Loading...If you haven’t taken note of this yet, please do! It’s gonna be a really interesting topic. Here’s the original post.
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I am very pleased to announce a fund-raiser for the Bart Ehrman blog on MONDAY May 6, a special event in which I interview fellow New Testament scholar and social commentator Dr. James Tabor on a topic sure to be of interest. James, as you may know, is a retired professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. He is a public figure who has a large following on his own blog and in his many public appearances. Among his numerous popular is Why Waco, which deals directly with the 1993 disaster at Waco just over 31 years ago. James was consulted by the FBI, testified before a joint Committee in the US Congress on Waco, and was able to interpret the apocalyptic views endorsed by the Branch Davidians under David Koresh.
The topic of our conversation will be connected to a broader issue that lay behind the disaster. As you know, modern “prophets” in the Christian tradition (not just Koresh) use ancient texts to support their prognostications of what is soon to happen. They are almost always completely wrong. Why is that?
The reason may seem obvious: They have no actual way of knowing, even if they say their views are divinely inspired from Scripture. But there is actually a lot more to it than that. There is something about “biblical prophecy” that almost inevitably creates a consistent stream of wrong predictions. What would that be?
That will be the topic of our discussion: Why Does Prophecy Fail?
James and I have both been interested in this topic for (alas) decades. If you want to hear about it, join us at the fundraiser!
All of the funds we raise will go assist Doctors Without Borders in their efforts to deal with the horrible crisis occurring right now in Sudan. This ongoing disaster is not much reported in the news, since the terrible events of both Ukraine and the Middle East are occupying attention. But it is a truly catastrophic situation and we on the blog would like to provide some humanitarian assistance. One place to read more about the situation in this recent article in the Guardian: For a full year, the bodies have piled up in Sudan – and still the world looks away.
The fundraiser will occur on Monday, May 6, 7:30 pm EDT. We are asking for a donation of $20 to attend. The donation is fully tax deductible. If you can give more PLEASE do so. Donations up to $200,000 are happily accepted. If you can’t afford the $20, let us know and we’ll cut you a deal or let you in for free.
To make your donation, please go to https://www.ehrmanblog.org, scroll to the bottom, and click on one of the two options (Stripe or Paypal). To indicate that this is a Sudan fundraiser donation, please end it in $.01, as in, $20.01. (If you forget, don’t worry, just send an email to [email protected]). You will receive the Zoom Link for the event in 24 – 48 hours.
I hope you can join us for an extraordinarily enlightening discussion.
Hi Bart
Can we know who are the two deciples in john 21?
Does the writer of john use often more abstract indentifications of charecters (not including the apostle that jesus loved).
I think there are a few pretty good reasons for thinking the beloved apostle was fictional
1. He is never named (obviously)
2. He is mentioned in spots that are importent
3. He is not mentioned in the other gospels
Could he be some church father?
I’m not sure which two you’re referring to.
If by “church father” you mean a Christian author we know of by name from the second century or later, I’d say no, since John was written before that.
Hi Bart
is it possible that the beloved deciple is one of those apostles that the writer cannot name
in john 21 he writes “Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.” does it say that he dosent know all of the names of the apostles? Does it say he was not fictional then?
Oh, those two. It might simply be a story-telling technique: you mention some by name and then say, there were a couple of others too.
The webinars have always been fun, so I think I’m joining? Just that I already believe that like Dr. Ehrman says, these prophesies are predictions in their own time.
Prophesies are plans if you have a God-Emperor backing you.
Meaning — historians believe Semetic-speaking Sargon of Akkad was the first Emperor in the world. Deified posthumously, by gen three his grandson Emperor declares himself a Living God. Circa 23rd C BCE predates any guess for the Patriarchal Age, but right on time for the Larsa dynasty entering Aramaea.
“God” is a term of address in the El Amarna letters. Like Yithro, “His Excellency.”
“Mr. President.” “Hello, Governor.” It’s singular, though there’s many presidents and governors. It’s God only if the Bible author is in allegiance, Nebuchadnezzer is so not God.
Isaiah is or becomes a role name in deutero-Isaiah and Trito-Isaiah.
The prophesy/plan of Isaiah is to restore the Semetic-speaking theocratic empire. (It’s why Isaiah wears the loincloth, to shame Jerusalem into rejecting Egypt for Sargon.)
First, unite Semetic diaspora (far-flung pastoralists) — that’s why (not-Jewish) is to rejoice. The maternal line is the uniter of the Semetic crossroads — Jerusalem.
Semetic Emperor Nabonidus is likely the God of deutero-Isaiah. Isaiah is last redacted by Persian-aligned Exiles who knew enough to call Cyrus a Messiah (king) and not God.
Hi, Bart,
1) Could you explain Luke 17:20-21 ?
[20] Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed,
= but didn’t Jesus talk of signs of the coming kingdom?
[21] nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
= what does he mean that the kingdom “is in your midst” ?
Are these verses what the historical Jesus said?
2) What does Luke 20:47 mean by Jesus saying they will be “punished most severely”?
[47] They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.
Thanks
I suspect this passage does not go back to Jesus, because it shifts Jesus’ apocalyptic emphasis of the coming kingdom to say that the Kingdom is already present here in his ministry. “In your midst” means that in some sense the kingdom is already among you — in the things Jesus himself is doing and saying. 2. I think it’s just a way of saying that since they should know better these scribes are worst sinners than others even though they pretend to be righteous. We don’t know what Jesus actually meant, though “degrees of punishment” are often used t otalk about “severity of sins” (on one level or another)
Just attended your talk with Dr. Tabor, it was fabulous…thank you! I wanted to ask a question but was nervous LOL. Couldn’t it be that one reason “prophesies” fail is because those doing the predicting aren’t truly trying to interpret scripture but more so trying to get attention … and those who believe “interpretations of biblical prophesies,” don’t they just want to feel special? I have a relative who is 84 y.o. who firmly believes Jesus will come in his lifetime. I want to say, but don’t have the heart, “What are the odds? Of the billions of people who have lived since Jesus and also thought that he would come in their lifetime, but didn’t, how could you truly be convinced you live in God’s chosen time?” I think people want to feel special. Those who set the time for fulfillment of apocolyptic prophesies in their own lifetime, like Whisenant, also maybe want to feel special? Is there anyone who has made an end of the world prediction that would occur long after they’re dead? Probably not, bc then they wouldn’t be around to receive the credit for being right!
I’d say that’s very often true today. One of the striking ironies is that the most passionate predictors that they know when the end is coming and that it is veyr soon are ones who have made TONS of money from their books since it didn’t come soon…. And they invested it. 🙂
I’d say that’s very often true today. One of the striking ironies is that the most passionate predictors that they know when the end is coming and that it is veyr soon are ones who have made TONS of money from their books since it didn’t come soon…. And they invested it. 🙂
Is it possible to pay to view this discussion after the event?
Yes, we’ll be making it available as a recording soon.
I had a Board of Education meeting to attend Monday night and was unable to watch the fundraiser. Was it recorded? If so, is there a link to watch it?
Art
Yes, we’ll be releasing it for those who want to have access.
This question has nothing to do with the topic… but… What are they talking about in the bible when they talk about unicorns. It’s mentioned 8 times. Do they mean the Greek legend horse with one horn, or a rhino? I am one of your biggest fans and I don’t think there is anyone who I trust more than your opinion on matters of the Bible.
I don’t believe modern translations use the word unicorn in these passages; it’s in the King James, and almost certainly because the King James translators didn’t know what the Hebrew noun was referring to. It still isn’t clear what the word exactly means, but it doesn’t mean what we think of when we think of Unicorn.