Questions related to the four canonical gospels-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Questions may refer to narratives unique to a gospel or shared between gospels.
2
votes
1answer
66 views
What does 'Salt of the Earth' mean?
"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost
its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and
trampled underfoot as worthless."
- Matthew 5:13 (NLT)
...
2
votes
2answers
43 views
Why in John's account does Jesus reply to Pilate's inquiry with a question?
The initial exchange between Pilate and Jesus in Mark 15:2 is quite terse:
And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”
Matthew 27:11 and Luke ...
8
votes
3answers
168 views
What is the difference in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God?
Some assert the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God refer to the same thing while others say they are synonyms. Which is accurate?
For example: Luke 17:21 uses Kingdom of God while Matthew 11:11 ...
6
votes
1answer
167 views
Does Jesus's change in attitude about drinking wine on the cross relate to his statement ‘It is finished’?
Does Jesus's change in attitude about drinking wine on the cross relate to his statement ‘It is finished’?
According to some historians, it was a merciful Jewish practice to give to those led to ...
4
votes
1answer
109 views
Is Matthew 13:18-23 specific to Matthew's congregation?
Is there any textual evidence to suggest that the explanations to Jesus' parables such as the explanation given to the disciples regarding the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:18-23 were not Jesus' ...
0
votes
1answer
360 views
Are the Rabbinic rules of hand washing before eating bread related to their ruling that the scriptures were unclean?
In trying to understand why the Pharisees insisted on washing their hands before eating bread (Mark 7:5). I have come across some interesting subjects but have not yet come to a conclusive reason for ...
3
votes
4answers
165 views
What is the connection between manna and living on the Word of God?
In Deuteronomy 8, Moses gives the theology of manna:
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know ...
5
votes
2answers
160 views
Is oral history like the telephone game?
Bart Ehrman argues that the gospel texts are not historically reliable beginning with this analogy:
It is [oral circulation] that causes special problems for historians who want to know what ...
10
votes
2answers
175 views
How Is the Date of Composition of the Gospels Estimated?
So considering that the oldest copies of the gospels are dated to around 400 AD (I'm thinking of the Codex Sinaiticus), how do scholars go about estimating the date of composition of the gospels? I ...
4
votes
2answers
740 views
Was Jesus anointed once or twice on the feet with perfume?
Disclaimer: I've already asked this question on Christianity SE and got a great answer. I'm asking it here to get an expert response (and because it is one of my favourite stories). If the community ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Did Jesus heal everyone? [closed]
Looking at the Biblical accounts of Jesus, did He heal everyone with whom He came into contact?
I'm not aware of any explicit mention of Him not healing anyone, but I wonder if there are any hints?
...
5
votes
2answers
254 views
Was John the Baptist confused or mistaken about the nature of Jesus' ministry?
John preached a message of imminent judgment:
Luke 3:7-9
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear ...
3
votes
2answers
54 views
Could the usage of the word “fish” be considered evidence for a later and more figurative writing of the gospels?
Per certain church teachings, the early church used the Icthus symbol as a recognization tool for other believers. The gospels as written also feature a large amount of fish imagery.
Does this ...
4
votes
1answer
140 views
Reconciling the accounts of the calling of Simon Peter
How do you reconcile the two accounts of Jesus calling Peter? (Matt 4:18-19 and John 1:35-42)
In the Matthew passage, Peter and Andrew are together fishing. In the John passage, Andrew was with John ...
5
votes
1answer
294 views
How did the gospels get their names?
Unlike the epistles, which have the author's name at the beginning, the gospels do not say who wrote them. How did the names Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John get attached to them, and how certain can we ...
7
votes
4answers
400 views
Did Jesus have the legal authority to cleanse the temple?
The narrative of Jesus' cleansing of the temple is present in all four gospels: Mark 11:15-17, Matthew 21:12-13, Luke 19:45-46, John 2:13-17. When He cleanses the temple, there does not seem to be any ...
0
votes
1answer
200 views
We might find Judas in Heaven? [closed]
You all know how Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. The thing is he hanged himself before Jesus died on the cross so he went to (supposedly) hell. But after Jesus died on the cross he went to ...
6
votes
4answers
179 views
In what way was Jesus' prayer heard (Hebrews 5:7)?
Hebrews 5:7 (ESV):
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of ...
11
votes
4answers
4k views
Translation of “Hosanna” (ὡσαννά)
What does "Hosanna" (ὡσαννά) mean (as it appears in the Gospels)? What is its etymology/derivation from Hebrew/Aramaic?
