Pontius is derived from pontos, meaning mariner or of the sea.
The point is that Marcion's own association with Pontus, ships and merchants, is derived from Pilate. Pilate may have been the original Apostle to the Marcionites. It certainly would explain some odd things that appear even in the Marcionite recension.
Why Pilate? Pontius Pilate, and the Man of Pontos
- Joseph D. L.
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Re: Why Pilate? Pontius Pilate, and the Man of Pontos
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Last edited by Martin Klatt on Fri Aug 03, 2018 4:46 am, edited 3 times in total.
Re: Why Pilate? Pontius Pilate, and the Man of Pontos
Additionally, there are gnostic interpretations that Pontius Pilate = Dense Sea
- Joseph D. L.
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Re: Why Pilate? Pontius Pilate, and the Man of Pontos
The problem with this is that John is an entirely frabricated personage. Theudas, however, was the mould used to create John, but he was active and died under Fadus. Thus the inclusion of Pilate was a deliberate choice by the Gospel writer, and everything pushed back. This also could explain the conundrum of why Acts of the Apostles reversed Judas the Galilean's and Theudas's time of activity: Judas was killed under Pailte, who probably ruled from c. 15 ad-25 ad, while Theudas died under Fadus. But in order to have a John the Baptis figure precede Jesus, Theudas had to be pushed back before Judas. (At least to the author(s) of Acts of the Apostles, who relied heavily on Josephus and Hegesippus).Martin Klatt wrote: ↑Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:49 am Hmm, I don't know anything about all mystifications offered here, but as to the answer why Pontius Pilatus is chosen as governor in the gospel of Mark there is only one logical answer: he is the governor around when John the Baptist and Herod are around, at least according to the works of Flavius Josephus. They are the background personae to the fictitious satire Mark wrote about Jesus the Nazarene at the start so the choice for PP was obvious.
Re: Why Pilate? Pontius Pilate, and the Man of Pontos
Interesting approach to consider JtB an allegorical rather than historical figure. This hypothesis perhaps would support the idea that originally the gospel writers intended the readers to understand the writings in a non-historical manner. Otherwise, a reader would object that JtB never existed in "living memory."