I just shared this on my Facebook page, thought I would share it here as well.

1. God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit- aka the three in one Trinity. Naturally no human sinners could match him at the top of the list.
2. King David- He repeatedly was said to be a man after God’s own heart, plus wrote a large portion of Psalms. No other non-divine king in Israel and Judah compared to him.
3. Peter the apostle- He was quickly transformed from someone who denied knowing Jesus three times to being bold, courageous, and half of the early church’s primary leaders.
4. Paul fka Saul- If you think you are too far removed from God to become a Christian, the sins you have committed can’t compare to all the persecution Saul inflicted on Christians before becoming saved. But Paul’s transformation also made him bold, courageous, and the other primary leader of the early church. Plus he was the writer of several epistles.
5. Mary- There are several women of character in the Bible. Mary’s character had to be exemplary for God to choose her as the mother of Jesus. At the same time Mary was still a sinner like everyone else, she would not have wanted to be worshipped and prayed to. Thus, rounding out the overall top 5 are Peter, Paul, and Mary. I like their music. ;)
6. John the apostle- Jesus’ disciple who was in his inner circle with Peter and James. He also wrote the wonderful gospel of John and the pivotal prophesy book of Revelation.
7. James the apostle- Jesus’ disciple who was in his inner circle with Peter and John
8. Melchizedek the high priest- While Aaron was high priest the time of Moses’ rule, he was a terrible priest building the golden calf for Israel and failing to teach his sons how to be proper priests. Melchizedek though, is all favorable mentions. Also, Christ was designated by God to be a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
9. Abraham fka Abram- Whether we are directly descended from him are not, all Christians are honorary descendants of Abraham. From his line came Isaac, Jacob, David, and of course Jesus’ earthly parents.
10. Jacob aka Israel- God’s chosen people the Israelites, later known as Jews, were started from Jacob. Also, Jacob persevered for Rachel after his corrupt uncle Laban cheated him a few times.
11. Daniel aka Belteshazzar- courageous standing up for his faith in a strange land, including the famous den of lions
12. Joseph son of Jacob- He learned from his youthful arrogance, standing up for what was right numerous times including with Potiphar’s wife.
13. Joseph the earthly father of Jesus- Instead of divorcing Mary from what appeared to be unfaithfulness, he trusted God, remaining with Mary and raising Jesus as his own son.
14. Luke the historian- He wrote two of the most crucial Bible books in Luke and Acts. Luke’s attention to detail and accuracy has been pointed out by The Case for Christ author Lee Strobel (who for a long time was a skeptic) as solid evidence the gospels are real.
15. King Hezekiah- the king who followed God the most after David
16. Deborah the judge- For those who say women can’t be leaders in the church, look at Deborah’s example. When Barak was timid in carrying out God’s instructions, Deborah was the person God gave the honors of that mission to. Fun fact: Deborah had a husband named Lappidoth. Most people won’t remember his name though, unless they are reading the verse the only time he is mentioned.
17. Isaiah the prophet- His book had several prophecies that came true about Jesus the Messiah.
18. Moses- He led the Israelites out of Egypt and stayed with them through much of their rebellion against him and God. Despite being denied going with Israel to the promised land because of striking the rock, the Lord personally buried Moses after speaking face-to-face with him numerous occurrences during his lifetime. And per the end of Deuteronomy, no other prophet since Moses has performed all his wonders, miraculous signs, and awesome deeds.
19. Noah- God was grieved he had created the earth and was close to destroying it all. But because of Noah’s faithfulness God spared his family, as a result everyone of us are literal descendants of Noah. He is also the last person to live for over two centuries before God made the maximum lifespan under 200 settling in the 120s, at 950 years Noah lived just 19 years less than his grandfather Methuselah.
20. Ruth the daughter-in-law of Naomi- Moabites were not typically interested in following God at all. Ruth was very much an exception, unlike Naomi’s other daughter-in-law who had become widowed Ruth wanted to stay with Naomi and follow her back to Israel. Ruth is also one of only two women who have a Bible book named after them, the other woman being Esther.

I've always seen Paul more in the light of a Rasputin, or a P.T. Barnum.

Suspecting his conversion was mostly a means towards an end. Essentially hijacking the following of his former adversary.

