Using ChatGPT to do advanced Bible study
All the tools you need in one place.
ChatGPT is an Artificial Intelligence-powered, natural language processing tool that makes it possible to have conversational interactions that are strikingly similar to those you’d have with a real person. In the case of Bible Study interactions, it is pretty much like having a conversation with a friendly, patient, but very learned Bible scholar. Here is an example just to make the point:
My question or instruction (also called a prompt) to ChatGPT:
Identify the main pericopes in chapter 1 of the gospel of John.
The answer or response from ChatGPT:
The main pericopes in chapter 1 of the Gospel of John are:
The Word Became Flesh (1:1-18)
The Testimony of John the Baptist (1:19-34)
The First Disciples of Jesus (1:35-51)
These three sections introduce the main themes and characters of the Gospel of John, including the identity and nature of Jesus, the role of John the Baptist, and the calling of Jesus' disciples.
It gets better. If you are interested the first steps for beginners to get started follow next. If you are already up and running with ChatGPT skip to the next section.
Can’t I do that with a search engine like Google? you ask.
Not quite! ChatGPT is truly just like an intelligent two-way conversation. Google, on the other hand, follows the tried-and-true method of taking a user’s query and matching it against the contents of billions of web pages to return the most relevant results. Let me illustrate:
Prompt: Are the pericopes in the gospel of John that you identified earlier generally accepted or are there divergent opinions?
Response: The pericopes in the Gospel of John that I identified earlier, such as the opening pericope in John 1:1-18, are generally accepted as key sections of the Gospel by most scholars and commentators. However, as with any text, there are often differences of opinion about the meaning and significance of specific passages or words.
Notice how ChatGPT retains its prior responses in memory and can build on the conversation. This is exceedingly useful as you will see.
It gets better still.
Prompt: Please translate your previous answer into Afrikaans.
Response: Die perikope in die Evangelie van Johannes wat ek vroeër geïdentifiseer het, soos die openingsperikope in Johannes 1:1-18, word oor die algemeen aanvaar as sleutelgedeeltes van die Evangelie deur die meeste geleerdes en kommentators. Daar is egter, soos met enige teks, dikwels verskille van mening oor die betekenis en belangrikheid van spesifieke passasies of woorde.
Getting Started
ChatGPT should only be accessed via the official gateway – chat.openia.com.
If you’ve landed at the right place, you should see a page like this.
Once logged in to ChatGPT, you can start running some prompts to familiarize yourself with how everything works. In what follows I have been using ChatGPT Model 3.5, the free version. The first version of this guide was written in March 2023. Since then I have upgraded to ChatGPT Model 4 and if you are there too you can skip to that section here below.
Bible Study with ChatGPT
Prompt: Take the following pericope, namely verses 1 to 18 from chapter 1 of the gospel of John. Contrast the key insights of leading evangelical commentaries of N T Wright, J C Sproul John MacArthur, and Warren Wiersbe; heading Comments.
Note: you can identify your own list of Bible scholars whose commentaries you trust or are interested in.
ChatGPT response: Comments:
N. T. Wright:
N. T. Wright emphasizes the significance of the opening statement "In the beginning was the Word" as a deliberate echo of the opening of the Hebrew Scriptures in Genesis 1. He notes that the term "Word" (Greek: logos) carries multiple meanings, including divine wisdom, creative power, and communication. Wright also emphasizes the importance of the theme of light and darkness, which he interprets as a metaphor for the presence or absence of God's life-giving power. He argues that the main message of the passage is that Jesus, as the Word made flesh, embodies God's wisdom and creative power and brings life and light to humanity.
J. C. Sproul:
J. C. Sproul focuses on the theme of the pre-existence of Jesus, emphasizing that the opening statement "In the beginning was the Word" asserts the eternal nature of Jesus as the Second Person of the Trinity. He argues that the passage teaches that Jesus is not only divine but also the agent of creation and that his incarnation is the key to understanding God's redemptive plan for humanity. Sproul also emphasizes the theme of grace, noting that the passage emphasizes that Jesus brings grace and truth to those who receive him.
