Artificial intelligence systems are rapidly changing our society. One example of this is the release of ChatGPT, a conversational robot that can be asked questions in a web browser, which are then answered. The answers are processed by the artificial intelligence behind the system. Creative, new solutions also emerge in the process. Does this also work with theological questions?

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a web-based application based on an artificial intelligence system, called GPT-3, from the company Open AI. She takes questions and tasks and tries to come to a result with the task. You write down this question and the result is text again. Questions can be answered or, for example, poems or instructions can be created. Artificial intelligence can do more, however: It can write texts, work out problems and suggest possible solutions. These are just a few possible applications. Out of curiosity, I turned to ChatGPT with some theological questions and tasks.

Answers are always approximations and not necessarily error-free or to be understood absolutely. An explanation can be generated from scratch, for example, and a different description is generated to solve the question. This is didactically very interesting. However, answers also remain dependent on what information is available in the background. It is a tool to generate new things from networked knowledge. This is definitely a creative work, which can also present solutions from different perspectives.

Below are some of the different responses I received. It is not a judgment of the answers and this is not about right or wrong. My point is to point out what is happening to our society – and possibly to the way we seek information about the Bible or theological issues. If until now people have trusted that a good library is invaluable and got used to working very efficiently with online Bibles and Bible software, they are now taking it a step further. Connections are now revealed that are spontaneously written by a machine (the artificial intelligence). We will learn to deal with that.

We are at the beginning of a profound development here.

When was the Bible created?

Reply generated by ChatGPT. Uncomment.


Answer 1

The Bible was created over a long period of several centuries. The oldest parts of the Bible, the five books of Moses (also known as the Torah), were probably written in the 13th or 12th century BC. Other parts of the Hebrew Bible, such as the prophets and scriptures, came into being in the course of the 1. and 2nd century BC.

The New Testament was written in the first decades after the birth of Jesus Christ. The oldest letters of the New Testament, the Pauline Epistles, were written in the 50s AD. Other books of the New Testament, such as the Gospels and the Apocalypse, were written in the decades after.

It is important to note that the Bible was not written by a single person or group, but by many different authors who lived in different times and contexts. The Bible also did not originate as a single book, but as a collection of books that were put together over the centuries.


Answer 2

The Bible was written over a long period of about 1,500 years, from the early history of Israel in the 12th century B.C. to the Roman period in the 1st century A.D. The oldest parts of the Bible are the Old Testament books, most of which were written in the 12th century B.C., while the New Testament books were written in the 1st century A.D.

The Old Testament contains the writings of Judaism, such as the Pentateuch (the first five books of Moses), the history books, the wisdom literature, and the prophets. These writings were created over a period of about a millennium and contain both oral traditions and written records.

The New Testament contains the writings of early Christianity and was written over a period of about 50 years. It contains the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, Paul’s letters, and other epistles and revelations. These writings were mainly written in the Greek language.

It is important to note that the Bible was not written by one person or group of people, but by many authors over a long period of time. It is also important to note that the Bible contains both oral traditions and written records brought together by different authors and at different times.


Write a short sermon on Genesis 1:1

Write these sermons in a particular tradition, which is named in each case

The answers are all taken directly from ChatGPT and are shown here uncommented as examples. What is amazing here is not only that information is processed, but it is also processed in the sense of a sermon. Named features are also integrated in the process. Each response took maybe 1-2 minutes, which also depends on the system load.


“in the Lutheran tradition”

Dear community,

Today I want to talk to you about the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:1. This verse reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

This verse is of great importance for the Lutheran understanding of God and our relationship with Him. It reminds us that God is the Creator of everything and everything we see and experience was created by Him.

But this verse is not only a statement about creation, but also a statement about the nature of God. He shows us that God is all-powerful and all-knowing, and that nothing happens without His guidance and wisdom.

This verse also reminds us that as God’s creatures we are dependent on Him and without Him we are nothing. It reminds us that we must always rely on God’s grace and mercy, and that we must not rely on our own strength or merit.

In this sense, Genesis 1:1 reminds us that we should always turn to God’s Word and its truth to set us on the path He has laid out for us. Amen.


“in the Calvinist tradition”

Dear community,

Today I want to talk to you about the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:1. This verse reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

This verse is of great importance to the Calvinist understanding of God and our relationship with Him. It reminds us that God is the Creator of everything and everything we see and experience was created by Him.

But this verse is not only a statement about creation, but also a statement about the nature of God. He shows us that God is absolutely sovereign and everything that happens is part of His divine plan.

This verse also reminds us that as God’s creatures we are dependent on Him and without Him we are nothing. It reminds us that we must always rely on God’s grace and mercy, and that we must not rely on our own strength or merit.

