The Real Yeshua

In my earlier email “ Good Parents or Warriors Fighting a Cosmic Battle? ” I pointed out that my church had taught me this: The story of The Garden of Eden is about a cosmic battle between God and Satan. The ancient Hebrew text teaches something very different: The story about two people who did what a talking snake told them instead of doing TOV ! The events in the Garden in Eden, when viewed in the context of the first two stories in Genesis, reveal the two extremes of human actions . Read the rest of the story at -- https://mailchi.mp/94e48a0a72f7/two-very-different-views-of-and-responses-to-good-and-evil

The books that tell the Hanukkah tale didn't make it into the Hebrew Bible -- but they are in the Catholic one. The First and Second Books of Maccabees contain the the earliest references to the story of Hanukkah and the rededication of the Temple. And yet, they are missing from the Hebrew Bible . Read the rest of the story at -- https://mailchi.mp/f8b6f6923b7b/why-the-maccabees-arent-in-the-bible

The Story of the Garden in Eden was intended to be read in light of the instructions given in the Story of the Creation of the Heaven and Earth. ● The unnamed Creator in the first story made a man and woman at the same time, blessed them and instructed them. ● Yahweh made a man and a woman at different times and places – and only gave the man a commandment . Read the rest of the story at: https://mailchi.mp/bcf6c7b3bd16/good-parents-or-warriors-fighting-a-cosmic-battle

In “The Messiah Controversy: Who Are the Jews Waiting For?” (Hebrew), he sheds new light on the trial of Jesus, who was sentenced to death by a Jewish court and executed by the Romans in 30 C.E. After billions of Christians were taught over many centuries that the Jews were responsible for Jesus’ death, Knohl sets out to reexamine this convention. “The notion that Jesus was put to death by ‘the Jewish people’ is fundamentally wrong. The great majority of the Jewish people did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, but espoused a messianic outlook that was basically similar to his,” he says, adding that today, “after centuries of enmity between Christendom and the Jewish people, which was wrongfully accused of bearing the guilt for Jesus’ crucifixion, surely the time has come to reexamine the events in their historical, religious and social context.” If Prof. Israel Knohl is right, history books will require rewriting and Church sermons around the world will have to be rethought. Co

Thirty-nine years ago I prayed this prayer: “ God show me what words in my Bible You want me to read .” The following popped into my head immediately: “ Unless you know how words work you can’t understand one word of the Bible .” Today, I know two very important things about “ how words work .” Continue reading at: https://mailchi.mp/a1ae20000de1/words-beliefs-thoughts-and-behaviors

In the last episode of the story of the Garden in Eden, Adam and Eve didn’t have a chance when they faced a “ weaponized meme attack ” by a snake Yahweh created and Adam named. The snake had existed and known Adam longer than Eve. As we saw, the ancient author announced the encounter with the snake as: Humans vs. Wild Animal! Which will be the most Subtle, Shrewd, Clever, Crafty or Cunning? ● In order for Adam and Eve to win they must work together in harmony as Co-Shepherds protecting each other’s lives. ● For the snake to win, it must persuade the humans to believe what it says, instead of what Yahweh commanded. Will the humans reflect the image of God or the image of an animal? Will the actions of the humans be TOV or RAH ? Read the complete story at -- https://mailchi.mp/051e88043da5/creating-evil-facing-yahweh-afterwards-and-going-to-work

The Bible contains a lot of very valuable wisdom principles. At the top of list of biblical books with the most important wisdom principles is the book of Genesis. And of all the stories in Genesis, the most valued wisdom of all is found in the first story. An unnamed god created Heaven and Earth . The first wisdom lesson in this story is this: If your “creator” has a name it may or may not be this god . Measure your god by this Creator’s standard. What is the Creator’s standard? It is the TOV Standard . In the first story in the Bible (Genesis 1:1-2:4a), human life is the highest value and the primary purpose behind everything the Creator said, created, made or did . Continue reading at – https://mailchi.mp/c529df98ee66/incorporate-the-amazing-power-of-the-creators-tov-standard-in-your-life

