Tim Gracyk

In the original Greek, Jesus promises a throne to the 12 people listening to him. If one disciple were to be excluded due to a future act of betrayal, Jesus could have said something like, "Those who will have followed me to the end will have a throne." That is not what is said in Greek. 
 
Jesus instead says Judas will have a throne! These are surprising words! After all, Jesus is God. Jesus knows ahead of time that Judas will betray God. Judas will have a throne. 
 
This passage meet the “criterion of dissimilarity"--one tool used by scholars to figure out what the historical Jesus said as opposed to words put on the lips of Jesus by early Christian communities many decades later. 
 
Modern scholars argue that if a passage is the kind of thing early Christians would NOT have invented about Jesus, then the words are more likely to reflect what the historical Jesus actually said. The words survived because they are authentic. Only a handful of authentic sayings were around by the time early Christians realized Jesus was special. Early Christians preserved these handful of original sayings. 
 
This is in contrast to the many words by Jesus that "survived" only because they SEEM like the kind of thing Jesus would say. I refer to sayings were made up after the death of Jesus. Before Matthew wrote down anything, 55 years had passed. A lot of "sayings" can be fabricated in 55 years. 
 
Well, early Christians would NOT have made up a saying about Judas sitting on a throne. 
 
Matthew 19:28 = Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." 
 
Judas is with Jesus at this time. Judas is promised an honored place in the coming Kingdom though Judas will later betray Jesus. 
 
Unexpected, right? 
 
Perhaps Judas will be honored despite the betrayal. 
 
Or maybe that betrayal is fiction (convenient for a passion narrative but not historical). Or perhaps Jesus was not clairvoyant despite the gospels indicating that he knew future events. 
 
The historical Jesus probably said something close to this since these words meet the “criterion of dissimilarity.” If a passage goes against what early Christians would have wanted Jesus to say, it is probably genuine. 
 
The idea behind “dissimilarity” is that early Christians preserved the tiny handful of authentic sayings handed down to them. They preserved those words even if they were inconvenient. 
 
In the gospels, authentic sayings are mixed with new words put on the lips of Jesus. 
 
The gospels would be very short if they passed along only what was known for certain of the historical Jesus’ words and actions. Information was scanty! It is not as if someone was taking notes during the lifetime of Jesus. 
 
To “fill out” the gospels, the evangelists added material to reflect what early Christian communities thought Jesus should have said or would have said in the kind of situations that the early communities found themselves in. 
 
An additional way to determine if something was likely said by the historical Jesus is to apply the criterion of multiple attestation, also called the criterion of “independent attestation.” 
 
If more than one early source has the same information, that material stands a better chance of being genuine. Be aware that Matthew and Luke don't count if they repeat something said by Mark --after all, Mark was the original source, so that source counts only one time. But John is an additional source--true also for Paul's letters and non-Christian sources, such as Roman historians and Josepheus. 
 
Modern Biblical scholars do “close readings” of text. Critical thinking skills in general include analyzing, applying standards, discriminating, searching for evidence, logical reasoning, and transforming knowledge. 
 
 
 
 
 
Gospel of Matthew 19:28 Jesus puts Judas on a throne (surprising words) “criterion of dissimilarity”

In the original Greek, Jesus promises a throne to the 12 people listening to him.  If one disciple were to be excluded due to a future act of betrayal, Jesus could have said something like, "Those who will have followed me to the end will have a throne."   That is not what is said in Greek.

Jesus instead says Judas will have a throne!  These are surprising words!  After all, Jesus is God.  Jesus knows ahead of time that Judas will betray God.  Judas will have a throne.

This passage meet the “criterion of dissimilarity"--one tool used by scholars to figure out what the historical Jesus said as opposed to words put on the lips of Jesus by early Christian communities many decades later.  

Modern scholars argue that if a passage is the kind of thing early Christians would NOT have invented about Jesus, then the words are more likely to reflect what the historical Jesus actually said.  The words survived because they are authentic.  Only a handful of authentic sayings were around by the 

Gospel Matthew 19:28 Jesus puts Judas on a throne! surprising words = “criterion of dissimilarity”

Matthew 22:23-29 
 
The Sadducees, who do not believe in resurrection, said to Jesus, “Moses declared that if a man dies without children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. Imagine seven brothers among us. The first married and died without children, so he left his wife to his brother. The same happened to the 2nd and 3rd brothers, down to the 7th. The woman was last to die. In the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven? For all were married to her.” 
 
