Tag: Jesus

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ChatGPT: God, Yeshua, Creation 

https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

From my first session with ChatGPT   

LJ: What was Jesus’ real name? 

ChatGPT: Jesus’ real name was Yeshua, which is a Hebrew name that means “salvation” or “to rescue.” Yeshua is also sometimes transliterated as “Joshua” in English. 

In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Jesus is referred to by a number of different names and titles, including Jesus of Nazareth, Christ, Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man, and others. These names and titles reflect different aspects of Jesus’ identity and significance in Christian theology and belief. 

It is worth noting that while Yeshua was the name that Jesus would have been called during his lifetime, his name has been translated and transliterated into many different languages over the centuries, and different cultures and traditions may refer to him by different names. 

LJ: Who recorded Yeshua as Jesus? 

ChatGPT: The name “Jesus” comes from the Greek name “Iēsous” (Ιησούς), which was the Greek version of the Hebrew name “Yeshua” (ישוע), also spelled “Yehoshua” or “Joshua” in English. 

The New Testament of the Christian Bible, which includes accounts of the life, teachings, and death of Jesus, was written in Greek, and it refers to Jesus as “Iēsous” throughout the text. As Christianity spread throughout the Greek-speaking world in the centuries after Jesus’ death, the name “Iēsous” became more widely known and used to refer to him. 

Over time, as Christianity spread to other parts of the world and was translated into other languages, the name “Jesus” became the standard English name for the figure known in Greek as “Iēsous” and in Hebrew as “Yeshua.” The name “Jesus” has been used in English-language translations of the Bible and in Christian literature and worship for centuries, and it is the most commonly used name for the figure known as the Son of God in the Christian tradition. 

LJ: What was God’s original Hebrew name?  

ChatGPT: In the Hebrew Bible, God’s name is written using four consonants, which are transliterated as YHWH or YHVH. This name is known as the Tetragrammaton and is often referred to as the “unpronounceable name of God” because its exact pronunciation is uncertain. 

Scholars believe that the original pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton has been lost over time, as the ancient Hebrew language did not include written vowels. In the Jewish tradition, the Tetragrammaton is not pronounced aloud, and when the name appears in the Hebrew Bible, it is often replaced with the word “Adonai,” which means “Lord” in Hebrew. 

In English translations of the Bible, the Tetragrammaton is often translated as “LORD” in all capital letters to distinguish it from other Hebrew words translated as “Lord” or “lord.” 

It’s important to note that in the Jewish tradition, God has many names and titles, and the Tetragrammaton is only one of them. Other names for God in the Hebrew Bible include Elohim, El Shaddai, and Adonai, among others. 

LJ: Is there a connection between Egyptian Gods and the Hebrew God? Are they the same? 

ChatGPT: The relationship between the gods of ancient Egypt and the God of the Hebrew Bible is complex and has been the subject of scholarly debate for many years. While there are some similarities and connections between the two, they are generally understood to be distinct and separate entities. 

The ancient Egyptian religion was polytheistic, meaning that it recognized many different gods and goddesses, each with their own sphere of influence and role in the universe. These gods were often depicted with human or animal-like forms, and they were worshiped in temples and shrines throughout Egypt. 

In contrast, the Hebrew Bible presents a monotheistic view of God, which holds that there is only one God who created the universe and rules over it. This God is often described as invisible and ineffable, and is referred to by many different names and titles throughout the Hebrew Bible, including Yahweh, Adonai, and Elohim. 

Despite these differences, there are some connections between the gods of ancient Egypt and the God of the Hebrew Bible. For example, during the period of Egyptian rule over Israel, some aspects of Egyptian religion may have been incorporated into Israelite worship. Additionally, some scholars have suggested that certain Hebrew Bible stories and motifs may have been influenced by Egyptian mythology. 

Overall, while there are some similarities and connections between the gods of ancient Egypt and the God of the Hebrew Bible, they are generally understood to be distinct and separate entities with different characteristics, roles, and theological frameworks. 

