"Quid est veritas?" What is the truth about Pontius Pilate?

Gloria Romanorum ^ | April 15, 2017 | Florentius

[Antoninus]

For Holy Saturday. This is particularly useful when modern folks claim that there is no corroboration for the life of Christ outside of Sacred Scripture.

[2banana]

He was a bureaucrat who wanted no troubles and law/order.

To accomplish this he needed to work with the Jewish power structure in Judea.

He was not going to send his governance into chaos over a poor Jew. No matter guilty or innocent.

It really is that simple.

[Leaning Right]

The writings of Philo and Josephus proved nothing about Pilate’s existence, the doubters said. Those two were just repeating stories they heard. Pilate was probably a mythical character, made up to advance the Jesus story.

The discovery of the Pilate Stone changed all that.

[OrangeHoof]

He would have made a great GOP-e.

[Antoninus]

The writings of Philo and Josephus proved nothing about Pilate’s existence, the doubters said. Those two were just repeating stories they heard. Pilate was probably a mythical character, made up to advance the Jesus story. The discovery of the Pilate Stone changed all that.

The doubters who cast aspersions on documentary evidence from antiquity find themselves perplexed with some regularity.

[impactplayer]

Pilate is a “saint” in the Coptic church in Egypt (I believe his saint day is June 25th). He is said to have become a devout follower of Jesus and a leader in the early church.
Interesting . . .

[Antoninus]

Pilate is a “saint” in the Coptic church in Egypt (I believe his saint day is June 25th). He is said to have become a devout follower of Jesus and a leader in the early church. Interesting . . .

I've seen that, but the evidence is not compelling.

[impactplayer]

No, he IS a saint in the Coptic Church - Rome does not find the evidence compelling.

[Clutch Martin]

“No, he [Pontius Pilate] IS a saint in the Coptic Church - Rome does not find the evidence compelling.”

That would cause me to wonder if Judas Iscariot is also a saint in the Coptic Church of Egypt?

[impactplayer]

Judas did not repent - you are assuming the same is true for Pilate. The Coptic Church knew him well - - - I have no reason to doubt their decision.

[elbook]

pilate was picked as governor to keep a lid on the powder keg that was the land of the jews

he had to deal with jewish politicians who wanted to maintain their own power

he had to deal with a festival crowd overflowing in a city which was turbulent in NORMAL times

The romans generally used a zero tolerance policy to handle things

[elbook]

“He is said to have become a devout follower of Jesus and a leader in the early church.
Interesting . . .
“

the pagan romans put great stock in ‘signs’ and auspices — and apparently there were very significant ones the day of Jesus’s death

[Bratch]

He was a bureaucrat who wanted no troubles and law/order.

You've just described most of the modern "inside-the-Beltway" Republicans.

[Antoninus]

Judas did not repent - you are assuming the same is true for Pilate. The Coptic Church knew him well - - - I have no reason to doubt their decision.

Why did the Coptic Church know him well?

[impactplayer]

The Coptic Church knew him because he lived with them - this was the church with Mark as their leader. It really is a fascinating story of redemption and forgiveness - and his wife played a key role.

[impactplayer]

The Coptic Church knew him because he lived with them - this was the church with Mark as their leader. It really is a fascinating story of redemption and forgiveness - and his wife played a key role.

[Teacher317]

The weak, vacillating and ultimately cruel and cowardly figure of Pontius Pilate is one of the most enigmatic figures in Sacred Scripture.

The one person.. the ONLY person... to try to block Jesus's crucifixion... not once, not twice, but THREE times... when even Jesus knows what has to happen to get all of our sins forgiven... and yet Pilate still gets unending hatred for 2000 years. SMH.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Teacher317, I think you are not giving due consideration to Pilate's wife, who is the ONLY person who unambiguously stood up for Jesus and called him innocent at the time of his trial (Matthew 27:19).

Pilate knew he was innocent, but allowed him to be crucified: a form of punishment only the Roman law could inflict.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Judas did repent at least in a narrow sense. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But the Church leaders forsook him and he never received the Word of forgiveness. “What is that to us. See to that yourself.”

[Antoninus]

The Coptic Church knew him because he lived with them - this was the church with Mark as their leader. It really is a fascinating story of redemption and forgiveness - and his wife played a key role.

Where is the evidence?