Jesus replied, “You do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. They will be like the angels in heaven.”

Matthew 22:23-29

The Sadducees, who do not believe in resurrection, said to Jesus, “Moses declared that if a man dies without children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.  Imagine seven brothers among us. The first married and died without children, so he left his wife to his brother. The same happened to the 2nd and 3rd brothers, down to the 7th.  The woman was last to die.  In the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven? For all were married to her.”

Jesus replied, “You do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.  In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. They will be like the angels in heaven.”

Matthew 22:23-29: Jesus says people are not married in heaven (Sadducees & Resurrection)

Resurrection of Dorcas--Raised by Peter (Acts 9:36-40) 
 
In Joppa was a disciple named Tabitha. In Greek her name is Dorcas….she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room...when Peter arrived he was taken upstairs... 
 
Peter prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, she sat up. 
 
This is one of the many resurrections in the Bible. 
 
Here are the Bible's resurrections in correct order: 
 
1. Son of Zarephath widow raised by Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) 
2. Son of a Shunammite woman--raised by Elisha (2 Kings 4:32-35) 
3. Man raised when his corpse touches Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20-21) 
4. Daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:21-43, Matthew 9:18-26, Luke) 
5. Son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15) 
6. Lazarus (John 11:1-44) 
7. “Many saints” rise around Easter (Matt. 27:50-53) = how many? Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands? 
8. Jesus (Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, Paul’s 7 genuine letters) 
9. Dorcas--raised by Peter (Acts 9:36-41) 
10. Eutychus--raised by Paul (Acts 20:9-10) 
 
Another resurrection passage involves Herod, who asks if Jesus is the resurrected John the Baptist.

Resurrection of Dorcas--Raised by Peter (Acts 9:36-40) 

In Joppa was a disciple named Tabitha.  In Greek her name is Dorcas….she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room...when Peter arrived he was taken upstairs...

Peter prayed.  Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”  She opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, she sat up.

This is one of the many resurrections in the Bible.

Here are the Bible's resurrections in correct order:

1. Son of Zarephath widow raised by Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24)
2. Son of a Shunammite woman--raised by Elisha (2 Kings 4:32-35)
3. Man raised when his corpse touches Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20-21)
4. Daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:21-43, Matthew 9:18-26, Luke)
5. Son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15)
6. Lazarus (John 11:1-44)
7. “Many saints” rise around Easter (Matt. 27:50-53) = how many? Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands?
8. Jesus (Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, Paul’s 7 genuine letters)
9. Dorcas--raised by Peter

Resurrection of Dorcas--Raised by Peter (Acts 9:36-40) Tabitha in city of Joppa

Acts 20:9-10 
 
Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked. When the youngster was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” Paul said. “He’s alive!” 
 
The Bible has many resurrection passages, starting with 1 Kings 17:17-24 (written around 600 years before Jesus was born). 
 
Here are the Bible's resurrections: 
 
1. Son of Zarephath widow & Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) 
2. Shunammite woman’s son & Elisha (2 Kings 4:32-35) 
3. Man raised by Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20-21) 
4. Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43, Matt. 9:18-26, Luke) 
5. Son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15) 
6. Lazarus (John 11:1-44) 
7. “Many saints” rise around Easter (Matt. 27:50-53) 
8. Jesus (Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, Paul’s letters) 
9. Dorcas--raised by Peter (Acts 9:36-41) 
10. Eutychus--raised by Paul (Acts 20:9-10)

Acts 20:9-10  

Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked. When the youngster was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” Paul said. “He’s alive!”

The Bible has many resurrection passages, starting with 1 Kings 17:17-24 (written around 600 years before Jesus was born).

