What can be historically deduced regarding the life and power of David and of his son Solomon? Is there any indication that they were the mighty Kings portrayed in the Bible, ruling over vast areas of the coastal eastern Mediterranean? Or were they perhaps more akin to regional tribal kings and warlords of the Judean hills? Any academic citations would be immensely welcome.
The Ebionites seem to cause of endless fascination within the world of modern religious debate. For instance, certain Muslims see them as essentially proto-Islamic in their Christology, whilst certain Jewish writers portray them as the last group who maintained the true message of Jesus in the face of supposed Pauline 'corruption'.
Academics are, understandably, hesitant to treat the 'Ebionites' as a unified sect, but rather as a general umbrella term for various Jewish-Christian groups used by early Church Fathers such as Irenaeus, Hippolytus and Origen. Yet, despite the awkwardness of the term, is it known how the Ebionites interpreted the Crucifixion of Jesus? Is it known what its significance was to them? Any academic citations would be immensely welcome.
Are there pre-Islamic examples that describe Satan in the Garden of Eden without any reference to him taking the form of a serpent or speaking through a serpent?
Specific questions:
-What is the knowledge of good and evil?
-Why is the gaining of the knowledge of good and evil equivalent to becoming 'like God'?
-What is the Tree of Life that imparts immortality?
-Does this imply that man could have been apotheosised?
Any illumination at all would be immensely welcome
How did the Valentinians view the Crucifixion of Jesus, and what was its significance in their theological worldview? Any academic citations would be immensely welcome.
Hello Everyone-I have heard some say that he was the savior of the Bosnian's during the early 1990's, yet others say he and his family were (and are) heavily involved in organized crime and the theft of millions in foreign aid. As I am no expert in modern Balkan history, I was hoping for a little clarification on whether Izetbegović truly was as great a leader as some claim him to have been.
Question: According to academic exegesis of Isaiah 53, does this 'Suffering Servant' (whether suffering Israel or a single individual) genuinely undergo death? Any clarifications would be very welcome.
Specifically with regard to his theology
Is it known when the concept of conscious postmortem punishment became a prominent aspect of apocalyptic Jewish thought? Any academic citations would be very welcome.
Dear Everyone-I often find when I have a sudden anxiety spike that I have a pain or an ache in my chest and under my arms and armpits. If I may ask, can sudden anxiety cause these symptoms, or is there some other explanation?
Does the Quran, in its conception of prophetic doctrine, clearly state that earlier Israelite prophets believed in things such as a clearly defined heaven, hell and a day of judgment?
Does the Quran, in its conception of prophetic doctrine, clearly state that earlier Israelite prophets believed in things such as a clearly defined heaven, hell and a day of judgment?
Does the Quran, in its conception of prophetic doctrine, clearly state that earlier Israelite prophets believed in things such as a clearly defined heaven, hell and a day of judgment?
Can it be said that the disciples being 'in' Jesus and the Father, and the Father and Jesus coming to them, are to be seen as indicating true divine indwelling in the context of John's theology? As in, rather than being purely a moral union of purpose shared by the disciples, Jesus and God the Father, this concept is designed to depict a true spiritual indwelling of the transcendent God and his Word in human beings? Any academic citations would be very welcome.
It is often said by certain Muslim speakers that 1 John 4:1 and 1 Corinthians 14:32 illustrate that human figures may be referred to as 'spirits'. Is this reading accurate grammatically and contextually, or are these texts displaying that humans may be inspired by spiritual forces. Any academic citations would be very welcome.
This chapter has drawn much interest over the past few years. Are there any recommended essays on the topic from respected biblical scholars on the identity and role of these 'sons of God'?
Dear Everyone-I am a longtime reader of writers such as M.R James, E.F Benson and Arthur Machen. In particular I love their use of rural or abandoned Churches and Monastic buildings as settings in which to develop deeply unsettling stories involving ghostly or devilish counterparts to misplaced human curiosity. Additionally their terrifying stories stories are filled with biblical turns of phrase. Are there any well received films either based upon these stories or following similar themes? Films such as The Borderlands (2013) come to mind, but any suggestions would be very welcome.
To whom is this speech of Jesus in the Quran (foretelling the coming of the 'Ahmad' figure) directed towards? The inner circle of loyal disciples, or the more general audience of Jews?
It has often been said that the word 'Holy' (for Holy Spirit) is missing in the Syriac Sinaiticus of John 14:26. My question is this: Is it known whether this was a deliberate theological choice on the part of the Old Syriac scribal tradition, or more as an accidental omission? Any academic citations would be very welcome.