Biblical Studies

2007-04-22

Comparing the sources for Alexander and Jesus

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by Neil Godfrey

We have 5 literary sources for the life of Alexander the Great (late 4th century bce):

Diodorus Siculus (1st century bce): 17th book of Universal History
Quintus Curtius Rufus (1st century ce): History of Alexander
Plutarch (2nd century ce): Life of Alexander
Flavius Arrianus Xenophon (Arrian) (2nd century ce): Campaigns of Alexander
M. Junianus Justinus (Justin) (3rd century ce): epitomized the work of Pompeius Trogus (Augustan age)

Is it fair to accept these as evidence for an historical Alexander while not accepting the canonical gospels as sources for an historical Jesus? I think so for three reasons: Continue reading “Comparing the sources for Alexander and Jesus”

2007-04-20

The two-edged sword of Christian allegorizing

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by Neil Godfrey

What if a second century attempt to allegorize the Christian holy books had succeeded in the way early Christians allegorized the Jewish scriptures? Continue reading “The two-edged sword of Christian allegorizing”

2007-04-19

On an early date for Acts — and its problems

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by Neil Godfrey

One of the historical giants of biblical scholarship, Adolf von Harnack, from 1908 argued for the Book of Acts being composed possibly as early as the 60s ce, in the lifetime of the apostle Paul. His reasons: Continue reading “On an early date for Acts — and its problems”

2007-04-18

The Jesus Tomb Part 1 — interview with Simcha Jacobovici

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by Neil Godfrey

Never suspected I’d be putting up a link to this but here we are (only because I have some respect for interviewer Rachel Kohn’s judgment on what’s intellectual and fair despite/beneath marketing requirements) . . . .

Check out ABC Radio National’s The Ark, a 15 minute podcast — but it’s only in podcast and online for 4 weeks. More parts to follow — check the website to see the more critical interviewees in store. . . . Continue reading “The Jesus Tomb Part 1 — interview with Simcha Jacobovici”

2007-04-16

What if Jesus intentionally acted out the OT “prophecies”?

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by Neil Godfrey

This question keeps popping up all over the place. I’d like to kill it. Continue reading “What if Jesus intentionally acted out the OT “prophecies”?”

2007-04-15

A Literary Culture of Interpolations

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by Neil Godfrey

In response to those who dismiss a priori the likelihood of interpolations in the letters of Paul, Walker lists the following: Continue reading “A Literary Culture of Interpolations”

2007-04-14

A gnostic mind game with Paul and Mark

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by Neil Godfrey

Elaine Pagel’s The Gnostic Paul cites the many gnostic interpretations of Paul’s letters. The point is well made that our interpretation of Paul is inherited from the founders of the orthodox church today. Yet this interpretation was not so universal in the second century. Irenaeus took issue with the gnostics for claiming to have secret traditions that they claimed had been handed down from Paul in order to explain the spiritual (“pneumatic”) understanding of his letters. Continue reading “A gnostic mind game with Paul and Mark”

Gospel of Mark — modern meets gnostic interpretation?

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by Neil Godfrey

The Gospel of Mark is a parable or largely allegorical according to scholars such as Kelber, Tolbert, Weeden, and others Thus Galilee and Jerusalem have theological meanings, the former representing the Kingdom of God and the latter, opposition to that kingdom. The twelve disciples led by Peter are the seed found in rocky soil that sprouts quickly with promise but just as quickly whithers into failure. And so forth.

Such modern interpretations of Mark sit in remarkably close conjunction with the (second century) Valentinian allegorical interpretations of Paul’s letters as explained by Elaine Pagels in her The Gnostic Paul: Gnostic Exegesis of the Pauline Letters. And is it significant that the Gospel of Mark is sometimes argued to be embedded in Pauline theology? Continue reading “Gospel of Mark — modern meets gnostic interpretation?”

2007-04-13

Another round in the Battle for Paul

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by Neil Godfrey

More notes (earlier notes from same book here and here) from Dennis MacDonald’s The Legend and the Apostl e (though with my own twist in presentation) Continue reading “Another round in the Battle for Paul”

2007-04-09

Gospel of Judas (Archer/Moloney) fantasy verses

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by Neil Godfrey

Here it is folks, — with the scribal aid of St Archer, the modern church can finally sell the Jesus it has tried to explain is really behind the gospels all along: Continue reading “Gospel of Judas (Archer/Moloney) fantasy verses”

2007-04-08

Link fixed – Formal debate: The Historical Resurrection of Jesus?

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by Neil Godfrey

[Link is dead. If anyone has a copy of the original discussion please let me know. Thanks. — Neil Godfrey, 20th July, 2019]

Formal Debate “The Historical Resurrection of Jesus?”

“This thread is for the formal debate between Bible Defender and stevencarrwork. No other forum users are allowed to post in this thread, other than moderators or admins, until the formal debate is concluded.”

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Author Neil GodfreyPosted on 2007-04-08 21:24:55 GMT+00002019-07-20 01:30:34 GMT+0000Categories Biblical Studies, New TestamentTags Resurrection of Jesus1 Comment on Link fixed – Formal debate: The Historical Resurrection of Jesus?

Digest parody: Gospel of Judas / Archer, Moloney

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by Neil Godfrey

Filed under: Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, Biblical Studies
Tags: Moloney: The Gospel According to Judas

Loved this digest parody of the Archer – Moloney ‘Gospel of Judas’:

Check out John Crace’s “digested read” at the Guardian website.

The Guardian also has a more serious review here.

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Author Neil GodfreyPosted on 2007-04-08 12:01:39 GMT+00002019-07-20 01:36:47 GMT+0000Categories Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, Biblical StudiesTags Moloney: The Gospel According to JudasLeave a comment on Digest parody: Gospel of Judas / Archer, Moloney

Formal Debate: The Historical Resurrection of Jesus? – Link fixed

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

by Neil Godfrey

Filed under: Biblical Studies, New Testament
Tags: Resurrection of Jesus

[Link is dead. If anyone has a copy of the original discussion please let me know. Thanks. — Neil Godfrey, 20th July, 2019]

At the Richard Dawkins website — started by Steven Carr. Continue reading “Formal Debate: The Historical Resurrection of Jesus? – Link fixed”

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Author Neil GodfreyPosted on 2007-04-08 09:16:46 GMT+00002019-07-20 01:30:51 GMT+0000Categories Biblical Studies, New TestamentTags Resurrection of JesusLeave a comment on Formal Debate: The Historical Resurrection of Jesus? – Link fixed

Character of the Pharisees – online sources

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by Neil Godfrey

Filed under: Biblical Studies, New Testament
Tags: Gospels and Acts (Canonical), Pharisees

Previous post refers to post-war conflicts between Christians and Pharisees, and cites Morton Smith’s views that this rift lies behind the negative gospel depiction of the Pharisees. I’ve collected here some online articles, based on historical research, that indicate that the gospel’s negative view of the Pharisees is more polemical than historical fact. Historical evidence testifies to the Pharisees being quite popular among the wider public at the time of Jesus. This page is intended to be a companion to the previous post that cites historical evidence locating the Pharisees in Judea with only scant presence in Galilee. Continue reading “Character of the Pharisees – online sources”

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Author Neil GodfreyPosted on 2007-04-08 07:52:30 GMT+00002019-07-20 01:41:11 GMT+0000Categories Biblical Studies, New TestamentTags Gospels and Acts (Canonical), PhariseesLeave a comment on Character of the Pharisees – online sources

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