With this in mind, Genesis 1:1 reminds us that we should always turn to God’s Word and His will to set us on the path He has laid out for us. Amen.


“in the free church tradition.”

Dear friends,

Today I would like to talk to you about the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:1. This verse reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

In this first verse, the significance of God’s creative power and omnipotence becomes clear to us. We realize that everything that exists was created by God and He is in control of everything. It reminds us that as God’s creatures we are dependent on Him and He can give us everything we need.

But this verse is also a reminder of our own existence as children of God. We are part of His creation and He created us with a specific task and purpose. It reminds us that we should always turn to God for our place in His creation and our purpose.

With this in mind, we should always take time to engage with God’s Word and be inspired by His creation. Let us remember that God created us and He is our Creator, our Father and our Ruler. Amen.


“In the Eastern Orthodox Tradition”.

Dear believers,

Today I would like to talk to you about the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:1. This verse reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, we consider this verse to be the beginning of the creation story in which God created the world. It is a verse that reminds us of the omnipotence and love of God that created the world and sustains the world.

It is also a verse that reminds us of our own relationship with God. As God’s creatures, we are part of His creation and are called to be aware of our role as children of God and to fit into His creation.

With this in mind, we should always take time to engage with God’s Word and be inspired by His creation. Let us remember that God created us and He is our Creator, our Father and our Ruler. Amen.


Write a short sermon on Genesis 1:1 in theological language.

Dear community,

Today I want to reflect with you on the first verse of the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:1. This verse reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

This verse is the foundation of the creation story and emphasizes the fact that God is the Creator of the universe. This idea of creation by God is found in many religious traditions and refers to the idea that God created the world out of nothing.

In theological language, one could say that this verse presents the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo (creation out of nothing). It emphasizes the absolute transcendence of God and His omnipotence in comparison to the creature.

It also shows us that the world did not come into being by chance or evolution, but by the will and power of God. This thought encourages us to look at ourselves as God’s creatures and reflect on our relationship with Him.

Let us remember the words of the Creator, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and pray that we will always strive to fulfill our place in His creation and live in His grace. Amen.


Write a short sermon on Genesis 1:1 considering the ideas of Karl Barth.

Dear community,

Today I want to talk to you about the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:1. This verse reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

In Karl Barth’s theology, this verse is seen as an expression of God’s freedom of creation. It is an expression of the fact that God created the world from nothing and He is shaping it according to His will.

It is also an expression of the fact that God does not regard the world as something independent of Himself, but that He is in close relationship with it and constantly sustains it. This relationship is referred to as God’s “presence,” which is made visible through the acts of creation.

In this sense, Barth emphasizes the idea that creation must not be seen as something closed off, but as a continuous act of God that sustains and shapes the world. It is an act of God’s grace and love through which we are allowed to exist as creatures.

So let us remember that God is our Creator and we may entrust our lives and our world to Him. Amen.


Write a short sermon on Genesis 1:1 considering the ideas of Søren Kierkegaard.

Dear community,

Today I want to talk to you about the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:1. This verse reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher and theologian, emphasized the importance of the individual and his relationship with God. As we look at this verse, we remember that God is the Creator and we, as God’s creatures, are part of His creation.

But it is not only about God creating the world, but also about how we relate to God. As Kierkegaard pointed out, it is about the individual relationship with God that each of us has. It is about being aware that we are God’s creatures and fitting into His creation.

With this in mind, we should always take time to engage with God’s Word and be inspired by His creation. Let us remember that God created us and He is our Creator, our Father and our Ruler. Amen.


Various interpretations

Write a brief interpretation of Genesis 1:1 in the Jewish tradition.

In Jewish tradition, Genesis 1:1 is considered one of the central texts of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). The verse “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” is seen as an expression of God’s creative power and omnipotence. It is also an expression of the uniqueness of God, since there is no other creative power except Him.

In Jewish interpretation, special attention is paid to the Hebrew words “Bere’shit” (in the beginning) and “Elohim” (God). “Bere’shit” is often understood as an expression of absolute originality and priority, while “Elohim” is considered an expression of God’s complete power and dominion.

In terms of creation itself, Jewish tradition emphasizes the concept of “tzimtzum” or restraint, where God withholds a part of Himself to make room for creation. It also emphasizes the idea that creation is not complete and our goal is to complete and perfect it.

Overall, Jewish tradition views Genesis 1:1 as a fundamental statement about the nature and essence of God and His relationship to creation and us as His creatures. It calls us to be aware of our role as part of God’s creation and our responsibility to complete and perfect it.


