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Idea shorts
1. Idea shorts
Here is a place for short ideas that will be expanded at some point in the future. As such, the content will change often.
Multiple links to the same page means that there are multiple sub-topics covered as short ideas on those pages.
2. Matthew 5:40 I am what reality/being
Matthew 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. [kjv]
και τω θελοντι σοι κριθηναι και τον χιτωνα σου λαβειν αφες αυτω και το ιματιον [gnt]
The Greek word for
"garment" can be a play on words with "
I am what reality/being?". This can be done with slower pronunciation of the words and appropriate hand movements while speaking.
The ancient Greek word
"ἱμάτιον" ≈ "garment" and is from
"εἷμᾰ" ≈ "garment".
"εἶμαι" ≈ "I am".
"τι" ≈ "what".
"ὄν" ≈ "reality, being".
3. Red flags for detecting deceptions in subtle sermons
Here is a start at some
red flags in sermons that require further investigation. There is a saying, "
where there is smoke there is fire". There is not always a fire, but when smoke is observed, better check if there is a fire. Some sermons will be blowing smoke. Better check those out.
Why is a theologian quoted? Why not use a verse from the Bible that expresses the same view?
Why is a modern definition provided for a word in a Bible verse? The definition needed is the one when the original word was used, not the definition that probably has changed over time.
A skipped verse is a red flag. Check the skipped verses. Better yet, at least check the verses before and after the verse used. This is called checking the context of the verse.
A selection of verses throughout the Bible is a red flag for cherry-picking. That is, selecting verses out of context to weave the desired view that may not be in line with the Bible.
Some pastors will tell a quick joke or make some humorous comment so that the audience laughs. This allows the pastor to move on without covering part of the verse that may not be in line with the pastor's political or social views.
4. Matthew: First last and last first
Matthew 19: Rich young man and "
eunuchs", etc. This is the
last verse of Matthew 19
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
πολλοι δε εσονται πρωτοι εσχατοι και εσχατοι πρωτοι [gnt]
Matthew 20: Parable of the vineyard workers.
20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
ουτως εσονται οι εσχατοι πρωτοι και οι πρωτοι εσχατοι [gnt]
In Matthew, Jesus talks
twice of the
"first" being
"last" and the
"last" being
"first". Who are the
"many"? More importantly, who are
not the
"many". Perhaps the last verse of Matthew 19 goes better with the parable that starts in the next verse and continues to Matthew 20:16.
5. Matthew 26:28 Blood shed for many
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. [kjv]
τουτο γαρ εστιν το αιμα μου της διαθηκης το περι πολλων εκχυννομενον εις αφεσιν αμαρτιων [gnt]
The Greek word translated as
"remission" is that of
"let go" and is often translated as
"forgive". The Greek word translated as
"for" is that of the ancient Greek word
"περί" ≈ "around" as in the first part of the English word
"perimiter".
The
"blood" is "
shed" or "
let out"
"for" or
"around" "many".
Who are the "many"? The word could have been omitted and then inferred as everyone.
Who are not the "many"? That is, the "few" to whom this does not apply.
Greek word order:
... the around many shed into/against letting go of sins.
6. Some logic rules taught in philosophy
There are nine logic rules that are often introduced at the beginning of philosophy classes. These rules will be added here as appropriate.
The general format of many philosophy courses, books, etc. is as follows.
Introduce some logic rules at the beginning, as if logic is going to be used the rest of the course.
Introduce some reality science with multiple interpretations that connect reality to multiple models of logical systems. Call this an example of multiple truths.
Continue using opinion logic for the rest of the course. Periodically remind the students that there are multiple truths and, once in a while, use a word that represents a logical operation (which may or may not apply to what is being claimed).
... more to be added ...
7. Modus ponens
8. John 15:18-19 Hate of the world
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. [kjv]
ει ο κοσμος υμας μισει γινωσκετε οτι εμε πρωτον υμων μεμισηκεν [gnt]
15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [kjv]
ει εκ του κοσμου ητε ο κοσμος αν το ιδιον εφιλει οτι δε εκ του κοσμου ουκ εστε αλλ εγω εξελεξαμην υμας εκ του κοσμου δια τουτο μισει υμας ο κοσμος [gnt]
Can the
"universe" "hate"? Saying:
Statistics means nothing to a rock.
