I am getting rather different answers. (Of course one can get different answers simply by refreshing the request in ChatGPT. BibleMate does not offer that option, and it appears that its answers have become somewhat fixed.)
As to the question: Was Jonah swallowed by a whale?
BibleMate in May answered:
Yes, according to the Bible, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, not specifically identified as a whale, in the book of Jonah. The book of Jonah is a narrative about a prophet named Jonah who was called by God to go to the city of Nineveh to preach repentance to its people. However, Jonah disobeyed God and tried to flee by boarding a ship going in the opposite direction.
As a result, God sent a great storm that threatened to sink the ship. The sailors on the ship realized that Jonah was the cause of the storm and threw him overboard. It was then that Jonah was swallowed by the great fish. After three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, Jonah repented and prayed to God, and the fish vomited him onto dry land.
While some people may view this story as a metaphor or allegory, others believe it to be a literal historical event. Regardless of one's interpretation, the story of Jonah teaches important lessons about obedience to God and the power of repentance and forgiveness."
BibleMate now answers:
Yes, according to the biblical account in the book of Jonah, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, commonly referred to as a whale. In Jonah 1:17, it says, "Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." This miraculous event serves as a sign of God's power and mercy, as Jonah was eventually vomited out by the fish and given a second chance to fulfill his mission. The story of Jonah is often interpreted as a lesson about obedience and repentance.
ChatGPT in May answered:
The story of Jonah being swallowed by a whale or a great fish is found in the biblical Book of Jonah. According to the account, Jonah was a prophet who was commanded by God to go to the city of Nineveh and deliver a message of repentance. Instead of obeying, Jonah attempted to flee from God's command by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish.
During the journey, a great storm arose, and the sailors realized that Jonah was the cause of their misfortune. Jonah instructed them to throw him overboard, believing that this would calm the storm. As he was cast into the sea, the text says that "the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights" (Jonah 1:17).
The Book of Jonah does not specify the exact creature that swallowed Jonah, using the Hebrew word "dag gadol," which generally refers to a large sea creature. The term "whale" is commonly used in translations, but the text itself does not provide specific details.
The story of Jonah being swallowed by a great fish is often interpreted symbolically or as a miraculous event. It emphasizes the themes of obedience, repentance, and God's mercy. Some consider it to be a parable or an allegorical tale rather than a historical account, while others view it as a literal event.
As with many biblical narratives, the interpretation of Jonah's story varies among different individuals and religious traditions. Ultimately, whether one believes the account to be a historical event or a symbolic story is a matter of personal faith and interpretation.
ChaptGPT 3.5 now answers:
The story of Jonah being swallowed by a whale is a biblical narrative found in the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament. According to the account, Jonah was a prophet who tried to escape God's command to go to the city of Nineveh and deliver a message of repentance. As he tried to flee by sea, a great storm arose, and the sailors on the ship eventually cast lots to determine that Jonah was the cause of the storm. Jonah instructed them to throw him into the sea, and a great fish, traditionally described as a "whale," swallowed him.
The relevant biblical passage is found in the Book of Jonah, specifically Jonah 1:17 (New International Version):
"Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."
The story goes on to describe how Jonah prayed to God from the belly of the fish, and after three days and nights, the fish vomited him onto dry land. Jonah then went to Nineveh and delivered the message as God had commanded.
Whether the events in the story are to be understood as literal historical events or as a symbolic or allegorical tale is a matter of interpretation. Some people interpret the story as a miraculous event that actually happened, while others see it as a literary device with a moral or theological message. It is important to note that interpretations of biblical stories can vary among different religious traditions and denominations.
As you can see, BibleMate has shortened the answer and removed the possibility of an allegorical or metaphorical reading. ChatGPT's response again provides more context, but it has simplified the response somewhat.
Regarding the question of "What does the Gospel of John say about the 'Jews'?", I got new answers from both, but I would say they are similar to the May responses and a bit better. Interestingly, BibleMate concluded with this statement:
If you have any specific passages or questions in mind regarding the references to "the Jews" in the Gospel of John, feel free to mention them, and I'll be glad to provide more insight and biblical citations.
SUMMARY
As is the nature of AI, things are evolving. I'm wondering if there were 'conservative' responses to BibleMate's earlier answer about Jonah and the whale that have caused it to become more 'conservative.' The comparison also shows how good AI can be AND how you still need to confirm whether AI responses are any good at all. We still need to wonder about how AI is scouring the web to come up with its answers and how that all infringes on copyright matters. The evolving nature also shows how easy it can be to plagiarize from these AI engines without getting caught.