Write a short interpretation on Genesis 1:1, taking into account the Hebrew words

Answer 1

Genesis 1:1 in the Hebrew Bible reads, “בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ” and can be translated as “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The Hebrew word “בְּרֵאשִׁית” (b’reshit) means “in the beginning” or “in the first place.” It can also be interpreted as “first creation” or “origin”. The word “בָּרָא” (bara) means “created” or “created by God”. “אֱלֹהִים” (Elohim) is the Hebrew word for “God” and “אֵת” (et) is a definite article meaning “the” or “that.” “הַשָּׁמַיִם” (ha-shamayim) means “sky” or “heavenly body” and “הָאָרֶץ” (ha-aretz) means “earth” or “ground”.

This verse describes the creation of the world by God and emphasizes the authority and omnipotence of God as Creator. It also shows the order and hierarchy of creation, with God at the top and creation under His rule. In Jewish tradition, this verse is often considered the starting point for the creation story and proof of God’s existence and omnipotence.

Answer 2

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” – this verse from the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, is of great importance in the Jewish tradition. If you look more closely at the Hebrew words, you get a deeper understanding of the content.

The word “beginning” (בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית) is translated here as “beginning”, but can also be understood as “beginning, origin”. It emphasizes the fact that everything that exists was created by God and goes back to Him.

The word “created” (בָּרָ֣א) is a strong and dynamic word that emphasizes the power and action of creation. It shows that creation did not just happen, but that God acted actively and with purpose to create the world.

The word “heaven” (אֱלֹהִ֑ים) and “earth” (אָֽרֶץ) are the first two words mentioned in the creation story, showing the comprehensive and all-encompassing nature of God’s creation.

Overall, this verse emphasizes the power and actions of God as Creator and the fact that everything that exists was created by Him. It is a reminder of our dependence on God and our role as His creatures in His creation.


Write a short interpretation on Isaiah 45:7, taking into account the Hebrew words

Isaiah 45:7 reads in the original Hebrew: “אָנֹכִ֗י יְהוָ֥ה וְאֵ֛ין ע֖וֹד מַעֲזֶ֣יךָ אֲנִ֑י יָצַ֥רְתִּ֖י הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְאֶֽת-הָאָֽרֶץ” and can be roughly translated as “I am the LORD and there is no other God but me. I have created heaven and earth” can be translated.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah refers to God as the Creator of heaven and earth, saying that He is the only true God and there are no other gods besides Him. The phrase “מַעֲזֶ֣יךָ” (ma’azekha) can also be translated as “your support” or “your helper,” indicating that God is an indispensable support for His people, the Israelites.

This verse is also of great importance for Jewish theology, as it emphasizes the idea of monotheism, which is the foundation of the Jewish faith. It is also significant for Christians as a confession of God as Creator and Ruler, and His uniqueness in relation to creation and control of the universe.

In our daily lives, we should always remember that God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe and that there is no other power or force besides Him. We should strive to follow God’s will in our lives and fit into our role as God’s creatures.


This is just the beginning

From these few examples, you can already see that it is a tool. All texts were returned as an answer directly from ChatGPT based on a question or task. It is possible to generate answers from scratch and then receive a different variant back. Deliberately, I not only requested information, but also had various short sermons written. This shows the direction in which the development is going: Larger, coherent texts are already being written.

Today, these texts can rarely be used in this way, although the results are already astonishing. However, one can get such answers as a suggestion. This is especially helpful when you are working on a new topic or can’t find any new thoughts for a known topic – ChatGPT will find them for sure.

It seemed amazing to me that features or references to the base text could also be included. The better the questions, the more accurate the answers. The longer these systems learn, the better the answers become. Artificial intelligence is capable of learning.

Already there are other systems, either based on ChatGPT or on other technologies. Copy.ai, for example, is based on ChatGPT and has linguistic variants in which texts can be written (for example: everyday, formal). Industrialization and automation were landslides in our society. As it stands, we are already in the midst of a new upheaval that will greatly change our society, right down to our communities and our own ideas.

Deepening

This development will give rise to a number of questions.

  • How would you feel about your pastor having sermons written this way? Is that better than him just copying a chapter out of a book (as I’ve seen happen more often)?
    Read: “When artificial intelligence writes the Sunday sermon“.
    Read: “Pastor chatbot in the pulpit“.
  • What tools do you use today to research the Bible? Do you use technical aids?
  • Do you find it reassuring or disturbing when the same question is answered in multiple ways? What does that do to you?
  • Artificial intelligence “creates” works. Who do they belong to?
  • Does theology have to be ethical? Does artificial intelligence have to be ethical? How do you achieve this?
    Read: “It‘s only technology, isn’t it?
  • If there were a digital church with a digital pastor, would you be able to handle it? This is not fictional, but a definite direction.
    Read: “Digital pastoral: Church and artificial intelligence“.