Here are the Bible's resurrections:

1. Son of Zarephath widow & Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24)
2. Shunammite woman’s son & Elisha (2 Kings 4:32-35)
3. Man raised by Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20-21)
4. Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43, Matt. 9:18-26, Luke)
5. Son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15)
6. Lazarus (John 11:1-44)
7. “Many saints” rise around Easter (Matt. 27:50-53) 
8. Jesus (Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, Paul’s letters)
9. Dorcas--raised by Peter (Acts 9:36-41)
10. Eutychus--raised by Paul (Acts 20:9-10)

Acts 20:9-10 Eutychus falls from window, Paul raises a body from the dead Bible's LAST RESURRECTION

2 Kings 13:20-21 
 
Elisha died and was buried. Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. While some Israelites were burying a man, they saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood on his feet. 
 
Here are the Bible's ten resurrection passages: 
 
1. Son of Zarephath widow & Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) 
2. Shunammite woman’s son & Elisha (2 Kings 4:32-35) 
3. Man raised by Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20-21) 
4. Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43, Matt. 9:18-26, Luke) 
5. Son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15) 
6. Lazarus (John 11:1-44) 
7. “Many saints” rise around Easter (Matt. 27:50-53) 
8. Jesus (Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, Paul’s letters) 
9. Dorcas--raised by Peter (Acts 9:36-41) 
10. Eutychus--raised by Paul (Acts 20:9-10) 
 
2 Kings 13:20-21 Elisha's bones (Elijah's mantle on Elisha = 2nd of Bible's 10 resurrections)

2 Kings 13:20-21 Elisha died and was buried. Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. While some Israelites were ...

2 Kings 13:20-21 Elisha&#39;s bones (Elijah&#39;s mantle on Elisha = 2nd of Bible&#39;s 10 resurrections)

Mark’s Jesus spoke in parables so outsiders would not understand what he was saying. 
 
If outsiders were to understand, they would repent. The other gospels lack this passage. 
 
Mark 4:10-12 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable. 
 
He told them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside, everything is expressed in parables, so that ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’”

Mark’s Jesus spoke in parables so outsiders would not understand what he was saying.  

If outsiders were to understand, they would repent. The other gospels lack this passage.

Mark 4:10-12   As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.  

He told them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside, everything is expressed in parables, so that ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’”

Mark 4:10-12 mystery of God's kingdom clear to disciples, but outsiders hear parables

The first letter to the Thessalonians is from around 49 A. D. and is very important since it is the earliest surviving piece of Christian literature. It was written at least two decades before Mark's gospel and half a century before John's gospel. 
 
If we wish to understand the thinking of the earliest Christians, then we must look closely at Paul's seven letters. (Thirteen letters are credited to Paul, but only seven are authentic whereas five letters were written later by authors who wrote in Paul's name for the sake of being heard.) 
 
Paul's earliest letter establishes that belief in the Second Coming was very strong in 49 A. D. in the early Christian communities. 
 
Notice that Paul believed he would be among the living when bodies are swept up into the clouds. It is safe to say that Paul was mistaken. The Second Coming did not happen in Paul's lifetime. 
 
The Church would put less emphasis on the Second Coming as the years passed since that event became less credible with each passing year. 
 
Mark's gospel from around 70 A. D. has references to the Second Coming, but by the time John's gospel was written around 95 A. D., belief in the Second Coming had waned. John's gospel puts no emphasis on the Second Coming. 
 
Ignore the second letter to the Thessalonians since Paul did not write that second letter. One reason we know it is a forgery is that the second letter contradicts what is said in the first letter. 
 
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 -- The Lord will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 
 
After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 
 
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 -- Second Coming of Jesus (St. Paul says it will happen in Paul's lifetime)

The first letter to the Thessalonians is from around 49 A. D. and is very important since it is the earliest surviving piece of Christian literature.  It was written at least two decades before Mark's gospel and half a century before John's gospel.

If we wish to understand the thinking of the earliest Christians, then we must look closely at Paul's seven letters.  (Thirteen letters are credited to Paul, but only seven are authentic whereas five letters were written later by authors who wrote in Paul's name for the sake of being heard.)

Paul's earliest letter establishes that belief in the Second Coming was very strong in 49 A. D. in the early Christian communities.  

Notice that Paul believed he would be among the living when bodies are swept up into the clouds.  It is safe to say that Paul was mistaken.  The Second Coming did not happen in Paul's lifetime.

