A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
From 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 ReadingIn addition to the info below, see the post at this site Peter and the Rock as an Interpolation. From ChatGPT 10/13/2025. Scroll down to see Claude’s response. Prompt: In the Bible, Jesus renamed Simon to Peter. After that how many times did Jesus call him Simon and how many times Peter? How Jesus addresses […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT Here’s a summary with sources of what is known (from ancient and modern scholarship) about what crimes could lead to crucifixion in Roman times (particularly in Judea / the early 1st century CE), who was eligible (and who was normally exempt), and some of the caveats and debates. I’ll note which sources say […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT. The Greek word lēstēs (λῃστής) — meaning robber, bandit, or revolutionary/insurrectionist — appears several times in the New Testament, especially in the Gospels. Here are the occurrences, with context and English translation (NRSV). Pronunciation: lay-STACE. Scroll to the bottom for info and links about Dr. James Tabor’s translation of the term λῃστής (lēstēs) as […]
Continue ReadingThis post contains ChatGPT’s summary of the transcript of Paula Fredriksen’s Lecture: “Turning the Tables on the ‘Purification’ of the Temple” in NINT 2025. The transcript is in her directory in DropBox. Her thesis is it did not happen. Robin Faith Walsh had other thoughts, which are at the end of this post. Summary of […]
Continue Reading10/9/2025 – This post contains ChatGPT responses that have not been fully vetted. See three other related posts on this date. 1st Prompt – Cite the scriptures in Paul’s authentic letters where he talks about the Kingdom of God. Focusing on Paul’s letters widely recognized as authentic by critical scholars (1 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT 10/9/2025. Note the two related posts this date. 1st Prompt – Cite the scripture where Jesus said the Kingdom of God is now. The phrase “the Kingdom of God is now” does not appear verbatim in any of the canonical Gospels. However, Jesus does make statements indicating that the Kingdom of God has […]
Continue ReadingExtracts from The best explanation for the Messianic Secret I’ve ever heard by Michael Waddell at BSA. Part 1: The problem The Gospel of Mark is full of places where Jesus does not want people to know who he is. At the very beginning, in Mark 1:23-25, a demon recognizes Jesus as “the Holy One […]
Continue ReadingBelow is a question posed to Bart Ehrman he shared in a post of three good questions here. Bart’s response explains what Isaiah was saying and not saying. Blog Member’s QUESTION: We have all heard of the prophecies in the Hebrew Bible that have been attributed to Jesus. Although scholars state that Isaiah 7:14 actually reads ” […]
Continue ReadingKey Points repeated from the Summary of Bart and Magan’s video cited at the bottom of this page. From ChatGPT on 9/18/2025. Scroll down to the Summary of Bart and Megan’s podcast titled Critical New Testament scholars who study early Christian literature tend to treat the Protoevangelium of James (also called the Infancy Gospel of […]
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