THE TRUE
ORIGINS OF
CHRISTIANITY
1
Please hold all
questions
until
the end of this
presentation.
Thank you.
2
Most
people,
Christians
included, are quite ignorant
of the conditions which led
to
the
emergence
of
Christianity!
3
Many believe that
Christianity evolved in
the following manner …
4
1. Jesus’ teachings to the Jews
5
1. Jesus’ teachings to the Jews
2. After his death, his Jewish
followers continued to spread
Jesus’ teachings.
6
1. Jesus’ teachings to the Jews
2. After his death, his Jewish
followers continued to spread
Jesus’ teachings.
3.
Paul then took these
teachings to the Gentiles and
these became Christianity.
7
“ --- the Catholic holds that the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit
has preserved the message of
Jesus intact through all its
transmission in the Christian
community.”
Wansbrough, (1984). Jesus, the Real Evidence. p. 5
8
How many of
you believe this
was how
Christianity
began?
9
Then you are wrong;
this
is
not
how
Christianity began.
10
The origins of Christianity
were actually much more
complex!
11
Many Christians believe
their faith is based on
the teachings of Jesus;
some even believe Jesus
was the first Christian!
12
Many Christians believe
their faith is based on
the teachings of Jesus;
some even believe Jesus
was the first Christian!
13
They are wrong!
14
They are wrong!
Christianity was actually
the creation of Paul, and
has little to do with either
the historical Jesus or
Judaism!
15
“Paul,
not Jesus, was the
founder of Christianity as a
new
religion
which
developed away from both
normal Judaism and the
Nazarene
variety
of
Judaism.”
Maccoby, H. 1987). The Myth-Maker, Paul and the
Invention of Christianity. . p. 16.
16
It
is
important
to
understand Christianity
did not exist during Jesus’
lifetime; it evolved only
after his death!
17
Jesus and his followers were
never
“Christians”;
they
remained steadfast to their
Jewish faith,
“ … they worshipped regularly
in the Temple at Jerusalem, …
kept the Jewish festivals, and
observed the Jewish Law,”
Brandon, S.G.F. (1971). The Trial of Jesus of
Nazareth, p. 26.
18
So, how did
Christianity
evolve?
19
Was
Jesus, as
some
claim, merely a mythical
figure?
20
“That there was an actual
historical
Jesus,
…
no
intelligent
individual
can
doubt; but as regards his life
and
utterances
there
is
considerable
variation
of
opinion.“
Cook, S. (1945). An Introduction to the Bible,, p. 164
21
Born on an unknown date in
Nazareth, (not Bethlehem),
he was known as Jesus of
Nazareth (Matthew 26:71; Mark 1:24)
22
“--- the birth of Jesus cannot
be regarded as historical. It
would thus appear that,
almost certainly, Jesus was
born at Nazareth, and that
from his place of birth he was
called Jesus of Nazareth or
Jesus the Nazarene.”
Barnes, E.W. (1948). The Rise of Christianity, p. 80
23
There was nothing
remarkable bout
hi birth.
His mother may
have been called
Mary.
Joseph was
probably his
father, it was
certainly not the
Holy Ghost,
(Matthew 1:18).
24
“ … Is not this the carpenter's
son? is not his mother called
Mary? and his brethren, James,
and Joses, and Simon, and
Judas? And his sisters, are they
not all with us? “
Matthew 13:55-56
25
“Presumably he was an obscure
Galilean, until his preaching
made him famous, and the
details of his birth and childhood
were not known. Mark, the oldest
of the gospels has nothing to say
about his birth and childhood.
Rather, Mark starts his tale of
Jesus with Jesus as an adult,
beginning his ministry.”
Asimov, I, (1981). Asimov's Guide to the Bible, p. 781
26
In ancient societies although
adulthood began at twelve
years of age, “full adulthood”
was not attained until thirty
years of age.
27
Jesus began his mission about
29 AD, (Luke 3:1 – 15th year of Tiberius), at
about 30 years of age; to the
Jews this was, “when a male
arrived at a man's estate” (See:
Genesis. 41:46; Numbers 4:3; 4:23 and 4:30; 2 Samuel 5:4).
28
Jesus
attracted
followers
primarily from the common
people, creating what was, in
effect, a small apocalyptic
Jewish sect (Acts 1:15),.
29
Jesus’ message to the Jews
was that the Day of the Lord
and the Kingdom of God
were fast approaching and
they needed to prepare for
these events! (See Luke 8:1)
30
“ … the Day of the Lord … a day of
wrath for the heathen world and of
triumph for Israel. … it ends with
the glory of the remnant of Israel,
while the assembled heathen
powers are annihilated .”
Encyclopedia Judaica, (1971), Eschatology
31
"...inaugurating the reign of
the "Kingdom of Heaven" for
Yahweh's elected people here
and now."
Encyclopaedia Judaica, (1971). P. 1420.
32
This message was for the
Jews alone. It had no
relevance for, and was
certainly not meant for the
Gentiles!
33
“I was sent only to the
lost sheep of the house of
Israel."
