A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
From ChatGPT Here’s a summary with sources of what is known (from ancient and modern scholarship) about what crimes could lead to crucifixion in Roman times (particularly in Judea / the early 1st century CE), who was eligible (and who was normally exempt), and some of the caveats and debates. I’ll note which sources say […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT. The Greek word lēstēs (λῃστής) — meaning robber, bandit, or revolutionary/insurrectionist — appears several times in the New Testament, especially in the Gospels. Here are the occurrences, with context and English translation (NRSV). Pronunciation: lay-STACE. Scroll to the bottom for info and links about Dr. James Tabor’s translation of the term λῃστής (lēstēs) as […]
Continue ReadingExtracts from the “Did Jesus see himself as the Messiah?” roundtable post by Michael Waddell at BSA. From a post here containing ChatGPT’s summary of the transcript of Paula Fredriksen’s Lecture: “Turning the Tables on the ‘Purification’ of the Temple” in NINT 2025. Jesus did not heal the man with a “skin disease” NRSVue [“leper” […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT 10/10/2025. In the American Standard Version (ASV), it reads: Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1) In the NRSVue, it reads: The Lord says to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” This verse is […]
Continue ReadingThis post contains ChatGPT’s summary of the transcript of Paula Fredriksen’s Lecture: “Turning the Tables on the ‘Purification’ of the Temple” in NINT 2025. The transcript is in her directory in DropBox. Her thesis is it did not happen. Robin Faith Walsh had other thoughts, which are at the end of this post. Summary of […]
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 […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT 10/9/2025. Note the two related posts this date. 1st Prompt – Cite the scripture where Jesus said the Kingdom of God is now. The phrase “the Kingdom of God is now” does not appear verbatim in any of the canonical Gospels. However, Jesus does make statements indicating that the Kingdom of God has […]
Continue ReadingThis post contains ChatGPT responses related to the approach of God’s kingdom. The responsesd followed a response thread contained in the post here. Here is a practical outline showing how the idea of the miraculous approach of God’s kingdom changed after 70 CE, when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. This period is crucial because […]
Continue ReadingShort ending of Mark Several witnesses, including four uncial Greek manuscripts of the seventh, eighth, and ninth centuries (L Ψ 099 0112), as well as Old Latin k, the margin of the Harclean Syriac, several Sahidic and Bohairic manuscripts, and not a few Ethiopic manuscripts, continue after verse eight with small variations. Starting in the […]
Continue ReadingExtracts from The best explanation for the Messianic Secret I’ve ever heard by Michael Waddell at BSA. Part 1: The problem The Gospel of Mark is full of places where Jesus does not want people to know who he is. At the very beginning, in Mark 1:23-25, a demon recognizes Jesus as “the Holy One […]
Continue Reading