Search for "rulers this age"

McGrath Reviews Carrier: Part 2, Ascension of Isaiah

Related pages: James McGrath’s review on Bible and Interpretation James McGrath’s discussion of review on ExploringOurMatrix After addressing the introduction to James McGrath’s initial post reviewing Richard Carrier’s On the Historicity of Jesus I now discuss his primary focus — the Ascension of Isaiah (Asc. Isa.I). I should be able to say that I will discuss McGrath’s treatment … Continue reading “McGrath Reviews Carrier: Part 2, Ascension of Isaiah“

A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 14: Simon/Paul and the Law of Moses (continued)

For all posts in this series: Roger Parvus: A Simonian Origin for Christianity Previous post in this series: A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 13: Simon/Paul and the Law of Moses Heikki Räisänen, in the preface to the 2nd edition of his Paul and the Law, writes: There is at least a general agreement that … Continue reading “A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 14: Simon/Paul and the Law of Moses (continued)”

A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 13: Simon/Paul and the Law of Moses

For all posts in this series: Roger Parvus: A Simonian Origin for Christianity Previous post in this series: Part 12: A Different Perspective on the Corinthian Controversy (conclusion) We finally come to the question of how my Simonian hypothesis would deal with the inconsistent Pauline position regarding the Mosaic Law. Like resurrection, the Law was a … Continue reading “A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 13: Simon/Paul and the Law of Moses”

Judea, an Ideal State of the Greek Philosophers?

The ancient Greek world appears to have been ignorant of the Jews (or even Israel) in Palestine until around the end of the fourth century. I still recall my high school disappointment when I read the famous work of the Greek “father of history”, Herodotus, only to find not a single mention of biblical Judea even though … Continue reading “Judea, an Ideal State of the Greek Philosophers?”

What Is a Parable?

‘Parable’ is an English version of the Greek word parabolē. According to Aristotle (Rhetoric, 2.20) parables were used by orators in inductive or indirect proof as a generally recognized means of demonstration and illustration. They are, according to him, of two kinds: true events taken from history, and the more easily invented example such as … Continue reading “What Is a Parable?”

The God and Dying Messiah Debate Preceded Christianity

In my last post I finished off with some reservations about Boyarin’s interpretation of the two heavenly figures in Daniel 7 as two deities. This post lets Boyarin explain a little more what he thinks is going on here. We have on the one hand the two figures, one like a son of man and … Continue reading “The God and Dying Messiah Debate Preceded Christianity”

Room for Two Gods in the Book of Daniel

Here is an argument for interpreting Daniel 7’s scenario of “one like a son of man/Son of Man” coming on clouds to the Ancient of Days as a reference to two divinities. It’s from Daniel Boyarin’s small book, The Jewish Gospels: The Story of the Jewish Christ (2012). But be warned. I suspect many New Testament … Continue reading “Room for Two Gods in the Book of Daniel”

The Evolution of the Son of Man, the Human & Divine Messiah

This post outlines the way Jewish ideas about God appear to have developed until they found a new form in the Christian Messiah, the heavenly Son of Man. I base it on a range of scholarly articles and books (including Black, Boyarin, Erho, Fossum, Knibb, Rowland, Wolfson) but will not reference each detail in this overview. … Continue reading “The Evolution of the Son of Man, the Human & Divine Messiah”

A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 11: A Different Perspective on the Corinthian Controversy (continued)

The previous post in this series was focused on chapters 1 – 4 of 1 Corinthians. I proposed that the theme of the disruptive wisdom at Corinth was eschatological and that it featured an earthly kingdom of God. And I suggested that the points of contact between the wisdom discussion in Corinthians and the earthly … Continue reading “A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 11: A Different Perspective on the Corinthian Controversy (continued)”

