Historical Rabbi Jesus, Dr. Bruce Chilton
9/6/2025 – In this interview with Dr. Chilton, he made many good points, using phrases and thoughts I collected and listed below.
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Son of Man
Below is a conversation resulting from a post by Charles Bledsoe at BSA in September 2025. Did Jesus Self-Identify with the Son of Man? Charles Bledsoe – Aug 10 – Original Post If I’m not mistaken, Dr. Ehrman still holds the view that Jesus probably didn’t self-identify with the Son of Man, but a large […]
Continue ReadingWhat did Jesus Actually Look Like?
What did Jesus Actually Look Like? (Skin, Hair, Clothes, and More!) post at BAS by Marko Marina, Ph.D. written: August 4th, 2025 Extracts from Dr. Marina’s great post are below.
Continue ReadingJesus, Hillel, and Gamaliel: A Critical Assessment
From Claude.ai on 8/8/2025. Historical Connections Between Jesus, Hillel, and Gamaliel: A Critical Assessment Critical biblical scholarship approaches the question of possible relationships between Jesus and Hillel (and his successor Gamaliel) with significant caution. While there are some chronological and geographical factors that could theoretically have allowed for interaction, there is no direct historical evidence […]
Continue ReadingAuthentic Sayings of Jesus per Tabor
See Post by James Tabor titled Authentic Sayings of Jesus, posted on June 17, 2023. Extracts are below. KINGDOM OF GODThe time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand. (Mk 1:15a)But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. […]
Continue ReadingNew Moses: Paul or Jesus?
Here is a critical comparison of Paul’s self-understanding and how Jesus is portrayed as a new Moses, focusing on evidence from the authentic Pauline letters and from the Gospels—especially Matthew, which most scholars see as the richest source of Mosaic typology for Jesus. Each theme below includes relevant scriptures, scholarly interpretations, and conclusions drawn from […]
Continue ReadingBaptismal Activities of John and Jesus by Tabor
Related Post here. A very good paper by Dr. James Tabor is available in his Dropbox directory. The file name is Wadi-el-Yabis-Pella-in-John-1.pdf. The paper was written for an SBL group in 2011 and is titled Wadi el-Yabis and the Elijah “Wadi Cherith” traditions in Relationship to John and Jesus in the Gospel of John. Extracts […]
Continue ReadingJesus’ Core Teachings
This post has four ChatGPT responses beginning with what James Tabor and other scholars say are Jesus’ core teachings. One of the responses compares Jesus’ teachings to Paul’s. There is also a response that contrasts the traditional Christian doctrines with later creedal formulations (e.g., the Nicene Creed). Other scholars include are E.P. Sanders, John P. […]
Continue ReadingMishpat and Tzaddik Related to Jesus
Three Responses from ChatGPT on 7/23/2025. Yes, **Jesus is associated with both terms—צַדִּיק (tzaddik, righteous one) and מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, justice/judgment)—though not always explicitly in Hebrew form in the New Testament. These terms reflect how both his followers and his opponents perceived him, and they also appear in early Christian and Jewish literature. Below is how […]
Continue Reading“Bethany beyond the Jordan” or Bethabara
From ChatGPT on 7/10/2025. The identification of “Bethany beyond the Jordan” (Greek: Βηθανία πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου) with Bethabara (Greek: Βηθαβαρά) [beth-a-bar-a] is a subject of debate among scholars and translators. While both names are associated with the baptismal ministry of John the Baptist, their identification as the same physical location is not certain. Below is […]
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