Musings on biblical studies, politics, religion, ethics, human nature, tidbits from science
The metaphor of the messiah . . . is used neither as a direct reference to any contemporary, historical king nor to any known historical expectations before Bar Kochba (c. 135 CE). (Messiah Myth, Thompson, p.291; SJOT, 15.1 2001, p.58.) Those scholars who repeat that there was popular Jewish anticipation of a Messiah to emerge … Continue reading “What might a Davidic Messiah have meant to early Christians?”
Perhaps the more mystery or inexplicable circumstances there are surrounding Christian origins the healthier it is for the faith business. Not that those of the faith are the only “beneficiaries”. Jesus is, after all, a central icon in the constellations of our broader cultural identities. The inexplicable is his defining asset. The most improbable “stubborn … Continue reading “The most improbable history of Christian origins”
Myth #1 Mythicist arguments do not reflect an understanding of the historical enterprise James has said he believes mythicists are wanting absolute certainty before they will accept the existence of Jesus, but that the historical enterprise by its nature only deals with probabilities, not certainties. (See Mythicist Misunderstanding) It is clear that James has not … Continue reading “Ten myths about mythicist arguments, as advanced by James McGrath”
James McGrath has replied to my previous post, Did Jesus exist on youtube? His reply is here: More-Myticist-Creationist Parallels: Messiahs, Wisdom and Jesus. Avoiding and denying what I wrote James claims that my references to the scholarship of Neusner, Green, Fitzmyer and Mack are so well known (“common knowledge”) that I was completely misguided (in fact I … Continue reading “James McGrath’s reply and my response”
Continuing the series the evolution of the offering of Isaac into a Jesus story; earlier posts here. Levenson argues that much of the early christology derives from a midrashic combination of verses associated with Isaac, the beloved son of Abraham, the suffering servant in Isaiah who went, like Isaac, willingly to his slaughter, another miraculous … Continue reading “Jesus displaces Isaac: midrashic creation of the biblical Jesus . . . (Offering of Isaac . . . #6)”
Baur argued that Acts was written in the mid second century, around 140-150 C.E. Baur saw Acts as an attempt to heal a rift in Christianity between two factions originally led by Peter and Paul. Christianity in Baur’s view had been divided between Jewish Christians who saw Jesus as the hope of their historical expectations, … Continue reading “Dating the Book of Acts: 3, Evidence for the late date (Baur)”
Joseph of Arimathea is most commonly viewed as something of a partial redemption of the harsh conclusion of Mark, given that he is said to have had courage where courage failed the disciples; and Pilate is seen as almost an innocent bystander in some ways. But I’m playing with an interpretation here that suggests their … Continue reading “Is Mark mocking Joseph of Arimathea, and Pilate?”