Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

Hi DCHindley, Good point about this being a kneejerk reaction. Since we already have the gospels of Philip and Mary suggesting that Jesus and Mary were more than just good friends, why would a scholar/scholars go to all the trouble of forging a text and risk destroying their career just to repeat so...

Hi Blood, At the time that I read Trobisch's book, I agreed with him. I have recently come to think that his arguments are not as strong as I had thought. Rather, I think it is much more probable that the selection came during the time of and through the efforts of Eusebius-Constantine (circa 325). ...

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/785/cache/papyrus-jesus-wife-01_78560_990x742.jpg Hi TedM, The very first word in the "wife" papyrus seems to be Jesus. There are mulitiple fragments/manuscripts of the Gospel of Thomas. That one of them should also begin with...

Hi Andrew Criddle, Professor Watson appears to have no qualifications whatsoever for determining the authenticity of ancient documents. Despite lacking these qualifications, he has written articles not only denouncing the authenticity of the document in question before any scientific tests had been ...

Hi Blood, I have found the evidence that the NT was compiled before the time of Constantine less than convincing and about equal to "wishful thinking". Please provide your best evidence. Please note that the Muratorian Fragment originally placed by 18th Century Catholic Scholars in the Sec...

Hi MrMacSon, The responders are right that the earliest sources give an exalted place to Jesus (Angel, Lord of the World, Son of God). However they are wrong that this took place after Jesus' death. Mythological characters do not die. Rather, it is probably in the Second century that later Christian...

Hi maryhelena, Has Ehrman ever read the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark? 4John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5And there went out to him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jor...

Hi Charlie, Nice to see you here. I read Maccoby a number of years ago and found him very good on a number of points. Yes, the hostility between Paul and the Jerusalem Church of God is deep and I believe reflects a real split in the early John/Joshua community. Warmly, Jay Raskin Hello everyone- Fir...

Hi maryhelena, Yes, I too think myths can take on a reality. Even right now in the mythicist community I see it happening. I have heard it said that he, Bart, who once persecuted us has now adopted the mythicist view that Paul had a high Christology. Paul's Jesus Angel has appeared to Bart too. Is t...

Hi Bernard, I am not so sure that when you remove the extraordinary elements from Jack and the Beanstalk, you get nothing. Here is the earlier known story recorded by Joseph Jacobs in 1860: "There was once upon a time a poor widow who had an only son named Jack, and a cow named Milky-White. And...