Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

The more one reads the Pliny letter to Trajan the more it does not make sense. 1. Pliny first executed all those who admitted they were presently Christians except Roman citizens. 2. The Roman citizens who admitted they were Christians were sent to Rome for trial. 3. Some of remaining persons claime...

The story that Jesus was nailed to a cross [stauros] appears to have been lifted directly from the writings of Josephus. Wars of the Jews 2.14.9 ....for Florus ventured then to do what no one had done before, that is, to have men of the equestrian order whipped (21) and nailed to the cross before hi...

What Pliny never heard before is who, and how to punish Christians: If Pliny did not how to punish Christians then why did he execute those who confessed they were Christians? Pliny had already executed Christians before the letter was written. Pliny to Trajan Meanwhile, in the case of those who we...

Aristides' Apology supposedly written in the time of Hadrian 117-138 CE mentions stories of Jesus in "the Gospel". Aristides' Apology" The Christians, then, trace the beginning of their religion from Jesus the Messiah; and he is named the Son of God Most High. And it is said that God...

I think your ship (gospels written around 150, Paul's epistles written around 175) has more holes in its hull and should be sunk by now. Cordially, Bernard Aristides' Apology supposedly written in the time of Hadrian 117-138 CE mentions stories of Jesus in "the Gospel". Aristides' Apology...

You keep admitting that the Pauline writer pretended he was getting revelations from his dead and resurrected Lord Jesus. Of course, we all know he was lying about his source for stories about his Lord and Savior. Correction: Not Pauline writer, instead Paul. He was lying for sure about his gospel ...

That is correct, he does not identify his source. But then again neither does Acts of the Apostles nor do the pseudo Clement Homolies and Recognitions, nor does Acta Archelai, nor does Justin. None of the dialogues and travelogues do. We have to examine them to determine if we can find a source. It...

Christianity was a recent cult in the time of Pliny and was not yet known in Rome. But doesn't Trajan's reply suggest some familiarity with the sect already? Or you mean the letter was really about another group and has been interpolated to back-date Christianity? Which sect are you referring to? C...

to Hakeem, You did say that if the Synoptic "generation" prophecy was written c 150 then Jesus would be known a false prophet and a liar so the prophecy must have been written earlier. But, your claim does not make sense since there is a failed resurrection prophecy by Jesus in the Synopt...

The character called Christ in the Pliny letter to Trajan does not refer to NT Jesus of Nazareth. Writings of Josephus, Tacitus and Suetonius all state that the prophesied Jewish Messianic ruler was expected by Jews around c 66 CE and that the Messiah was in fact Vespasian.. Historians also admit th...