Posted on 10/05/2014 3:53:29 AM PDT by markomalley
Michael Paulkovich, author of No Meek Messiah, has proclaimed that Jesus never existed. In his book, the author details his shocking discovery of “one-hundred-twenty-six authors from the time of Jesus who should have, but did not record anything about the Christian godman.”
Paulkovich’s case rests on three main pillars. First, the discovery that no ancient writers from the first few centuries CE mention Jesus. Second, the assumption that most writers should have mentioned Jesus, since he was the Son of God and all that. Third, the keen observation that Jesus never wrote anything himself. Although an undeniably compelling trinity of argumentation, it is not without its logical problems.
Let’s get one thing straight: There is nigh universal consensus among biblical scholars—the authentic ones, anyway—that Jesus was, in fact, a real guy. They argue over the details, of course, as scholars are wont to do, but they’re pretty much all on the same page that Jesus walked the earth (if not the Sea of Galilee) in the 1st century CE.
So that brings us to Paulkovich’s list: 126 ancient writers, 0 references to Jesus. The list has a few issues. Although everyone on it is indeed ancient, some are a little too ancient—as in, lived-a-hundred-years-before-Jesus too ancient (Asclepiades of Prusa, for example).
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
Sort of nice seeing an atheist work demolished even in a leftie rag like The Beast.
The extant manuscripts of the writings of the 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus include references to Jesus and the origins of Christianity. Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews, written around 93–94 AD, includes two references to the biblical Jesus Christ in Books 18 and 20 and a reference to John the Baptist in Book 18.
Love the title...”So-Called ‘Biblical Scholar’”
This quote from the article says it all:
“Long story short: of the 126 people listed by Paulkovich, there are only 10 or so whom we might expect to have written about Jesus. And it’s probably worth mentioning that there are, of course, writers from the first centuries CE who refer to Jesus, and even write quite extensively about him. But since those authors all got bundled into a collection called the New Testament, we should probably just dismiss them from the discussion.
By his own admission, Paulkovich isn’t the first writer (by which we mean philosopher or gynecologist) to take this approach. In 1909, John Remsburg compiled a list—strikingly bereft of characters from I, Claudius—of 41 authors who never mention Jesus. The premise of both lists is the same: if Jesus was super-famous, a “mythical super-Savior,” then how is it that no one talks about him?”
More like a composite of real guys, conflated with various ancient archetypes.
None of the stories about his alleged miracle-working were written down by first-hand, disinterested (i.e., unbiased) eyewitnesses. None of the accounts even only approach the standards of proof which would be required in a modern court of law. Instead, the stories were told and re-told, passed along by word of mouth, for literally decades until they had deteriorated to the level of "My grandfather's neighbor heard about it from someone whose friend's brother-in-law was there" - and only then were they finally committed to paper (or, rather, parchment).
Then, centuries later, various councils were convened so that church grandees could decide - on the basis of power-politics - which books to include in the canon and which to omit.
Notice that I've said nothing about or against the real Jesus Christ - whoever He was, and whatever He actually said - and nothing to denigrate a belief in God. My problem is only with the blind belief in the distorted image which is promulgated.
Regards,
>>> Third, the keen observation that Jesus never wrote anything himself.
Unlike our current date black jesus, who “wrote” two books then went on and became famous.
He's not much of a biblical scholar if he can't think of an instance in which Jesus is reported as writing on the ground. Literate? Yes. I'll admit He didn't use parchment or papyrus in that instance, but He could write.
Reading? I seem to recall Jesus reading from the scroll of Isaiah when He was in Nazareth. Jesus is presented in the Bible as able to read, and literacy was, in fact, widespread among the Jews, even 2,000 years ago. Biblical scholars should include the Bible among their readings.
There are three historical ‘mentions’ of Jesus from the 2nd century: one Roman (Pliny the Younger) , one Syrian (Mara Bar Serapion), and one Samaritian (Thallus). You could also include the writings of Celsus, Galen, Lucian.
What about Josephus, the Jewish Scholar, that mentions Jesus?
Actually it's going to work just like it's supposed to work. The thing about perfect judgment is that it's...well, perfect!
And yet the Bible outsells all other books, including his, by far, in the old. I think he’s just jealous...: )
Faith in Jesus is a gift from God. It is as real as the air we breathe.
And yet the Bible outsells all other books, including his, by far, in the world. I think he’s just jealous...: )
And no mention that both the Romans and Jews of the first century had a vested interest in quashing the early Christian movement and certainly Nero did so. It's not like the printing press had been invented yet, and it's miraculous the writings we do have survived. I would suspect if the truth ever be known, there was probably a much more robust record that was torched and suppressed. I would not be surprised if more writings someday surface a la the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The vast majority of the authors listed, however, have none of their writings preserved for us, or mere fragments at most. It’s hard to say that a writer didn’t mention Jesus when all we have of that writer are a few lines quoted in someone else’s work.
Details details...
Knowledge puffs a person up.
.
Christians were meeting in secret so they were not persecuted and now people wonder why the Savior was not more publicly mentioned.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.