LJ: Where does Gilgamesh fit in with Egyptian Gods and the Hebrew God? 

ChatGPT: Gilgamesh is a legendary king and hero from ancient Mesopotamian mythology, specifically from the Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh. He is not traditionally associated with either the gods of ancient Egypt or the God of the Hebrew Bible, as these are separate religious traditions from different regions and time periods. 

In Mesopotamian mythology, Gilgamesh is a legendary figure who is said to have ruled the city of Uruk in ancient Sumeria. He is often depicted as a demigod with superhuman strength and abilities, and his story is one of adventure, heroic deeds, and personal transformation. 

While there may be some thematic similarities between the story of Gilgamesh and other ancient mythologies, such as the theme of the hero’s journey, the specific characters and events in the Gilgamesh epic are distinct to Mesopotamian mythology and do not have direct connections to the gods of ancient Egypt or the God of the Hebrew Bible. 

LJ: What is the meaning of Hebrew? 

ChatGPT: The word “Hebrew” has a few different meanings, depending on the context. 

First, “Hebrew” can be used as an adjective to describe anything related to the Hebrew language or culture. For example, “Hebrew poetry” refers to poetry written in the Hebrew language, and “Hebrew cuisine” refers to the traditional foods and cooking styles of Hebrew-speaking cultures. 

Second, “Hebrew” can be used as a noun to refer to a person who is a member of the Hebrew-speaking ethnic group, which historically has been centered in the region of Israel and the surrounding areas. In this sense, “Hebrew” is often used interchangeably with the terms “Jewish” or “Israelite.” 

Finally, “Hebrew” can also refer specifically to the ancient language spoken by the Israelites and used to write the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). The Hebrew language is still spoken today, both as a first language by some Jewish communities and as a liturgical language in Jewish religious services. 

LJ: How is Hebrew first used in the Christian Bible? 

ChatGPT: The use of Hebrew in the Christian Bible depends on which part of the Bible is being referred to. The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) is written almost entirely in Hebrew, while the New Testament is written in Greek with a few isolated Hebrew or Aramaic words or phrases. 

In the New Testament, there are a few instances where Hebrew is used, although these are relatively rare. For example, in the Gospel of Matthew, there are several references to the Hebrew scriptures and to Jewish religious practices, such as the use of the term “Rabbi” (meaning “teacher” in Hebrew) to refer to Jesus. 

One of the most famous uses of Hebrew in the New Testament is in the Gospel of John, where the words “I am” are used several times to describe Jesus. In Greek, this phrase is “ego eimi,” but in John 8:58, Jesus uses the Hebrew phrase “ego eimi” to describe himself, which is often translated as “I am he” or “I am who I am.” 

Overall, while Hebrew is not a prominent language in the New Testament, it is used in a few key instances to emphasize the Jewish roots of the Christian faith and to connect Jesus to the religious and cultural traditions of ancient Israel. 

LJ: Which body of water did Abraham’s ancestors cross to get to Israel? 

ChatGPT: According to the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), Abraham’s ancestors crossed the Euphrates River, not a body of water, to get to the land of Canaan, which later became Israel. The Euphrates River flows through modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, and was a significant water source and trade route in ancient times. 

Abraham’s journey is described in the Book of Genesis, where it is said that God called Abraham to leave his homeland in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) and travel to the land of Canaan, which God had promised to give to him and his descendants. Abraham and his family crossed the Euphrates River and eventually settled in the city of Haran, where they lived for several years before continuing on to Canaan. 

LJ: When was the Arabian Peninsula last a part of Egypt and Ethiopia? 

ChatGPT: There is no historical record or evidence to suggest that the Arabian Peninsula was ever a part of Egypt or Ethiopia. While there have been cultural and economic interactions between these regions throughout history, they have always been separate and distinct geographic and political entities. 

