08-30-2011, 03:12 AM
Great post, Billy. Even though there is controversy over the Testimonium Flavianus, most Biblical scholars accept it as valid.
Also, Philo mentioned Jesus' death while writing about Pontius Pilate. Some of the contested portion of Antiquities was quoted by Eusebius, saying Jesus was slain although he was a just (righteous) man.
In Pakistan there is the Mai Mari da Asthan (final resting place of Mother Mary) and in Srinagar in India there is a gravesite called Rozabel (tomb of a prophet). The inner chamber has 2 gravestones. One for Yuz Asaf (Jesus) and one for a 16th century Islamic prophet.
Irenaeus wrote in Against Heresies that Jesus lived to be an old man and died during the days of Emperor Trajan.
I'd like to add here that he would have been born during the census, in the spring, not on Dec 25th, which the Catholic church as his birthday in an attempt to convert pagans easier, transitioning Yule and the winter solstice celebrations (which were bloody) into Christmas (Christs Mass).
The controversy over whether or not this man lived may never be settled by our modern standards, which is interesting to me since many other 'failed Messiahs' have been documented through antiquity and no one gives their lives a second glance regarding authenticity. I blame the Council of Nicea and Constantine, who irrevocably decided many things which not only mandated a plethora of doctrine and set the calculation for celebrating Easter (also originally pagan), but also set the relationship of Jesus to God and declared Jesus Divine.
Interestingly, what Jews look for in the Messiah and what Christians look for in the second coming are quite parallel.
Also, Philo mentioned Jesus' death while writing about Pontius Pilate. Some of the contested portion of Antiquities was quoted by Eusebius, saying Jesus was slain although he was a just (righteous) man.
In Pakistan there is the Mai Mari da Asthan (final resting place of Mother Mary) and in Srinagar in India there is a gravesite called Rozabel (tomb of a prophet). The inner chamber has 2 gravestones. One for Yuz Asaf (Jesus) and one for a 16th century Islamic prophet.
Irenaeus wrote in Against Heresies that Jesus lived to be an old man and died during the days of Emperor Trajan.
I'd like to add here that he would have been born during the census, in the spring, not on Dec 25th, which the Catholic church as his birthday in an attempt to convert pagans easier, transitioning Yule and the winter solstice celebrations (which were bloody) into Christmas (Christs Mass).
The controversy over whether or not this man lived may never be settled by our modern standards, which is interesting to me since many other 'failed Messiahs' have been documented through antiquity and no one gives their lives a second glance regarding authenticity. I blame the Council of Nicea and Constantine, who irrevocably decided many things which not only mandated a plethora of doctrine and set the calculation for celebrating Easter (also originally pagan), but also set the relationship of Jesus to God and declared Jesus Divine.
Interestingly, what Jews look for in the Messiah and what Christians look for in the second coming are quite parallel.
PS. If you can, try your hand at giving some of the others a bit of feedback. If you already have, thanks, can you do some more?