The ancient Greek word
"μισέω" ≈ "hate" and is from
"μῖσος" ≈ "hatred, hate" and appears to be pre-Greek in origin. It is the source of the first part of the English word
"misogynist" as someone who
"hates" "
women". Jesus says that the world will
"hate" his followers because the world
"hates" Jesus (and God). The church is the bride of Christ who is the groom. Does this make the
"world" a "
misogynist"?
If the
"(people in the) world" loves it's own, is it possible to "
out-love" the
"world" without becoming of the
"world"?
9. Modus tollens
10. Modus tollens
The propositional logic rule "
P implies Q" is equivalent to "
not Q implies not P". This rule is called
modus tollens. One can apply
modus tollens to what Jesus says in John. Let
P and
Q be the following.
P is "you follow Jesus".
Q is "the world hates you".
The following then follow. Assume that the
opposite of
"hate" is
"love".
Define "world". Define "world" as the word is used by Jesus.
Modus ponens: If P: "you follow Jesus", then Q: "the world hates you".
Modus tollens: If not Q: "the world does not hate you" then not P: "you do not follow Jesus".
Modus tollens: If not Q: "the world loves you" then not P: "you do not follow Jesus".
11. Modus tollens
Consider the result:
Modus tollens: If "the world loves you" then "you do not follow Jesus".
Discuss:
Should you try to get the world to love (not hate) you?
Should you try to love the world?
Should you try to out-love the world? What does that mean?
If a statement is ambiguous (i.e., can be taken in more than one way), then is it a good idea to use such a statement as, for example, a vision statement?
12. John Backus
After 20 years of ubiquitous Fortran use in the industry, in the 1970's, computer scientist John Backus (Extended and Backus-Naur form grammars are named for him) wrote an important article that laid out the reasons why Fortran was not a good way to develop programs.
Backus proposed that functional programming, using his somewhat cryptic language
FP (Functional Programming) would be much
better as a way to develop correct, modular, and compositional software programs.
At the time, most programmers
ignored or
laughed at him and went happily along continuing to develop and write Fortran programs.
13. Times have changed
Now, almost 50 years later, many of those functional programming language concepts have crept into every popular programming system - JavaScript, Python, Lua, C#, and even Java.
According to Kuhn, this is about the time for one generation to leave and the next take over with the needed changes.
Who was this John Backus anyway, who had the audacity to propose replacing Fortran with a better way to program?
[JavaScript]
14. Change
The point of all this is that even when you can see the future (Alan Kay would say it is better to invent the future, perhaps along the lines what Steve Jobs accomplished) do not expect that needed change to happen very fast or even be recognized within your lifetime.
So what does it matter what Charles
Darwin said about the Theory of
Evolution. The scientists can decide to ignore him any time they choose to do so.
15. Clement: Phoenix bird
English: Let us observe the remarkable sign that is seen in the regions of the east, that is, in the vicinity of Arabia. (Holmes 2007, p. 79,81)
Greek: Ἴδωμεν τὸ παράδοξον σημεῖον τὸ γινόμενον ἐν τοῖς ἀνατολικοῖς τόποις, τουτέστιν τοῖς περὶ τὴν Ἀραβίαν. [25.1]
The mythical Phoenix bird symbolizes immortality, resurrection and renewal. Early Church Father Clement mentions this bird.