Egypt and Ethiopia are both located in northeastern Africa, while the Arabian Peninsula is located in southwestern Asia, separated from Africa by the Red Sea. The region that is now Saudi Arabia was historically home to various indigenous Arab tribes and civilizations, including the Nabateans, the Kingdom of Lihyan, and the Kingdom of Kindah. 

While there were periods of cultural and commercial exchange between these regions, such as the trade routes that connected Arabia to the Red Sea ports of Ethiopia and Egypt, there is no evidence to suggest that any part of the Arabian Peninsula was ever a part of these countries. 

LJ: Was the Queen of Sheba not from Saba? Was Saba not part of Ethiopia? 

ChatGPT: The story of the Queen of Sheba is a legendary tale that appears in a number of ancient texts, including the Hebrew Bible, the Quran, and Ethiopian and Yemeni folklore. While the details of the story vary across these sources, they generally describe the Queen of Sheba as a wealthy and powerful ruler who travels to meet King Solomon of Israel and test his wisdom. 

In some versions of the story, Sheba is identified as a kingdom or region located in Ethiopia, while in others it is identified as a kingdom or region located in southern Arabia (modern-day Yemen). In the Ethiopian tradition, the Queen of Sheba is associated with the ancient kingdom of Aksum, which was located in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea. 

The ancient kingdom of Saba, or Sheba, was indeed located in what is now Yemen, not Ethiopia. While there were cultural and economic ties between the kingdoms of Aksum and Saba, they were separate and distinct political entities. 

It is worth noting that the Queen of Sheba is primarily a legendary figure and there is little historical evidence to confirm her existence or the events described in the various stories about her. As such, the exact details of her story and the locations associated with it remain a subject of debate and interpretation. 

Editor’s note: The Axum empire lasted for 900 years and spanned a good portion of southern Africa and most of the bottom half of what is now known as the Arabian Peninsula} 

LJ: s Aden in Yemen the same as Eden in Genesis? 

ChatGPT: The location of the Garden of Eden mentioned in the Book of Genesis is a subject of much debate and speculation among scholars and religious authorities. While there is no consensus on the exact location of Eden, there is no evidence to suggest that it was located in Aden or anywhere else in Yemen. 

Aden is a port city located in southern Yemen, near the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. It has a long and complex history, having been ruled by various empires and civilizations over the centuries, including the ancient kingdoms of Sheba and Hadhramaut, the Persians, the Ottomans, and the British. 

In the Book of Genesis, the Garden of Eden is described as a lush and fertile paradise, created by God as the home for the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. While the precise location of Eden is not specified in the Bible, it is generally thought to have been located in the region of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), based on the descriptions of the rivers that flowed through it, including the Tigris and Euphrates. 

It is worth noting that the story of Eden is primarily a theological and symbolic narrative, and should not be read as a literal account of historical events or geography. 

LJ: What are the starting and ending points of the Tigris and Euphrates? 

ChatGPT: The Tigris and Euphrates are two major rivers that flow through the Middle East. The Tigris originates in the Taurus Mountains of eastern Turkey and flows southeast through Iraq, before emptying into the Persian Gulf. The Euphrates originates in the Armenian Highlands of eastern Turkey and flows south through Syria and Iraq, before joining the Tigris and emptying into the Persian Gulf. 

The exact starting points of the rivers can be difficult to define, as they are formed by the confluence of several smaller streams and tributaries. The starting point of the Tigris is generally considered to be the junction of the Eastern and Western Tigris Rivers, near the town of Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey. The starting point of the Euphrates is generally considered to be the Murat River, which originates in the Armenian Highlands of eastern Turkey and flows into the Karasu River, which then merges with the Arsanjan River to form the Euphrates. 

The exact ending points of the rivers can also be difficult to define, as they form extensive delta regions as they approach the Persian Gulf. The Tigris and Euphrates merge into a single river channel, known as the Shatt al-Arab, which then flows into the Persian Gulf between Iran and Iraq. 

