A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
From Claude.ai on 3/25/2026 in response to the Prompt: Provide the citations in the Gospel of Mark where critical bible scholars say the writer does not know the geography. Cite the context of each citation and all sources. Critical scholars argue that the author of Mark made mistakes about Palestinian geography that no native of […]
Continue ReadingJerusalem lies at approximately 31.78° North latitude. Cities at the same latitude are located along a band across North Africa, the Middle East, and the southern United States. Below are major or recognizable U.S. cities located very close to the latitude of Jerusalem (roughly between 31° and 32° North). Cities very close to Jerusalem’s latitude […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT Distance from Megiddo to Nazareth (1st century context) Modern geographic measurements give a good approximation of the ancient distance, since the two sites have not moved and the basic terrain is the same. Estimated walking time in the 1st century Ancient travel on foot typically averaged: Using the 14–16 mile distance: Practical estimate […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT 7/8/2025. This elevation profile shows the descent from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea along the Jordan River Valley: The total elevation drop over the ~210 km stretch is about 220 meters, with a gradual downward slope following the river’s path. Let me know if you’d like to add more waypoints […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT 6/30/2025. Here are the elevations (in feet above/below sea level) for the major cities and villages along the Central and Eastern routes from Capernaum to Jerusalem, as traveled in Jesus’ time: CENTRAL ROUTE (Through Samaria) Location Elevation (feet) Notes Capernaum –700 ft Sea of Galilee shore; lowest point on route Magdala –625 ft Fishing village […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 6/29/2025. 1st Prompt – What are the elevations and differences between the Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem, and Caesarea Maritima and the elevation changes along the walking routes in the time of Jesus? Provide all measurements in feet and miles. Cite all sources. Here are the elevations and elevation changes (all in feet […]
Continue ReadingAll below was extracted from the BAR Library here. Sidebar to: Why Lachish Matters We [BAR] have written extensively on Lachish over the past decades, as indicated by the following bibliography. “Mystery Find at Lachish,” BAR, September/October 1979. David Ussishkin, “Answers at Lachish,” BAR, November/December, 1979. R. Wright, “Lachish and Azekah Were the Only Fortified Cities of Judah that Remained,” (Jeremiah […]
Continue ReadingFrom Claude.ai on 4/6/2025 based on the prompt: What do critical bible scholars believe can be learned by the use of the four names Sea of Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Sea of Chinnereth, and Lake Gennesaret in the Gospels? Cite all sources. The Significance of Lake Names in the Gospels The different names used for […]
Continue ReadingItalicized paragraphs below were extracted from Christine Elizabeth Hayes’ book Introduction to the Bible (The Open Yale Courses Series) (pp. 187-189). Yale University Press. Kindle Edition. In the book, they are one long paragraph. The layout below is my addition to assist in learning the pieces. It has often been pointed out that in the […]
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