Paul’s hostility, his Road encounter, his tearful conversion, his “love” speech were simply superb.” -Craig Evans is Professor of New Testament at Acadia Divinity College of Acadia University in Nova Scotia,

'When I was asked to act as a biblical consultant on this series, I thought it was an exciting project but feared that it was over ambitious. Attempting to depict the whole of the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation is a bold undertaking but 'The Bible' pulls it off. It is carefully and sensitively done, with an excellent script, beautiful score and good acting. I am delighted to have my name associated with it. The principles that lie behind 'The Bible' are that of the use of modern historical scholarship combined with a final text reading. What this means is that the stories of the Bible are taken at face value, and included in the overarching narrative of the story at the time that they are set (so for example although many scholars think the book of was written in the 2nd century BC the story is placed in the 6th century). At the same time great care has been undertaken to understand what it might have been like to live at the time that the story was set. One of the best features of the 'The Bible' is that it has paid very close attention to the text but at the same time imagined what it might have felt like for the different characters depicted. One of my favorite scenes is that of Sarah after she has discovered that Abraham has taken to be sacrificed - the pain and poignancy of the moment is painted clearly and thoughtfully. 'The Bible' has tried very hard to present an interpretation of the Bible that will be acceptable both to a Jewish and Christian audience but also to different denominations within Christianity. Although not everyone will like every part of the series, the writers have done an excellent job of weaving together a variety of different interpretations and of being sensitive to range of different views and issues.” -Dr Paula Gooder, writer and lecturer in Biblical Studies, consultant to BBC television and radio Bible projects

“This is an excellent dramatization of the Bible – it’s historically credible, put together with sensitivity and imagination, and at times truly moving. The relationship between and Pilate is very cleverly done: we get an insight into first century power games, what was at stake for them both, and some sense of why such different men wanted Jesus dead. This is one of the best portrayals of Caiaphas I've seen on TV - he comes across as a real first century priest with his own concerns and dilemmas; not an embodiment of evil, but a misguided leader intent on his own course of action. The producers have a wonderful ability to make you think about familiar scenes in an entirely new way.” -Dr Helen Bond, Senior Lecturer in New Testament at the University of Edinburgh; Director of the Centre for Christian Origins, author of in History and Interpretation Caiaphas: Friend of Rome and Judge of Jesus?

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to review the episodes of your forthcoming series. It's really dazzling to watch and there were many moments when I felt overwhelmed by the power of the narrative. I've read these texts a great deal so I'm not easily impressed. Roma Downey's Mary breathes new life into Christianity's beloved icon of motherhood and, in the process, provides a deeply moving and intimate portrait of the humanity and suffering of the mother of Jesus. This is a truly remarkable retelling of the Bible - it is at once moving, imaginative, thought-provoking, and unsettling. Both those skeptical of the Bible and those deeply familiar with it will be surprised as its characters and stories come alive in unexpected and affecting ways." -Candida Moss, Award-winning author, The Other Christs: Imitating Jesus in Ancient Christian Ideologies of Martyrdom