A Virtual File Cabinet for Our Studies of Christian Origins & Hebraic Faith
Below are extracts from the very interesting BAR article Five Myths About the Apostle Paul by David Christian Clausen; BAR > Summer 2023. And at the bottom of this post see the link to When Did Saul Become Paul? Although the author occasionally waxes apologetic. Much has changed to demystify Paul and help us understand him in a […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 12/9/2025. Below is a chronological development chart showing how the movement moves from Paul → Post-Pauline Christianity → Ebionite marginalization, based strictly on the materials in the transcript you provided. All citations are included directly in the text. Chronological Development Chart (per Dr. James Tabor) From Paul → Post-Pauline Christianity → Ebionite […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT based on the transcript of his video with MVP titled Were the Ebionites Heretics Or Our Best Witness to the Jesus Movement? Scroll down to see a comparison table produce by ChatGPT based on his paper. Here is a summary of the article, specifically highlighting the similarities that Dr. James Tabor says exist […]
Continue ReadingThis post contains only the question by an attendee at the lecture linked below. The questioner asks Paula to confirm her understanding of Paul’s position. Paula strongly supported her statement as a “very rich comment“ about what Paul was doing. In relation to the overall subject of the lecture, Paula does not support the position […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 11/27/2025. Short answer: No.Nowhere in Acts does the author ever acknowledge, refer to, or even hint that Paul wrote letters. Below is a scripture-cited explanation. 1. Acts never references any letter-writing by Paul In the seven undisputed letters (Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon), Paul frequently mentions writing letters. But […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 11/27/2025. Prompt: In the seven letters by Paul that critical bible scholars believe to be authentic, those scholars say there are tensions with Acts that reflect Luke’s anti-Jewish narrative pattern, not history. Cite those scriptures. Response: Below is a concise, practical list of the specific scriptures in the seven undisputed letters of […]
Continue ReadingBelow is a ChatGPT summary of the interview with John Dominic Crossan about his upcoming book, Paul the Pharisee; the version told by Paul and that in Luke/Acts. Below that is ChatGPT’s side-by-side comparison of Paul’s reference to Nabatean ethnarch and the differing accounts of Paul’s escape from Damascus: Paul’s own narrative (2 Corinthians 11:32–33) […]
Continue ReadingThis is a follow-up post to the one immediately before this one here. That post was becoming too long and this one “chases a specific rabbit.” Scroll down for a related prompt: Which scholar said something like “Scholars emphasize that in antiquity, “faith” did not mean “believing ideas in your mind.” It meant embodied loyalty.” […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 11/15/2025. Below is a summary of everything covered so far about the Nicolaitans, their connection to Paul, and the comparison between Revelation 2–3 and 1 Corinthians 8 & 10. All scholarly sources are included directly in the text. 1. Who the Nicolaitans Were The Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6, 2:15) were a faction within […]
Continue ReadingFrom ChatGPT on 10/14/2025. This is a follow-up aspect of related posts at this site that contain earlier parts of the ChatGPT conversation here. Prompt: Do critical bible scholars think that Paul’s use of the name Chephas indicates a widespread use of the nickname for Peter? How does that mesh with the idea that the […]
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