I've always seen Paul more in the light of a Rasputin, or a P.T. Barnum.

Suspecting his conversion was mostly a means towards an end. Essentially hijacking the following of his former adversary.
Many years ago, I read that Paul got a sunstroke and hallucinated his vision.
It is a theory among many others.

Well, I don't mean any disrespect to anyone. Everyone is entitled to believe as they prefer.

But personally I believe that Paul was a confidence man. I mean think about it, he was both a Jew and a Roman...how do you reconcile that at the time he was alive? He told people what they wanted to hear.

He was shrewd to a fault. Which is why I think it important to distinguish Pauline Christianity from it's organic roots.

I missed all the bible stories in my long life and I'm really OK with it all.

None of my family were bible people and Dad was a major non believer.

I missed all the bible stories in my long life and I'm really OK with it all.

.

Lot of earthly wisdom in that book for anyone willing to invest the time time to distill it. Times change, but humans are pretty much a constant (our frailty's, etc) across generations.

Thing about any set of circumstances, the narrative is advanced to tell the story that the tellers want to tell. I find it entertaining to impose modern context onto the old stories. For example, Paul, prior to his "conversion" was vilified in much the same way we scorn a "troll" in our modern context. Until he started telling everyone what they wanted to hear, and thereafter he became a hero. I'm sure there are modern parallels?

In fact, I wonder if anyone has made a TV series utilizing biblical plot devices to convey modern messages? Bet there has?

Lot of earthly wisdom in that book for anyone willing to invest the time time to distill it. Times change, but humans are pretty much a constant (our frailty's, etc) across generations.

Thing about any set of circumstances, the narrative is advanced to tell the story that the tellers want to tell. I find it entertaining to impose modern context onto the old stories. For example, Paul, prior to his "conversion" was vilified in much the same way we scorn a "troll" in our modern context. Until he started telling everyone what they wanted to hear, and thereafter he became a hero. I'm sure there are modern parallels?

In fact, I wonder if anyone has made a TV series utilizing biblical plot devices to convey modern messages? Bet there has?
Excuse me, but I don't understand what you mean.
Paul was only vilified and getting into trouble with authorities after his conversion.

Perfect List you created, icecream

Lot of earthly wisdom in that book for anyone willing to invest the time time to distill it. Times change, but humans are pretty much a constant (our frailty's, etc) across generations.

Thing about any set of circumstances, the narrative is advanced to tell the story that the tellers want to tell. I find it entertaining to impose modern context onto the old stories. For example, Paul, prior to his "conversion" was vilified in much the same way we scorn a "troll" in our modern context. Until he started telling everyone what they wanted to hear, and thereafter he became a hero. I'm sure there are modern parallels?

In fact, I wonder if anyone has made a TV series utilizing biblical plot devices to convey modern messages? Bet there has?

GJ: There is so much in life I don't have to know about and this area was one of them. 10 Commandments helped me stay on the straight and narrow and I spent years exploring so many of today's life's interests and for many non interests I suppose. c:):)

After reading Paul's epistles and his hardships he endured during the Book of Acts, it is hard for me to think he was somehow a "confidence man". Because of his example Christians through the centuries survived every single onslaught by an unbelieving world to this day.

What he taught after three years of being sequestered to study Jewish scriptures has become the basis for Christian belief and doctrine. He was honest and straightforward with all who listened to him.

He was honest and straightforward with all who listened to him.

For me to build a defensible argument....we'd have to go further into the arena of religious debate than the powers that be would likely appreciate.

Let me just say that I believe that Paul, like the Romans a few centuries later, concluded that it was more productive leading the movement,... than fighting it.

For me to build a defensible argument....we'd have to go further into the arena of religious debate than the powers that be would likely appreciate.

Let me just say that I believe that Paul, like the Romans a few centuries later, concluded that it was more productive leading the movement,... than fighting it.
How would he know that though?
Christianity was no more than a persecuted minority religion during his lifetime.

Christianity was no more than a persecuted minority religion during his lifetime.

Don't they still feel that way? :D

Two guys in the Bible (Old Testament) I found interesting, Moses and Jacob. For me, I am an agnostic and do not necessarily believe in the Bible, especially the early Bible. But here we go.