LJ: How many creation stories are documented in the world? 

ChatGPT: There are numerous creation stories documented in various cultures and traditions around the world. It is impossible to provide an exact count, as many of these stories have been lost over time and new ones continue to be created. Additionally, the definition of what constitutes a “creation story” can vary depending on cultural and religious perspectives. 

LJ: What are the commonalities of known creation stories? 

ChatGPT: While creation stories can vary widely in their details and specific cultural contexts, there are some common themes and motifs that are shared across many traditions. Some of these commonalities include: 

  • Creation from chaos: Many creation stories describe the world as emerging from a state of primordial chaos, darkness, or emptiness. 
  • Divine creation: Creation is often attributed to one or more deities or supernatural forces. These may be anthropomorphic or abstract, and may be portrayed as creating the world through a variety of methods (e.g. speaking it into existence, crafting it out of pre-existing materials, etc.). 
  • Mythical beings: Creation stories often feature a cast of mythical or supernatural beings who play important roles in the creation of the world or in shaping the natural and spiritual landscape. 
  • Symbolism: Creation stories often use rich symbolism to convey deeper truths about the nature of the universe, human existence, and the relationship between humans and the divine. 
  • Ritual: Creation stories are often intimately tied to religious or cultural rituals, which may be performed to commemorate the creation event or to symbolically re-enact it. 

These are just a few examples of common themes found in creation stories around the world. However, it is worth noting that each story is unique and reflects the specific cultural and historical context in which it emerged. 

LJ: Who are the Watchers? 

ChatGPT: In some religious and mythological traditions, the Watchers are a group of angels or divine beings who are tasked with observing and guarding humanity. In the Book of Enoch, an apocryphal text in the Jewish and Christian traditions, the Watchers are fallen angels who are said to have descended to Earth and taken human wives, resulting in the birth of hybrid offspring known as the Nephilim. The Watchers are often associated with themes of forbidden knowledge, the corruption of power, and the consequences of human interaction with the divine realm. The concept of the Watchers has also been referenced in other cultural contexts, including ancient Mesopotamia and the Qumran community associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

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God of the Living

The Question about the Resurrection (Luke 20:27-40)

Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally, the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’

Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now HE is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’ Then some of the scribes answered, ‘Teacher, you have spoken well.’ For they no longer dared to ask him another question.

Luke 20:27-40

I’ve always thought of this passage as a passage on marriage and individual entity-hood in the afterlife. But reading it as one of the passages on resurrection, it’s clear that the marriage relationship isn’t a concern or focus here at all.

God of the Living has been marinating in my spirit this past week. Life and death is a consistent duality theme throughout the Old and New Testements. It’s easy to think of death as the end of everything, but God is not the Creator of dead things. Death is not the goal, purpose or outcome of Creation.

Yet our entire human experience is focused on death. We are born into a dying world. Everything we eat must die to sustain us, even those who only eat plants. Human societies glorify death by giving honor to those who sacrifice their lives to kill others in war, in service, in daily life. We hold on to people, jobs, situations that drain us of our sense of self. Dying slow deaths at the hands of people who enjoy killing us softly.

Simply by maintaining what we’ve been born into, we are tacitly choosing death every day.

The Question about the Resurrection (Matthew 22:23-33)

The same day some Sadducees came to him saying there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question: “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman herself died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.”

Jesus answered them, “You are wrong because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection people neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels of God in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God,  ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead but of the living.” And when the crowds heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.

The term “resurrection” implies a return to life. Humans were given a paradise to cultivate. Through human choices the world became condemned and paradise hidden from us. Since we are made of the earth, self-condemnation was the impact. Yet God so loved His Creation – the world and its hybrid human-encased-spirits – that he provided another opportunity for eternal life. A sacrifice to alleviate our self-destruction. Even as The Sacrificial Lamb was poised on the cliff of death, He said to a fellow condemned man, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Jesus’ body died. Jesus’ body returned to life. What happened to Paraadise today? Indeed, did Jesus’s spirit ever leave Paradise?