What do most Christians think of when they hear the name “Eve”? “. . . she took of its fruit  and ate. She also gave to her husband . . .” That’s it! One reason is because of what Tertullian wrote about her and you if you are a woman – “ you are (each) an Eve . . . you are the devil’s gateway . . . you destroyed God’s image. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/daccca205f01/eve-attacked-by-a-snake-not-a-devil-and-destroyed-by-theologians

The Creator gave the humans a plan for living perfect lives. If the humans had been a sports team, they were given a game plan for how to play a perfect game of life. Continue reading at -  https://mailchi.mp/f55430b7708b/how-to-create-a-perfect-life-and-society

For Christians, this is one of the most important stories in the entire Bible . It is extremely important for readers to accurately understand what this verse meant to its ancient author. For members of the ancient audience the verses were like a headline: Which will be the most subtle, shrewd, clever, crafty, and cunning: Two Humans Acting Together or One Lone Snake? Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/5d62ae0204aa/a-man-woman-and-walking-talking-religious-snake

In the last email, we left the newly created man (I will now call him “Adam”) standing in a garden in Eden alone – the garden of the god Yahweh . Adam is surrounded by trees that produce beautiful and appealing fruit. But, even though its fruit is beautiful too, Yahweh commanded Adam to not eat from one tree. The penalty for eating the forbidden fruit is death! Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/5f3101ab4cae/some-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-adam-but-should

The Bible opens with two polar opposite stories about the creation of humans – but I could not see that for a very long time . I had been taught to read my Bible from an “ authority first ” perspective. “ Authority first ” is a very “ religious ” way of reading the Bible and in my religion it meant – submit, comply, obey and don’t question authority! For us, God was the highest authority of all and the leaders of our religion were God’s authorized agents , therefore “ good Christians ” were supposed to submit, comply, obey and not question God’s authorized agents either!!! Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/829b03726b74/treasures-most-bible-readers-cannot-see

The exclusive distinction, “ in the image of God ,” reveals that all humans share a common origin that sets them apart from all other forms of life – human life is at the top of that divinely ordained moral order of the universe in the first chapter of Genesis. But just five chapters later we discover something very different. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/dbfe33834944/human-life-infinitely-precious-or-like-spoiled-meat

Educating people about Belief Systems is an important part of the TOV Center’s mission. Why? Beliefs drive behaviors. When beliefs change behaviors change. If you were born before 1980 you know the way people behave in America has changed dramatically in your lifetime. However, very few people consider the changes in belief systems that produced those behavioral changes. Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/d0f5379abcc0/why-american-democracy-does-not-work-for-citizens-today

Both stories in Genesis are about “ the ADAM, ” but the ancient author uses differences between what that word means to teach the very important lessons – and there are some “ very big differences .” Read the entire story at - https://mailchi.mp/cbb8ca380d61/two-very-different-adams-in-the-creation-stories

“ God ” is the “ big elephant in the room ” in many conversations and relationships. Everyone knows the elephant is there but no one talks about it – even though it is often a key factor in disagreements over some very important things . In order to have those conversations people need a “ God Talk Vocabulary! ” https://mailchi.mp/d0d195350eed/building-a-god-talk-vocabulary

I had always been taught at my church that the two stories at the beginning of Genesis were two versions of one creation account. We were wrong about that too. By the time we finish reading the Garden in Eden Story you will be amazed at the number of differences between it and the first creation story. https://mailchi.mp/7dcc752a08e5/two-polar-opposite-creation-stories

One of the most famous, and for Christians, theologically important stories in the Bible is the account of the “ Garden of Eden .” However, because chapter and verse breaks were inserted over a thousand years after the story was written, it is very difficult for modern readers to see the words in their original context. Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/88c602473c35/a-surprise-beginning-of-the-garden-of-eden-story

One of the foundational principles of the first account in Genesis is this -- God is divine and man is human . This contrast underlies all biblical thinking. The “ likeness of God ” is “ the likeness of Him who is unlike man.” The words “ image and likeness of God ” conceal more than they reveal. https://mailchi.mp/590323b8c830/do-not-forget-that-god-is-divine-and-man-is-human

The first account in Genesis begins and ends with mysteries. The first mystery is that before the beginning, the unidentified god (the Creator), darkness and deep waters existed. The account ends with the second mystery --  Creator’s blessing of the Seventh Day. in the eyes of ancient readers the Seventh Day would have be seen as the most important of the seven days. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/635982a9bfc9/the-mystery-of-the-third-blessing