16. Clement: Phoenix bird
English: There is a bird that is named the phoenix. This bird, the only one of its species, lives for five hundred years. When the time of its dissolution and death arrives, it makes for itself a coffin-like nest of frankincense and myrrh and the other spices, into which, its time being completed, it enters and dies. (Holmes 2007, p. 79,81)
Greek: ὄρνεον γάρ ἐστιν, ὃ προσονομάζεται φοῖνιξ· τοῦτο μονογενὲς ὑπάρχον ζῇ ἔτη πεντακόσια, γενόμενόν τε ἤδη πρὸς ἀπόλυσιν τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν αὐτό, σηκὸν ἑαυτῷ ποιεῖ ἐκ λιβάνου καὶ σμύρνης καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν ἀρωμάτων, εἰς ὃν πληρωθέντος τοῦ χρόνου εἰσέρχεται καὶ τελευτᾷ. [25.2]
17. Clement: Phoenix bird
English: But as the flesh decays, a certain worm is born, which is nourished by the juices of the dead bird and eventually grows wings. Then, when it has grown strong, it takes up that coffin-like nest containing the bones of its parent, and carrying them away, it makes its way from the country of Arabia to Egypt, to the city called Heliopolis. (Holmes 2007, p. 79,81)
Greek: σηπομένης δὲ τῆς σαρκὸς σκώληξ τις γεννᾶται, ὃς ἐκ τῆς ἰκμάδος τοῦ τετελευτηκότος ζώου ἀνατρεφόμενος πτεροφυεῖ· εἶτα γενναῖος γενόμενος αἴρει τὸν σηκὸν ἐκεῖνον, ὅπου τὰ ὀστᾶ τοῦ προγεγονότος ἐστίν, καὶ ταῦτα βαστάζων διανύει ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀραβικῆς χώρας ἕως τῆς Αἰγύπτου εἰς τὴν λεγομένην Ἡλιούπολιν, [25.3]
18. Clement: Phoenix bird
English: There, in broad daylight, in the sight of all, it flies to the alter of the sun and deposits them there, and then it sets out on its return. (Holmes 2007, p. 79,81)
Greek: καὶ ἡμέρας, βλεπόντων πάντων, ἐπιπτὰς ἐπί τὸν τοῦ ἡλίου βωμὸν τίθησιν αὐτὰ καὶ οὕτως εἰς τοὐπίσω ἀφορμᾷ. [25.4]
English: The priests then examine the public records of the times, and they find that it has come at the end of the five hundredth year. (Holmes 2007, p. 79,81)
Greek: οἱ οὖν ἱερεῖς ἐπισκέπτονται τὰς ἀναγραφὰς τῶν χρόνων καὶ εὑρίσκουσιν αὐτὸν πεντακοσιοστοῦ ἔτους πεπληρωμένου ἐληλυθέναι. [25.5]
19. Book: Philosophical Foundations for a Christian world view
Philosophical Foundations for a Christian world view
J. P. Moreland, William Lane Craig
Publisher : IVP Academic; Second Edition, Revised, Second (October 10, 2017)
Language : English
Hardcover : 708 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-0830851874
[opinion vs. belief]
20. Days and meals
What is the relationship of each of the following? It is not often clear.
Sabbath (regular)
Day of Preparation (day before Passover day)
Passover day (and week, depending on context)
Feast of unleavened bread (first day after passover)
High Sabbath day (tradition, many different ones)
Passover lamb (eaten on the passover evening, ready to eat at sunset)
Meal of preparation (?) with leavened bread.
Passover meal
First meal with unleavened bread
The leaven was the lump of dough (mediator) that caused the rest of the bread to corrupt. (one bad apple).
Calendar issues (?). Dead Sea Scrolls and calendar of the Essenes.
21. Days and meals
What does "
not on a feast day" mean? Which "
feast"? Which "
day"?
Does Josephus provided any insight?
22. Omicron and omega
Omicron and
omega are two Greek letters. Today they have the same sound.
| ο |
Ο |
omicron |
o‑micro |
o‑little |
| ω |
Ω |
omega |
o‑mega |
o‑big |
At the time of Christ, these were similar but distinct sounds.
Sometime in the 2nd to 3rd century, the sounds merged and the names
omicron and
omega were introduced as "
o little" and "
o big".
The distinctions in sound, with these and other letters, made it relatively easy for someone who grew up hearing and speaking Greek as a child to learn to read and write in Greek. Hear it, write it. See it, pronounce it.
23. The fallacy of general revelation
A "
revelation", such is the Book of Revelation, is a "
revealing" of something, usually some form of "
truth". The Bible is known as a "
special revelation".