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!

Jesus is Life. Those who enter into the truth of Jesus Christ are reborn. They are resurrected beings, returning to life in a world they were previously condemned to death in. Looking at Jesus’ response to the question about resurrection, I’m touching on an understanding of how the Resurrected can no longer die. God only sees his children as alive. His Creation is infused with His Breath. What a powerful reminder to get into your spirit.

No matter the process this world puts you through, your belief in the truth of Jesus, indeed your faith, puts you in the resurrected category in which you can experience benefits of your eternal life in this temporal world.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From on you do know him and have seen him.”  ~ John 14:1-7

The Question about the Resurrection (Luke 12:18-27)

Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children, and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children, and the third likewise; none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”

Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when people rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead but of the living; you are quite wrong.”

Thinking of my neighbor Ms. Cheryl. Written as a prayer and reminder.

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ACAD – Give Grace: Romans 1

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit[a] of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the gentiles for the sake of his name, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel[b] of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened— or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you, as I have among the rest of the gentiles. I am obligated both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish, hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is God’s saving power for everyone who believes,[c] for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith, as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”[d]

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and injustice of those who by their injustice suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. Ever since the creation of the world God’s eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been seen and understood through the things God has made. So they are without excuse, for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Their females exchanged natural intercourse[e] for unnatural, and in the same way also the males, giving up natural intercourse[f] with females, were consumed with their passionate desires for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to an unfit mind and to do things that should not be done. They were filled with every kind of injustice, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, slanderers, God-haters,[g] insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. They know God’s decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die, yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them.

Footnotes
a.1.4 Or Spirit
b.1.9 Gk my spirit in the gospel
c.1.16 Or trusts
d.1.17 Or The one who is righteous through faith will live
e.1.26 Gk use
f.1.27 Gk use
g.1.30 Or God-hated

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ACAD – Give Grace: John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life,[a] and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.[b]

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own,[c] and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,[d] full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.[e] The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who[f] is close to the Father’s heart,[g] who has made him known.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but he confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”[h] And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said,

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why, then, are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah,[i] nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.”[j]

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed[k]). He brought Simon[l] to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas”[m] (which is translated Peter[n]).

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you,[o] you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Footnotes
a.1.4 Or through him. And without him not one thing came into being that has come into being. In him was life
b.1.9 Or He was the true light that enlightens everyone coming into the world
c.1.11 Or to his own home
d.1.14 Or the Father’s only Son
e.1.16 Or grace in place of grace
f.1.18 Other ancient authorities read is the only Son who
g.1.18 Gk bosom
h.1.20 Or the Christ
i.1.25 Or the Christ
j.1.34 Other ancient authorities read the Son of God
k.1.41 Or Christ
l.1.42 Gk him
m.1.42 Aramaic for rock
n.1.42 Greek for rock
o.1.51 Both instances of you in 1.51 are plural in Greek
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Kingdom of Heaven (ACAD: Matthew 20)

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’

When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him.

Matthew 20:1-34 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2020:1-34&version=NRSV

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Kingdom of Heaven (ACAD: Matthew 25)

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:1-46 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2025:1-46&version=NRSV

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Kingdom of Heaven (ACAD: Matthew 23)

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.’ How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Matthew 23:1-13,15-39 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2023:1-13,15-39&version=NRSV

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Kingdom of Heaven (ACAD: Matthew 19)

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he cured them there.

Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?” He said to them, “It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.”

His disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.” Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Matthew 19:1-30 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2019:1-30&version=NRSV

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Kingdom of Heaven (ACAD: Matthew 18)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!

“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.

“Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his {subjects}. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Matthew 18:1-10,12-35 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2018:1-10,12-35&version=NRSV