Thursday, April 15, 2010

Aramaic sources of Mark's Gospel By Maurice Casey

Aramaic sources of Mark's Gospel By Maurice Casey

Does the Gospel of Mark reflect Aramaic sources of genuine material, going back to Jesus himself?

stephanie louise fisher summed it up best when she wrote Here 'no, texts are not authentic because they might have an aramaic background. Not even casey says so.'

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Allegations of body-snatching

The first Gospel was written by somebody who knew that Christians had been battered for decades by allegations of snatching the body of the risen Jesus.

Yet he had the honesty not to mention any guard at the tomb, and to explain that people knew the tomb could be easily accessed if they only had some big strong men (perhaps fishermen?) who could roll away the stone.

You have to admire the honesty of somebody charged with stealing a million dollars and who writes that it was just lying around for anybody to take....

Thursday, April 01, 2010

A Bible Reading for Good Friday

Paul puts some perspective on the killing of Jesus.

Basically, it seems Jesus got what he deserved, at least in Paul's mind.

Romans 13

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.

For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.