1. Moses was a prince of Egypt who exiled himself after killing a slave and went into the wilderness where he met his Hebrew was and his loving family and was content. Then God comes to Moses and tasks him to free the Hebrews. Moses sort of went "Why me?", but you couldnt really turn down God when God meets you face to face and Moses should know "God has my back".

Not going to state the whole story of Moses coming back to Egypt and dealing with with the King of Egypt and all the plagues, but Pharoh lets Moses and the Hebrews go. God helps Moses split the Red Sea, they cross and Pharoh and his army is killed when the water collapses.

But then, Moses has to deal with these people for FORTY YEARS, and he wasnt young when he started this errend. The Hebrews were not Holy, and not praising God even after seeing the miracles that God has done. The Hebrews constantly complained and said that they would have been better as slaves and Moses has never come around. This was after again, seeing God split open a vast amount of water for them to cross, manna from Heaven for them to eat and other miracles.

Moses is called up Mt. Sinai to meet God personally and get the 10 Commandments and then walks down the hill to see all of the people having a huge party worshipping a Golden Calf. Moses (to my knowledge of the Bible) cursed the people and many of them were killed by the wrath of God for their disobiendence. You would think the people surviving would know better by then.

But poor Moses and these damn people spent 40 years walking in circles (in modern times one can drive from the modern Egyptian border to Jerusalem in a day) because God decided that none of the original people who left was to see the Promised Land. Neither did Moses. Moses got pissed off and broke a staff in anger and frustration, and God decreed that Moses could not enter the Promised Land himself. I would like to say this was a bit unfair for God to do so, Moses went through hell with these pain in the ass people for decades and was at the breaking point! But Moses was a hero in the end and all Christians would say that Moses is in Heaven with the Father.

2. Jacob. This guy. Born according to the Bible about 500 years before the events of Moses. I never quite understood why this guy is Holy, and loved by Christians, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To me he was a con artist and a flim flam man. I do know somehat of “Jacob's ladder” and Jacob wrestling with God Himself.

Jacob was born as a twin with his brother Esau. Esau was born first and thus, was the inheritor of his father's Issac's estate by tradition. Jacob's mother for whatever reason loved Jacob more than Esau and was complicit in his con artist ways.

Esau was a hunter and preferred by his father while Jacob stayed close to home with his mother, and probbaly tended to the flock and household duties. In the Bible, I believe in Jude, God stated "For Jacob I loved and Esau I hated." Now, why did God hate Esau? If God hated Esau, why did God create Esau or at least made Jacob the older brother? Most religious scholars would just say "Because God can." But what did Esau do that he would be hated by God before he was created? Why would God create Esau? Why not just make Jacob the first born son and cut out the drama?

The story goes that Esau came home from hunting and was starving, and Jacob was cooking some porridge, and Esau wanted some porridge. "Im Starving." Jacob said along the lines of "I'll give you the soup for exchange of your birthright." Esau went like "Whatever man, Im starving, how about some soup?" Dumbass. Esau had no right or ability to change the birthright. He pretty much told his dishonest brother "I could eat a horse!" Jacob would have probably went "Well, I will kill you one and BBQ it for the inheritance." Esau had no right or ability to surrender his inheritance. It was his and was conned out of it.

When Isaac was old and dying, he had to confer his birthright to Esau for the inheritance. Jacob and his mother concocted a plan to fool Isaac (which is a lie, a sin against God). Isaac was blind but he and his mother dressed Jacob up in wooly clothing and somehow made his arms more hairy and they went to Isaac. Isaac was blind as an elderly man. Isaac came up as Esau for the blessing and at first was confused because Jacob's skin was so smooth but he and his mother convinced Isaac it was Esau so Jacob confired the blessing on Jacob (who he thought was Esau). For some reason the blessing was irreversable and Esau came home and found out what happened and was very pissed off. Couldn't blame him. He got screwed out what was rightfully his. Because of this (and again, cant blame Esau, he vowed vengence on his brother and Jacob had to make a run for it.

