The Skeptics Annotated Bible

by Wells, Steve

  11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

  12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

  (8.11-12) “The Pharisees … began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven … And he … saith … There shall no sign be given unto this generation.”

  360 Did Jesus perform any signs and wonders?

  13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

  14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

  15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

  16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

  17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

  18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

  19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

  20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

  21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

  (8.22-25) Jesus cures a blind man by spitting in his eyes.

  22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

  (8.22) “He cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him.”

  429 Where did Jesus cure the blind man?

  23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

  (8.23) “He … spit on his eyes, and … asked him if he saw ought.”

  419 How did Jesus cure the blind man?

  (8.24-25) Jesus’ spit did not completely cure the blind man. So Jesus tried again. He put his hands on the man’s eyes and, this time, the blind man “saw every man clearly.”

  24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

  (8.24) “He looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.”

  25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

  (8.25) “After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.”

  26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

  (8.27-28) There were various opinions about the identity of Jesus. Some thought he was Elijah or one of the prophets. And many thought he was a risen John the Baptist. With credulity like that just about anyone could later be passed off as the risen Christ.

  27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

  (8.27) “Whom do men say that I am?”

  28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

  (8.28) “They answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.”

  29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

  30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

  31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

  (8.31) “He began to teach them, that the Son of man must … be killed, and after three days rise again.”

  367 Did Jesus forewarn the apostles of his death and resurrection?

  (8.32-33) When Peter expressed his dismay about Jesus’ coming death, Jesus said to him “Get thee behind me, Satan.”—a fine way to address his holiness, the first pope!

  32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

  (8.32) “Peter … began to rebuke him.”

  33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

  (8.33) “He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan.”

  34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

  36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

  37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

  38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

  (8.38) “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed.” If you’re ashamed of Jesus, he’ll be ashamed of you.

  MARK 9

  9 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

  (9.1) “There be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” Jesus falsely prophesies that the end of the world will come within his listeners’ lifetimes.

  2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

  (9.2) “After six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.”

  420 When was the transfiguration?

  (9.3-7) During the transfiguration, Jesus’ clothes became whiter than white, while he chatted with Moses and Elijah. Then a voice came out of a cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

  3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

  (9.3) “His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.”

  4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

  (9.4) “There appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.”

  5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

  6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

  7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

  (9.7) “A voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

  8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

  (9.9-10) Jesus told the disciples not to tell anyone about his mountain-top meeting with Moses and Elijah until after he rose from the dead. But the disciples didn’t know what he meant by “rising from the dead.”

  9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

  (9.9) “As they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were rise
n from the dead.”

  10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

  (9.10) “They kept … questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.”

  11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

  12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

  13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

  (9.13) “Elias is indeed come.” Jesus says that John the Baptist was Elijah, but John the Baptist explicitly denied it in Jn 1.21.

  356 Was John the Baptist Elijah?

  14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

  15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

  16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

  (9.17-19) Jesus gets mad at his disciples for failing to cast out a devil from a boy with a “dumb spirit” and says, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?”

  17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

  (9.17) “One of the multitude … said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit.”

  18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

  (9.18) “He foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth … and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.”

  19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

  (9.19) “He answereth … O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.”

  20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

  21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

  22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

  23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

  (9.23) “All things are possible to him that believeth.”

  24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

  (9.25-26) Jesus heals the boy with “a dumb spirit” by saying, “Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him and enter no more into him.” (Sounds like a script from Monty Python, doesn’t it?) But how could a deaf spirit hear the words spoken to it? And how could a dumb spirit cry out?

  94 Who makes people deaf and blind?

  25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

  (9.25) “Jesus … rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him.”

  26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

  (9.26) “And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him.”

  27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

  28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

  29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

  30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

  (9.31-32) Jesus keeps telling his disciples that he is going to be killed and then rise from the dead a few days later. But somehow the disciples just don’t get it.

  31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

  (9.31) “He … said … The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.”

  32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

  (9.32) “But they understood not that saying.”

  33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

  34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

  35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

  (9.35) “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

  36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

  37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

  38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

  (9.38) “Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name.” The disciples saw some others that they didn’t know “casting out devils” in Jesus’ name. (It was a popular sport back in those days.)

  344 Who can cast out devils in the name of Jesus?

  421 Is casting out devils a sign of a true Christian?

  39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

  40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

  (9.40) “He that is not against us is on our part.”

  357 Who is for or against Jesus?

  41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

  42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

  (9.43-48) Jesus tells us to cut off our hands and feet, and pluck out our eyes to avoid going to hell.

  157 Does Hell exist?

  43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

  44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

  (9.43-44) “If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”

  45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

  46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

  (9.45-46) “If thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”

  47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

  48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

  (9.47-48) “And if thine eye offend the
e, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”

  (9.44, 46, 48) Immortal worms: “Where their worm dieth not”

  49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

  50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

  MARK 10

  10 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.

  2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

  3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

  4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

  5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

  6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

  (10.6) “From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” Jesus believed that Adam and Eve were created “from the beginning.” But the universe is 13.7 billion years old, the earth 4.6 billion, and humans (depending on how you define “human”) have been around a couple million years.

  7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

  8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

  (10.9-12) If divorced people are adulterers, and the punishment for adultery is death (Leviticus 20.10), should we kill those who get a divorce?

  154 Is divorce ever permissible?

  16 Is Polygamy OK?

  9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

  (10.9) “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

  10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.

  11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.