The Church would put less emphasis on the Second Coming as the years passed since that event became less credible with each pa

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 -- Second Coming of Jesus (St. Paul says it will happen in Paul's lifetime)

When I teach Act I of Shaw's Pygmalion, I refer to Matthew's account of Peter being discovered due to his accent or dialect. 
 
Peter and other disciples were from Galilee--the fertile, mountainous region in northern Palestine (or northern Israel in modern times). 
 
To walk from Galilee to Jerusalem takes three days. The different regions had different speech patterns and pronunciations. 
 
According to Matthew, residents of Jerusalem detect from Peter's speech that he is not from Jerusalem. 
 
We may deduce that when Jesus was teaching in Jerusalem during his last week of life, residents of Jerusalem detected an accent or dialect as Jesus spoke. 
 
Matthew 26:73-75 
 
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away." He swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

When I teach Act I of Shaw's Pygmalion, I refer to Matthew's account of Peter being discovered due to his accent or dialect.  

Peter and other disciples were from Galilee--the fertile, mountainous region in northern Palestine (or northern Israel in modern times).

To walk from Galilee to Jerusalem takes three days.  The different regions had different speech patterns and pronunciations.  

According to Matthew, residents of Jerusalem detect from Peter's speech that he is not from Jerusalem.  

We may deduce that when Jesus was teaching in Jerusalem during his last week of life, residents of Jerusalem detected an accent or dialect as Jesus spoke.

Matthew 26:73-75  

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away."  He swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

Matthew 26:73-75 Peter denies Jesus = Act I of Shaw's Pygmalion (Henry Higgins & dialects)

Genesis 8:20-21 Noah built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings (smell pleases God) 
 
Genesis 8:20-21 
 
Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 
 
The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.”

Genesis 8:20-21 Noah built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings (smell pleases God)

Genesis 8:20-21  

Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 

The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.”

Genesis 8:20-21 Noah built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings (smell pleases God)

Jesus in Matthew 5:38-40 (Matthew's gospel) "turn the other cheek" not "eye for eye, tooth for..." 
 
Matthew 5:38-40 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” 
 
 
 
 
 
Jesus in Matthew 5:38-40 (Matthew's gospel) "turn the other cheek" not "eye for eye, tooth for..."

Jesus in Matthew 5:38-40 (Matthew's gospel) "turn the other cheek" not "eye for eye, tooth for..."

Matthew 5:38-40  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.”





Jesus in Matthew 5:38-40 (Matthew's gospel) "turn the other cheek" not "eye for eye, tooth for..."

Jesus in Matthew 5:38-40 (Matthew's gospel) "turn the other cheek" not "eye for eye, tooth for..."

In John’s gospel, Jesus quotes the psalm in which God says humans are “gods.” 
 
John 10:34: Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?” 
 
Psalm 82:6: I said, "You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High.”

In John’s gospel, Jesus quotes the psalm in which God says humans are “gods.”

John 10:34: Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?”

Psalm 82:6:  I said, "You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High.”

Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 -- humans are gods (John 10:34)

Moby-Dick may be America’s greatest novel. 
 
Its famous first sentence is "Call me Ishmael." That does not mean Ishmael is the narrator's name--no, he does not declare, "My name is Ishmael." He instead encourages readers to "call" him by that name (such odd wording suggests that Ishmael is NOT his name). 
 
Genesis 16:12 helps us understand why Melville picked this name (or non-name) for the narrator: "He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers." 
 
Ishmael was the first son of Abraham. His mother was Hagar, a slave belonging to Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Sarah could not conceive a child, so Sarah urged Hagar and Abraham to have a child together. 
 
Genesis 25:12-18 = And this is the lineage of Ishmael, son of Abraham, whom Hagar, the Egyptian, Sarah's slave-girl, bore to Abraham. 
 
And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael according to their lineage: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, and Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, Hadad… 
 
 
_______________ 
 
Moby-Dick’s first sentence "Call me Ishmael” Genesis 25:12 (Ishmael is Abraham’s 1st son--"wild")

Moby-Dick may be America’s greatest novel.  