The Myth of Judean Exile 70 CE

While we have “sacred space” and religious violence in our thoughts, it’s high time I posted one more detail I wish the scholars who know better would themselves make more widely known. The population of Judea was not exiled at the conclusion of the war with Rome when the second temple was destroyed in 70 … Continue reading “The Myth of Judean Exile 70 CE”

Zionist Plans for Mass Transfer of Arabs: Alive But Discreet

This fourth installment of a series I began in 2010 is long overdue. The previous posts are: Zionist Founding Fathers’ Plans for Transfer of the Palestinian Arabs Redemption or Conquest: Zionist Yishuv plans for transfer of Palestinian Arabs in the British Mandate period The Weizmann Plan to “Transfer” the Palestinians My intention is to make … Continue reading “Zionist Plans for Mass Transfer of Arabs: Alive But Discreet”

God’s Apocalyptic Bluff

The Book of Enoch, The Watchers, 1:3-7 The Holy Great One will come forth from His dwelling, And the eternal God will tread upon the earth, (even) on Mount Sinai, [And appear from His camp] And appear in the strength of His might from the heaven of heavens. And all shall be smitten with fear … Continue reading “God’s Apocalyptic Bluff”

A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 10: A Different Perspective on the Corinthian Controversy

When I finished the previous post of the series, I expected to go on to a discussion of the eschatology in chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians. But while working on that, I quickly realized that chapters 1 through 4 of the letter should be examined first. They provide some necessary background on the situation in … Continue reading “A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 10: A Different Perspective on the Corinthian Controversy”

A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 9: The Source of Simon/Paul’s Gospel (conclusion)

. This post continues my discussion of the Vision of Isaiah. It will briefly consider some additional aspects of that writing that make it an attractive candidate as the source Simon/Paul’s gospel. . An Assembly of Prophets The Vision of Isaiah gives a significant role not just to Isaiah himself but also to a group … Continue reading “A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 9: The Source of Simon/Paul’s Gospel (conclusion)”

"Thanks for this detailed interaction! I’ll try to offer something more substantial than 'Thank you' in response at some point, but I didn’t want to wait . . . to express appreciation for your detailed interaction with what I’ve written!"

— James McGrath, – June 2009
"Many thanks for this post, and for the quality of your blog."

— Philippe Wajdenbaum, – November 2018
"Neil, You’ve done a clean job in your posting on ‘Jesus the Healer’. It reflects well on you. Best, John"

— John Moles, September 2011 (personal email)
"For an excellent example of generally high-quality scholarship by someone who isn’t a biblical studies professor, see Neil Godfrey’s work posted on the website vridar.org."

— Tom Dykstra, – JOCABS 2015
"Neil, in my mature judgement (I am now an old man), this fine 4-part study is a brilliant reworking, an instructive restatement of Hayden White’s Metahistory (and his subsequent writings). Your critique of certain historiographic representations as imbedded in the case study of the “scientistic”, “empirical” Richard Carrier provides a solid starting point for the more honest “fictive” reading of the New Testament that you encourage. Your last paragraph is a very intelligent call to sensitive readers of these texts. I suspect a whole generation of biblical students has been educated without the insights provided by the incomparable White. Bravo!"

-- Timothy Bagley, - November 2024
"I want to say here that this site is so resourceful and highly on top of the most modern scholarship in the areas discussed here. . . I know of no other site which offers a wide range of topics related to careful critical analysis of historically and scripturally related issues."

-- Martin Lewadny, - March 2009
"Neil, for what it is worth it is obvious to me that if you had earlier in life tracked into a graduate program at one of the world’s leading research universities you would be one of the world’s formidable ones. You are doing essentially the same quality now (apart from the philology and languages) except mostly sticking to commenting on others’ work as informed comment/discussion."

— Gregory Doudna, – January 2019
https://earlywritings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=145080#p145080
Neil made a good synthesis of the work without being an “expert” of the field.

-- Enrico Tuccinardi, - October 2022
"Thanks for your very elaborate review! I realized that I hadn’t added your blog to our blogroll. This oversight has been corrected. Looking forward to more segments."