John MacArthur:
John MacArthur emphasizes the theological depth of the passage, noting that it establishes the divinity of Jesus and his role as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He also notes that the passage teaches the importance of faith in Jesus, arguing that those who receive him become "children of God" and share in his divine life. MacArthur also highlights the theme of light and darkness, arguing that the passage teaches that the world is spiritually dark and in need of the light of Christ.
Warren Wiersbe:
Warren Wiersbe emphasizes the practical implications of the passage, noting that it teaches that Jesus is the source of all true knowledge and wisdom. He also emphasizes the theme of light and darkness, arguing that the passage teaches that those who reject Jesus are spiritually blind and living in darkness. Wiersbe also highlights the theme of the incarnation, noting that Jesus came to reveal God's character and bring salvation to humanity.
Reading through the commentaries should give you a helicopter view of the textual territory you wish to explore, and that from four different pilots or perspectives. Note that they agree in parts but that they also emphasize different aspects of interest to themselves.
You can dig deeper.
Prompt: Remember the four leading commentaries on the second pericope in John 1 that you identifies earlier. Would you say they are more evangelical or more ecumenical in their approach to the pericope?
Response: To answer your question, N.T. Wright, J.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, and Warren Wiersbe are all influential evangelical commentators on the Gospel of John, and their approach to the pericope in John 1:1-18 can be seen as broadly evangelical in nature.
N.T. Wright, for example, is known for his emphasis on the historical and cultural context of the New Testament, and his commentary on John's Gospel explores the theological and historical implications of the opening pericope for the early Christian community.
J.C. Sproul is another influential evangelical commentator who emphasizes the centrality of Christ in the Gospel of John, and his commentary on John 1:1-18 focuses on the significance of the term "Logos" for understanding Jesus as the embodiment of God's Word.
John MacArthur is known for his detailed exposition of scripture and his emphasis on biblical literalism, and his commentary on John's Gospel offers a verse-by-verse analysis of the text, highlighting the historical and theological significance of each passage.
Warren Wiersbe is another prominent evangelical commentator who emphasizes the practical application of scripture for Christian life and ministry, and his commentary on John's Gospel offers a blend of historical and theological insights along with practical guidance for Christian living.
Interested in the Greek text underlying the modern translations? No problem.
Prompt: Identify the five key Greek words in the pericope according to Strong's and talk to their relevance; heading Strong's.
Response: Strong's:
Here are the five key Greek words in the pericope (John 1:1-18) according to Strong's:
Λόγος (Logos) - Strong's G3056 - This word is translated as "Word" in English and is used in reference to Jesus in this passage. It is a central concept in Greek philosophy and carries the idea of divine reason or wisdom.
ζωὴ (zoe) - Strong's G2222 - This word is translated as "life" in English and is used in reference to Jesus in verse 4. It refers to the divine life or eternal life that Jesus brings to humanity.
φῶς (phos) - Strong's G5457 - This word is translated as "light" in English and is used in reference to Jesus in verse 4. It carries the idea of spiritual illumination or enlightenment.
μαρτυρέω (martyreo) - Strong's G3140 - This word is translated as "bear witness" in English and is used in reference to John the Baptist in verse 7. It means to testify or give evidence to something.
χάρις (charis) - Strong's G5485 - This word is translated as "grace" in English and is used in reference to Jesus in verse 14. It refers to the undeserved favor or kindness that God shows to humanity through Jesus.
These five key Greek words are significant because they help to establish the main themes and messages of the passage, including the divinity and creative power of Jesus as the Logos, the eternal and life-giving nature of his message, the spiritual illumination and enlightenment that he brings, the testimony of John the Baptist to his identity, and the grace and truth that he embodies.
Why is it important to take note of key Greek words in New Testament text?
Response by ChatGPT: Taking note of key Greek words in New Testament text is important for several reasons:
To better understand the meaning of the text: The original New Testament was written in Greek, and many key theological concepts and ideas are expressed through specific Greek words. Understanding the precise meaning of these words can help us to better understand the theological and spiritual significance of the text.
To avoid misinterpretation: Misunderstandings or misinterpretations of key Greek words can lead to significant errors in doctrine or theology. By studying the original Greek words, we can avoid misinterpreting the meaning of the text.
