A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
Note from me – This response was a follow-up to one that asked for a list of beliefs that Paul taught as well as Jesus. Claude cited 6-8, but at least three did not “fit” with what I heard taught. So this is Claude’s correction that made a good stand-alone post. In the original response, […]
Continue ReadingFrom Claude.ai on 3/31/2026. This response also contains info related to the origins of the Last Supper. Critical scholars do not broadly support the Last Supper as a point of continuity between Jesus and Paul. Here is what the scholarship actually says: The Core Problem: Paul Is the Only Primary Source The first written description […]
Continue ReadingBy Claude.ai on 3/31/2026. That is one of the genuine tensions that critical scholars themselves debate. This is actually a point where critical scholars themselves identify a significant discontinuity. Here is what the scholarship actually says: The Forgiveness Problem: Ehrman’s Direct Assessment The most direct critical-scholarly voice on this is Bart Ehrman. Ehrman argues that […]
Continue ReadingNote from me – This response was the original response (now with updates) to the prompt below that asked for a list of beliefs that Paul taught as well as Jesus; i.e. where Paul agreed with Jesus. Claude cited seven, but three did not “fit” with what I heard taught. When I separately asked Claude […]
Continue ReadingThis post contains questions raised by Bart Ehrman in the intro text to his course “Paul and Jesus: The Great Divide” at BSA. Reformatting is mine.
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 ReadingIn a very interesting post on 3/18/2026 at BSA titled “Paul as Jeremiah,” Michael Waddle pointed out where Paul said he was like various prophets. Below is Claude.ai’s summary of Michael’s post. A second response expands on Michael’s comments and other comparisons. Summary The author argues that Paul likely saw himself as a Jeremiah figure, while […]
Continue ReadingMargaret Mowczko’s post provides an insightful perspective on the famous story. Claude.ai prepared the following summary of her article. Here is a summary of Marg Mowczko’s views in her January 2026 article “My Two Cents on the Widow’s Mites”: The Traditional Reading Is Wrong Marg argues that the point many people take from this story […]
Continue ReadingThe following is a transcript of his very insightful 7-minute talk. Justin Martyr will say quite rightly, well, you guys believe that your emperors can descend into heaven, what’s wrong with us believing Jesus could ascend into heaven? We’re doing the same thing. What Luke-Acts did was come up with a counter-narrative. In the entire […]
Continue ReadingThis post contains a link to an interview of Bart Ehrman about the “hidden” Christianity that many, including many preachers, do not share with their congregation. Below the link is a ChatGPT summary of the transcript of the interview. The transcript is in his directory in Dropbox. Analytical Outline of the Interview – (Separating the […]
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