The Use of Biblical Scribes
According to Porter, “The scribal hypothesis is a very attractive one to explain a number of the issues regarding Pauline authorship, but it cannot be used uncritically because of the lack of proof and the lack of means for verifying (pp. 153-154).”...The Historicity of Jesus
It would be difficult to address the topic of a historical Jesus without first providing a very brief synopsis of the history of scholarship often called the quests, which are the quests to identify the real Jesus of history. Darrell Bock explains that the first quest...A Basic Understanding the Gospels
With regards to my current level of knowledge of the Gospels, I would not say that I am highly confident in my understanding. Dr. Rusty Small mentioned in this week’s video that Paul receives much more attention than the Gospels especially in Protestantism. I...Narrative Criticism
A literary-theological reading of Scripture, which is often referred to as narrative criticism, focuses primarily on the text. Although possibly surprising to the modern layperson, for several centuries, biblical scholars have not focused on the text as much as the...Pseudepigraphy
The accusation that a significant portion of ancient Christian writings consist of forgeries has led to a longstanding debate among modern scholars. David Brakke insists that a minimum of ten of the New Testament books are forgeries because they are writings with...Messianic Expectations of Ancient Jews
It is not uncommon to hear modern psychologists refer to a diagnosis called the messiah complex disorder. The ancient historian, Josephus, documented several individuals who would possibly fit the modern malady where selflessness is manifested in extreme narcissism...Jews and Hellenism in Scripture
The ultimate result of the conquests of Alexander the Great went far beyond the expansion of geographical boundaries and invaded the core of culture and society through the process of Hellenization. Leonard Greenspoon succinctly defines Hellenism as “the spread...Jewish Religious Thought
After reading the primary sources pertaining to the first-century Jewish groups, I agree with Derek Dodson and Katherine Smith’s assertion that it is misleading to suggest that first-century Judaism promoted a legalistic perspective of religion. It appears that...Biblical Household Codes
The instructions related to slaves, women, and children in the New Testament might be characterized by the concept of mutual submission in Christ. The authors of the New Testament were certainly products of their time, while simultaneously promoting a strong...
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