Ben Chenoweth

Biography

Ben lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his wife and two children. He has an interest in the intersection between theology and the arts, and to that end has written a play based on the life of Saul, a musical based on the Biblical book of Esther, and a novel that is actually a thinly-disguised commentary on the book of Revelation (as he says, "If others can do it, so can I!") For those who might be interested, he lists C. S. Lewis, Peter Shaffer and Neal Stephenson as his literary inspirations.

A few comments about the books:
"Meeting Of Minds" was written way back in 1994, so please be kind! It is my first novel, and it has clear influences: Douglas Adams' "Hitchhikers' Guide To The Galaxy" series, the TV series "Max Headroom" and Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash" to name the obvious ones.

"Saul, First King Of Israel" was written in 2001 as a way to put some of the scholarly materials I was reading as part of a Bachelor Of Theology into more of a popular format. But then I chose to write a play. Go figure!

"The Ephesus Scroll" is the first novel in my Exegetical Histories series. The novel has two timelines and the action cuts back and forth between them, like Neal Stephenson's "Cryptonomicon". The first timeline is set in 93 AD, during the reign of Domitian; the second is set in the recent present (2005-6), mostly in St. Petersburg, Russia. Having two timelines is my way of answering two important questions about the book of Revelation: what did it mean for the people who first heard it, and what does it mean for us today?

"The Corinth Letters" is the second novel in my Exegetical Histories series. This novel examines the context that gave rise to the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians, while also adding in romance, document forgery, archaeology, and descriptions of delicious Greek cuisine.

"The Rome Gospel" is the third (and most recent) novel in my Exegetical Histories series. This novel covers the writing of the gospel of Mark against the background of persecution in the wake of the great fire of Rome. It also traces Mark's life, as he meets important leaders like Peter, Paul, his uncle Barnabas, Timothy, and an apostle who just happens to be a woman.

Where to find Ben Chenoweth online

Series

Exegetical Histories
Exegetical Histories is a series of historical novels that bring the books of the New Testament to life. Involving real and imagined characters, these novels flesh out the first century AD context in which these books were originally written and distributed. Application to modern readers is not neglected, however. These novels also incorporate 21st century timelines, with the action jumping back and forth between the two timelines, thereby addressing exegetical issues within the original context of these books and bringing out the significance for modern readers. For readers aged 15 or higher.
The Corinth Letters
Price: $4.99 USD.
The Rome Gospel
Price: $4.99 USD.

Books

The Rome Gospel
Series: Exegetical Histories. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 91,980. Language: English. Published: September 1, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Historical » Classical Greece & Rome, Fiction » Christian » Historical
(5.00 from 2 reviews)
In the aftermath of the Fire of Rome, Yohanan, also called Mark, decides to leave the city. But first he must become a servant of the word by learning the account of Jesus. To do this he spends time with one of the last eyewitnesses remaining in Rome, a woman named Junia. The process stirs up memories of his childhood, the failures of his adult life, and of a horrible, dark night in Jerusalem.
The Corinth Letters
Series: Exegetical Histories. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 88,210. Language: English. Published: November 30, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Christian » Historical, Fiction » Historical » Classical Greece & Rome
(5.00 from 2 reviews)
In 55 AD, Linus takes a message to Paul, the founder of the church in Corinth. But Paul's response does not have the desired effect. Something more than a letter will be needed if the church in Corinth is going to survive. In 2013 AD, Matt attempts to impress Emily, an archaeologist, by faking Paul's previous letter to the Corinthians. Things do not work out quite as he planned.
The Ephesus Scroll
Series: Exegetical Histories. Price: Free! Words: 87,030. Language: English. Published: October 23, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Christian » Historical, Fiction » Historical » Classical Greece & Rome
(4.75 from 4 reviews)
In 93 AD, a young man is entrusted with a scroll to read in seven churches in Asia Minor. However, the scroll sparks rebellion wherever he goes and the Roman authorities attempt to track him down. In 2005 AD, a young Russian couple from St. Petersburg come across an ancient scroll. It appears to be an early copy of the book of Revelation. Has it come to light at this very time for a reason?
Meeting Of Minds
Price: Free! Words: 125,710. Language: English. Originally Published: April 13, 2011 by Ben Chenoweth. Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Humor
(4.00 from 2 reviews)
Could virtual reality be used to explore the galaxy? Dave and his friend Jon think so. When an alien message is received that, when decoded, proves to be a three-dimensional environment, the stage is set for the adventure of a lifetime. Then throw in hackers (for dramatic tension) and quite a lot of pop-culture references (just for fun!) For fans of Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers' Guide series.
Saul, First King of Israel
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 47,260. Language: English. Originally Published: October 22, 2009 by Ben Chenoweth. Categories: Plays » Religious & Liturgical
Saul, First King of Israel is an attempt to present dramatically the story of Saul found in the biblical book of 1 Samuel from the perspective of Saul and the prophet Samuel. It covers Saul's call to become Israel's first king, his sins and their consequences, and his fall into murderous jealousy as his eventual successor, the boy David, comes to prominence.

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