Posts by Doug Mason

7

The origins of personified spirits and demons

by Doug Mason in

for the jews, personified spirit beings, good and evil, along with demons, originated during the 3rd and 2nd centuries bce.. https://jwstudies.com/crucible__powers_above.pdf .

this file will be available very temporarily.. doug.

Doug Mason

For the Jews, personified spirit beings, good and evil, along with demons, originated during the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE.

https://jwstudies.com/Crucible__Powers_above.pdf

This file will be available very temporarily.

Doug

The source of angels and demons

by Doug Mason in

the creation of angels and demons:.

https://jwstudies.com/crucible__powers_above.pdf .

this file will be available very temporarily.. doug.

Doug Mason

Hi,

The creation of Angels and Demons:

https://jwstudies.com/Crucible__Powers_above.pdf

This file will be available very temporarily.

Doug

1

Second Temple Period: The Book of Daniel

by Doug Mason in

i scanned this chapter as part of my investigation into the second temple period.

https://jwstudies.com/crucible__daniel.pdf .

i will make this file available very temporarily.. doug.

Doug Mason

I scanned this Chapter as part of my investigation into the Second Temple Period

https://jwstudies.com/Crucible__Daniel.pdf

I will make this file available very temporarily.

Doug

4

Philo and Paul

by Doug Mason in

in my research into the second temple period, i have collected material on philo from two books.

i am making these scans temporarily available at:.

https://jwstudies.com/this_world__chap_10__philo.pdf.

Doug Mason

Hi Crazyguy,

It is common knowledge that several NT documents attributed to Paul were indeed written by others. It is therefore possible to identify trends and alternate doctrinal positions held within Judaism.

Whether Paul existed or is a composite figure does not concern me. Regardless of that question, the genuine writings do represent a particular position, and that is what does interest me.

I doubt that Philo wrote or contributed to any NT writings. However, I would say that Philo's influence on the NT came in the form of rebuttals of Philo in some of Paul's statements.

Doug

4

Philo and Paul

by Doug Mason in

in my research into the second temple period, i have collected material on philo from two books.

i am making these scans temporarily available at:.

https://jwstudies.com/this_world__chap_10__philo.pdf.

Doug Mason

In my research into the Second Temple Period, I have collected material on Philo from two books. I am making these scans temporarily available at:

https://jwstudies.com/This_world__chap_10__Philo.pdf

https://jwstudies.com/Reading_Romans_in_Context__Philo_.pdf

These pages illuminate Paul's environment and they provide the contemporary context for some of his reasoning.

I was particularly taken with Pages 125-126 of the book, "Reading Romans in Context" (PDF file pages 20-21), which show how Paul misused Scripture in order to arrive at his predetermined conclusion.

I have not marked up these files. The material is not difficult to follow.

Doug

4

Enoch the Prophet

by Doug Mason in

in my ongoing research into second temple judaism, i scanned and marked up a chapter dealing with the book of enoch.. i have made this marked up chapter very temporarily available at:.

https://jwstudies.com/crucible__chapter_4__enoch_marked_up.pdf .

doug.

Much of the religious beliefs (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) owe their origins to the revolutions of this period commencing with the 3rd century BCE. Most of the OT's ideas were formed some 300 years earlier, by the 6th century BCE.

These new ideas, such as apocalyptic, eschatology, messianism, personified evil spirits (Satan,Mastema, Beliar, demons, etc.), war in heaven, final judgement, and so on, find their origins in this latter ("intertestamental") period, not in the OT. The period created sects such as the Pharisees, Essenes, etc., etc.

One of the canonised books that was influenced by this environment is the Book of Daniel. It was written in the 2nd century BCE, often drawing on imagery from books such as Enoch, Jubilees.

Doug

4

Enoch the Prophet

by Doug Mason in

in my ongoing research into second temple judaism, i scanned and marked up a chapter dealing with the book of enoch.. i have made this marked up chapter very temporarily available at:.

https://jwstudies.com/crucible__chapter_4__enoch_marked_up.pdf .

doug.

Doug Mason

In my ongoing research into Second Temple Judaism, I scanned and marked up a chapter dealing with the Book of Enoch.

I have made this marked up chapter very temporarily available at:

https://jwstudies.com/Crucible__chapter_4__Enoch_MARKED_UP.pdf

Doug

3

Nothing unusual to see here, I think

by Doug Mason in

in my slow but relentless foray into the “second temple period” i have marked up a few pages from one more source.

it does not contain anything that is extraordinary, i think.. http://www.jwstudies.com/reading_romans_in_context__intro__marked_up.pdf .

doug.

Doug Mason

Thanks HB, I will have a look at that author's books.

My position with the Bible is that I do not believe the writings represent a literal documentary. They are not histories in the sense we would understand.

If someone were to investigate, for example, the culture surrounding the 21st century Harry Potter phenomenon would not mean anyone thought the material represented true history. But it would show the culture of a segment of a community.

Likewise with the Judaeo/Christian writings. Studying the Bible shows the culture of some people at some time. It shows how the religious leaders prosecuted their arguments. But it does not mean they wrote a literal documentary.

The 21st century significance of the Bible lies with its adoration by some.

Doug

3

Nothing unusual to see here, I think

by Doug Mason in

in my slow but relentless foray into the “second temple period” i have marked up a few pages from one more source.

it does not contain anything that is extraordinary, i think.. http://www.jwstudies.com/reading_romans_in_context__intro__marked_up.pdf .

doug.

Doug Mason

In my slow but relentless foray into the “Second Temple Period” I have marked up a few pages from one more source. It does not contain anything that is extraordinary, I think.

http://www.jwstudies.com/Reading_Romans_in_Context__intro__MARKED_UP.pdf

Doug

17

If the Bible is truly the word of God then why are their so many different Translations ?

by smiddy3 in

not only are their different translations from different denominations ,like the greek orthodox ,russian orthodox ,roman catholic .various protestant versions and others as well as the nwt of jw`s.. however various denominations print different versions of the bible which fair enough may only be minor differences yet at the same time they are differences to what they previously printed .?.

and some have serious discrepancies .. as if they are trying to get to the true meaning of what god or jesus christ actually said or meant ?.

are they for real ?

Doug Mason

Hi Smiddy,

Yes, it is important to recognise the variant "Bibles". And there are further levels to drill down into.

It just so happens that for my own edification, I have just marked up several pages that I selected from a book that I find handy and enlightening. I will not describe why I feel these passages are relevant, only to say that while its focus is with the earlier Hebrew writings, the book lays down useful guidelines and principles.

I have made these personally selected pages and markup very temporarily available at:

http://www.jwstudies.com/Ancient_NE_thought__selected_pages_MARKED_UP.pdf

I would appreciate any reactions.

Thanks,

Doug