Candida R. Moss | Lightnews

Candida Moss

@candidamoss.bsky.social

5.3K followers 200 following 170 posts

Professor. Writer. Columnist. Erratic historian. Typo Queen.

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Candida R. Moss is a British public intellectual, journalist, New Testament scholar and historian of Christianity, and as of 2017, the Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham. A graduate of Oxford and Yale universities, Moss specialises in the study of the New Testament, with a focus on the subject of martyrdom in early Christianity, as well as other topics from the New Testament and early church history. She is the winner of a number of awards for her research and writing and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. .. more

History 46%

Philosophy 20%

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Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 23d

I am thrilled (and a little overwhelmed) to share that my book God's Ghostwriters was award the 2026 Grawemeyer Award in religion. I am deeply honored to join this group of distinguished award winners.
lpts.edu/friends/graw...

Black and white picture of a blonde woman wearing a black top smiling with the caption "Candida Moss wins 2026 Grawemeyer Award in Religion"

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 8h

Possibly, but I think we'd need better evidence that Christians were celebrating the birth of Jesus on Dec. 25th in the early third century for that to make sense.

Reposted by Andrew Jacobs

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 8h

And FINALLY what do we know about Herod the Great? Adam Marshak, author of The Many Faces of Herod the great, and classicist Tim Whitmarsh weigh in.

www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

Was Biblical villain King Herod really a murderous tyrant?

The Roman-backed ruler grew increasingly paranoid and murderous during his reign.

www.nationalgeographic.com

Reposted by Andrew Jacobs

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 8h

What was the Star of Bethlehem and do we have historical evidence for it?

www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

Featuring astrophysicist Grant Matthews and Bible scholar @zafulotus.bsky.social

Is there historical evidence for the Star of Bethlehem?

Theologians, historians and astronomers have debated the Biblical story for centuries.

www.nationalgeographic.com

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 9h

The calculation theory is probably right. But this was a fascinating example of how an academic hypothesis, when well received, crystallizes into something much more solid and comes to be received as a fact. 6/6

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 9h

All of which is to say that the scholarly argument is less airtight than I had previously thought and Duchesne himself was pretty cautious. His theory (known popularly as the calculation theory) did not eliminate the birthday of Sol Invictus from the reasons for the date of Christmas. 5/6

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 9h

After Duchesne's death a late antique homily was discovered that does explicitly articulate the conception/Easter argument, but it is a much later and its origins are a bit unclear. Maybe it reflects earlier thought and practice. Again H/T Talley's Origins of the Liturgical Year. 4/6

"Therefore our Lord was conceived on the eighth day of the kalends of April in the month of March, which is the day of the passion of the Lord and of his conception. For on the day that he was conceived on the same he suffered"

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 9h

This argument (or, better, hypothesis) was first advanced by Louis Duchesne, but Duchesne knew there was a problem. No early Christian authors *say* that the date of Christmas is related to the date of Easter/the conception. So Duchesne summarizes in the following way (H/T Thomas Talley) 3/6

"This explanation would be the more readily received if we could find it fully stated in some author. unfortunately we know of no text containing it, and we are therefore compelled to put it forward as an hypothesis, but it is an hypothesis which falls in with what we may call the recognized methods in such matters."

"I would not venture to say in regard to the 25th of December, that the coincidence of the Sol novas exercised no direct or indirect influence on the ecclesiastical decisions arrived at in regard to the matter."

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 9h

Most scholars will say that the date of Christmas was calculated from the presumed date of Jesus's conception, which in turn was calculated from the date of his death (for a great summary see @praxeas.bsky.social 's piece for BAR here): www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people...) 2/6

How December 25 Became Christmas

Discover how December 25 became the date for Christmas. Explore the biblical silence, early Christian debates, pagan influences, and the theological link between Jesus’ birth and death that shaped thi...

www.biblicalarchaeology.org

Reposted by Andrew Jacobs

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 9h

I didn't want to write this piece on Christmas stealing from pagan festivals because I have always thought that was a myth. BUT in researching it I realized something interesting 1/6

www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

featuring: @praxeas.bsky.social @zafulotus.bsky.social

Was Christmas moved to eclipse Rome's Saturnalia festival?

Ancient scribes often calculated Christ’s birth as falling in early spring.

www.nationalgeographic.com

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 9h

How many Magi were there and were they descended from Seth? Check out this piece that draws on essential work by @brentlandau.bsky.social and @evandeneykel.bsky.social ial

www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

Were there three Nativity wise men—or twelve?

Early Christian sources differ on how many Magi visited the infant Jesus, and whether they were kings at all.

www.nationalgeographic.com

Reposted by Andrew Jacobs

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 9h

I wrote a number of pieces for National Geographic this Christmas and was delighted to be able to share the work of colleagues I deeply admire. First up this piece about angels featuring quotes from Christy Cobb and the work of @emuehlbe.bsky.social

www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

Angels in ancient myths were actually pretty terrifying

Far from the baby-cheeked cherubs of Renaissance art, they were fiery beings who inspired fear.

www.nationalgeographic.com

Reposted by Candida R. Moss

Presbyterian Outlook @presoutlook.bsky.social · 8d

2026 Grawemeyer religion award honors ‘God’s Ghostwriters’

Biblical scholar Candida Moss wins the 2026 Grawemeyer Award for "God’s Ghostwriters," highlighting enslaved collaborators who helped shape the New Testament.