Its famous first sentence is "Call me Ishmael."  That does not mean Ishmael is the narrator's name--no, he does not declare, "My name is Ishmael."  He instead encourages readers to "call" him by that name (such odd wording suggests that Ishmael is NOT his name).

Genesis 16:12 helps us understand why Melville picked this name (or non-name) for the narrator: "He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers."

Ishmael was the first son of Abraham.  His mother was Hagar, a slave belonging to Sarah, Abraham’s wife.  Sarah could not conceive a child, so Sarah urged Hagar and Abraham to have a child together.

Genesis 25:12-18 = And this is the lineage of Ishmael, son of Abraham, whom Hagar, the Egyptian, Sarah's slave-girl, bore to Abraham. 

And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael according to their lineage: Nebaioth, the firstborn

Moby-Dick’s first sentence "Call me Ishmael” Genesis 25:12 (Ishmael is Abraham’s 1st son--"wild")

When you open the Bible’s book of Lamentations, expect to find passages about tears and sorrow. 
 
Lamentations 2:18 = The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord. 
You walls of Daughter Zion, 
let your tears flow like a river day and night; 
give yourself no relief, your eyes no rest. 
Arise, cry out in the night…

When you open the Bible’s book of Lamentations, expect to find passages about tears and sorrow.

Lamentations 2:18 = The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord.
You walls of Daughter Zion,
let your tears flow like a river day and night;
give yourself no relief, your eyes no rest.
Arise, cry out in the night…

Bible’s book of tears and sorrow = Lamentations 2:18 (You walls of Daughter Zion)

Moses wore a veil according to Exodus 34:32-34 
 
After being with God, Moses came down Mount Sinai, his face shining with God’s glory. This frightened people, so Moses started to wear a veil over his face, shrouding the glory to be less scary. 
 
Exodus 34:32-34 All the sons of Israel came near, and Moses commanded them to do everything that the Lord said to him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking, he put a veil over his face. But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take off the veil. 
 
______________ 
 
Moses wore a veil (Exodus 34:32-34) -- Moses came down Mount Sinai

Moses wore a veil according to Exodus 34:32-34 

After being with God, Moses came down Mount Sinai, his face shining with God’s glory.  This frightened people, so Moses started to wear a veil over his face, shrouding the glory to be less scary.

Exodus 34:32-34  All the sons of Israel came near, and Moses commanded them to do everything that the Lord said to him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking, he put a veil over his face.  But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take off the veil.

______________

Moses wore a veil (Exodus 34:32-34) -- Moses came down Mount Sinai

Moses wore a veil (Exodus 34:32-34) -- Moses came down Mount Sinai

Who was Enoch in the Bible? 
 
He was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Adam. Enoch literally walked with God. Enoch never died as other humans die--God “took” Enoch. 
 
Genesis 5:23-24 “Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more because God took him away.” 
 
Enoch in the Bible = Enoch walked with God, never died (God "took" Enoch) Genesis 5:23-24 
 
 
 
Enoch in the Bible = Enoch walked with God, never died (God "took" Enoch) Genesis 5:23-24

Who was Enoch in the Bible?  

He was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Adam. Enoch literally walked with God.  Enoch never died as other humans die--God “took” Enoch.
 
Genesis 5:23-24 “Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more because God took him away.”

Enoch in the Bible = Enoch walked with God, never died (God "took" Enoch) Genesis 5:23-24



Enoch in the Bible = Enoch walked with God, never died (God "took" Enoch) Genesis 5:23-24

Enoch in the Bible = Enoch walked with God, never died (God "took" Enoch) Genesis 5:23-24

“Wheels within wheels”= famous expression from the Bible (Ezekiel 1:16) 
 
“Wheels within wheels” means a situation that is complicated due to secret or indirect influences. 
 
It comes from a vision in Ezekiel 1:16: “The appearance of the wheels and their craftsmanship was like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same form. Their appearance and craftsmanship was like a wheel within a wheel.”

“Wheels within wheels”= famous expression from the Bible (Ezekiel 1:16)

“Wheels within wheels” means a situation that is complicated due to secret or indirect influences.

It comes from a vision in Ezekiel 1:16: “The appearance of the wheels and their craftsmanship was like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same form. Their appearance and craftsmanship was like a wheel within a wheel.”

