A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
From ChatGPT on 12/3/2025. Below is a historical-critical explanation of why the Gospel of John omits a birth narrative, using the work of major scholars (Brown, Bultmann, Koester, Schnackenburg, Culpepper, Martyn, Dunn, Bauckham, and others). Citations appear within the text itself, as you require. 1. John’s theological agenda makes a human birth narrative unnecessary John’s […]
Continue ReadingThis post contains only the question by an attendee at the lecture linked below. The questioner asks Paula to confirm her understanding of Paul’s position. Paula strongly supported her statement as a “very rich comment“ about what Paul was doing. In relation to the overall subject of the lecture, Paula does not support the position […]
Continue ReadingFrom Chat GPT’s summary of my transcript of Marcus Borg’s lecture “Jesus Today: The Legacy of Albert Schweitzer” By Chat GPT – Here’s a two-page practical outline of Marcus Borg’s “Jesus Today: The Legacy of Albert Schweitzer”—kept tight for teaching or discussion, and includes all scriptural references Borg used or explained. Outline – Marcus Borg […]
Continue ReadingThe first 25 minutes is Tabor providing background to his book “The Lost Mary”. After that, Crossan tells how his growing up in Ireland in the violence of the 1940s-50s made him realize what Mary and Jesus faced with the memories of Herod and the current violence of the Romans. Tabor shares his alternative view […]
Continue ReadingBelow are significant comments to a question posted at BSA in October 2025. The extracts pasted below are in the same order as the overall post at BSA. All emphasis is mine. Original Question summarized: Why the trinity at all? Why not a duality: The Father and Son? Why did Christians find it necessary to […]
Continue ReadingWas John the Baptist Greater than Jesus? Below is a summary prepared from the transcript of the above video. The transcript is in Tabor’s directory in Dropbox as well as the John the Baptist directory. Below the summary is a listing of the scriptures that support Tabor’s statements per ChatGPT. First Prompt: Summarize the attached […]
Continue ReadingThe text here is ChatGPT’s summary of Robyn Faith Walsh’s 11-minute video “Were Jesus and John the Baptist Related?” and Claude.ai’s summary of Bart Ehrman’s video with Megan Lewis titled Was Jesus a Copycat? The Role of John the Baptist. Red letter emphasis was added by me. 10/20/2025. Summary of “Were Jesus and John the […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 10/14/2025. This is a follow-up aspect of related posts at this site that contain earlier parts of the ChatGPT conversation here. Prompt: Do critical bible scholars think that Paul’s use of the name Chephas indicates a widespread use of the nickname for Peter? How does that mesh with the idea that the […]
Continue ReadingMy Preface: From ChatGPT in response to the prompt: Have any critical bible scholars suggested that the verse in Matthew 16 that includes “and on this rock I will build my church.” is an interpolation to raise Peter’s status above that of James the brother of Jesus? Yes — several critical (historical-critical) scholars have suggested […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT 10/10/2025. In the American Standard Version (ASV), it reads: Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1) In the NRSVue, it reads: The Lord says to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” This verse is […]
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