Why Eusebius considered Papias a total idiot
Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2020 6:54 am
It is a FACT that Eusebius considered Papias totally stupid and idiot and looked upon his earnest efforts with haughty contempt.
Two hypotheses about the reason of this drastic judgement of Papias by Eusebius:
Hence, Richard Carrier is correct: Papias's stupidity in the eyes of Eusebius is more expected under mythicism than under historicity.
Two hypotheses about the reason of this drastic judgement of Papias by Eusebius:
- The contempt was the result of a respected, imperial position in a now triumphalistic, resplendent and glittering Church (325 C.E.)
- Eusebius was embarrassed that Papias had led a secret out: the very humble origins and repetitions of learned and folk wisdom contained in the Logia. The information that Matthew translated the Logia from Aramaic is not a particularly impressive endorsement of The Gospel According to Matthew.
Hence, Richard Carrier is correct: Papias's stupidity in the eyes of Eusebius is more expected under mythicism than under historicity.