Search Results for: baptism jesus historic

Jesus Potter Harry Christ, ch. 9: “Stupid Galatians and Resurrection of the Flesh”

Continuing here my reviews of Jesus Potter Harry Christ by Derek Murphy. All reviews are archived here, and on the Jesus Mysteries discussion group. In this chapter Derek Murphy offers an explanation for how and why the original teachings of Christianity, and Paul in particular, were lost and replaced by the narrative we are familiar … Continue reading “Jesus Potter Harry Christ, ch. 9: “Stupid Galatians and Resurrection of the Flesh””

Aeneas and Jesus: how they were each created from mythical heroes

There should be nothing controversial in the title of this post. I understand “critical scholars” generally agree that the Gospel narratives of Jesus are largely fictitious, exaggerations, theological metaphors, expressing what Jesus “meant to the authors” rather than what he historically did or said. Many scholars agree that there are a few core events that … Continue reading “Aeneas and Jesus: how they were each created from mythical heroes”

Jesus Potter Harry Christ – chapter 8. Did Christianity begin as a Mystery Religion?

The complete set of reviews to date is archived on this blog here and also on the Jesus Mysteries Yahoo Discussion Group. In this chapter of Jesus Potter Harry Christ Derek Murphy argues that Christianity began as a mystery religion formed as a Jewish synthesis of Greek and Egyptian mystery cult traditions. It had different … Continue reading “Jesus Potter Harry Christ – chapter 8. Did Christianity begin as a Mystery Religion?”

Jesus’ life in eclipse: Reviewing chapter 6 of Doherty’s Jesus Neither God Nor Man

Added two concluding paragraphs 2 hours after original posting, along with typo corrections. In the first section of the Jesus Neither God Nor Man Earl Doherty had in part argued that the early Christian correspondence is silent on ethical teachings from Jesus, Jesus’ apocalyptic predictions and Jesus’ calling of apostles during an earthly ministry. In … Continue reading “Jesus’ life in eclipse: Reviewing chapter 6 of Doherty’s Jesus Neither God Nor Man”

“Jesus Potter Harry Christ” review, part 3: Where’s the Proof?

All posts in this series are collated here. Chapter three of Derek Murphy’s book, Jesus Potter Harry Christ, discusses the evidence commonly cited for the historical existence of Jesus. In his view the arguments used to support the historicity of Jesus are often a mixture of inferences, deductions and references to common knowledge and unfounded … Continue reading ““Jesus Potter Harry Christ” review, part 3: Where’s the Proof?”

Taking the Gospels seriously, part 2 (What John Baptist supposedly meant to Jesus)

I often find myself wishing some knowledgable scholars who write about “the historical Jesus” would take their Gospel sources more seriously. To take just one illustration, I don’t know if I have read any scholarly work addressing the baptism of Jesus that fails to make some reference to the “influence of John the Baptist on … Continue reading “Taking the Gospels seriously, part 2 (What John Baptist supposedly meant to Jesus)”

When literary analysis trumps historical analysis

The concluding paragraph of the first chapter of Mandell’s and Freedman’s The Relationship Between Herodotus’ History and Primary History is worth framing. The principle it addresses would, if applied to New Testament studies, relegate to the scrap heap a good deal of scholarship investigating oral sources behind this or that detail in the Gospels. Since … Continue reading “When literary analysis trumps historical analysis”

Was the Last Supper/Eucharist “originally given” by Jesus AFTER his resurrection?

One of the most fundamental plot details of the narrative of the gospels is that Jesus held a final ritual meal with his disciples in the night hours before he was betrayed, tried and crucified. That final meal was the beginning of the eucharist rite that is celebrated in most churches in some form ever … Continue reading “Was the Last Supper/Eucharist “originally given” by Jesus AFTER his resurrection?”

Origins of the Jesus myth (Thoughts)

If the gospel narratives have no basis in historical reality then from where might the basic story idea have originated? Do certain modern studies in the origins of the Old Testament narratives point towards possible explanations for the origins of the gospel narratives? An explanation for the OT stories The certain studies of OT origins … Continue reading “Origins of the Jesus myth (Thoughts)”

Did not even John the Baptist recognize Jesus at the Jordan River?

Mark’s gospel makes little sense if read as literal history, but it packs a powerful punch when read with a mind swept clean of all the other gospel accounts. The punch the Gospel of Mark hit me with recently was its sentence noting John the Baptist’s baptism of Jesus. It’s bizarre if we try to … Continue reading “Did not even John the Baptist recognize Jesus at the Jordan River?”

Delivering the Modern Believer From the Tyranny of Literalism (& Historicism)

I have been posting on John Shelby Spong’s (and his late mentor Michael Goulder’s) understanding of how the Gospel narratives were created “midrashically” out of the Old Testament scriptures. I should emphasize that my posts come with my own slant, and that Spong himself has no doubts at all about the historicity of Jesus Christ. … Continue reading “Delivering the Modern Believer From the Tyranny of Literalism (& Historicism)”

Jesus, constructed from Moses and other OT passages — according to the Gospel of Matthew

One of the first books I read when beginning to question my faith was one that struck my eye while scanning the shelves of a local bookshop, John Shelby Spong’s Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism. It introduced me to many issues being addressed by biblical scholars. I have told the story before, but I like … Continue reading “Jesus, constructed from Moses and other OT passages — according to the Gospel of Matthew”

Maurice Casey’s Historical Methods for Historical Jesus Studies

Maurice Casey (Emeritus Professor of New Testament Languages and Literature at the University of Nottingham, UK) in his 2010 book Jesus of Nazareth: An Independent Historian’s Account of His Life and Teaching devotes his third chapter to a discussion of his historical method, and becomes the latest New Testament scholar to demonstrate (once more) how … Continue reading “Maurice Casey’s Historical Methods for Historical Jesus Studies”

Casey versus Bultmann; and why Jesus was not as hungry as his disciples

Maurice Casey in his new book, Jesus of Nazareth: An Independent Historian’s Account of His Life and Teaching, is sharply critical of Form Criticism and Rudolph Bultmann. Casey repeatedly expresses disapproval of scholars’ attempting to understand the “historical Jesus” by burying their noses in exegetical studies of the texts (which form criticism requires) of the … Continue reading “Casey versus Bultmann; and why Jesus was not as hungry as his disciples”