The blessing of the Creator reveals His vision for humanity – and He empowered humans to make that vision a reality . It is a vision (game plan) for “ The Perfecting of Humanity. ” Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/1640d7885be3/the-creators-vision-for-human-lives-and-societies

One group pictures themselves as people created from parts of a dead god. The other group views themselves as individuals with the presence of a living god. Which way do you view yourself? Read the complete email at -- https://mailchi.mp/707bfb43fcf4/all-humans-are-spiritual-equals

As we study the words of the opening accounts of Genesis we will help you see the its words through the eyes of the scribes too – and you will be amazed by the ancient wisdom embedded in stories you may have heard all of your life . Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/b99891c5fd90/discovering-ancient-wisdom-embedded-in-the-words-of-genesis

For most of my life, when I read or heard the word “ Earth ” – anywhere -- the picture that popped into my mind was the familiar photograph of the Earth that has been taken from space. How could it be anything else! Well it did!!! Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/946fb111c5e9/when-my-bible-became-a-time-machine

To invoke the “ Creator” as the only basis of the “‘ truths” of the new nation would be a very authoritarian and religious approach to truth. In his original rough draft, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “ We hold these truths sacred and undeniable . . .” But that is not what we find in the Declaration of Independence. Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/11d59e91da3a/knowing-the-difference-between-self-evident-truths-and-religious-truths

Who is the “ Creator ” in the Declaration of Independence ? Most people mistakenly believe that Thomas Jefferson wrote the above words so it must be his God. But Thomas Jefferson did not write the Declaration of Independence and present it to the Continental Congress. Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/da40bbd467a9/thomas-jefferson-and-the-creator-in-the-declaration-of-independence

Abraham is a key figure in three monotheistic religions whose members make up over one-half of the world’s population today. That makes him a central figure in Jewish, Christian and Muslim beliefscapes ( belief systems ). Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/e6cf8d173293/abraham-was-not-jewish-christian-or-muslim

The TOV Standard is found in the first chapter of Genesis . Its presence is reflected in stories throughout Jewish and Christian Scriptures . However, benefiting from the TOV Standard does not require belief in any theology or relationship to any organized religion. The TOV Standard transforms the ways people make decisions, judge human behaviors, create relationships and work with others to change things . Continue reading at -- https://mailchi.mp/b6a511f779c9/how-the-tov-standard-can-change-your-life-and-relationships

The Bible opens with some radical new ideas for the ancient world: ● The god that created the Heaven and the Earth “used a standard” to measure its work. ● “ Human life” was the highest value on that divine standard. ● That god also “created all humans in its image.” But one of the most radical ideas of all was this – continue reading at – https://mailchi.mp/aed027ba0477/hating-with-a-divine-standard

The English word “ prophet ” is a transliteration of the Greek word προφήτης which means “ an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things .” The Greek meaning is the one many people attach to the word “ prophet ” in their Bibles. But it is very different from the Hebrew meaning -- which is the one that the Jewish Jesus and his first generation of followers had . Learn more by clicking on -- https://mailchi.mp/33ebc7fba5fd/prophets-and-prophecies

Read this quick rundown of major Christian beliefs about what is required for one to “be saved” in chronological order at --  https://mailchi.mp/b7d40ba9a19a/how-christian-beliefs-about-salvation-have-changed-bhc-quick-notes

Today we are immersed in a society that, since the late 1960s, has been changing its “ core values. ” America is transitioning to a society with the following four core values -- money, individualism, rights and entertainment . This transition, however, comes at a very high price . Read more at -- https://mailchi.mp/b8daea75fb92/core-values-and-simple-sets-of-rules-for-dealing-with-very-complex-problems

If someone had walked into our church and said, “ Jesus did away with the Bible and Constitution! ” – he would risk being stoned on the spot! But, if our preacher had walked into Jesus’s hometown synagogue, the one Yeshua (aka Jesus) faithfully attended every Saturday and preached this -- “ We are not under the Law because Jesus fulfilled it! ” – he would have also risked being stoned. Read article at -- https://mailchi.mp/0b2d5ec1487a/did-jesus-do-away-the-bible-and-constitution