Jacob ended up far away at the farm of his uncle Laban. Laban had two daughters, Rebecca and Leah (his cousins). Jacob madly fell in love with Rachel and wanted to marry her and she was the same way. Laban agreed it Jacob worked seven years on his farm. An agreement was made. But Laban switched off the daughters and Jacob ended up sleeping in the tent of Leah (the homely one) and not Rachel (the girl he wanted.) When Jacob knew he was had, he went back to his uncle. His uncle, being the con man his nephew was, said, "well you married Leah, you can have Rebecca too, for seven more years on my farm!" Jacob loved Rachel so much he agreed to the terms but was stuck for fourteen years on Laban's farm with two wives, one he didnt want. Poor Leah. But Jacob liked Leah enough to have kids with her too. I would hope in the story somehow Laban found Esau and high fived and both went "What a dumbass!" Jacob got his and he deserved it.

In the end of probably this ficitious tale, Jacob and all of the kids he had with his two sisters met back with Esau and Esau forgave him. Esau didnt turn out too bad in life, except God hated him for some unknown reason before He made Esau in his mother's womb. Jacob was the jerk, the conman and the liar. I honestly dont get why this is a Bible story and why Jacob is so well regarded.

The story of Noah. Supposedly the Earth was so full of wickedness God ( who created humanity and being an Omnimax being knows the future and the past and all people and creation he is left to create) wanted to destroy all humanity but somehow saw Noah righteous in His eyes. So God Himself went to Noah and went " I need you to biuld me a boat, a huge boat since I am going to drown everything except for two of all air breathing animals, (and in the Bible something about seven of other animals but I am not a Bible scholar).

How much that Bill Cosby is disliked for his righteous sins (he's a rapist) against all of these women....Cosby did a comedy routine in the 1960's (heard it as a record at my friend's house and it is HILARIOUS） about God commanding Moses to build the boat.

God Almighty, the creator of the Universe commands Noah, just a guy to build a huge boat. Now Moses at this time is about 600 years old, which at that time is about middle age since people lived to be about 900 years old. He was married to a woman (unnamed) and for some reason only had three sons. Now think about that, he is 600, and she is about the same age and they only, ONLY have three sons? Maybe then a woman couldnt have kids past 50. We don't know.

So Noah, who lived way back in time where there was no science, and Noah had no experience building a boat, built a boat, a huge ship actually. It must have taken Noah a hundred years or longer and he must have hired help to build it beyond his three sons.

The boat is built and magically here comes all the animals. Not withstanding that all of these animals had to come from the four corners of the Earth, that somehow Kangeroos swam from Australia across Asia to the Middle East and to the boat. What about insects? Cockroaches. Bees and flies? There is a Christian museum in Kentucky ran by an Australian named Ken Ham (whose family name is ironic since Ham is not a kosher meat) who tries to scientifically prove that this actually happened as has other Christian people with otherwise advanced degrees to say it did. I would like to visit but admission is $40 dollars to go on a huge boat that doesnt float to see stuffed animals in cages.

Not going into the whole journey we all know so well, and forgetting the logistical impossibilities to do this, but Noah eventually crashed his boat on Mount Ararat which is on the border of modern Turkey and Russia. There is a joke in Alcoholics Anonymous that Noah was the first alcoholic because only an alcoholic could crash a boat into a mountain!

The story gets interesting because Noah planted a vineyard and discovered how to make wine and was drunk and laid in his bed naked. The so called "evil son", Ham (which some religionists think is the ancestors of black people) found him naked and thought it was humourous and told his brothers, and the brothers came in and somehow looked away from their father's nakedness and covered his body with a blanket. When Noah woke up he was very angry and cursed Ham's son Caanan. Not Ham, but his son, which furthers the idea that Ham was the ancestors of Africans and thereby cursed.

Noah's Ark is a silly story and again, lots of religious people try to piece it together to make it somehow a real thing.

Two guys in the Bible (Old Testament) I found interesting, Moses and Jacob. For me, I am an agnostic and do not necessarily believe in the Bible, especially the early Bible. But here we go.

1. Moses was a prince of Egypt who exiled himself after killing a slave and went into the wilderness where he met his Hebrew was and his loving family and was content. Then God comes to Moses and tasks him to free the Hebrews. Moses sort of went "Why me?", but you couldnt really turn down God when God meets you face to face and Moses should know "God has my back".

Not going to state the whole story of Moses coming back to Egypt and dealing with with the King of Egypt and all the plagues, but Pharoh lets Moses and the Hebrews go. God helps Moses split the Red Sea, they cross and Pharoh and his army is killed when the water collapses.

