Proofs That Jesus Existed

Discussion about the New Testament, apocrypha, gnostics, church fathers, Christian origins, historical Jesus or otherwise, etc.
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Peter Kirby
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM GREEK
(1) I know Greek.
(2) You don't know Greek.
(3) The New Testament was written in Greek.
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Peter Kirby
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM ARAMAIC
(1) I know Aramaic.
(2) You don't know Aramaic.
(3) The words of Jesus were spoken in Aramaic.
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Peter Kirby
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM TALMUD
(1) The Talmud says Jesus was stoned.
(2) The Talmud says Jesus lived a century before the New Testament says he did.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM THE RATIONALITY OF FIRST CENTURY JEWS
(1) First century Jews believed in Jesus
(2) First century Jews were completely empirical, rational, scientific people
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by Blood »

Peter Kirby wrote:ARGUMENT FROM ARAMAIC
(1) I know Aramaic.
(2) You don't know Aramaic.
(3) The words of Jesus were spoken in Aramaic.
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.
Also known in some circles as "The Maurice Casey Argument."
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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Peter Kirby
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM MEMORY STUDIES
(1) I have read a lot of studies about memory and oral tradition.
(2) I assume the New Testament Gospels are based on an oral tradition of memories that go back to Jesus.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Peter Kirby
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM EXPLANATION OF OPINION
(1) I agree with mythicists that the historical Jesus didn't do some things that are in the Gospels.
(2) Just because Jesus didn't do some things in the Gospels doesn't mean that Jesus did not exist.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Peter Kirby
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM ABSURDITY
(1) I thought atheists made some good points when they argue against the miracles and resurrection of Jesus.
(2) But the idea that Jesus didn't exist? That's absurd!
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM RENE GIRARD
(1) Rene Girard knew a lot about myths
(2) Rene Girard thought Jesus was not a myth
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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Peter Kirby
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM WITNESSES
(1) The Gospel story says that hundreds of people saw Jesus.
(2) The Gospel story says that the apostles and seventy disciples saw Jesus.
(3) That's a lot of witnesses.
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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