The subject of this BHC Quick Note is “ the English word Jesus ,” not beliefs linked that word. “ Jesus ” is a name that became well-known and popular through “ English translations of the New Testament. ” Get the facts by clicking on -- https://mailchi.mp/d01edb7df541/the-name-jesus-bhc-quick-note

Beliefscapes give us a new way to talk about things that only exist in the neural networks of our brains. By exploring together we learned when and how new belief models came into being and old models faded from memories and changed beliefscapes – and doing this together changed our individual beliefscapes and our realities . https://mailchi.mp/f708e0bfb0f0/our-beliefscapes-are-our-realities

Before you can answer that question, you have to be able this question – What am I? Find the answers to that question in our latest email at -- https://mailchi.mp/d18829ca37f8/are-you-me

How would like to be the one in charge of managing an environment in which fire and gasoline were always in close proximity to one another? That’s how the Romans viewed Judea, Sadducees and Pharisees. Judea was the environment and Sadducees and Pharisees were the fire and gasoline . Read the complete email at - https://mailchi.mp/19ddcbd32bcf/sadducees-and-pharisees-fire-gasoline

The Israelites are Jacob’s descendants, the offspring of “ the man that wrestled with a god and men, and prevailed .” For the purposes of this discussion, the history of Judaism will be divided into three periods – Pre-Temple Period, The Temple Period, and Post-Temple Period. What is now called “Judaism” was invented in the matrix of Roman culture . Read the complete email at - https://mailchi.mp/97db8e8a11ee/the-emergence-of-rabbinic-judaism

Change your BS! Back in our old realities being labeled as “ the person who was wrong ” could destroy the career of preacher or rabbi. Who would want to listen to a person like that? Today, encountering a preacher or rabbi – or any other human – who has never been wrong sets off all kinds of BS Alarms. https://mailchi.mp/c3b834ce47ed/so-what-do-you-do-when-you-know-you-are-wrong-change-your-bs

Have you heard the term “ neurobiology ” yet? Make a note of it, because in the near future you will be hearing a lot about it. Neurobiology is rewriting the textbooks on beliefs and belief systems. Read more about it at – https://mailchi.mp/564d99e3d57d/we-are-literally-what-we-believe

Exercising power is one thing you invest a tremendous amount of time and energy in every day of your life – and you have been doing it from the first day of your life . Power is so much a part of human life that most people are not consciously aware of when they are exercising power or when power is being exercised on them. https://mailchi.mp/338ea6672ba5/the-only-two-power-options-humans-have

What do you believe the Jewish Jesus would think about the extremely popular salvation messages that say “ people are not saved by works ” ( what people do have nothing to do with their eternal destinies)! All God cares about is “believing the right things!” Read the complete message at -- https://mailchi.mp/5507b8e9e3e3/letting-the-jewish-jesus-explain-his-movement-in-his-own-words-part-3

The Jewish audience of Jesus already knew the answer, because they understood the relationship of tzedaqah to shalom . So did Jesus and he constructed his message around that relationship. Read the complete message at - https://mailchi.mp/fc0756158a13/letting-the-jewish-jesus-explain-his-movement-in-his-own-words-part-2

“ I am the person the Spirit of the Lord is on, the one God has anointed and sent to proclaim the good news to the poor captives that they have been released! ” Read the complete educational email at -- https://mailchi.mp/f6b68cf55c5d/letting-the-jewish-jesus-explain-his-movement-in-his-own-words-part-1

Needless to say, everyone that has read the previous email about how the Heaven and Earth were created was probably shocked to learn what they thought before was completely wrong. Well get ready for another shocker about what how humans are created. https://mailchi.mp/347f2460cbe7/the-creator-expectations-for-humans

In truth, there have always been varieties of Judaism, even when the Jerusalem Temple dominated Israelite religious practice in the Ancient Near East. The bottom line is that throughout the “ Second Temple Period ,” there were other Jewish temples with their priests and they were rivals of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and its priesthood. Read more at -- https://mailchi.mp/4559da6a3c60/five-temples-of-judaism

Human lives are valued more than religious institutions and rituals by the unnamed god in the first account in Genesis . That message is repeated throughout the  Hebrew Scriptures  and the  teachings of Jesus  in the  Synoptic Gospels. Read the complete short articles at - https://mailchi.mp/2116c809b552/human-lives-are-valued-more-than-religious-institutions-and-rituals

