I asked ChatGPT to provide some questions about Matthew 20:20-28

I've been asking it questions about the book of Revelation. It's actually not as scary as I thought it would be. lol It gave some fairly decent answers although there were a few factual errors and the answers were rather generic and formulaic. 

Just playing around with it I actually think ChatGPT could be a great tool for teachers. Since it tends to give generically popular conceptions and responses to questions you can use it to find out what assumptions (or misconceptions) might be in your congregations' heads about a topic and plan to address them in your lessons. It can also be a good tool to help you structure your lessons since it tends to give very structured responses.

Here's an example:

----------------------------------

What is the role of the Lamb in Revelation?

The Lamb is a central figure in the Book of Revelation, symbolizing Jesus Christ. The Lamb is depicted as a slain lamb, representing the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the sins of humanity. This imagery draws upon Old Testament references to the sacrifice of lambs as a way of seeking forgiveness and atonement.

The role of the Lamb in Revelation is significant in several ways:

1. Savior: The Lamb is portrayed as the Savior of humanity, who died on the cross to redeem people from their sins and offer them the gift of eternal life.

2. Conquerer: The Lamb is depicted as a conqueror, triumphing over evil forces and establishing God's kingdom on earth. This represents the ultimate triumph of good over evil and the establishment of God's rule over all things.

3. Worship: The Lamb is the object of worship in heaven, and the worship of the Lamb is a central aspect of the worship described in the book. This emphasizes the importance of giving glory and honor to Jesus for his sacrifice and triumph.

4. Judge: The Lamb is also depicted as a judge, separating the righteous from the unrighteous and rendering judgment on those who have rejected him. This aspect of the Lamb's role emphasizes the importance of faith and obedience to God.

Overall, the role of the Lamb in Revelation is multifaceted and serves to emphasize the centrality of Jesus Christ in God's plan of redemption and the ultimate triumph of his kingdom. The image of the Lamb as a slain and triumphant sacrifice, object of worship, and judge underscores the significance of his sacrifice and the need for faith and obedience to him.

--------------------------------

Not sure why it misspelled conqueror in #2. When I tried to tell it that it had misspelled a word I got a "network error." lol That actually happened a couple of times, when I tried to give it feedback it would conveniently have a network error. I wonder if the thing doesn't like being corrected. lol

I asked it for some commentary recommendations on the book of Genesis:

“The book of Genesis is an important and complex text that has been the subject of much interpretation and analysis. Some of the most well-regarded books and commentaries on Genesis include:

1. "Genesis: A Commentary" by Bruce K. Waltke
2. "The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17" by Walter Brueggemann
3. "The Genesis of Genesis: How the Book Became the Bible" by Mark Smith
4. "Genesis 1-11: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary" by Everett Fox
5. "Studies in Genesis One" by Henry M. Morris
6. "Genesis: History, Fiction, or Neither?" by Kathryn A. Wellen
7. "The Torah: A Modern Commentary" edited by W. Gunther Plaut
8. "The Creation of Adam: A New Interpretation of Genesis" by Susan Portanova
9. "A Garden Eastward: In Eden" by Dr. Samuel C. Gipp
10. "Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary" by Derek Kidner.

These are just a few of the many excellent books and commentaries on Genesis, and the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and interests. When choosing a commentary, consider factors such as the author's perspective, the focus of the commentary, and the level of detail it provides.”

Kiyah said:

Not sure why it misspelled conqueror in #2. When I tried to tell it that it had misspelled a word I got a "network error." lol That actually happened a couple of times, when I tried to give it feedback it would conveniently have a network error. I wonder if the thing doesn't like being corrected. lol

That is actually an accepted alternative spelling: https://onelook.com/?w=conquerer

I've had it accept critical feedback before. It usually says something apologetic and then restates the correction I gave it, in its own words.

Rosie Perera said:

I've had it accept critical feedback before. It usually says something apologetic and then restates the correction I gave it, in its own words.

I know. I was eventually able to give it feedback and it apologizes and restates the correction just like you said. I was just making a joke since the main time I get an error is when I try to give it feedback. lol

NB.Mick said:

unscrupulously invents citations, references and books

Half the books on the list of commentaries it recommended to me on Revelation do not exist.

Rosie Perera said:

That is utter garbage.

I'm wondering if it's doing this on purpose as part of the "research." I feel like it's giving really bad and then pretty decent answers (or a mixture) on purpose to prompt (or provoke) feedback from the user since the research is "to make AI systems more natural and safe to interact with." If all its answers made sense it wouldn't prompt as much feedback from the user. I almost feel like I'm being tested with some of these answers, as if they're trying to see what I'll react to.

EDIT: Never mind. From the ChatGPT FAQ page:

[quote]

One of the main challenges of ChatGPT is that it predicts feasible responses, which look like reasonable text but may not always be true. This means that ChatGPT may not always give you accurate or reliable information, and may even contradict itself.

For example, you may ask ChatGPT to complete some task (e.g. send an email or print the current directory) and it may respond as though it has some external operating power. However, ChatGPT is only a text-in, text-out system and has no external capabilities. It cannot access your email account, your files, or any other resources outside of its own model. It is simply mimicking the language patterns of a human conversational partner, but without any real understanding of the context or the consequences.

Similarly, you may ask ChatGPT to look up some facts or data (e.g. the capital of a country or the weather forecast) and it may respond with plausible but incorrect answers. ChatGPT does not have access to any external sources of information or knowledge, and it may rely on its own memory or guesswork to generate responses.

It may also confuse or mix up different topics or domains, or repeat or contradict itself over time. Therefore, you should always verify any information or claims that ChatGPT makes with other sources, and do not rely on it for any critical or sensitive decisions or actions. ChatGPT is not a substitute for human judgment, expertise, or responsibility.

ChatGPT is a fascinating and innovative tool that can help you explore the possibilities and challenges of natural language generation and interaction. However, you should also use it responsibly and realistically, and remember that it is not a human, a machine, or a magic wand, but a complex and creative language model.

Looks like a lot of the commentary recommendations are fabrications. Half are real, but #s 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 aren’t actual books. 

Somewhat off topic:

As far as AI goes, does anyone know a tool that will organize Bible references so that they're in order? I want to paste some references from several commentaries (probably from the same Bible book) but would like the references in canonical order. Looking for a tool that would organize them.