Proofs That Jesus Existed

Discussion about the New Testament, apocrypha, gnostics, church fathers, Christian origins, historical Jesus or otherwise, etc.
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Peter Kirby
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM GALATIANS 1:19
(1) Paul's letter to the Galatians is authentic.
(2) Gal 1:18-19 is authentic.
(3) The only reasonable interpretation of "the brother of the Lord" is the brother of Jesus.
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Peter Kirby
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM A MYTHICIST BEING WRONG
(1) I think a mythicist is wrong about their particular ideas concerning the origins of Christianity.
(2) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM CONSENSUS
(1) Thousands of Society of Biblical Literature members can't be wrong!
(2) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM ATHEIST BIAS
(1) Atheists might be biased towards thinking Jesus didn't exist.
(2) Atheists suck.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM REALLY WEAK EVIDENCE
(1) In ancient history, we're usually okay with saying someone existed, even if the evidence isn't that great.
(2) The evidence for Jesus isn't that great.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM INCONCEIVABILITY
(1) I can't understand why anyone would want to make a thoroughly mythical story.
(2) I can understand why someone would embellish a historical story with legends.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM CREATIONISM
(1) Scientists have a consensus theory about the origins of biological diversity called evolution.
(2) Religion and history professors have a consensus idea about the origins of Christianity called the historicity of Jesus.
(3) You don't like creationists, do you?
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM NO CREDENTIALS
(1) A lot of writers, who have no credentials, are cashing in on the popularity of mythicist ideas by writing books.
(2) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM A MYTHICIST HAVING BAD ARGUMENTS
(1) I think a mythicist makes really bad arguments.
(2) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

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ARGUMENT FROM FASHIONABILITY
(1) Mythicist ideas made some inroads into scholarship in the early 20th century.
(2) It's the 21st century.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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