#245 - Bible Scholar Responds to Ammon Hillman: Was Jesus Christ a Trafficker? | Dan McClellan
Jun 24, 2024
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Biblical scholar Dan McClellan discusses Torah origins, Greek influence, Bible translation challenges, Jesus's crucifixion, pagan influences in Christianity, and misconceptions about the Bible and Christianity. Topics include Moses historicity, Christ meaning, Jesus in public park, and South America experiences.
McClellan emphasizes the complexity of biblical translation evolution, showcasing linguistic variations over time.
Understanding biases in biblical interpretation and distinguishing historical context from present beliefs are crucial for accurate comprehension.
The misconception of univocality in the Bible obstructs recognition of contradictions within the text, hindering a deeper understanding of its complexities.
Pagan influences on Christian celebrations, like Easter and Christmas, spark controversy regarding the incorporation of pre-existing traditions into religious holidays.
The Greco-Roman world's philosophical ideas, rather than pagan mythologies, had a substantial impact on shaping early Christian beliefs and practices.
Deep dives
Ancient Near Eastern Studies and Biblical Interpretation
Dan McClellan shares his educational background focused on ancient Near Eastern studies and biblical studies, highlighting his expertise in biblical Hebrew and classical Greek. His research delves into textual criticism of the Septuagint, the conceptualization of deity in the Hebrew Bible, and divine agency, shedding light on ancient beliefs and interpretations.
Navigating Religion and Academia
McClellan discusses his transition to social media, particularly TikTok, to engage in discussions about religion and the Bible. By positioning himself as an unbiased commentator, aiming to provide data-driven insights over personal dogmas, he aims to offer clarity amidst diverse perspectives and discussions on these complex topics.
Classicists and Biblical Scholars Overlap
The distinction between classicists and biblical scholars is highlighted, revealing how classical scholars mainly focus on Greek and Latin literature, while biblical scholars delve into religious texts like the Bible. The influence of classical literature on biblical narratives is acknowledged, showcasing the interdisciplinary nature of these academic fields.
Septuagint Translation and Interpretation
The discussion around the Septuagint's translation of biblical texts like Jeremiah and Genesis is explored, emphasizing the differences in translations over time. McClellan addresses the complexity of language evolution and translation nuances, supporting the understanding that biblical interpretations are deeply rooted in historical contexts and linguistic variations.
Language Evolution and Biblical Interpretation
The evolution of language over time and its impact on biblical interpretation is discussed, highlighting how translations like the King James Version may lack accuracy due to language changes. Understanding biases in interpretation and differentiating historical context from present beliefs are key elements in comprehending religious texts and their intended meanings.
The Significance of Bible Contradictions and Misconceptions
The misconception of univocality in the Bible, where all passages are seen as speaking with one voice, leads to the belief that there are no contradictions within the Bible itself. The reality is that the Bible is filled with contradictions, both between different parts of the text and within individual books. This misconception can hinder a deeper understanding of the diversity and complexities of the Bible.
Easter and Christmas Origins
The discussion revolves around the potential pagan influences on Christian celebrations like Easter and Christmas. It highlights the controversy surrounding claims of pre-existing pagan traditions being incorporated into Christian holidays, such as the dates associated with Jesus's conception and birth, and the development of the Christmas tree tradition in the 1400s in Germany.
Resurrection Motif in Christianity
The conversation touches upon the dying and rising God motif and its relation to the resurrection in Christianity. While some link the resurrection of Jesus to pagan themes of dying and rising gods, scholars tend to view the resurrection of Jesus as more incidental to these motifs, emerging from the historical context and beliefs of his followers.
Influence of Greco-Roman World on Early Christianity
The discussion explores the influence of the Greco-Roman world on early Christianity, particularly in terms of philosophical ideas rather than pagan mythologies. Greek philosophy is seen as having a more significant impact on shaping early Christian beliefs and practices, with adaptations influenced by the cultural and intellectual milieu of the time.
Dan McClellan is a biblical scholar & an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. McClellan was the winner of the Society of Biblical Literature's 2023 Richards Award for Public Scholarship. SPONSORS https://manscaped.com - Use code DANNYJONES for 20% off + free shipping! https://buy.ver.so/danny - Use code DANNY to save 15% on your first order. https://whiterabbitenergy.com/?ref=DJP - Use code DJP for 20% off EPISODE LINKS Dan's YouTube Channel - @maklelan https://twitter.com/maklelan https://www.maklelan.org https://www.instagram.com/maklelan FOLLOW DANNY JONES https://www.instagram.com/dannyjones https://twitter.com/jonesdanny OUTLINE 00:00 - Dan's academic background 06:02 - Septuagint predates the Torah? 22:30 - Fake Dead Sea Scrolls 26:03 - Greek found in Synagogues 32:35 - Inaccuracies with translation 39:57 - Bible scholar paradox 42:36 - Dan's personal bias 46:43 - Torah origins 50:01 - Moses never existed? 56:33 - Was the Christ a drug? 01:09:09 - Did the Bible misinterpret words? 01:15:58 - Jesus in the public park 01:20:22 - Was Jesus Christ a trafficker? 01:26:22 - The False Prophet 01:28:39 - Eyewitness vs authored accounts 01:33:24 - Why Jesus died so fast? 01:34:36 - Dan's take on Anunnaki 01:43:21 - Pagan influences in the Bible 01:56:48 - Misconceptions about Christianity