To appreciate the linguistic richness of the New Testament: The Greek language is known for its richness and complexity, and the New Testament contains a wide range of linguistic styles and genres. Studying the Greek words used in the text can help us to appreciate the linguistic beauty and richness of the New Testament.
To compare and contrast different translations: Many different translations of the New Testament are available, and they often use different English words to translate the same Greek word. By studying the original Greek, we can compare and contrast different translations and gain a deeper understanding of the nuances of the text.
Overall, taking note of key Greek words in New Testament text is an important aspect of biblical scholarship and can help us to gain a deeper understanding of the text, avoid misinterpretation, appreciate its linguistic richness, and compare different translations.
You can even ask ChatGPT how to phrase or structure a prompt: How should I phrase or structure a prompt if I want to compare and contrast different English translations of the same Bible verse?
If you want to compare and contrast different English translations of the same Bible verse, you could phrase your prompt in the following way:
"Compare and contrast different English translations of [insert Bible verse reference]. Analyze the differences in language, syntax, and theological emphasis, and consider the implications of these differences for our understanding of the text."
ChatGPT Model 4 and its Plugins
Since my first encounter with ChatGPT, it has become much more than a rather intelligent search engine. It is a conversation partner. Let me illustrate:
Me: What is the Greek word for mind in the Bible verse that directly speaks about the mind of Christ e.g. 1 Corinthians 2:16?
ChatGPT: In 1 Corinthians 2:16, the Greek word used for "mind" is "νοῦς" (pronounced "nous"). In the context of this verse, it refers to the understanding, intellect, or mind of Christ. It's a term often used in the New Testament to refer to a person's faculty of understanding or intellect. (part of a much longer answer)
Me: To have a conscience mind should pre-exist?
ChatGPT: Yes, that is correct. The concept of having a "conscientious mind" or a "conscience" implies the pre-existence of the mind. Conscience, in the most general terms, can be described as the capacity of our minds to make judgments about the moral rightness or wrongness of our actions and is the part of our minds that elicits feelings of guilt when we do something wrong, and satisfaction or integrity when we do something right.
My concern with mind and conscience arises from a much longer ChatGPT-aided study into Propaganda and Christian Anarchy from a Bible-based perspective. Both these key concepts were dealt with by the French Philosopher/Sociologist/Theologian Jacques Ellul. I use the ChatGPT Plugin AskYourPDF to query the source documents by Ellul which I have access to.
Here is one example:
Me: How does Ellul describe or define conscientious objection?
ChatGPT Used AskYourPDF:
In "Anarchy & Christianity", Jacques Ellul discusses the concept of conscientious objection in a broader sense than it is typically understood. He extends it beyond the traditional context of military service to include all the demands and obligations imposed by society. Here are some key points from page 9: (part of a much longer answer)
Conclusion
As Christian believers, we have been given the powerful weapon of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. With the vast amount of resources available today, including ChatGPT, we have no excuse for neglecting to sharpen our swords and deepen our understanding of God's Word. With ChatGPT at our fingertips, we have an amazing opportunity to learn more about the Bible, deepen our faith, and grow in our spiritual walk. So let's take advantage of this wonderful resource and allow it to help us sharpen our swords and become more effective in our Christian walk.
In the meantime, an entirely new sub-discipline has emerged, namely Prompt Engineering. The fact is, there is an important relationship between question and answer. The better the former, the better the latter becomes. However, this is a study field in its own right, and I'll provide one prompt as an example:
Study Colossians 2:1-7 as a pastoral theologian in the Reformed Evangelical tradition. Take the following set of concepts in curly brackets and determine to what extent they are relevant and present in the passage. {perseverance, endurance, patience, steadfastness, courage, faith} Identify the challenge or problem that Paul is addressing. Then write a Bible study unit of about 250 words. Include and provide all text verses from the 1983 Afrikaans translation here https://bible.com/af/bible. Start with a brief summary of the chosen passage, describe the touchpoints with the concepts in curly brackets, and end with a number of texts from the New Testament that may offer the solution to the problem.