Matthew 15:24
34
The Romans
viewed promises of
a new kingdom as
“royalist” sedition;
propaganda
designed to incite
people to rebel
against their
authority.
35
SEDITION: Conduct or
speech inciting people
to rebel against the
authority of a state or
monarch.
36
Because Jesus
promised a
new kingdom
was coming
which would
replace
Roman rule,
he was
arrested for
sedition !
37
Tried for sedition,
Jesus was
sentenced to
death by Lucius
Pontius Pilate, the
Roman Prefect* of
Judaea
* Vardaman, H. "A New
Inscription Which Mentions Pilate
as "Prefect. Journal of Biblical
Literature 81 (1962) 70–71.
38
39
40
Pilate was, “ … a
worldly man,
knowing the right and anxious to
do it …, but yielding easily to
pressure from others.
He
would
gladly
have
acquitted Christ and even made
serious efforts in that direction,
but gave way at once when his
own position was threatened.“
Catholic Encyclopedia, Pilate
41
Pilate was a vicious despotic
ruler, with no respect for the
Jews or their religious customs.
He was, “ … vindictive, had a
furious temper, and was selfwilled and inflexible, ".
Philo of
Alexandria
42
Pilate would never have risked
freeing any enemies of Rome
for fear complaints to Tiberius
would expose his cruel
conduct, bribes, insults,
robberies, wanton injuries, and
executions without trial,
43
What do Hitler, Osama
bin Laden and Jesus ,
all have in common?
44
No bodies and no graves
45
Pilate would never have
given Jesus’ body
to his
followers,
risking that his
grave would become a place
of worship for rebels!
(See
Matthew 27:57-58)
46
Tombs of Samuel the Prophet
(835-887 BCE) and of the great
Rabbi Yehuda Ha Nasi, (135219) still attract pilgrims.
47
“The usual imperial custom
was to leave the crucified
exposed for a few days as a
salutary warning; in that time
they became the prey of wild
animals and carrion birds.
When the stench became
unbearable the remains, still
on their crosses, were dumped
in the Hinnom Valley.”
Thomas, G.(1987). The Trial. p. 238.
48
Gehenna, the valley of the
sons of Hinnom, (Ge bene
Hinnom) a small valley south
of Jerusalem.
49
“It became the common lay-still
(garbage dump) of the city, where
the dead bodies of criminals and
animals and every other kind of
filth was cast.”
Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible, …” volume I
50
Why does the fire and
brimstone of Gehenna
feature so prominently in the
Christian concept of Hell?
51
But for a series of unusual
events after his death, Jesus
would have been quickly
forgotten and Christianity
would never have evolved.
52
“Hundreds
of hysterical persons
must confuse these phenomena with
messages from the beyond and take
their glory to the bishop rather than
the eye doctor.”
James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961)
53
Cognitive dissonance
—
mental
anguish
experienced
when
holding
conflicting
ideas or beliefs.
There is an instinctive
need to resolve the
feelings of discomfort.
One
means
is
rationalization.
by
54
Resurrection
myths!
“It was argued that if a grain
of
wheat,
buried
naked,
sprouts forth in many robes,
how much more so the
righteous! “ (Sanhedrin 90b).
55
56
Despite antipathy to the
Pharisees in the gospels, the
Nazarenes followed their
teachings concerning the
resurrection of the dead.
57
“For the Sadducees say that
there is no resurrection, nor
angel, nor spirit; but the
Pharisees acknowledge them
all.”
Acts 23:8
58
The tale of the Lord’s body
being recovered, and then
resurrected, was based on
the Egyptian myth of Osiris.
59
Resurrection myths
common in ancient
times.
60
Attis,
Dionysus,
Osiris,
Persephone,
Tammuz,
Ganesha, Krishna, Nero, all
resurrected.
61
Although to the Jews a dead
messiah was inconceivable, the
Nazarenes found “evidence” to
validate
Jesus’ suffering and
death. (See Luke 24:25-26).
62
They rationalized that Jesus’
soul had risen, that soon he
would be physically
resurrected and would
return to fulfill his promises!
63
Deluded in their belief that
Jesus would “return”, the
Nazarenes were destined to
soon disappear from history!
64
Their
demise
began with the
arrival of the
enigmatic Saul*
of Tarsus
* Acts 7:58; and 9:4
65
“ … one of the remarkable
men of history. As much as
any single human being and more so than Jesus if we
do not accept the divinity of
Jesus - he was the creator of
Christianity
and
the
Christian Church.”
Fast, H., (1968).The Jews, p. 118.
66
Paul
a
scholar
Jewish
“… born at Tarsus …
brought up in this city*
at the feet of Gamaliel,
educated according to
the strict manner of
the law of our fathers,
being
zealous
for
God…”.
Acts 22:3
* Jerusalem
67
Ancient Tarsus; Mithra,
Dionysus, Stoicism and
Gnosticism
68
Jewish astralism,
magic, mysticism.
