A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
From ChatGPT on 8/29/2025. Critical Bible scholars do note references to Paul’s letters in 2 Peter, but not in 1 Peter—at least not directly or explicitly. 1. 2 Peter Refers to Paul’s Letters Directly The most significant and widely recognized reference to Paul’s letters appears in 2 Peter 3:15–16: “And count the patience of our […]
Continue ReadingFrom 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 ReadingHere 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 ReadingFrom Chat GPT on 8/4/2025. Critical Bible scholars have long recognized that in his authentic letters, Paul often casts himself in the role of a new Moses, though sometimes implicitly rather than explicitly. These parallels show up in his vocation, covenant mediation, authority, suffering, and transformative glory language. Below is a synthesis of the main […]
Continue ReadingThree responses from ChatGPT on 8/4/2025. Paul reports being blinded in his accounts of the Damascus Road experience (Acts 9:3–9; 22:6–11; 26:12–18), and some critical scholars have noted the possibility that this detail may intentionally elevate Paul’s revelatory experience above Moses’—not by literal comparison, but in a rhetorical or theological sense. 1. Paul’s Blinding vs. […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 8/2/2025. The debate between Peter and a character traditionally identified with Paul appears primarily in the Pseudo-Clementine Recognitions and Homilies, two related early Christian novels (likely from the 3rd or 4th century CE). The debate itself is not explicitly between “Peter” and “Paul” by name, but between Peter and a character referred […]
Continue ReadingThis post points out an issue with Paul’s statement in Philippians 3, where Paul admits to having once dioko (Greek for persecuted or pursued) the church. In addition, Acts (especially Acts 8) presents Paul (then Saul) as a fierce persecutor of early Christians, aligned with the martyrdom of Stephen. Paul makes this statement in Galatians […]
Continue ReadingBelow is ChatGPT’s summary of my transcript of the YouTube Video by Dr. Robyn Walsh at https://youtu.be/oEoouKCTTOw?si=BtMXkNOGmMOdOXjI. Prepared 6/20/2025. She explores the alternate interpretations of the Greek dioko as persecute or pursue. The Transcript is in her DropBox directory. The transcript, “Did Paul Really Persecute Christians?” by Dr. Robyn Walsh, explores the traditional and scholarly […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 6/9/2025. Here is a comparative chart showing how Luke differs from Paul, Matthew, Mark, and John, based on the analysis of Bart D. Ehrman and other critical scholars: COMPARISON CHART: Luke vs. Paul and the Other Gospels Topic Luke Paul Mark Matthew John Christology Exaltation at resurrection (Acts 2:36); avoids pre-existence Jesus […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 6/7/2025. The Hauptbriefe (German for “chief letters” or “main letters”) refers to a group of Pauline epistles that many critical New Testament scholars consider to be the core or most theologically central writings of the Apostle Paul. These letters are also the ones that are most widely accepted as undisputedly written by […]
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