“Wheels within wheels”= famous expression from the Bible (Ezekiel 1:16)

In the book of Exodus, God gives instructions to Moses but then quickly decides to kill Moses. 
 
God is prevented from carrying out the killing. 
 
At best, the text is unclear. At worst, the text as we receive it was corrupted over time. Wait, maybe the worst possibility is that the text was not corrupted but never made any sense--not even on the day it was written. All these explanations are problematic. If the text is unclear, then the question becomes why God (as ultimate author of the Bible) wrote something unclear. If the text was corrupted over time (such as the case of a scribe making an error or omitting cruel lines while copying out text), then the question becomes why God would allow his holy text to be corrupted. If we are receiving the text as originally written and it never made sense--well, that does help anyone make the argument that an infallible God (or Holy Spirit) wrote this sacred text. 
 
I don’t know why God seeks the early death of Moses and don’t understand how any human can interfere after God resolves to do something. 
 
Exodus 4:22-24: The Lord said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.”... 
 
On the way, at a place where they stopped for the night, the Lord met Moses and sought to kill him. 
 
God changes his mind about killing Moses due to Zipporah. None of this makes sense to me. 
 
Exodus 4:25-26: But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. So the Lord let him alone.

In the book of Exodus, God gives instructions to Moses but then quickly decides to kill Moses. God is prevented from carrying out ...

Exodus 4:22-26 God wants to kill Moses = Zipporah uses a flint knife and stops God (makes no sense)

1 John 4:7-12 “God Is Love” Prayer 
 
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love…. 
 
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 
 
______________________________ 
 
Does God hate? 
 
Here is Malachi 1:2-3: “’I have loved you,’” says the Lord. But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' ‘Was not Esau Jacob's brother?’ the Lord says. ‘Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.’” 
 
____________________ 
 
Here is a baffling statement in John’s gospel: 
 
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God… 
 
God appears to many in the Old Testament. 
 
The gospel writer “John” (we don’t know his real name) seems unaware of ancient scripture. 
 
For example, God visits the parents of Samson: 
 
Judges 13:22 Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” 
 
Genesis 18:1-15: The Lord appears to Abraham and calls attention to Sarah telling a fib: Sarah denied laughing, saying, "I did not laugh” 
...The Lord said, "No, but you did laugh." 
 
Here are some people who saw God 
 
Enoch 
Abraham & Sarah 
Isaac 
Jacob 
Moses & 73 others 
Solomon 
Job 
Elijah 
Isaiah 
Daniel 
Parents of Samson 
 
The statement in John’s gospel that no one has seen God is repeated in the First Letter of John (4:12). 
 
It’s a contradiction. Twice the New Testament says clearly no one has seen God, but the Old Testament tells of many humans seeing God. 
 
Many more hear God’s voice. 
 
The New Testament may be saying twice that stories in ancient scripture about God appearing to humans are mere stories--don’t take them literally and don’t expect to see God in your lifetime. 
 
 
 
 
1 John 4:7-12 “God Is Love” prayer = "God is love" in Bible (vs. God hates in Malachi 1:2-3)

1 John 4:7-12 “God Is Love” Prayer

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love….

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

______________________________

Does God hate?

Here is Malachi 1:2-3: “’I have loved you,’” says the Lord. But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' ‘Was not Esau Jacob's brother?’ the Lord says. ‘Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.’”

____________________

Here is a baffling statement in John’s gospel:

John 1:18  No one has ever seen God…

God appears to many in the Old Testament.  

The gospel writer “John” (we don’t know his real name) seems unaware of ancient scripture.

For example, God visits the parents of Samson:

Judges 13:22  Manoah said to his wife, “We shall sur

1 John 4:7-12 “God Is Love” prayer = "God is love" in Bible (vs. God hates in Malachi 1:2-3)

King Henry VIII married Katherine of Aragon after Henry’s brother died. She was married to Henry’s brother. He followed what the Bible teaches in such a situation--it helped that Henry was attracted to his sister-in-law. 
 
Here is Deuteronomy 25:5 "If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her." 
 
As years passed, King Henry VIII found his wife to be less attractive and also desired a son to inherit his kingdom. Queen Katherine gave only one living daughter. 
 
