A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
In 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 Claude.ai’s summary of the second half of an interview of Paula Fredriksen where she explained her position on Paul’s “conversion” that did not happen as Paul says he was “called”. Below that are the scriptures that support her position. Based on the transcript, here is a summary of Fredriksen’s position on Paul’s “calling” […]
Continue ReadingIn addition to below, see the post with Tabor’s views here. Yochanan HaMatvil–John the Immerser! From Perplexity on 4/16/2026. Q: When was the time Jesus was baptising in the north and John the Baptist in the south, and what scriptures support that, and who are the critical Bible scholars who support it?
Continue ReadingClaude.ai’s explanation on 3/19/2026. Prompt: Explain how Stephen was stoned to death with Saul/Paul’s complicity, but the common understanding was that only Rome could execute Jews and others who were not Roman. Cite all sources. Claude’s Summary of the Response below. The stoning of Stephen was technically illegal under Roman law, which reserved capital punishment […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 1/29/2026, based on the prompt: Provide an accessible summary of Hegel’s theory and how F.C. Baur movement used Hegel and spawned the Markan Hypothesis. This is my first introduction to these scholars and how their work leads to significantly advanced understandings. Below that response is a second that relates how Papias and […]
Continue ReadingBart Ehrman published his responses to four questions from different readers in a post titled “Important Questions About Matthew and Paul” on January 20, 2026. Below is Claude.ai’s summary of the four questions and responses. The four are:
Continue Reading1/22/2026 – For an extensive list, see Marg Mowszko’s list of all the women in the Gospels here and in Acts here. She lists those that are named and those not named with scripture references. At the end, she provides links to other resources that are pasted below. Her “Every New Testament Woman” Series Part […]
Continue ReadingFollow the Pharisaic law – Matthew 23:1-3 — 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’s seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it, but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” NRSV Reminder – […]
Continue ReadingBelow is the ChatGPT summary from the transcript (in his directory in Dropbox) of Dr. James Tabor’s lecture 8 from his course titled Christianity Before Paul: Rediscovering the Jewish Movement of Jesus on MVP in January 2026. Tabor says that Howard’s revised edition responds well to his critics in a large appendix. Overview and focus of […]
Continue ReadingFrom Lecture Two Overview | In the Beginning None Greater Than John In this lecture, Dr. James D. Tabor shifts the starting point of Christian origins from Jesus to the figure earliest sources identify as foundational: John the Baptist. Using the Gospel of Mark, Q, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Josephus, Dr. Tabor shows that […]
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