Musings on biblical studies, politics, religion, ethics, human nature, tidbits from science
I am continuing here with my responses to criticisms raised on the earlywritings forum against the proposal that the first biblical texts were composed as late as around 270 years before Christ. (I had looked forward to continuing the discussion on that forum until I lost confidence in the sub-forum’s promise to be an “academic … Continue reading “Questioning the Hellenistic Date for the Hebrew Bible: Elephantine ‘Jews’”
By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion. Thus opens Psalm 137. Does it reflect a realistic situation of captives who had been deported from the kingdom of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar in the seventh century BCE? The conventional narrative for the beginnings of modern Judaism is that … Continue reading “Were Jews in Babylonian Exile Pining for Home in “Israel-Judah” and a Reformed Religion?”
Continuing…. (3) The Passage’s Reference to God’s Punishment of Herod Peter Kirby asserts that contradictory viewpoints in Josephus are no reason to suspect the involvement of an alien hand somewhere in the transmission of our manuscripts. He quotes my (somewhat facile) paraphrase of Zindler’s point: Neil Godfrey notes another one of the reasons that Zindler … Continue reading “Where does John the Baptist fit in History? — The Evidence of Josephus, Pt 4”
I was not ready for essays compiled by David Newheiser in Varieties of Atheism when I undertook to read them. My initial response to some of the quasi-theological views seeking alignment with certain atheistic thought was impatience. I could see no relevance to the direction I had set for my life. By the time I … Continue reading “Varieties of Atheism # 7 — The Drama of Atheism”
Critique of the Gospel of John by Bruno Bauer —o0o— 336 § 15. The second Sabbath violation. 9:1 – 10:21. ——– 1) The situation. 9:1-2. Nowhere has the fourth evangelist produced a greater impression of the vividness of his narrative on the apologists than in the account of the healing of a man born blind … Continue reading “§ 15. The second Sabbath violation”
Critique of the Gospel of John by Bruno Bauer —o0o— 265 § 12. Echo of the dispute about the first Sabbath violation. Ch 7. ————— 1) The time of the Lord. 7:1-9. The last time Jesus withdrew from Judea to Galilee, the evangelist, contrary to his custom, omitted to state the reason for this withdrawal. … Continue reading “§ 12. Echo of the dispute about the first Sabbath violation”
90 6. Paul the Apologist If Paul, as portrayed in the Acts of the Apostles, had to share the fame of miraculous power with Peter, and even had the honor of being worthy of direct revelations from heaven and wonderful visions, which he could only make use of after it was legitimized by the same … Continue reading “6. Paul the Apologist”
Critique of the Gospel of John by Bruno Bauer —o0o— 153 §8. Jesus as a prophet in a foreign land. 4:43-54 ———- 1) The motive of the journey abroad. 4:43-45 It was already mentioned in 4:1-3 that Jesus left Judea because of the hostile attention of the Pharisees and went to Galilee: but … Continue reading “§ 8. Jesus as a prophet in a foreign land”
2. How Miracles Help When the author had transformed the religious theologian into a sorcerer, he was also compelled to boast of the man who (1 Cor. 15:30) was hourly in danger and whose sufferings and “incessant” afflictions gave him the right to boast of himself that (2 Cor. 4:10) he was carrying the dying … Continue reading “2. How Miracles Help”
Critique of the Gospel History of the Synoptics by Bruno Bauer Volume 3 —o0o— 291 § 90. The Crucifixion, Death and Burial of Jesus. 1. The procession to Calvary Mark 15, 21, 22 Jesus is led out of the city to Golgotha (i.e. as Mark translates the name of this place, the place of … Continue reading “§ 90. The Crucifixion, Death and Burial of Jesus”
Critique of the Gospel History of the Synoptics by Bruno Bauer Volume 3 —o0o— Critique of the Gospel History of the Synoptics and John by Bruno Bauer. Third and final volume. Brauuschweig: Friedrich Otto. 1842 1 Eleventh section. The express revelation of Jesus as the Messiah. ————— § 67. The Confession of Peter. At last, … Continue reading “§ 67. The Confession of Peter”
Critique of the Gospel History of the Synoptics by Bruno Bauer Volume 2 —o0o— 255 § 46. Jesus’ discourse on the Baptist. Matth. 11, 7 -19. In the form in which Luke communicates it (C. 7, 24-28.), the speech of Jesus has a very lively course, a quickened rhythm, and the movement of the whole … Continue reading “§ 46. Jesus’ discourse on the Baptist”
Critique of the Gospel History of the Synoptics by Bruno Bauer Volume 2 —o0o— 206 § 44. The Instructional Speech. Matth. 10, 5-42. If Jesus neither called nor ever sent the Twelve, then he did not give them a special speech at their departure. We could therefore be very brief if asked whether Jesus actually … Continue reading “§ 44. The Instructional Speech”
Critique of the Gospel History of the Synoptics by Bruno Bauer Volume 1 —o0o— 299 Section Four. The Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:3 – 7:27 ——– § 19. The Introduction Matthew 5:3-16. 1. The Beatitudes. Matthew 5:3-15. Luke 6:20-26. Some keywords in the Beatitudes, with which Jesus, according to Matthew’s account, begins his sermon, … Continue reading “§ 19. The Introduction”