A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
From ChatGPT on 6/25/2026. Prompt: Provide an essay based on the work of critical bible scholars about the destruction of the bronze serpent (Nehushtan) by Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18:4. The serpent may originally have been a legitimate cult object but later became treated as an idol. Include the thoughts about the timing of that […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 6/25/2026 Prompt: The imagery of a bull as representative of the deity was used in the ancient Near East. Was it used by the ancient Israelites in the Abraham to Moses time and later? Cite all sources in line. Response: Yes. Most historians of ancient Israel and critical biblical scholars conclude that […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 6/25/2026. Scroll down to read the response to the second prompt: Do any critical bible scholars discuss the idea that the ark served as an idol? 1st Prompt – Does the ark of the covenant in the Hebrew Bible have horns on top and that is where YHWH sits as though it […]
Continue ReadingThis post contains a question/response from Tabor’s new Circle site, and below that extract is a Claude.ai Prompt/Response. 6/23/2026 – OP’s Question: What are some thoughts out there about the thought that the Maccabees heavily redacted Deuteronomy to support their legitimacy? Response by Annette Cloutier Sean, this is a fascinating line of inquiry. The Hasmoneans/Maccabeans […]
Continue Reading6/21/2026 “Paula Fredriksen Interview” Short about Paul. Transcribed by TurboScribe from https://youtu.be/tYcifm-ATGA?si=OtadFRdlAliD5oet, YouTube date: Aug 14, 2012. We think of Paul as a Christian because we’re standing on top of 20 centuries of the development of Christianity. But if we’re interested as historians in how Paul looked at himself, it’s clear from his own letters […]
Continue ReadingFrom Claude.ai on 6/21/2026. The Theudas–Judas chronological problem in Acts 5:36–37 is widely regarded among critical scholars as one of the most damaging historical errors in Luke-Acts, precisely because it is not a minor slip but a structural anachronism embedded in a speech Luke attributes to a historical figure. The Text Acts 5:36–37 (NRSV): “For […]
Continue Reading6/20/2026 – This post contains Claude.ai’s summary of the transcript (in Dropbox) of the lecture by Paula Fredriksen – Paul and Augustine on the Redemption of the Jews. Prompt: Summarize the attached lecture, identifying Paula’s understanding of Paul’s teaching and how Augustine differed or changed Paul and when they agreed. Summary: Paula Fredriksen on Paul, […]
Continue ReadingThis post contains Claude.ai’s summary of the transcript of the YouTube “conversation” Biblical Idols with Dan McClellan at the Bible & Archaeology channel. The conversation is hosted by Dr. Jordan Jones and includes Dr. Bob Cargill. The transcript is in the Jordan Jones directory in Dropbox. [But first, my idea when listening to the conversation […]
Continue ReadingThis post has embedded YouTube videos of him and is likely for that temporary purpose only.
Continue Reading6/18/2026 – This is a summary by Claude.ai of the transcript of a YouTube video titled Why the Bible Keeps Saying David Didn’t Try to Steal the Throne (He Did) by Jordan Jones (PhD in Classics with a specialty in the Hebrew Bible), arguing that David made a covert political move against Saul’s throne by […]
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