34 Why We Say What We Say

Hey there. Welcome to the Investigators Guide to the Bible. It is just about put up or shut up time. We’ve talked about sources and analysis. We’ve talked about evidence and how to view it. It is time to start putting all the facts together. Believe it or not, though, there are still a couple topics we have to round out, first. I have not talked about analytic integrity, yet, or the analytic standards I use. Again, believe it or not, this is very relevant. If I am asking you to trust me, you should know why this work should be trustworthy. I’m Tony. All the stuff I said last time is still true so let’s get started!Resources and References so I can pretend I’m really smart:* Most Bible quotes I used come from the New American Bible, Revised Edition. Washington, DC: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 2010. Though I frequently mention other Bible translations, this is my working Bible for most of these episodes. Any Bible you use will be fine for all of the Biblical references.* Almost every discussion on the translation of a particular word means a trip to BibleHub.com for their amazing Interlinear Bible. Bible Hub, Glassport, PA. Just assume I’m using their site and check it out for yourself. (https://biblehub.com/interlinear/, accessed more times than I can count, 2021-2025)If you read something that is not a direct quote and think the brilliant thought might be mine, it is safer to assume I messed up the citation. Give credit to the super smart people below.1. Intelligence Community Directive 203, Technical Directive, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 12 Jun 2023 (https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICD/ICD-203.pdf, accessed 30 Sep 2025)2. “The Protoevangelium of James the Lesser.” Translated by Alexander Walker. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 8. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight.3. Brown, Raymond E. The Birth of the Messiah, Updated Edition. New York: Doubleday, 19934. Hesemann, Michael, translated by Michael J. Miller. Mary of Nazareth: History, Archeology, Legends. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, CA 2016 (Original German edition, 2011, Sankt Ulrich Verlag, Augsburg, Germany.) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit investigatorsguidetothebible.substack.com