Posted on 01/23/2004 6:16:05 AM PST by Catholicguy
Question; "I am Jewish but have received very little Jewish education. Basically, I know that Jesus was a Jew, as were his early followers. Why did this small group of Jews believe Jesus was the Messiah, while the great majority of Jews denied his Messianic claim? And what are we supposed to be looking for in the Messiah, anyway?
Answer "...The evidence indicating that Jesus' resurrection was a fact, Christians affirm, are the many eyewitnesses described in the Gospels, including the apostles and others who saw the empty tomb and whose testimony was recorded in what became the New Testament. On the other side are those who say that since the evidence of Jesus' resurrection all comes from his followers and from accounts recorded in the New Testament, Jesus resurection cannot be trusted to be an objective historical account...."
<>End of this partial quote from "The God Squad" column published today in the Palm Beach Post.<>
I sent this letter to the Palm Beach Post this morning and I know they won't post it. (They refuse to post nearly all of my letters. Too Christian I suspect).I post it here because I think the historical references are useful as apologetic tools
"The God Squad" cites those opposed to the Messiah as claiming "...Jesus' resurrection cannot be trusted to be an objective historical account...."
Really?
Why do we suppose the Creed references the historical fact Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate? "For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried."
As the Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, was required to keep Tiberius fully informed as to any important events occuring in his district. He did so. He drafted an account of all the important events that had taken place in reference to Jesus and these acts of Pontius Pilate were received and kept in the archives of the Roman Senate.
Tacitus, rehearsing the history of the burning of Rome attributes it to the Christians, "so called from Christ, who had been put to death during the reign of Tiberius, while Pontius Pilate was governing Judea."
It is interesting to note not a single early enemy of Christianity called this historical account into question when it could have been so easily contradicted had these events not occured. Where is the evidence any pagan opposed the early Christian apologists by contravening this history?
The early Christian apologists cited the acts of Pontius Pilate. St. Justin Martyr quoted the words from the acts of Pontius Pilate, "Jesus was fastened to the cross with nails through his hands and feet, and those who had crucified him afterwards cast lots for his garments, which they divided amongst them."
St. Justin adds, "This is what you can easily know by reference to the acts written under Pontius Pilate."
Tertullian writes, "Pilate, somewhat a Christian in his conscience, wrote an account of all these things regarding Christ to Tiberius, then Emperor. Henceforth, the Emperors would have believed in Jesus Christ if the Caesars had not been the slaves of the world or if Christians could have been Caesars. Be that as it may, when Tiberius, under whose reign the Christain name was spread throughout the world, had learned from Palestine all the facts that proved the divinity of Christ, he urged the Senate to place him in the rank of the gods and gave his own vote for this purpose. The Senate, not admiring the proposal rejected it. The Emperor persisted in his views, and threatened with his anger any one who should accuse the Christians." Then, speaking of the miracles that occured at the death of our Lord, he says; "You have the account thereof in your archives."
Eusebius of Caesarea (Church Historian), "The miraculous resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ having become famous and it being an ancient custom that the governors of provinces should send to the Emperor an account of anything new that turned up in their administration, so that he might be fully informed of everything that came to pass, Pontius Pilate acquainted Tiberius with the resurrection of the Saviour, which was known to everyone in Palestine. He (Pilate) also remarked that he had learned that Jesus had performed many miracles , and had, since His resurrection, been recognised by many persons as a God. Tiberius, having heard these things, mentioined them to the Senate, and proposed that Jesus Christ should be placed in the rank of the gods. The Senate opposed the project under the pretext that there was an ancient law which forbade any person to be admitted into the rank of the gods except by a decree of the Senate; but the real reason of the refusal was that the Christian Religion, being divine, should not be established by the authority of men. The Senate having therefore rejected the proposal, the Emperor did not cease to maintain his opinion and attempted nothing against the doctrine of Jesus Christ."
Is it too much to ask of "The God Squad" that they read some history before they undertake the task of telling others about the Messiah
<> end of letter<>
I didn't cite Josephus, Tranquillas, Thallus, Pliny the Younger, ect because I wanted to keep the letter to a publishable length.
Well, you are certainly illustrating how, for some, there IS a conflict twixt Faith and Reason:)
What you think about the Catholic Faith is quite unreasonable.
Instead of making inane, unsourced, assertions, please cite for me any Document from any Catechism, Ecumencial Council, Papal Encyclical ect which teaches such a thing.
Do you, for starters, know the difference twixt Christian Doctrine and Precepts of the Church?
FYI, John the Baptist; And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand...
Jesus: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand...
and Peter, the First Pope, But Peter said to them: Do penance: and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost....
ALL began their public ministries calling for repentance and penance. They are not bad examples to imitate.
By Divine Law all are required to do Penance.
Can we get an unbiased source please?
From the moment when, through the Paschal Mystery, she received the gift of the ultimate truth about human life, the Church has made her pilgrim way along the paths of the world to proclaim that Jesus Christ is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6).
If the church has the gift of "ultimate truth about human life," I'd expect there to be no mistakes; and especially not -- countless and incredible mistakes.
Conclusion -- the church has no gift to know "ultimate truth."
Look it up yourself; it used to be a "mortal sin" for a Catholic to eat meat on Friday.
Mortal sin doesn't automatically condemn some one to hell though. And any way, technically it STILL is a mortal sin to not preform a penance of some kind on Fridays.
For what? Original sin?
I'd say that "Divine Law" has more to do with maintaining an exhalted position for catholic clergy than anything else.
Can you please point to me the "antiChristian bigotry" in Dave S's post?
And the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith doesn't exist, either. Just another popular myth.
Eusebius was not there. Tiberius was not there. Pontius Pilate was not there. None of these folks were witnesses to the resurrection, so their commentary is hearsay. Second order hearsay, mind you. Is Pontius Pilate recorded anywhere to have claimed to have witnessed (not heard about) the resurrection or ascension?
Apostles saw Jesus after the resurrection. Their statements are witness. The Bible does not contain their direct writings, so we hear of them through the writers of the Gospels.
What am I missing?
For those searching for specific answers, perhaps. I found it quite unconvincing. There are other apologetics books that are much better written (although I didn't find them convincing either).
Writings from Christ Jesus, himself.
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