Musings on biblical studies, politics, religion, ethics, human nature, tidbits from science
Until I can get time to do my own reading and comments on Bart Ehrman’s “new book”© I invite anyone who has not yet checked it out to visit the Freeratio discussion board and enjoy the discussion there. Bart Ehrman himself has made an appearance, though a none too auspicious one. He apparently attempted to … Continue reading “Bart Ehrman’s New Book: Did Steven Carr’s Prophecies Come True?”
William Wrede’s The Messianic Secret Part 5: “The Self-Concealment of the Messiah” — Demons This unit begins Part 1, Section 2 of Wrede’s The Messianic Secret. Patterns of concealment or the “Shrouded Savior” In this section Wrede lays out the various ways in which Jesus hides his true nature from the public, and at times even from … Continue reading “Reading Wrede Again for the First Time (5)”
This evening I was heartened to find an idea that has long been lurking in my mind suddenly out in the light of day, in print, in a 1939 Hibbert Journal article by French scholar Paul-Louis Couchoud. Couchoud was replying to M. Loisy’s critique of “Christ mythicism” and within a few pages he said it. … Continue reading “Jesus, Neither Man Nor Myth”
The single most solid fact about Jesus’ life is his death: he was executed by the Roman prefect Pilate, on or around Passover, in the manner Rome reserved particularly for Roman insurrectionists, namely, crucifixion. (p.8 of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews by Paula Fredriksen) The same was said by one of the most … Continue reading “Only by his death does Jesus become historical”
For those of us who like to be stimulated with different views on Christian origins, René Salm has translated and made available a 1956 essay by Georges Ory, Was Jesus “John the Baptist”? This hypothesis reminds me of Robert M. Price’s suggestion that the two figures are doubles, or that Jesus was indeed something of … Continue reading “Was Jesus “John the Baptist”?”
I am copying Tim’s comment on a recent post here as a post in its own right. Some interesting backpedaling today on Exploring Our Matrix . . . McGrath: “But as yet, the Vridar crowd have not pointed out any errors. What they have pointed out is that I did not adopt the view of … Continue reading “I ask the following directly to Dr. McGrath in all sincerity”
Professor Markus Vinzent has posted on his blog Marcion’s authorship of his Gospel – an overlooked question, an article that directs readers to a reconsideration of the ideas of Paul Louis Couchoud that I have recently been outlining here. Past scholarship has always taken for granted the claim of Irenaeus that Marcion found and edited … Continue reading “Marcion’s authorship of his Gospel – an overlooked question”
I have copied Roger Parvus’s recent comment here as a post in its own right. (Neil) Couchoud’s books contain many valuable insights. He was rightly dissatisfied with the mainstream scenario of Christian origins, and he rearranged the pieces of the puzzle together in a new way that provides a fresh perspective on them. There is … Continue reading “Was Marcion Right about Paul’s letters?”
On my way to post something on the Old Testament again I met a strange idea in a very old book, one published in 1924 and with an introduction by the renowned if obsolete Sir James Frazer. Now I happen to think the best explanation for the source of those miracles by Peter in the … Continue reading “Historical memory in the Gospel of Mark: a radical twist”
Edited last paragraph re Mark and Basilides ca 6 hours after original. As to why a gospel was written about a “mythical” Jesus, here is a take by Paul Louis Couchoud from the 1920s and published in English in 1939 as The Creation of Christ. (For other thoughts on this theme see discussion comments here.) … Continue reading “Another explanation of Gospel origins from a Christ Myth perspective”
Some who have been following the recent posts of selections from Jesus Not A Myth might find the following prefatory note by its author, A. D. Howell Smith, of interest. Who is this guy and where is he coming from? The preface also offers glimpses of the range of mythicist authors of his day, and … Continue reading ““Jesus Not A Myth”: A. D. Howell Smith’s Prefatory Note”
Once more into the fray with A. D. Howell Smith in his arguments against the Christ mythicists of his day. . . . This time it is with a historicist’s concession that Romans 1:3 — the statement that Jesus was born of the seed of David — could well be part of a passage that … Continue reading “Another Possible Interpolation Conceded by Historicists of Old (and a question of heavenly trees)”
Here’s another little gem from Jesus Not A Myth by A. D. Howell Smith (1942). Recall from my previous post that he is arguing against mythicism. It is refreshing to see someone tackle the arguments seriously and with respect for both the persons and the arguments of the mythicists of his day. Howell Smith is … Continue reading “Another way to argue against mythicism”
Never throw out old books. I have caught up with my 1942 edition of Jesus Not A Myth by A. D. Howell Smith. The book is an argument against mythicism as it was argued by a range of authors in its day: J. M. Robertson, Thomas Whittacker, L. Gordon Rylands, Arthur Drews, Bergh van Eysinga, … Continue reading “James Brother of the Lord: Another Case for Interpolation”