Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas
Beyond Belief is a readable history of how Church orthodoxy evolved over the first 4 centuries.
A History of Witchcraft: Sorcerers, Heretics, & Pagans
Russell does a magnificent job tracing the history of witchcraft from its origins to its current manifestations today.
The Dead Sea Scrolls Today
Using the Qumran Essene hypothesis as grounds, VanderKam sketches a portrait of the group's history and beliefs.
The Apocalyptic Imagination: An Introduction to Jewish Apocalyptic Literature
An essential book for anyone interested in early Apocalyptic literature including Daniel, Enoch, Baruch, and Revelation.