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!

HAPPY EASTER! FREE GOSPEL OF LUKE

To celebrate Easter and the fact we are currently doing a Kickstarter for The Gospel of Luke vol 2 (a.k.a. Acts of the Apostles), we are giving away Kindle versions of The Gospel of Luke: Word for Word Bible Comic! Call it an Easter present ;)

That’s 267 pages of graphic novels in digital format for Kindle (including guided view) for free.
All we ask is you add your review on Amazon and also consider backing our Kickstarter too!

(Ends: Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 11:59 PM PDT)

To find the Gospel of Luke head here:

In other areas just bring up ASIN: B0CW1989RB on your local Amazon.

To find our Kickstarter hit the image below!

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 :

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!

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 Oldest Love Poem" (L.2461) on display at the Istanbul Museum of the Ancient Orient is an erotic poem addressed to king Shu-Sin (c.2027-2029) in ancient Sumerian cuneiform. It opens with the words "Bridegroom, dearest of my heart, your beauty is sweet, sweeter than honey. You are a Lion, dearest of my heart..." (Image: Public domain).

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.

Menna's Daughter Offering to her Parents, Tomb of Menna (c.1350) (Image: Public Domain)

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.

Hieroglyphics transcribed by A.H. Gardiner (1931) of this poem, Verso C from the Papyrus Chester Beatty I (Image: Public Domain. )

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.

An image of this exact poem “Verso G and H from the Chester Beatty Papyri I” so named as they are housed in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, Ireland. (Image: Public domain.).

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

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:

Did Solomon the 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.

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

Is Song of Songs an allegory?

The facts that Song of Songs is part of the canon of Scripture and that its name means "the greatest of all songs" implies to many that there is more to the book than a poem between lovers and that it has a greater or prophetic significance, with symbols pointing to a more profound spiritual truth.

YHWH and the nation of Israel

In some Jewish traditions, the song (Shir Hashirim in Hebrew) is thought to represent God's love for Israel. Indeed, God is repeatedly pictured as being married to the nation of Israel (Jer. 2:1, Ezek. 16:8, Hosea 1-3, Is. 54:6, etc.) and Israel is called His beloved (Jer 11:15; 12:7). These traditions understand the love between the wife and husband in Song of Songs as a metaphor for God's love for his people.

The book is traditionally read with a blessing on the first night of Passover at the end of the Seder meal. Some rabbis see the “song of Solomon” itself as a midrash written by Solomon about the Exodus. (Vanessa Lovelace defines midrash as "a Jewish mode of interpretation that not only engages the words of the text, behind the text, and beyond the text, but also focuses on each letter, and the words left unsaid by each line.”) These rabbis see parallels between YHWH coming to take the maiden/Israel out of her life of toil in the sun (1:6), her being initially rejected (2:17) but then reconciled and betrothed, being brought out of the land of toil and into a covenant relationship (marriage/the Law), and then, ultimately, running off to the countryside/promised land together with her husband/God (6:11 and 8:14). Even beyond this, these rabbis examine every word in parallel with the Exodus story looking for connections and hints of deeper meanings.

At the Council of Jamnia in the late first century, Rabbi Akiva, speaking against the potential exclusion of Song of Songs from the Hebrew canon exclaimed, "Heaven forbid! [...] For all of eternity is not as worthy as the day on which the Song of Songs was given to Israel, for all the Writings are holy, but the Song of Songs is the Holy of Holies."

Christ and the Church

While some Christian commentaries strain to make every word of this sensuous book fit an allegory of Christ and his bride to an unnecessary degree, there are some very compelling parallels when the book is considered in broad strokes.

If it was written by Solomon (or his contemporaries) as an allegory about the future coming of the Messiah, this was not conceived as a metaphor but done prophetically through the working of the Holy Spirit. In this interpretation, following the two-person narrative, Christ is the king and the maiden is "the bride of Christ,” that is, the church (Ephesians 5:25–32, Rev. 19:6-9).

The king (Revelation 17:14) comes (the first time) to visit his beloved in a humble guise (Isaiah 53:2) as a shepherd (John 10:11-18). She falls in love with the humble shepherd and the two are engaged (Song 3:4) and so he becomes the bridegroom (Matt. 25:1–13, John 3:29). As Jewish customs dictate, the groom then goes away to make a home for her (John 14:3). Later the wedding party returns with a company of friends (Matt 25:31) and she discovers that he is the king. Then she is taken up to be married (Rev 19:6-9) in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40–48, Rev. 21).

There is also a three-person interpretation in which Christ is the shepherd who rescues the maiden from the world/the evil king. To my mind, this allegory doesn't fit as well as the two-person view because it does not sufficiently take into account the New Testament images of Christ being both shepherd and king, being the “bridegroom,” and having a wedding in connection with the New Jerusalem. So I believe I have good reasons for choosing the two-person view for the comic.

In the cover below you can see allusions to the allegorical nature of the book, as the lover’s kiss forms a lamb, the Lamb of God.

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

https://www.wordforwordbiblecomic.com/buy-uk