— Anthony Le Donne, – September 2009
"Neil, this is actually rather useful. Good job."

— R. Joseph Hoffmann, – June 2014
It is worth saying another word of appreciation here for Neil Godfrey's effort to make Bruno Bauer accessible in English.

-- Peter Kirby, - May 2023
"Here I give an admittedly subjective short list, in random order, of useful, high level and regularly updated weblogs on the study of the Old Testament . . . ‘Vridar: Musings on biblical studies, politics, religion, ethics, human nature, tidbits from science’ (http://vridar.org/) by Neil Godfrey"

-- Klaas Spronk, - Bibliotheca Orientalis LXXI, 3/4 (2014)
"By the way, my thanks to Neil for an ongoing superb job of exposing Jim’s review for what it is: a farcical and none too effective exercise in mythicism assassination, nothing to do with rational, let alone unbiased, scholarship. I’m also happy to see even Jim giving Neil credit where credit is due."

— Earl Doherty, June 2011
"I’ve even been cited by atheists with approval (which I really don’t know how to take, so thanks, I think, but I’m not sure, Vrider (even though I feel like I need to take a shower now))."

-- Jim West, – September 2010
"I think you have a high quality blog that provides a positive public service by discussing academic topics within a wider audience."

— Russell Gmirkin, – October 2016
"These reviews of yours are so bloody weird!"

— James Crossley, – April 2010
This is superb work, Neil, and reminds me of Albert Schweitzer’s work from a century ago. . . . .

I commend you for being the first to even TRY to translate Bruno Bauer’s brilliant Kritik der Evangelien und Geschichte ihres Ursprungs, which is now more than 150 years old.

. . . . .Thank you for your historic effort.

-- Paul Trejo, M.A., - November 2022
Editor, An English Edition of Bruno Bauer’s 1843 Christianity Exposed
"I still wonder at all the material you turn out for Vridar. The more I read your stuff (and I still do, of course), the more I realize how much we all owe you. Your voice is unique."

— Earl Doherty, November 2013 (personal email)
"Fantastic. I’m so glad you’re helping to spread these ideas!"

Nancy Fraser - June 2019 (personal email)
"Very good. This post is going straight to the March 2016 Biblical Studies Carnival."

—N.T. Wrong, – March 2016
"I have found your website really valuable as an interpretive filter for Biblical scholarship, especially the origins of Christianity and historicity of Jesus issue. Your clarity of expression, fair comments and personal insights are much valued. I refer to your site frequently as yet more names and publications pop up requiring an academic critique and helpful recommendations for book purchases. So, please continue to delve deeply and share this intellectual sustenance with your grateful readers."

— Mary Booker, – February 2020 (personal email)
"I’d like to thank you for this very nice representation of what I was trying to show in the book. It’s always gratifying when a reader zeroes in on exactly those aspects I thought were most interesting and most central to my argument. Thank you for this careful and engaged reading of my work – much appreciated!"

— Eva Mroczek, – June 2017
"Thanks much for this book review. I think it expands, and contributes to, the effort in honouring Thomas that we with Lukasz originally had in mind with this volume. Best, Emanuel"

-- Emanuel Pfoh - August 2020
"Note that I do not use the term ‘amateur’ pejoratively. . . . In fact, Godfrey is extremely well read and his librarian skills have brought many important academic works to my attention."

Raphael Lataster - August 2019
"Neil Godfrey and Tim Widowfield, who both write at Vridar . . . happen to be some of the most astute and well-read amateurs you can read on the internet on the subject of biblical historicity. I call them amateurs only for the reason that they don’t have, so far as I know, advanced degrees in the subject. But I have often been impressed with their grasp of logic and analysis of scholarship. I don’t always agree with them, but I respect their work."