But then, Moses has to deal with these people for FORTY YEARS, and he wasnt young when he started this errend. The Hebrews were not Holy, and not praising God even after seeing the miracles that God has done. The Hebrews constantly complained and said that they would have been better as slaves and Moses has never come around. This was after again, seeing God split open a vast amount of water for them to cross, manna from Heaven for them to eat and other miracles.

Moses is called up Mt. Sinai to meet God personally and get the 10 Commandments and then walks down the hill to see all of the people having a huge party worshipping a Golden Calf. Moses (to my knowledge of the Bible) cursed the people and many of them were killed by the wrath of God for their disobiendence. You would think the people surviving would know better by then.

But poor Moses and these damn people spent 40 years walking in circles (in modern times one can drive from the modern Egyptian border to Jerusalem in a day) because God decided that none of the original people who left was to see the Promised Land. Neither did Moses. Moses got pissed off and broke a staff in anger and frustration, and God decreed that Moses could not enter the Promised Land himself. I would like to say this was a bit unfair for God to do so, Moses went through hell with these pain in the ass people for decades and was at the breaking point! But Moses was a hero in the end and all Christians would say that Moses is in Heaven with the Father.

2. Jacob. This guy. Born according to the Bible about 500 years before the events of Moses. I never quite understood why this guy is Holy, and loved by Christians, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To me he was a con artist and a flim flam man. I do know somehat of “Jacob's ladder” and Jacob wrestling with God Himself.

Jacob was born as a twin with his brother Esau. Esau was born first and thus, was the inheritor of his father's Issac's estate by tradition. Jacob's mother for whatever reason loved Jacob more than Esau and was complicit in his con artist ways.

Esau was a hunter and preferred by his father while Jacob stayed close to home with his mother, and probbaly tended to the flock and household duties. In the Bible, I believe in Jude, God stated "For Jacob I loved and Esau I hated." Now, why did God hate Esau? If God hated Esau, why did God create Esau or at least made Jacob the older brother? Most religious scholars would just say "Because God can." But what did Esau do that he would be hated by God before he was created? Why would God create Esau? Why not just make Jacob the first born son and cut out the drama?

The story goes that Esau came home from hunting and was starving, and Jacob was cooking some porridge, and Esau wanted some porridge. "Im Starving." Jacob said along the lines of "I'll give you the soup for exchange of your birthright." Esau went like "Whatever man, Im starving, how about some soup?" Dumbass. Esau had no right or ability to change the birthright. He pretty much told his dishonest brother "I could eat a horse!" Jacob would have probably went "Well, I will kill you one and BBQ it for the inheritance." Esau had no right or ability to surrender his inheritance. It was his and was conned out of it.

When Isaac was old and dying, he had to confer his birthright to Esau for the inheritance. Jacob and his mother concocted a plan to fool Isaac (which is a lie, a sin against God). Isaac was blind but he and his mother dressed Jacob up in wooly clothing and somehow made his arms more hairy and they went to Isaac. Isaac was blind as an elderly man. Isaac came up as Esau for the blessing and at first was confused because Jacob's skin was so smooth but he and his mother convinced Isaac it was Esau so Jacob confired the blessing on Jacob (who he thought was Esau). For some reason the blessing was irreversable and Esau came home and found out what happened and was very pissed off. Couldn't blame him. He got screwed out what was rightfully his. Because of this (and again, cant blame Esau, he vowed vengence on his brother and Jacob had to make a run for it.

Jacob ended up far away at the farm of his uncle Laban. Laban had two daughters, Rebecca and Leah (his cousins). Jacob madly fell in love with Rachel and wanted to marry her and she was the same way. Laban agreed it Jacob worked seven years on his farm. An agreement was made. But Laban switched off the daughters and Jacob ended up sleeping in the tent of Leah (the homely one) and not Rachel (the girl he wanted.) When Jacob knew he was had, he went back to his uncle. His uncle, being the con man his nephew was, said, "well you married Leah, you can have Rebecca too, for seven more years on my farm!" Jacob loved Rachel so much he agreed to the terms but was stuck for fourteen years on Laban's farm with two wives, one he didnt want. Poor Leah. But Jacob liked Leah enough to have kids with her too. I would hope in the story somehow Laban found Esau and high fived and both went "What a dumbass!" Jacob got his and he deserved it.