The idea of "
general revelation" is that truths can be revealed by God's creation. This idea sounds interesting and innocent. However, the same ideas can be twisted and used by false teachers to allow ideas in science, psychology, etc., to supersede or take precedence over what the Bible says. Here is one deception process.
Define and justify "special revelation".
Define and justify "general revelation". This then supports the idea of the "creator".
Do an equivocation (semantic slide) and bring what is called "general revelation" and have it supersede "special revelation".
24. Baptism embarrassment
On page 140, the following is stated under
Embarrassment.
... one such event in the life of Jesus was his baptism by John. John summoned Israel to repent and be baptized. In what sense did Jesus need to repent? According to Christian theology, Jesus was sinless, so he did not need to repent. Hence, the story of Jesus baptism is potentially awkward or embarrassing. Surely the early church would not invent a story like this if it had no basis in historical fact. Therefore, even the most server critics concede that the story of Jesus' baptism is authentic.
The questionable logic is that since this story was included, and potentially embarrassing, it proves the authentic nature of what was written. This questionable logic assumes the modern English meaning of
repent. Greek had two words that are translated as
repent.
Think about what is being said (used by John, including the baptism of Jesus)
Change what you are doing which is used when in context and action is meant.
IIf the author understood the underlying Greek meanings and implications, the
embarrassment issue disappears. Why then is this not pointed out?
25. Inferred attitude and observed behavior
The ancient Greek word
"μετάνοια" ≈ "afterthought" where the
"repent" comes from the
GNT (Greek New Testament) (from the Latin).
This word has to do with
unobserved attitude and
not observed behavior.
The ancient Greek word
"μεταμέλεια" ≈ "change of purpose, regret, repentance" which is the modern idea of the Latin-based
"repent".
This word has to do with
observed behavior and
not inferred attitude.
Both words are used by Jesus in Matthew. If Jesus had intended to use modern meaning from Latin-based word
"repent", there was a Greek word to express that idea and it was
not used.
26. Philippians 4:13 All things
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. [kjv]
παντα ισχυω εν τω ενδυναμουντι με [gnt]
omnia possum … confortat [v]
Can one really do "
all things"? There are many changes from the Greek.
The word "Christ" is inferred from the pronoun "Him" as «τω».
The Greek "in" is changed to "through".
The Greek "am made strong", is changed to "can do".
The Greek "all" with implied "these things" (i.e., in the previous verse) is changed to "all things".
The Greek "potential to do" is changed to "strengtheneth".
Greek paraphrase:
In all these things (just mentioned), I am given potential (to accomplish) in Him.
It appears that Paul is saying that he is made "
stronger" or "
better" in "
everything" through Jesus Christ. This would include the adversity of neglect (from Phillipi) whereby he needed to be self-sufficient to continue the work of Christ.
27. John 15:5 Favorite Bible verse
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. [kjv]
εγω ειμι η αμπελος υμεις τα κληματα ο μενων εν εμοι καγω εν αυτω ουτος φερει καρπον πολυν οτι χωρις εμου ου δυνασθε ποιειν ουδεν [gnt]
This verse goes with the
next verse.
Some people cite John 15:5 as their favorite Bible verse. How nice. The "
abide" or "
remain" appears, in context, to be related to the Meno Paradox.
English changes the double negative for emphasis to a single negative. The "
can do" is, in the Greek, "
potentially do". The next verse completes the thought.
28. John 15:6 Paired verses
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [kjv]
εαν μη τις μενη εν εμοι εβληθη εξω ως το κλημα και εξηρανθη και συναγουσιν αυτα και εις το πυρ βαλλουσιν και καιεται [gnt]
This verse goes with the
previous verse.
The first
"cast" is a play on words with "
into oblivion/forgetfulness". Many churches who might use the previous verse would not want to talk about the
"fire" and being "
burned". The ancient Greek word
"καίω" ≈ "light, kindle, burn".
29. John 15:5-6 Conditional logic
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. [kjv]
15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [kjv]
The pattern used here by John is that of conditional logic.
30. Matthew 12:38-39 Miracle sign
Jesus mentions Jonah in Matthew.
Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. [kjv]
τοτε απεκριθησαν αυτω τινες των γραμματεων και φαρισαιων λεγοντες διδασκαλε θελομεν απο σου σημειον ιδειν [gnt]
12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: [kjv]
ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις γενεα πονηρα και μοιχαλις σημειον επιζητει και σημειον ου δοθησεται αυτη ει μη το σημειον ιωνα του προφητου [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"σημεῖον" ≈ "mark, sign, omen, flag" and is related to the English word
"semantic" as in "
meaning" and the first part of the English word
"semaphore". This word is often translated as
"miracle".
31. Matthew 12:40 Three days and three nights
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [kjv]
ωσπερ γαρ ην ιωνας εν τη κοιλια του κητους τρεις ημερας και τρεις νυκτας ουτως εσται ο υιος του ανθρωπου εν τη καρδια της γης τρεις ημερας και τρεις νυκτας [gnt]
How does one get (a
minimum of) both
"three" "days" and "three" "nights" from late
Friday afternoon right before sundown until Sunday morning?
Did Jesus mean
exactly or a
minimum of these
"days" and
"nights"?
The ancient Greek word
"τρεῖς" ≈ "three".
Remember: The stone was moved to let the women and disciples in, not let the resurrected Jesus get out.
[Mexican magician]
32. Oaths
Jesus says "three" "days" "and" (conjunction) "three" "nights".
From a logical computer science problem solving perspective, one must first identify the problem. Then one must decide whether it is important or not important.
The "three" "days" "and" "three" "nights" is interesting as an academic issue but not important in what Jesus actually wants one to do.
33. Argument
Some, however, have bought into the following argument.
The Bible is a logical system, not a reality system (as Jesus says).
The church has established traditions such as the Friday crucifixion.
The church has made essentially man-made political decisions, for better or worse, as to which books should be in the canon.
Once these decisions are made, faithful are recruited to take oaths and to defend those decisions at all costs.
Any attack on the church tradition is an attack on the Bible and an attack on Jesus.
Thus, various groups spend a lot of time and effort, and sometimes various types of warfare, with human causalities. to crusade for those traditions.
As such, these are diversions from the true intent of Christ.
34. Approach
The basic approach to this type of warfare is the following.
Twist the English, Latin and Greek to fit what is desired.
Cherry-pick verses, usually out of context, to support that view.
Ignore any verses or context that does not fit the conclusion that is desired.
Present selective evidence to support the view that one has already decided is true, even if the conclusion does not really matter.
35. Other approaches
By contrast, a constraint-based model approach finds reasonable constraints, using the original language, logical reasoning, etc., in an attempt to reduce the solution set to reasonable possibilities. That is, it is one way to find an "
inference to the best explanation". This more general idea is sometimes called "
abductive reasoning".
36. Assumptions
Some assumptions, many of which do not fit reality, can be used. Here are some.
Jesus spoke Aramaic but knew a few Greek words. Thus, the Greek is a translation and does not reflect the Aramaic used by Jesus. Note that Greek had been spoken in Judea for some 350 years, as it was throughout the Middle East.
The Greek used was Koine Greek, so any meaning can be changed as desired and attributed to Koine Greek. Koine and Classical or Attic Greek are essentially the same language. One is more formal and one is less formal. The same is true of every language. Each can understand the other.
The idiom excuse, sometimes called the idiot excuse, can be used whenever what one desires does not fit the original language - in this case Greek with an Aramaic influence. This is much like Egyptian influencing the Coptic language (and vice versa).
37. More assumptions
Some assumptions, many of which do not fit reality, can be used. Here are some.
Take what Luke reported from people's memories some twenty years later, or what Peter remembered and told Mark, to take precedence over what Matthew wrote down from what Jesus said. Matthew appears not to have actually understood what Jesus meant. Matthew just wrote down what he heard Jesus say. When Jesus used play on words, Matthew did his best to write down the Greek that best fit that play on words.
38. Considerations
Why would Jesus restate something in Greek if it could be later misinterpreted?
There are various ways to try to get "
three"
"days" "
and" "
three"
"nights".
Assume that any part of a "day" or "night" to represent the entire "day" and "night".
