Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

ARGUMENT FROM JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA (1) The gospels say Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus in his tomb (2) Joseph of Arimathea is therefore an historical witness to Jesus (3) Joseph of Arimathea must be real (4) I'm just going to ignore the implications of Isaiah 53:9 (5) Therefore, Jesus existed. Willi...

ARGUMENT FROM THOMAS AQUINAS'S "SUMMA THEOLOGICA"
(1) Thomas Aquinas wrote a huge book showing how it's only logical to believe YHWH exists.
(2) Are you smarter than Thomas Aquinas? I think not.
(3) Therefore, YHWH exists.
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM ALBERT SCHWEITZER'S "QUEST OF THE HISTORICAL JESUS" (1) Albert Schweitzer wrote a huge book pointing out how insane it is to think we can actually know anything about a supposedly historical Jesus (2) Despite this, Schweitzer believed Jesus was historical (3) Therefore, Jesus...

ARGUMENT FROM DAVID FRIEDRICH STRAUSS'S "LIFE OF JESUS"
(1) DF Strauss wrote a huge book pointing out how most or all gospel stories are mythical
(2) Despite this, DF Strauss believed Jesus was historical
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM THE TROJAN WAR
(1) The Iliad was written hundreds of years after the Trojan War
(2) Scholars believe it nonetheless contains authentic information
(3) The gospels were written only decades after Jesus
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM "EMMANUEL"
(1) Matthew says the angel told Mary her son will be named Emmanuel
(2) He was actually named Jesus
(3) This complicates the story unnecessarily
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed

ARGUMENT FROM THE FIG TREE
(1) Jesus curses a fig tree in the gospels for not having figs, even though it is not fig season
(2) No one would make up something that absurd
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed

ARGUMENT FROM LACK OF APOCALYPSE
(1) Jesus predicts the apocalypse in the gospels
(2) No apocalypse happened
(3) This was so incredibly embarrassing that it must have been a real prediction
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed

ARGUMENT FROM THE PERICOPE ADULTERAE
(1) The Pericope Adulterae is stunning in its pathos and realism
(2) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM HUGE NUMBER OF MANUSCRIPTS
(1) We have thousands more manuscripts of the Bible than any other ancient book
(2) Therefore, Jesus existed.