@candidamoss.bsky.social

2026 Grawemeyer religion award honors ‘God’s Ghostwriters’

Candida Moss wins the 2026 Grawemeyer Award for "God’s Ghostwriters," highlighting enslaved collaborators who shaped the New Testament.

buff.ly

Reposted by Greg Woolf, Andrew Jacobs, Kathleen Kennedy , and 2 more Greg Woolf, Andrew Jacobs, Kathleen Kennedy, James A. Benn, Candida R. Moss

Sarah E. Bond @sarahebond.bsky.social · 9d

My latest for @hyperallergic.com looks at a new article in JRA on Berenike, Indo-Roman trade, and of course some pet monkeys which may have had pet piglets or kittens? 🐵 Really this is just amazing research showing us the extensive connections between the Mediterranean and India. #GlobalAntiquity

Pet Monkeys Were Popular in Ancient Rome, Burials Reveal

The recent archaeological discovery also deepens our understanding of trade networks between India and the Roman Empire.

hyperallergic.com

Reposted by Candida R. Moss

rogueclassicist ~ david meadows @rogueclassicist.bsky.social · 14d

Video. Turkey find reveals rare Roman-style Jesus fresco | Euronews
www.euronews.com/video/2025/1...

Video. Turkey find reveals rare Roman-style Jesus fresco

Video. A rare 3rd-century fresco of Jesus as the Good Shepherd was discovered near Iznik, Turkey.

www.euronews.com

Reposted by Candida R. Moss

Dey @auralfixation.bsky.social · 14d

When @profgabriele.com & @lollardfish.bsky.social drop a new piece referencing @monicamedhist.bsky.social’s work you’ve GOT to send it to the Medieval group chat.

Love how interdisciplinary work with history is finding so many contributing factors for events.

buttondown.com/ModernMediev...

A Volcano Caused the Black Death?

Plague on a Boat

buttondown.com

Reposted by Andrew Jacobs, Candida R. Moss

Andrew Mark Henry @andrewmarkhenry.bsky.social · 15d

After the huge success of last year's tour, I’m again leading an Ancient Christianity Turkey tour in May 2026!

We’ll walk the streets of Ephesus, visit ancient churches and synagogues, and nerd out about ancient religion together.

Spots are limited →
www.wetravel.com/trips/ancien...

Ancient Christian Turkey with Religion for Breakfast | Ephesus 2026 in Turkey

This tour is a deep dive into the world of early Christianity and ancient Greco-Roman religion—led by Dr. Andrew Mark Henry, a scholar of early Christianity and the creator and host of Religion for Br...

www.wetravel.com

Reposted by Andrew Jacobs

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 18d

Matthew Larsen and Mark Letteney's Ancient Mediterranean Incarceration is in the @newyorker.com!

www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

The Ancient Roots of Doing Time

The historical and archeological record upends the widespread belief that long-term incarceration belongs to the modern state.

www.newyorker.com

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 20d

Thank you dearest friend!

Reposted by Candida R. Moss

Working Classicists @workingclassicists.bsky.social · 20d

🎉 SOLIDARITY SATURNALIA! 🎉

IO SATURNALIA! Our annual festive giveaway is here!

12 bundles of gifts, and all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is:
🎄Follow us,
🎄Repost this thread,
🎄And fill out this form: forms.gle/zMcHKZqGNC...

Read on for prizes and T&Cs (UK&I only)...🧵

Solidarity Saturnalia 2025 poster showing a handful of the gifts listed below

Reposted by Andrew Jacobs, Candida R. Moss

Sarah E. Bond @sarahebond.bsky.social · 22d

The last Pasts Imperfect of 2025 is out! The incomparable @toriflee.bsky.social has our annual ancient world gift guide. Then, saving Sudan's cultural heritage, cats in Ancient China, Indigenous canoe-making, ancient disability, new ancient world journals by @yaleclassicslib.bsky.social & much more!

Pasts Imperfect (12.4.25)

This week, the one and only Tori Lee returns with her annual ancient world gift guide. Then, racing to preserve Sudan's cultural heritage, a new study on domestic cats assesses the leopard cats of anc...

pasts-imperfect.ghost.io

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 23d

www.christianpost.com/news/scholar...

Scholar wins Grawemeyer Award for book on enslaved ghostwriters of the Bible

In her 2024 book, God s Ghostwriters Enslaved Christians and the Making of the Bible, biblical scholar Candida Moss recognizes the contributions of many enslaved Christians and ghostwriters, like

www.christianpost.com

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 23d

Thank you so much Jason!

Reposted by Candida R. Moss

Presbyterian Outlook @presoutlook.bsky.social · 23d

2026 Grawemeyer religion award honors ‘God’s Ghostwriters’

Candida Moss wins the 2026 Grawemeyer Award for "God’s Ghostwriters," highlighting enslaved collaborators who shaped the New Testament.

pres-outlook.pulse.ly

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 23d

Thank you so much Vanessa! It is truly the honor of a lifetime.

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 23d

I have lots of people to thank: my colleagues @unibirmingham.bsky.social, everyone @littlebrown.bsky.social, my teachers @yaledivinityschool.bsky.social (Adela Collins and Harold Attridge) and @ox.ac.uk, and my conversation partners @jeremiahcoogan.bsky.social, @illdottore.bsky.social and others!

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 24d

I think Nero's disapproval rating IS about Christianity though...

Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social · 24d

Romans + Cats? It's like this was made for me and @sentantiq.bsky.social @illdottore.bsky.social and all the other classics/ancient history cat lovers

Reposted by Candida R. Moss

Jon Hatter @jonhatter.bsky.social · 24d

Belated #sblaar25 post: I had the privilege of reviewing this wonderful book by @jeremiahcoogan.bsky.social, @candidamoss.bsky.social, and Joseph Howley at this year’s conference. It was a pleasure to read and you should definitely check it out!