In the end of probably this ficitious tale, Jacob and all of the kids he had with his two sisters met back with Esau and Esau forgave him. Esau didnt turn out too bad in life, except God hated him for some unknown reason before He made Esau in his mother's womb. Jacob was the jerk, the conman and the liar. I honestly dont get why this is a Bible story and why Jacob is so well regarded.
Actually, two men who had been adults at the exodus were allowed to enter the Holy Land:
Joshua (who was the leader after Moses died) and Caleb.
And I agree that Moses's only sin doesn't seem that bad from modern point of view.
But who can question God's judgement?

And as for Jacob, his story is often used an example of this lesson:
Sometimes, we simply can't know why certain people are favored by God and others aren't.
Esau did one bad thing though, that would have been outrageous in ancient times.
By agreeing to sell his birthright, he treated his father and his family as if they were worth nothing.
Thus, both of the brothers had behaved badly.
Fortunately, they managed to reconcile later on in life.
Esau did pretty well too as he became the ancestor of a nation as well: the Edomites.

The story of Noah. Supposedly the Earth was so full of wickedness God ( who created humanity and being an Omnimax being knows the future and the past and all people and creation he is left to create) wanted to destroy all humanity but somehow saw Noah righteous in His eyes. So God Himself went to Noah and went " I need you to biuld me a boat, a huge boat since I am going to drown everything except for two of all air breathing animals, (and in the Bible something about seven of other animals but I am not a Bible scholar).

How much that Bill Cosby is disliked for his righteous sins (he's a rapist) against all of these women....Cosby did a comedy routine in the 1960's (heard it as a record at my friend's house and it is HILARIOUS） about God commanding Moses to build the boat.

God Almighty, the creator of the Universe commands Noah, just a guy to build a huge boat. Now Moses at this time is about 600 years old, which at that time is about middle age since people lived to be about 900 years old. He was married to a woman (unnamed) and for some reason only had three sons. Now think about that, he is 600, and she is about the same age and they only, ONLY have three sons? Maybe then a woman couldnt have kids past 50. We don't know.

So Noah, who lived way back in time where there was no science, and Noah had no experience building a boat, built a boat, a huge ship actually. It must have taken Noah a hundred years or longer and he must have hired help to build it beyond his three sons.

The boat is built and magically here comes all the animals. Not withstanding that all of these animals had to come from the four corners of the Earth, that somehow Kangeroos swam from Australia across Asia to the Middle East and to the boat. What about insects? Cockroaches. Bees and flies? There is a Christian museum in Kentucky ran by an Australian named Ken Ham (whose family name is ironic since Ham is not a kosher meat) who tries to scientifically prove that this actually happened as has other Christian people with otherwise advanced degrees to say it did. I would like to visit but admission is $40 dollars to go on a huge boat that doesnt float to see stuffed animals in cages.

Not going into the whole journey we all know so well, and forgetting the logistical impossibilities to do this, but Noah eventually crashed his boat on Mount Ararat which is on the border of modern Turkey and Russia. There is a joke in Alcoholics Anonymous that Noah was the first alcoholic because only an alcoholic could crash a boat into a mountain!

The story gets interesting because Noah planted a vineyard and discovered how to make wine and was drunk and laid in his bed naked. The so called "evil son", Ham (which some religionists think is the ancestors of black people) found him naked and thought it was humourous and told his brothers, and the brothers came in and somehow looked away from their father's nakedness and covered his body with a blanket. When Noah woke up he was very angry and cursed Ham's son Caanan. Not Ham, but his son, which furthers the idea that Ham was the ancestors of Africans and thereby cursed.

Noah's Ark is a silly story and again, lots of religious people try to piece it together to make it somehow a real thing.
Well, it is clear that many old stories like this one shouldn't be taken literally at all.

We have to remember that Caanan was believed to be the ancestor to the Caananites.
As in the old enemies of the Israelites, who were always condemned later on in the Bible.
When you know that, the story of Noah cursing his grandson makes more sense.
It is true though that it's weird that Caanan should be cursed for what his father did.
But still, that kind of logic is common in "Genesis".