Confuse the starting point of zero or one in counting. A very common problem in programming, for programmers at any level, is the "off by one" issue.
One can attribute what Jesus says to Aramaic idioms and assume that they apply to the time of Jesus, even given the Greek influence that had been present for some 350 years. One can use, for example, Aramaic from Persia 400 years earlier (Esther), Hebrew from David's time some 1000 years earlier, etc. In many cases, the "off by one" issue is present as it is often not clear (e.g., with a margin of two or greater).
39. Time
Did Jesus actually know when he was speaking what constituted a
"day" or a
"night"?
40. John 11:9 Knowing the time
Did Jesus spend three days and three nights in the grave? How many hours are there in a day?
John 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. [kjv]
απεκριθη ιησους ουχι δωδεκα εισιν ωραι εισιν της ημερας εαν τις περιπατη εν τη ημερα ου προσκοπτει οτι το φως του κοσμου τουτου βλεπει [gnt]
Many younger people today have trouble reading analog clocks. Would you want to use a second hand clock?
Does anyone really know what time it is? (song by Robert Lamm, made popular by the music group Chicago)
What is the next line?
Does anyone really care?
Now for a timely remark: Would you wear a second hand watch?
If not, just wait a minute.
41. Matthew 27:62
Matthew 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, [kjv]
τη δε επαυριον ητις εστιν μετα την παρασκευην συνηχθησαν οι αρχιερεις και οι φαρισαιοι προς πιλατον [gnt]
The religious establishment came to Pilate the "
day after" the day of "
preparation" to make a request to Pilate.
If the crucifixion were Thursday, this would be the traditional "High Sabbath" (Friday) and not the regular "Sabbath" (Saturday).
If the crucifixion were Friday , this would be the traditional "High Sabbath" (Saturday) and the regular "Sabbath" (Saturday).
Was it
appropriate for the religious establishment to seek a meeting with Pilate on the regular "
Sabbath"?
42. Matthew 27:63
Matthew 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. [kjv]
λεγοντες κυριε εμνησθημεν οτι εκεινος ο πλανος ειπεν ετι ζων μετα τρεις ημερας εγειρομαι [gnt]
The religious establishment does not have a good record for being accurate in how they reason and what they say.
They say, "
after" "
three" "
days". Where is the starting point?
Some will try to use these verses to support the church tradition of a Friday crucifixion.
[Abraham seeing the day of Jesus, no prophet from Galilee, etc.]
43. Matthew 27:64
Matthew 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. [kjv]
κελευσον ουν ασφαλισθηναι τον ταφον εως της τριτης ημερας μηποτε ελθοντες οι μαθηται κλεψωσιν αυτον και ειπωσιν τω λαω ηγερθη απο των νεκρων και εσται η εσχατη πλανη χειρων της πρωτης [gnt]
The religious elite requests that the "
tomb" be made "
safe" until the "
third" "
day". Some who try to defend the church tradition of a Friday crucifixion will use this verse that the "
tomb" need only be "
secure" "
until" the "
third" "
day".
This assumes that the starting point is the crucifixion and they are asking for a guard until before the end of the "
three" "
days"
and "
nights".
44. Matthew 27:64
Matthew 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. [kjv]
κελευσον ουν ασφαλισθηναι τον ταφον εως της τριτης ημερας μηποτε ελθοντες οι μαθηται κλεψωσιν αυτον και ειπωσιν τω λαω ηγερθη απο των νεκρων και εσται η εσχατη πλανη χειρων της πρωτης [gnt]
Which makes more sense for a request to Pilate?
We would like a guard for the tomb from yesterday until the third day from yesterday. Does this request even make sense? That is what is often assumed without thinking through the logic of what one is saying.
We would like a guard for the tomb from now until the third day from now. This would go beyond the "three" "days" and "three" "nights".
45. Matthew 27:65
Matthew 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. [kjv]
εφη αυτοις ο πιλατος εχετε κουστωδιαν υπαγετε ασφαλισασθε ως οιδατε [gnt]
… custodiam … custodite … [v]
The Greek for "
watch" is the word from Latin that is today the English word
"custodian".
