You are missing the point

First: it was written to comfort an old friend.

Second: Biblical scholars do not, as a rule, concern themselves with the Truth of the Bible, since they believe in it enough to be studying it to begin with.
I am not speaking of objective researchers here, but people to whom the Bible will be central in their lives - divinity students, evangelists, etc.

Now, having said that, if you stipulate the relevance of the Bible and the truth of its assertions to our discussion, the facts speak for themselves.

I cannot do your research. You can do your own or read the relevant passages in the Bible for yourself.

If you have GC search privileges, look up one of my old posts entitled "The Church, the Mafia, and You". It is a step in the right direction.