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To: doc30

First, Josephus discusses a man that was referred to as the Christ by his followers on multiple occassions. First, in The Antiquities he describes how the high priest Ananias took advantage of the Roman governor Festus- who is also referred in the New Testament- in order to have James killed. His exact words were, "He convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin and brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus, who was called the Christ, and certain others...and delivered them up to be stoned."

He also wrote in the "Testimonium Flavianum", "About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many of the Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amaong us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to lovehim, did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he returned to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared."

Other accepted historians (Tacitus and Pliny the Younger to name a couple) also refer to Christianity quite explicitly, feel free to do the research.

The reality is that the bible itself is an unarguable historical document as of yet to be proven innaccurate. Many archeologists follow it with great success. There is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament.

There is no srgument from any well educated individual as to whther Christ lived, the point of contention is, was Jesus who he claimed to be? I ask you, does it make any sense that so many thousands, so close to his time would have died the horrible tortures, stonings, or crucifictions all in the name of a lie. A few, maybe even a few hundred, but not the thousands that did.

Whether Jews, Muslim, or Christian, most all refer to Jesus, if not as Christ as a great prophet. My argument to you would be that he either was God or he was a complete wack job. He would not then be a prophet, he would be a fraud.

I pray that you may soon see the truth.


216 posted on 09/26/2005 8:55:55 PM PDT by AZConcervative
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To: AZConcervative
He also wrote in the "Testimonium Flavianum", "About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many of the Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amaong us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to lovehim, did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he returned to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared."

| Unfortunately, that passage was either heavily doctored or outright forged by a later Christian author. No observant Jew, as Josephus was, would have referred to Jesus as the Christ. Furthermore, Origen, a later Christian author, said that Josephus did not believe Jesus was the Christ.

Scholars argue about whether this passage is partially or entirely forged, but almost no one believes it's fully genuine.

221 posted on 09/26/2005 9:18:54 PM PDT by Right Wing Professor (Why is FR censoring mainstream science?)
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