There is a really interesting thing happening in politics right now. Politicians have adopted a lawyer schema where they defend their side at the expense of the truth. And, the people have responded accordingly. For the above example, liberal voters say Vance is avoiding the question, whereas conservative voters say Vance flipped the script questioning … JD Vance: Flip The Script?

Last time I said: Now, the conclusion: Paul notes there were many different factions teaching variations on Jesus, “12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified … The Christ Myth Theory: Did Jesus Exist on Earth or Start Out as a Myth?

One popular idea on the internet is Jesus started out as a vague dying/rising savior myth that was later placed in historical stories (Euhemerized). How do New Testament specialists teaching New Testament at accredited Secular universities respond to this? Against mythicism, Prof Bart Ehrman notes for Paul righteousness came through the cross/resurrection, that if it … Did Jesus Exist or Start Out as a Myth

Masaccio’s fresco (1424-28), in the Brancacci Chapel, Florence, emphasizes the nakedness and shame of the original sinners. Photo: Bridgeman Images (wiki) 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die, 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw … John MacDonald Internet Infidels/Secular Web Religious Studies Essays

Saint Paul (c. 1611) by Peter Paul Rubens (wiki) [Intro] Bart Ehrman’s “New Insights Into The New Testament” Conference (2024 Apostle Paul) [2: Bart’s Preface] Bart Ehrman’s “New Insights Into The New Testament” Conference (2024 Apostle Paul) [3: Benjamin L White] Bart Ehrman’s “New Insights Into The New Testament” Conference (2024 Apostle Paul) [4: Jason Staples] Bart Ehrman’s … Reporting for NINT Apostle Paul (2024) Index

It’s been really fun following along with the conference presenters. The last presenter, Ehrman, gave an overview of Paul and showed how Paul saw himself as the prophesied one at the end of history who would bring the gentiles to the God of the Jews. Paul sees himself as spreading the gospel to the end … [10: Bart Ehrman] Bart Ehrman’s “New Insights Into The New Testament” Conference (2024 Apostle Paul)

James Tabor has a bit of a different take on Paul’s apocalyptic thinking. In Tabor’s reading, Genesis was the dust prototype of death and decay that would later be replaced by a cosmos of spirit (pneuma). Here are a few gems from the presentation: The salvation is cosmic because all the forms of existence are … [9: James Tabor] Bart Ehrman’s “New Insights Into The New Testament” Conference (2024 Apostle Paul)

I’ve been posting about how Trump is framing himself as the God-chosen candidate, that a vote against Trump is a vote against God. Consider this Truth Social post and picture Trump just shared: Some Christians are not fooled:

Paula Fredriksen is one of the top Pauline scholars in the world and she gave a talk about Jewish henotheism, the idea Paul thought the world was saturated with many gods but that Paul thought his Jewish God was the highest. Here are a couple of ideas from the presentation that I thought were particularly … [8: Paula Fredriksen] Bart Ehrman’s “New Insights Into The New Testament” Conference (2024 Apostle Paul)

Prof Jenny Knust had an interesting presentation on sexual language in Paul. For example, she argues it’s unfair to isolate Paul’s condemnation of homosexual acts, because Paul thinks it would be better not to engage in any sexual acts as all – even heterosexual ones. In ancient times, heterosexuality and homosexuality were acts, not general … [7: Jenny Knust] Bart Ehrman’s “New Insights Into The New Testament” Conference (2024 Apostle Paul)