On the Testimononia Flaviana as anti-docetic interpolations
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2022 4:03 am
The James episode, with "brother of Jesus called Christ" well in evidence, betrayes clearly an anti-docetist propaganda: ghost have not carnal brothers.
The Testimonium Flavianum betrayes the same anti-docetist propaganda in the incipit:
What need the Christian author had in pointing that Jesus was a "man"? This resembles the same enigma behind "born by woman, born under the law" of Galatians 4:4: all the Jews are born by woman and circumcised, and so?
The interpolator is aware of the paradox, and he explains it: the doubt about the humanity of Jesus is raised not by his being a Gnostic aeon descended on the earth "in form of men", but uniquely in virtue of his wonders done on the earth.
I wonder why those arguments have not been done before me, despite of the fact that the deniers of the total authenticity of the Testimonia Flaviana are thousands and thousands.
The Testimonium Flavianum betrayes the same anti-docetist propaganda in the incipit:
About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly
What need the Christian author had in pointing that Jesus was a "man"? This resembles the same enigma behind "born by woman, born under the law" of Galatians 4:4: all the Jews are born by woman and circumcised, and so?
The interpolator is aware of the paradox, and he explains it: the doubt about the humanity of Jesus is raised not by his being a Gnostic aeon descended on the earth "in form of men", but uniquely in virtue of his wonders done on the earth.
I wonder why those arguments have not been done before me, despite of the fact that the deniers of the total authenticity of the Testimonia Flaviana are thousands and thousands.