Henry knew of a Bible passage that teaches the opposite of what Deuteronomy says. 
 
Here is Leviticus 20:21: "If a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing. He hath uncovered his brother's nakedness. They shall be childless." 
 
King Henry felt God was punishing his unlawful marriage, so he wanted a divorce. The queen said no. 
 
King Henry asked the pope for an annulment. 
 
The pope said no. 
 
Solution: Henry became Protestant and head of England’s new church. He gave himself that annulment. A son arrived with Henry’s 3rd "marriage" (the word is put in quote marks since one could argue that the first marriage was not a true marriage at all). 
 
 
 
 
King Henry VIII & BIBLE influences history = Deuteronomy 25:5 & Leviticus 20:21 Katherine of Aragon

King Henry VIII married Katherine of Aragon after Henry’s brother died.  She was married to Henry’s brother.  He followed what the Bible teaches in such a situation--it helped that Henry was attracted to his sister-in-law. 

Here is Deuteronomy 25:5  "If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her."

As years passed, King Henry VIII found his wife to be less attractive and also desired a son to inherit his kingdom.  Queen Katherine gave only one living daughter.  

Henry knew of a Bible passage that teaches the opposite of what Deuteronomy says.

Here is Leviticus 20:21: "If a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing.  He hath uncovered his brother's nakedness.  They shall be childless."

King Henry felt God was punishing his unlawful marriage, so he wanted a divorce.  The queen said no.  

King Henry asked

King Henry VIII & BIBLE influences history = Deuteronomy 25:5 &  Leviticus 20:21 Katherine of Aragon

“Prophecy historicized” means that early Christians searched Hebrew scripture for predictions about what would be true of the messiah and then created stories about Jesus based on those predictions. 
 
The historical Jesus was from Nazareth, but Luke and Matthew placed him in Bethlehem at birth since Micah predicted a leader from Bethlehem. 
 
This is “prophecy historicized.” What looks like history is a story based on old prophecy. 
 
Another example involves Roman soldiers spitting at Jesus: “Then some began to spit at him…” (Mark 14:65). Was Mark a witness? Did he interview the Roman soldiers? No. 
 
The gospel writer reports that Roman soldiers spit on Jesus because Isaiah 50:6 said it would happen: “I do not hide from shame, for they mock me and spit in my face.” 
 
I first learned about “prophecy historicized" from John Dominic Crossan's book titled Who Killed Jesus. 
 
Over the years, I have seen the idea developed in many scholarly books. Of course, this type of material is not covered by priests or ministers when they talk on Sundays, which is a shame. 
 
The idea that early Christians come up with stories based on prophecy explains a lot! I always wondered how the gospel writers knew the details reported in the gospels. 
 
I don't think the gospel writers themselves created the stories. Instead, I view them as professional writers who produced a coherent manuscript after patrons handed to them various earlier manuscripts. In the case of Matthew and Luke, one early manuscript was Mark's gospel. Others were the "Q" sources and various other sources lost to history. 
 
Sources for John's gospel are completely unknown, but they differ wildly from sources used by the other three gospel writers. 
 
 
 
 
 
“Prophecy historicized” = Mark 14:65 is from Isaiah 50:6 (“spit in my face") John Dominic Crossan

“Prophecy historicized” means that early Christians searched Hebrew scripture for predictions about what would be true of the messiah and then created stories about Jesus based on those predictions. 

The historical Jesus was from Nazareth, but Luke and Matthew placed him in Bethlehem at birth since Micah predicted a leader from Bethlehem.  

This is “prophecy historicized.”  What looks like history is a story based on old prophecy.

Another example involves Roman soldiers spitting at Jesus: “Then some began to spit at him…” (Mark 14:65).  Was Mark a witness?  Did he interview the Roman soldiers?  No.

The gospel writer reports that Roman soldiers spit on Jesus because Isaiah 50:6 said it would happen: “I do not hide from shame, for they mock me and spit in my face.”

I first learned about “prophecy historicized" from John Dominic Crossan's book titled Who Killed Jesus.

Over the years, I have seen the idea developed in many scholarly books.  Of course, this type of material is not cov

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