While humans have attacked and killed one another since the dawn of our lineage, coordinated, large-scale lethal violence between groups is a recent phenomenon. Read short article at https://mailchi.mp/6becc1bc328c/a-new-kind-of-cruelty-the-emergence-of-warfare

Our focus in Exploring Our Biblical Heritages has been primarily on the dramatic changes in Christianity over the past 2,000 years. Judaism has also undergone dramatic changes in that same period. One example of those changes can be seen in how the Holy Day of Yom Kippur is celebrated. Read the complete article at -- https://mailchi.mp/ba78f8d86e91/yom-kippur-rabbinic-version-begins-at-sundown-today

One of the most powerful beliefs in the history of mankind is found in this creation account –  all people are created in the image of the Creator!  Tribal and religious belief systems place every one in “ us vs. them groups .” That makes it much easier  to harm, hate and kill “ them .”  But, for people who view  all humans  “ as creatures created in the image of god ” --  harming, hating and killing another human is a very different situation . Read the complete article at -- https://mailchi.mp/4c2f6b694237/we-are-all-created-to-be-creators

Our goal is to educate by providing culturally and linguistically accurate information.   Today I am going to put pieces of information from previous emails together to reveal the real meaning (culturally and linguistically accurate) of the words “ Jesus Christ Son of God .”   Click on this link to continue reading -- https://mailchi.mp/b023a611d31e/the-real-meaning-of-jesus-christ-son-of-god

Do you believe that it is good to do the right things? Do you want your children to be good people? Teach your children about the TOV Standard and its Lives 1 st Values , because “ TOV is much more than good .” https://mailchi.mp/46ebb46443ab/what-is-good

In one of his bestsellers, The Da Vinci Code , author Dan Brown wrote:  “ History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books - books which glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe. ” Early Christianity is the period from the beginning of the second century CE until 325 . As Christianity spread throughout other nations and Gentiles became Christians, five centers of Christianity emerged -- Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Alexandria and Byzantium (renamed Constantinople in 330 CE). The five bishops that controlled those centers became powerful Christian authorities and their rulings defined what Christianity was and how it would be practiced. Read the complete article at – https://mailchi.mp/48d4efde6ecd/the-god-a-god-or-a-human-and-what-about-the-holy-spirit

The words, “ Son of God ,” have created more confusion about Jesus than probably any other words ever used to describe him. For many centuries, powerful Christian leaders have argued, turned against one other, physically punished and even executed those who dared disagree with their  Gentile meanings  ( non-Jewish ) of “ Son of God .” Read the complete article ( and subscribe for FREE ) at https://mailchi.mp/19003e202ba6/what-does-son-of-god-mean

In the past, scientists thought information simply flowed in the brain and it searched through it to see what was going on outside the skull and then filed things like beliefs in some kind of folders. They viewed the brain as a giant filing cabinet. New science-based discoveries are rewriting the book on belief systems. Read complete article at – https://mailchi.mp/1ec2f5523490/our-brains-search-for-evidence-that-confirm-and-support-our-trusted-beliefs

A lot of parents have great standards for providing the “ right things ” for their child’s stomach to digest, but know nothing about the Biology of Beliefs and the importance of providing their child’s brain with “ TOV things ” for it to ingest. https://mailchi.mp/1ab5b412baef/the-highest-standard-of-all-the-tov-standard

So, how can I say, “ Actually his name was not Jesus ”? The reason I am saying it is because we follow a guideline in our Bible studies and discussion groups that says, “ My belief system will be large enough to include all of the facts . . . .” https://mailchi.mp/0a366eab707d/actually-his-name-was-not-jesus

In 383, Theodosius I officially declared Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire, thus bringing the movement begun by Constantine the Great full circle.   The Roman Catholic Church now became the state church with the power to suppress or control its rivals.   https://mailchi.mp/e553752085a6/when-christianity-became-the-religion-of-the-roman-empire-and-changed

The next step that brings even more transparency is for participants in a Bible study or discussion to let each other know “ their beliefs about the words of their Bible .” What we believe about the words in our Bible affects how we view and understand them. Read this educational email at -- https://mailchi.mp/e0acce924d22/putting-beliefs-about-our-bibles-on-the-table

