A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
Below is a summary of the 1989 article at BAS by Marcus Borg here about the Jesus Seminar in the 1980s. He was a senior member of the seminar. The article by Marcus J. Borg titled “What Did Jesus Really Say?” (Bible Review, 1989). It explains the purpose, method, and scholarly reasoning behind the Jesus […]
Continue ReadingPrompt to ChatGPT on 11/8/2025 – Who are the most respected critical bible scholars who have studied and written about Alfred North Whitehead? Provide links to the work. Short answer: There are very few scholars whose primary field is critical biblical studies who have written sustained, specialist work about Alfred North Whitehead. Most of the […]
Continue ReadingValid Point by Marcus Borg: The documents that now make up the Bible were not sacred when they were written, but over time were declared to be sacred by ancient Israel and early Christianity. The process took about five centuries for the Hebrew Bible and about three centuries for the Christian Testament. From Chat GPT […]
Continue ReadingTwo responses from ChatGPT on 11/6/2025. Yes — according to most critical Bible scholars, Jesus does speak of divine punishment, though his emphasis is typically on warning, repentance, and consequences rather than retribution for its own sake. These sayings are found primarily in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke). Below are key examples (quoted from […]
Continue ReadingMy vocational passion is adult theological re-education at the congregational level. I think it’s vital in our time… I’ve often thought Jesus was fortunate to have been executed before the gospels were written can you imagine if those manuscripts were already out there and he came into a small town and told them the parable […]
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 ReadingBelow is the ChatGPT summary of Bart Ehrman’s 20-minute initial statement and 10-minute rebuttal in the debate in the YouTube video titled Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John really write the four Gospels?. Bart does a great job of explaining why we can be confident that the four gospels in the NT were named later. […]
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 ReadingBelow are three responses from ChatGPT in this very long post. Practical Summary – Copied from the end of the last prompt/response. Critical scholars see the evolution of Satan as a response to historical and theological pressures: Result: Satan evolves from God’s permitted tester → semi-independent cosmic adversary → ultimate rebel doomed to defeat, but […]
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 […]
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