A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
This post contains two responses from Claude.ai about why scholars believe Luke borrowed from Josephus and not the reverse. 1st Prompt – Why do critical bible scholars date Luke/Acts to the 2nd century. Cite sources and scholars’ names? This is a nuanced question with a genuinely contested scholarly landscape. The majority critical consensus still places […]
Continue ReadingThere are 17 apocryphal gospels, rejected as unworthy of becoming canon, that didn’t make the cut. BAS editors have carefully compiled a special collection of articles from Biblical Archaeology Review and Bible Review that explore the questions posed here. You’ll want to read all of the articles included in this collection: The Gospels that Didn’t Make the Cut—. Why should […]
Continue ReadingFrom Claude.ai on 5/10/2026. Follow-up to the summary of Ehrman’s interview of Collins here. Prompt: Collins mentions [in the summary linked above] the intellectual class in Yavne and Babylonia. Provide context and background to the people to whom he is referring and their history. Cite all sources in line. Claude responded: Here is a detailed […]
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Continue ReadingThe contents of this page were assembled by Claude.ai on 4/29/2026 from the transcript of John J. Collins interview by Bart Ehrman and from a file with my Kindle Highlights from Paula Fredriksen’s book When Christians were Jews. Claude’s paper version of the merger and a widget version are in the 2nd Temple Judaism directory […]
Continue ReadingIn addition to below, see Did Luke & Acts use Josephus? on this site. From Claude.ai in response to the prompt: Cite Critical Bible Scholars’ rationale for Luke-Acts’ literary dependence on Josephus. This is a rich topic with a well-documented critical debate. Here is a comprehensive survey of the major arguments advanced by critical biblical […]
Continue ReadingBelow is a great post to BSA by Scott Bignell on 4/26/2026. Below that is Michael Waddell’s response with suggestions. Back around 2017/2018, I [Scott Bignell] was discussing with an Evangelical friend of mine the idea that The Gospel According to Luke and/or Acts of the Apostles may have been written in the second century […]
Continue ReadingExtracts from a Forum post at BSA here. Below the extracts is a long Response from Claude.ai. Original Post from a new member: I noticed there are strikingly extensive overlaps between Jewish Apocalypticism and Zoroastrianism, the religion of ancient Persia. These overlapping beliefs include (somewhat simplifying): It seems hard to believe that all of this […]
Continue ReadingThis post contains a bio of Hendel and links to his many articles published at BAR where he serves on BAR’s Editorial Advisory Board. He is particularly helpful for historical-critical questions about the development of biblical traditions Ronald S. Hendel is a prominent American Hebrew Bible scholar, biblical philologist, and textual critic, best known for his […]
Continue ReadingSee the very good article from BAS When the Sons of God Cavorted with the Daughters of Men by Ronald S. Hendel, Summer 1987. The PDF is in his directory in Dropbox. Dr. Hendel speaks of much more than the title implies. He shows how the Hebrew relates to similar Canaanite stories as well as how later […]
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