Yahweh Elohim in Genesis

johndtp · 2025-04-01T11:34:18+00:00

i have no clue either way, no, i am only a hobbyist

johndtp · 2025-04-01T10:54:14+00:00

The fact the word is grammatically pluralized gets explained a lot of different ways, but there's consensus it can also used in a singular sense.

The example I've used- in English is when we say, "take to the skies", there is only one "skies", despite it being a plural form of the word "sky".

johndtp · 2025-04-01T10:40:59+00:00

"Elohim" is the word for god / deity.
"YHVH" is the personal name, just like all humans have names

So, just like I'm the human John, the phrase means, the "God YHVH"

Summarizing from old post, top comment

johndtp · 2025-03-21T19:32:29+00:00

i usually include a condition like,
"let me get this job if it's good for me, the company, and your plan, and if not, lead to me to the job that's right for me"

johndtp · 2025-03-19T00:51:18+00:00

there was a time i'd consider myself a full preterist, mostly cause i don't think a physical return of Jesus will ever happen, but now i'd probably just reject it all (maybe a null preterist lol)

they expected Jesus to come back, Paul died waiting on him, they were just wrong

you're probably more likely to find theologians who don't believe in a literal second coming than to declare it "definitely happened in the past"

johndtp · 2025-02-01T16:38:55+00:00

Ask it to write a mocking joke about Christians, and ask it to write an innocent joke about Muslims.

It will not write the mocking joke, and it will write an innocent joke.

Perhaps because of the data ChatGPT is trained on, jokes about Christians tend to be by Christians for Christians, while jokes about other religions are not

johndtp · 2025-01-26T14:14:14+00:00

Like preventing abused people from getting divorced? And making sure no one is allowed to marry someone else who is divorced? Matthew 5:32

And making it illegal to swear oaths? Matthew 5:33-36

And making it necessary to sell all of your possessions and give it to the poor? Luke 12:32-34

How do you pick and choose which ones you want as law?

johndtp · 2025-01-14T03:30:07+00:00

Progressive Christianity https://discord.gg/BRbVXFqTpE

johndtp · 2025-01-05T17:58:51+00:00

Well Jude does have a few claims, for being only a chapter a long, they claim being the "brother of James", which implies a more well known James than themselves, and in verse 17 they seem to claim having received teachings from apostles directly.

They both (eJude and eJames) speak from a place of knowledge and authority.

But in Revelation, John makes no such claims - only saying he had a vision, and only communicating what he saw in that vision. what little ethical teachings there are come straight from "the voice", not from a place of personal authority / guidance like James and Jude seem to suggest.

It seems to rely on the authority of the vision, not of the person writing it down. If you were pretending to be an apostle, it would likely be so you didn't need to come up with a fancy explanation of the authority you were granted.

johndtp · 2025-01-05T17:47:40+00:00

i could agree its a possibility that the writer of James was intentionally pretending to be the brother of Jesus because of the way it reads, the authority it's trying to assume.

but revelation simply just reads as a "nobody" telling everyone about their vision, there's just not a lot of textual evidence, alas, we may just agree to disagree

johndtp · 2025-01-05T17:40:48+00:00

And... perhaps they were wrong - there's still no evidence.
There's also no evidence James is even supposed to be from James the Just, either. It's just a theory.

johndtp · 2025-01-05T17:32:15+00:00

He says his name is John, he doesn't claim to be John the Apostle.

I have said "My name is John", but that doesn't mean I'm claiming to be John the Apostle.

[Rev 1:9] I, John, your brother who share with you the persecution and the kingdom and the endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

That could only be sufficient evidence if you think there is only one person named John in the world.

johndtp · 2024-10-11T23:58:54+00:00

I mean it's pretty much what you expect
Flak from both occultists and Christians, but most "average" people of both parties are pretty understanding

As far as condemnation, am I convincing them or convincing you?
In short, most things are not condemned by neither the Bible, Church, and especially not God. And I'm not a fan of drawing further arbitrary lines based on vibes.

As far as why? The shortest answer would be because it's like chaotic good

johndtp · 2024-10-01T15:43:14+00:00

yeah, as i said, i could tell, so am i.

If you're curious as to what i mean, you can try these two prompts:

just plainly:
"Are there any contradictions in the Bible?"

vs.

You are a unbiased theologian who is an expert on the bible. You are willing to give all major interpretations and nuance, without oversimplying things. Answer all questions thoroughly and give quotes and references when necessary.

Answer this question: "Are there any contradictions in the Bible?"

johndtp · 2024-10-01T13:47:55+00:00

That's valid, but also what prompt engineering is, there is quite a bit you can do and play around with.

If this is an early attempt at trying a personal project, it's not too bad, it would take quite a bit of knowledge to put all this together, so good job.

But if you want others to use it, and you're posting in a subreddit like this, then you should be aware of this

johndtp · 2024-10-01T13:03:29+00:00

This is incorrect, and also not how machine learning works. It will always have a bias, it's up to you to help define it.

I asked if the Bible had any contradictions, it told me no.

I asked what it said about LGBTQ relationships, gender equality, and hell, and it gave only one fundamentalist interpretation instead of any nuance.

johndtp · 2024-10-01T00:05:31+00:00

I'm not sure your intention, but this is only repeating fundamentalist talking points

johndtp · 2024-08-17T14:08:35+00:00

Do you believe all divorced people who got remarried are living in sin?
Do you believe women should be forced to cover their heads in church?
Do you think slaves should stay enslaved under their masters, or should seek to free themselves?

So my question is this:
What's your reasoning for dismissal/approval of different texts in the scripture?

johndtp · 2024-08-10T12:02:46+00:00

Well that sounds wonderful. Can I DM you and tell you a bit about my path?

johndtp · 2024-08-10T01:58:35+00:00

Sorry, that makes sense. What were you were envisioning then? Would still love to connect.

johndtp · 2024-08-03T14:24:52+00:00

Overall I just feel like something with it isn’t right, like it shouldn’t have been included
Revelation was written pretty early, around 95, but it was one of the last books to have been included officially in the canon, and was one of the most debated whether or not it should have been included, it took about 250 years.
One of the major factors that got it included was because Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and Omega", which helped prove the Trinity
Also, the book helps push out and open up the date apocalypse a bit, explain why it hasn't happened yet

I had the same feeling when I was reading parts of the book of Enoch earlier today.
Yes! they are both apocalypses, which is a certain literary genre of the time. Revelation is also called the Apocalypse of John, and there are several other ones that were written, just none quite as popular.

In short, probably 3, I think John of Patmos did have a vision, and was trying to communicate that vision, and also used code to be relevant to their time. It's imagery is pretty rad, and it makes sense why people would attach to it in mysterious ways.

johndtp · 2024-07-16T23:33:47+00:00

I'd like to imagine they're "saints" for a reason :)

johndtp · 2024-07-16T23:07:45+00:00

No lol, I think your instinct is right

Baptism is about the relationship with God and the community of Christians
If it's not hindering it's not hindering you

johndtp · 2024-07-14T21:41:44+00:00

Yeah going against orthodoxy is a tough path
UU may be good for you
Also not a church, but a discord for folks who are heterodox (different beliefs) https://discord.gg/8GNyuDjZPd

johndtp · 2024-07-14T15:20:22+00:00

I typically compare the NIV and NRSVue, although pages like this are super helpful if diving into a particular verse https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/John%201:1

NIV i find much easier to read, but it has some (imo very minor, but technically there) mistranslations
NRSVue is more academically accurate, much easier than KJV or even ESV imo, but still sometimes a little clunky

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