Edwin Johnson on why Capernaum

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Giuseppe
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Edwin Johnson on why Capernaum

Post by Giuseppe »

While translating Edwin Johnson in Italian, I have found this quote:

The yearning for the assurance of future weal, and the corresponding need of a symbolic expression and guarantee of it, is common to both systems. We may in passing note that the mission of a plurality of apostles and prophets to the departed prepares the way for the conception of the mission of the individual Christ, according to the analogy in the formation of the legend, elsewhere traceable. In vain we seek to plant our feet on the ground of fact.

(Antiqua Mater, p. 110, my bold)

Even if 'Capernaum' is not explicitly mentioned, the Johnson's phrase is really sound: the idea that the 'forty apostles and teachers' in the Shepard of Hermas who descend into Hades to preach there Jesus are later iconized by Jesus alone in his descent to Hades.

Now, the Valentinian Heracleon had pointed out that 'Capernaum' is allegory of Hades, and then you have the following evolution:

the prophets descend in Hades to preach Jesus ----> only Jesus descends in Hades ---> only Jesus descends in "Capernaum"

Et voilà, the euhemerization is done.
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