conversations.from: human
conversations.value: What could be a title for a book about Testaments, Publishers, Weekly with the genre: Christian Books & Bibles, Bible Study & Reference?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: A title for this book could be 'Women in the Bible For Dummies'
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: What is the first five paragraphs for this book?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Women in the Bible For Dummies
  Although the Bible can be found almost everywhere today, it's actually quite an amazing feat that the stories of thousands of years ago — when methods of recording were primitive at best — are still preserved today. Comparatively, seemingly old documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are in their infancy.
  Matthew wrote as a Jew for a Jewish audience of his contemporaries. He wanted to help them see that Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecies of old that promised a Messiah. When you read the Gospel of Matthew, you'll find many quotations from the Old Testament and lots of sermons from Jesus explaining that he is the one who was to come. A Jew considering the possibility of accepting Christ would be interested in hearing or reading Matthew's Gospel.
  At the same time, a Roman wouldn't know or care about the ancient scriptures that promised a Redeemer. A Roman valued deeds more than words, so Mark wrote for the Roman audience to introduce them to this man of supernatural miracles who could expel demons, cure the sick, and raise the dead. Mark's Gospel is not only the shortest in composition and length, but it is also the most loaded with action — because that's what Roman's wanted. In Mark's writings, Jesus is on the move: healing the sick and exorcizing demons.
  For example, when you read about the Virgin Mary (see Chapter 6) in Luke's Gospel, he alone talks about the Angel Gabriel announcing the future birth of Jesus to his mother. The other three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and John) don't mention this encounter. Either they didn't know about it and therefore couldn't write about it, or they simply chose not to mention it.
  Eventually, the entire Hebrew Bible (which Christians call their Old Testament) was assembled, and later, after the Christians wrote their stuff, those writings were also collected.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Delete the last sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Women in the Bible For Dummies
  Although the Bible can be found almost everywhere today, it's actually quite an amazing feat that the stories of thousands of years ago — when methods of recording were primitive at best — are still preserved today. Comparatively, seemingly old documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are in their infancy.
  Matthew wrote as a Jew for a Jewish audience of his contemporaries. He wanted to help them see that Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecies of old that promised a Messiah. When you read the Gospel of Matthew, you'll find many quotations from the Old Testament and lots of sermons from Jesus explaining that he is the one who was to come. A Jew considering the possibility of accepting Christ would be interested in hearing or reading Matthew's Gospel.
  At the same time, a Roman wouldn't know or care about the ancient scriptures that promised a Redeemer. A Roman valued deeds more than words, so Mark wrote for the Roman audience to introduce them to this man of supernatural miracles who could expel demons, cure the sick, and raise the dead. Mark's Gospel is not only the shortest in composition and length, but it is also the most loaded with action — because that's what Roman's wanted. In Mark's writings, Jesus is on the move: healing the sick and exorcizing demons.
  For example, when you read about the Virgin Mary (see Chapter 6) in Luke's Gospel, he alone talks about the Angel Gabriel announcing the future birth of Jesus to his mother. The other three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and John) don't mention this encounter. Either they didn't know about it and therefore couldn't write about it, or they simply chose not to mention it.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: What is four more paragraphs?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The Bible tells us that Elizabeth is a devout Jew and loyal wife. Although no one knows for certain, Elizabeth probably took care of the vestments and vessels for worship, typically the work done by a wife of a Temple priest. Their home became a center for prayer and talk for people to discuss God and worship with Zechariah. In fact, the evangelist (Gospel writer) Luke mentions that she and Zechariah are sinless and truly dedicated to God: "Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord" (Luke 1:6).
  Socially and religiously, they're an important family. Unfortunately, they have one major problem — Elizabeth is barren (Luke 1:7). Like Sarah (Chapter 9) many centuries before, it initially appears that Elizabeth can't fulfill her role as mother. And in the days of patriarchal societies, in which a man's worth was defined by passing on his lineage to sons, this is a large setback.
  But Zechariah and Elizabeth don't give up on each other or on God. Their relationship and love remain strong, and Elizabeth doesn't succumb to grief and remains trustful in the Lord. They continue to pray for a miracle, and eventually, they get one.
  Unlike today, in Elizabeth's time the possibility of influencing the natural process of reproduction through science and medical technology didn't exist. Nevertheless, God finally blesses Elizabeth with a child, despite the fact that she is elderly (some people estimate in her 80s). Elizabeth's pregnancy is a true miracle — not the result of fertility drugs or medical techniques but, according to the Bible, God's divine intervention.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: What is the last five paragraphs?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Jewish boys spent their infancy and early childhood with their mothers until the age of 13, when they were bar mitzvahed. Thus, Hebrew boys and girls learned their faith and other aspects of life from their mom.
  During Jesus' adult life, Mary influences her son, even if only with a nudge. At the wedding feast of Cana, Mary is the one who mentions to Christ that the wine is all gone. Who but a mother would notice such a detail? Her request is followed by Jesus' first public miracle, turning gallons of water into vintage, premium wine. After this event, mother and son no longer lead a quiet life, and Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and preaching for the next three years. Mary's influence is also expressed at the foot of Calvary as Jesus is dying on the cross on Good Friday. Right before he dies, Jesus tells the Apostle John (also known as the Beloved Disciple), "Here is your mother" (John 1:27), and to Mary he says, "Woman, here is your son" (John 19:26). As his last will and testament of sorts, Jesus leaves his most precious possession, his mother, to the care of John the Apostle, the one whom he loved as a best friend. Some biblical scholars believe that John also represents the Christian church in that the personal relationship Jesus had with his mother would now extend to his mystical body, the Church. Sometimes, you can't do anything for the ones you love, especially when they're suffering and you are powerless and helpless, unable to offer any relief. Yet your very presence often is enough in these situations. Likewise, Mary could say or do nothing to lessen the agony of her son, Jesus, but her mere presence at the cross when he needed her most is appreciated and influences Jesus to entrust his mother to John and through him to the entire church.
  Mary is also present, along with the apostles, at the descent of the Holy Spirit 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus, an event called Pentecost. She is the only one who already "knows" the Holy Spirit, because it was by this power that she conceived a child without the biological cooperation of any human father. The one biological connection to Jesus is his mother, Mary, and the apostles stay close to her at least from the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus until the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Remember, the apostles didn't have any photos of Jesus to help them remember him, but they had his mom, who reminded them of her son.
  Mary is also believed to have influenced Luke, the gospel writer. Because he wasn't one of the original 12 apostles, and because his gospel contains much information about her, scholars believe that Luke may have gotten his information directly from her. Jews and Christians consider scripture to be the revealed Word of God, so Christians consider anything and everything Luke wrote in his gospel to be inspired. Luke based some of his writings on what he learned from the mother of Jesus, who thus made an important contribution to Luke's work as an evangelist (gospel writer). What he in turn wrote influenced those who read and preached those same words in the years (and centuries) to come.
  Even after her death, Mary's influence in the early and medieval church is enormous. No other woman is the subject of as many poems, hymns, sculptures, paintings, and other artistic works. She influenced thousands of artists, poets, musicians, and theologians over the past two millennia. Medieval and renaissance artists did more than simply depict or represent the Virgin Mary as the subject in their works. They often sought to also honor her as sons and daughters might try to honor their own earthly mother.