Daily Archives: December 1, 2008

Jews and Zoroastrians

Source: H. Graetz, History of the Jews, volume II (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1893) 524-526. “On certain festivals, when the Magi worshiped light in their temple as the visible representation of God (Ahura-Mazda), the Jews were not suffered … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Rabbinics, Religion, Zoroastrianism | 3 Comments

Why Did Christianity Grow?

Source: Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume II: Ante-Nicene Christianity (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1910) 22. “But the fact that the Christians were a closely united body, fresh, vigorous, hopeful, and daily increasing, while the heathen were … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Comps, Galatians, Greco-Roman, Religion, School | 6 Comments

IV Ezra, Fishbane

Source: Michael E. Stone, “Apocalyptic Literature,” Jewish Writings of the Second Temple Period, ed. Michael E. Stone (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984) 428-429. “Classic in this connection is 4 Ezra 14 claiming Mosaic authority, indeed authority beyond that of Moses, for the … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Comps, Fishbane, II Esdras, Papers, Religion, School | 2 Comments

Ancient Higher Critic?

Source: H. Graetz, History of the Jews, volume II (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1893) 502. “In Daniel, the Christian dogmatists had discovered a Sibylline book, with vague insinuations and mystic numbers, which they contended contained prophecies related to … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Books, Comps, Daniel, Life, Religion, School | 2 Comments

Glorifying Death?

Source: John Sellars, Stoicism (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006) 145-146. “What [Nicolas Malabranche (1638-1715)] found most objectionable in Seneca’s Stoicism was the arrogance of the claim that it is possible to be happy in this life. For Malabranche the … Continue reading

Posted in Comps, Daily Quiet Time, Greco-Roman, Ignatius, II Maccabees, IV Maccabees, Life, Mel Gibson, Movies, School | Comments Off on Glorifying Death?

Son of Man in I Enoch

Source: Michael E. Stone, “Apocalyptic Literature,” Jewish Writings of the Second Temple Period, ed. Michael E. Stone (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984) 399. “One might add that an ancient date is implied by the use of ‘Son of Man’, an old Jewish … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Comps, Mark, Religion, School | 3 Comments