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I do not see it as an either/or situation. Mark clearly was in possession of early traditions about Jesus that he employed in his Gospel to bring Jesus to life, so to speak. Paul's Jesus was all spiritual, even the crucifixion and death references have a spiritual flavor. Mark's Jesus is a...

I am not aware of any other legitimate evidence that places the writing of Mark’s Gospel after 70 AD. I say ‘legitimate’ because there are arguments made that Mark copied from Josephus, who wrote later. However I see these arguments as mistaken in details and more wishful thinking than real...

Gimme that old time religion

It is a shame that the United States Supreme Court, which ought to be free of political concerns, is so heavily politicized.

\ Either that or a really cool hairdo.

Transcribed voice mail on my 'other' phone, not the one Amazon knows about. Nor is my subscription paid from my bank account. "Hi this is a call from Amazon to inform you that your Amazon prime account will be auto renew for 39.99 from your bank account so enjoy using Amazon prime services or...

I haz license now. Kin I drive?

That was hundreds of years after the time period we were discussing. In any case, it was not the theology itself that Constantine was interested in but that arguments over theology were turning violent. In Alexandria in particular, things had gotten bad enough that there was concern that grain...

Now I understand what you are referring to. The Gospel of John has John the Baptist deny that he is Elijah. Each of the Gospels deal with the Elijah issue differently. As I have discussed above, Mark identifies John the Baptist with Elijah only by implication, not explicitly. Matthew likes to...

Can you explain the clear references to Elijah if Elijah is not meant? Here is a discussion of Elijah as precursor of the Messiah. "The climax of Elijah's activity is his appearance shortly before the Messianic time." Also consider the angel talking to Zechariah about John the Baptist, yet to...

It does not make John the Baptist Elijah. It only has John saying that somebody super important is coming. Prior to this, there is nothing that connects any kind of baptism with either Elijah or the Messiah. Mark begins his Gospel with scriptural quotes. Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the...

Interesting…:) Sorry, but I do not see the spiritual meaning you refer to. Nor do I see any reason to change my stance on a near term eschaton being implied in the Synoptic Gospels. *** Mark 9:29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” The word γένος...

The term Son of God in reference to the Messiah appears in the popular mind after the Roman occupation. The popular concept of the Messiah in this era was as a military leader who would liberate Israel from Roman occupation and bring in the messianic age of a restored Jewish kingdom. The Messiah...

The Greek word genea can refer to a generation of people, or rarely to a particular race of people but it does not itself carry any connotations of a time period, except as the nominal length of a generation. For example: Numbers 32:13 And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made...

This is where we differ. I do not see the Gospels as actual history but as documents written well after the time frame of the events they portray incorporating invention as suited the purpose of each writer. I see Mark as writing after the destruction of the Temple using this dramatic and...

It is clear that in early Christianity it was expected that Jesus was going to return soon. We can see this in Paul. Paul speaks a number of times as if he will witness the return of Jesus in his lifetime. Some examples: 1 Corinthians 15 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep...

To get back on the main topic, here is an idea about how the third day idea may have started. In Mark the burial takes place on Friday afternoon and the discovery of the empty tomb Sunday morning. (Since Mark has the crucifixion take place on the first day of Passover, the only way for the next...

Here is a good write up of what Arianism was all about in detail and where it came from. Of special interest to me was the discussion of vocabulary.

Here is a list of examples given in the linked article and my comments on them. I am sorry to report that I do not find the arguments to be very good. 1. Semitisms of Borrowing: Some words, like amen, abba, alleluia, messiah, and sabbath, are directly carried over or transliterated from a...