This is a topic that comes up often in discussions about biblical heritages. Read the Exploring Our Biblical Heritages educational email at -- https://mailchi.mp/97a960a316f3/how-jewish-people-view-jewish-scriptures-today

The words - “ the Bible ” - are very polarizing words because of “ beliefs"  that are attached to them. In America 99% of Bible readers only read translations, most are reading English translations, which they call “ the Bible .” A very good habit to develop is . . . . Read the complete blog at https://mailchi.mp/44ab67658f10/never-say-the-bible-says

One of the most important words for Christians is the word “ Christ .” There are two very good reasons why it is so important. 1. Jesus Christ 2. Christian = Christ + ian Learn what it meant to the Jewish Jesus. https://mailchi.mp/cb40db024ae9/what-does-christ-mean

Did Babylonian texts influence the scribes who produced the first scroll with the opening books of the Bible? For example, t he story of a Great Flood sent by the gods to destroy all human life, but one good man is warned of the impending deluge and instructed to build an ark? Click here to read complete educational email -- https://mailchi.mp/53d689b6b61b/did-babylonian-texts-influence-the-scribes-who-produced-the-first-scroll-with-the-openingbooks-of-the-bible

Did changing the names of days make a difference in the cultures and lives of our ancestors? Does calling today “ The Sixth Day of Creation ,” or, “ The Day of goddess Venus ,” or, “ The Day of goddess Frigg ,” or just “ Friday ” make a difference? https://mailchi.mp/791c3e8af7c9/did-changing-the-names-of-days-make-a-difference

For people with a Christian biblical heritage like mine, that may sound like heresy or blasphemy. From the time I began attending Sunday School classes at our Baptist church until after I became an ordained minister, I had only heard about one “ Christ ” -- Jesus Christ . Read complete email at -- https://mailchi.mp/ac2da95dae7e/did-you-know-there-was-more-than-one-christ

Are you interested in facts? Subscribe to BHC’s new educational emails list. Short emails designed to educate you about our biblical heritages, which include historical and textual information about their histories – and information about the Jewish Jesus. Our goal is to get as many facts as possible into the hands of our readers. It is FREE. Just enter your email address – that’s it. Subscribe today. http://www.biblicalheritage.org/subscribe.html

What was Jesus talking about when he said “ jot or tittle ”? The first thing to always remember when you read the words of Jesus in English is that Jesus didn’t speak English. Discovering what a “ jot ” is reveals much more than just the meaning of the word – it reveals the language he was speaking . Clicking on this link to read the complete article https://mailchi.mp/f733dbb30425/what-are-jots-and-tittles

In July it “ hit me ” that it was in August of 1980 that I began the journey that led to the founding of the Biblical Heritage Center in 1999 -- and the work we do today . I really couldn’t believe that thirty-nine years have passed since I prayed the prayer that launched my journey. If you missed that article, click here to read it . Over the past few weeks I have ventured back into remote areas of BHC’s large databases. Some of that information goes back to 1985. I literally hadn’t seen some of those files in decades. But seeing them again and thinking about that information in light of what I now know was a very enlightening experience . I realized that my mindset had changed dramatically without my being aware of it. Click here to read the complete article. https://mailchi.mp/3cc947e1689e/exploring-biblical-heritages-or-defending-unexamined-beliefs

Participants in BHC Bible studies and discussion groups agree to follow this guideline: My Belief System will be large enough to include all of the facts, open enough to be examined and questioned, and flexible enough to change if errors or new facts are discovered . An important skill participants learn is how to make accurate distinctions between fact-based statements, institutional beliefs, individual beliefs and random opinions . Now let’s learn about some facts about the Bible. The first fact about “ the Bible ” is that “ the Bible ” is an Identity Meme used by Christians to refer to “ Christian Scriptures .” “ Scriptures ” in this context refers to “ canonized writings by an institution with authority .” When Jesus referred to “ Scriptures ” he was referring writings called the Torah , Prophets and Psalms. In addition he quoted from other books that are in the Tanakh ( Jewish Scriptures today). The books of the Tanakh are found in “ Christian Scripture ”