— Richard Carrier, – March 2014
"Vridar is consistently thought-provoking, well-informed, and asking the right questions. There are intelligent, thoughtful comments and commenters regularly offering productive discussion. Books and publications are covered with a range of perspectives with attempts at fair and accurate representation of others’ arguments and content (where there are occasional and inevitable missteps on that I notice Neil making corrections and apologies where warranted, which wins points with me). Please carry on."

— Gregory Doudna, – January 2019
Congratulations, Vridar, . . . I declare, Vridar, your own hard work translating Bruno Bauer will make a major difference in future studies of Bruno Bauer and the evolution of Hegel’s philosophy of religion.

-- Paul Trejo, - April 2023
"I always enjoy reading Neil’s blog because I think that he is careful, thorough, intellectually fair, and honest."

— April DeConick, – November 2007
"I find your blog most interesting and appreciate your ongoing effort to keep to the evidence for the issues discussed!"

-- Thomas L. Thompson, - April 2020

Neil Godfrey on Did Muhammad Exist? A revisionist look at Islam’s Origins: “I have to disagree with your second paragaph. On your point, unless one insists on documentary or inscriptional evidence to…” Sep 14, 21:27
TOP1TOTO on Did Muhammad Exist? A revisionist look at Islam’s Origins: “In my view, the revisionist critique is useful and necessary: it reminds us that religious traditions tend to build up…” Sep 14, 19:50
Neil Godfrey on That Second Question Frank Zindler Wanted to Ask Bart Ehrman: “Thanks for the update. I would like to know the name of the publisher Carrier is speaking about. But we…” Sep 7, 19:44
ABuddhist on That Second Question Frank Zindler Wanted to Ask Bart Ehrman: “He claims that his book, entittled, “The Obsolete Paradigm of a Historical Jesus”, was submitted for peer review and after…” Sep 7, 11:59
Neil Godfrey on Do the Dead Sea Scrolls Invalidate a Hellenistic Origin of the Hebrew Books of the Bible?: “Stefan Schorch also made an interesting observation that implies something akin to the “committee” model of authorship, though again he…” Sep 7, 08:11
Neil Godfrey on Do the Dead Sea Scrolls Invalidate a Hellenistic Origin of the Hebrew Books of the Bible?: “Here’s one proposal taken from the conclusion of chapter 1 in John J. Collins, The Invention of Judaism: Torah and…” Sep 7, 08:03
Neil Godfrey on Defending Russell Gmirkin’s Hellenistic Dating of the Old Testament – Part 6: “A starting point — check out the citations in the articles, too: Amzallag, Nissim. “The Identity of the Emissary of…” Sep 7, 01:20
Neil Godfrey on Do the Dead Sea Scrolls Invalidate a Hellenistic Origin of the Hebrew Books of the Bible?: “The notion of multiple sources going back to the biblical kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and others going back to…” Sep 7, 00:57
Neil Godfrey on That Second Question Frank Zindler Wanted to Ask Bart Ehrman: “Has he submitted his evidence to any relevant journal for publication yet? Or do we have to pay to eventually…” Sep 7, 00:45

Search Results for: rulers this age

McGrath Reviews Carrier: Part 2, Ascension of Isaiah

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A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 14: Simon/Paul and the Law of Moses (continued)

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A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 13: Simon/Paul and the Law of Moses

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Judea, an Ideal State of the Greek Philosophers?

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What Is a Parable?

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The God and Dying Messiah Debate Preceded Christianity

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Room for Two Gods in the Book of Daniel

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The Evolution of the Son of Man, the Human & Divine Messiah

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A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 11: A Different Perspective on the Corinthian Controversy (continued)

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The Myth of Judean Exile 70 CE

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Zionist Plans for Mass Transfer of Arabs: Alive But Discreet

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God’s Apocalyptic Bluff

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A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 10: A Different Perspective on the Corinthian Controversy

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A Simonian Origin for Christianity, Part 9: The Source of Simon/Paul’s Gospel (conclusion)

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