The "
go your way" is the same word used for Jesus telling Satan to "
get out of here".
How did Matthew know about this conversation of the religious elite with Pilate?
46. Passover week sequence as a build
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
+
-
▶
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47. Martin Luther and James: The straw epistle
Martin Luther (German priest, theologian, author and hymn-writer) called the Epistle of James a "
straw" epistle because it had
"keine evangelische Art" ≈ "no evangelical character". To avoid advocating that epistles such as "
James" be removed from the canon, Luther created a two tiers of epistles. James was in the lower tier. The disputed books of Luther included the following: Hebrews, James, Jude, Revelation.
The book of
James is filled with logical errors, uses word meanings that did not develop until later, uses words attributed to Plutarch some 50 or more years later, uses scientific terms in inappropriate ways as if to impress others with his knowledge, and, most importantly, advocates positions that are the opposite of the teachings of Christ. Why would the church approve such a letter?
The point James makes about faith and works is an example of the converse error. Yet, many will ignore this obvious error and learn the "
talking points" to try to reconcile what Paul says (which follows from what Jesus says) and what James says (which is a good example of the converse error).
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Details are left as a future topic.
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48. James
49. Hammer and nail
Advice: You should use the
best tool for the job.
Saying:
If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. (attributed to various sources)
If all you know is a spreadsheet, every problem is solved with a spreadsheet.
[databases]
50. Hammer and nail
The hammer and nail idea can be applied to Biblical analysis and meaning.
If all you know is the KJV (King James Version) of the Bible (in modern English), then every Biblical problem gets solved with the KJV (in modern English).
51. Hammer and nail
If all you know is the Latinized Greek of the Bible (as some pastors claim to know), then every Biblical problem gets solved with the Latinized Greek of the Bible.
If all you know is opinion (hand-waving) truth, not logical truth nor reality truth, then every Biblical problem gets solved with opinion (hand-waving) truth.
If what you know best is the Hebrew Old Testament, then every New Testament problem gets solved with the Hebrew Old Testament.
52. Speaking
Monte-Python Hearing Aid sketch: Eyewitness testimony (with John Cleese): Blind man says he
saw it with his
ear.
Some young people say:
I said ... in a text message.
Can one "read" by "listening" (e.g., audio book)?
Can a blind person "read" (e.g., by Braille)?
There are many Greek words for "
seeing".
The ancient Greek word
"βλέπω" ≈ "see, observe" (a pre-Greek word). That is
"seeing" or
"observing" but not (yet) "
knowing" or "
understanding".
[theory]
... more to be added ...
53. Mediators
In causal theory, a mediator is something that appears as the cause from A to effect B.
... more to be added ...
54. Ladder of causation
The
ladder of
causation has three rungs.
3. top: counterfactual (think - why) [imagining, counter-factual reasoning]
2. middle: intervention (do - how)
1. bottom: association (see - what) [observe]
In developing models and languages for causation, Judea Pearl makes the point (reference needed) that in order to solve a problem (as computer scientists do), one needs both a model of the (general or specific) problem being solved and a language in which to talk about the problem and model. If there is no suitable language, one needs to create such a language. This is what Judea does in addressing issues in causation.
[mediators]
55. Human computer adaptations
User interfaces: At one time, computers were expensive (and limited in power) and people were (relatively) inexpensive.
1. Adapt the person to the computer. Example: command line interface. A command line interface can be easily automated (e.g., batch languages).
As time went on, computers were inexpensive (and had a lot more power) and people were (relatively) much more expensive. Visuals can be deceptive, not easily automated.
2. Adapt the computer to the person. Example: GUI (Graphical User Interface)
Bible analogy: Which is better? Explain.
1. Should people adapt to the Bible translation? That is, always translate "into" as "into" and let the person adapt to what "into" means in, say, Greek.
2. Should the Bible translation adapt to the person? That is, translators should decide on what they think the meaning of a word is and use an English word that means what they think the text means.
[useful psychology, Matthew 18 and into, John 1 and towards]
56. 2025-05-04
57. Archived ideas
Ideas that appeared at one time in "
Idea Shorts" appear here.
58. End of page