69
Secret Names of Power –
“I am who I am.” Exodus 3:14
70
The Golem
71
Names of power: -
“Therefore God has highly
exalted him and bestowed on
him the name which is above
every name, …“ Philippians 2:9
72
Names of power: -
“Therefore God has highly
exalted him and bestowed on
him the name which is above
every name, …“ Philippians 2:9
“ … whoever calls on the
name of the Lord shall be
saved.‘” Acts 2:21
73
Term – The Name of … Used
Jesus
7
Lord
7
Lord Jesus
7
Jesus Christ
6
Lord Jesus Christ
5
Christ
1
74
Paul’s conversion
revelation or catharsis?
75
“ … his conversion was the
result of a miraculous vision. …
The accounts of his conversion
on the road to Damascus come
from the Acts of the Apostles.
Paul himself says far more
simply, 'God called me through
his grace and chose to reveal
his Son in me' (Gal 1).”
Wansbrough, H.J. (1984). Jesus: The Real Evidence,
p. 10
76
We first hear of Saul in Acts
7:58 where it is claimed he
was a witness to the stoning
of Stephen, (circa 33-34 AD)
77
The problems begin.
“ … Lord Jesus receive my spirit “ Acts 7:59
78
The problems begin.
“ … Lord Jesus receive my spirit “ Acts 7:59
Was Stephen a time traveler or
was this story fiction?
79
The problems
continue.
“ … if he found any
belonging to the Way,
men or women, he
might bring them
bound to Jerusalem.”
Acts 9:2
80
The problems
continue.
“ … if he found any
belonging to the Way,
men or women, he
might bring them
bound to Jerusalem.”
Acts 9:2
Why go to
Damascus?
81
What followed
after Paul left
Damascus is
uncertain.
Different
versions are
given by both
Luke and Paul .
82
“ … . but his disciples took
him by night and let him
down over the wall, lowering
him in a basket. And when
he had come to Jerusalem he
attempted
to
join
the
disciples; and they were all
afraid of him, for they did not
believe that he was a
disciple. “
Acts 9:25-26
83
“ …
nor did I go up to
Jerusalem to those who were
apostles before me, but I
went away into Arabia; and
again
I
returned
to
Damascus. Then after three
years I went up to Jerusalem
to visit Cephas…“
Galatians 1:17-18
84
“ … I went away into Arabia …”
85
When Paul began to
preach, “my gospel”*
his message was quite
different from that of
the Nazarenes.
* Romans 2:16; 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:8;
86
Paul’s teachings had
two major aspects: —
[1] The existence of a
transcendental
being,
the “CHRISTOS” (Jesus
Christ),
who
could
deliver salvation to all
who believed in him!
87
“The central myth of the new
religion was that of an atoning
death of a divine being. … Paul
derived
this
religion
from
Hellenistic sources, chiefly by a
fusion of concepts taken from
Gnosticism and concepts taken
from the mystery religions,
particularly from that of Attis.”
Maccoby, H. 1987). The Myth-Maker, Paul and the
Invention of Christianity. p. 16.
88
and: -
[2] An eternal cosmic
dual
between
the
forces of good and
evil, which predated
the creation of the
universe!
89
“Underlying
most
of
his
thinking was a concept very
like the ancient dualism of the
Persians, the endless struggle
between light and darkness,
right and wrong, good and evil
- a view which Judaism had
abandoned centuries before. “
Fast, H., (1968). The Jews, p. 119.
90
In this cosmic struggle,
God represented the
powers of light and
goodness, while
the
dark, evil forces were
represented by
the
Archons, “… spiritual
hosts of wickedness in
the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12.
91
The Nazarenes adhered
strictly to their Jewish
beliefs, with one addition
— they believed Jesus was
the messiah who would
soon return, as god’s
agent, to drive out the
Romans
and
restore
sovereign power to Israel.
92
To the Jews,
“...
the
Messiah
or
Messiahs were always
human beings even if
sometimes supernatural
qualities were connected
with them.”
Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1971 ed., volume
11, 1410, Jerusalem.
93
Paul, however,
replaced the mortal
Jewish “messiah”
with a divine being,
the saviour of all
humanity — Jesus
Christ!
94
Paul
claimed
Jesus
Christ was not only the
“Son of God” but a “god”
in his own right; a divine
being through whom
the world had been
created…
“ … of the Son he says,
"Thy throne, O God,
Hebrews 1:8
95
As a “god” Jesus Christ
could grant salvation to
all who believed in him!
“ … there is salvation in
no one else, for there is
no other name under
heaven given among
men by which we must
be saved."
Acts 4:12
96
To the monotheistic Jews
such claims would have
been not only alien, but
also totally abhorrent!
97
Paul’s gospel was not for
the Jews, but for, “ … all the
Gentiles …”
Romans 1:5
98
Paul’s concepts were
based upon Gnostic
teachings!
99
The Gnostics – various
pantheistic mystery sects
predating Christianity.
100
They
sought
“Gnosis”
–
knowledge of nature’s secrets
which, they believed, would
enable them to reach heaven
and gain salvation!
101
Paul speaks of a
“mystery” – a secret
knowledge
hidden
from humanity.
“… the mystery which
was kept secret for
long ages”
Romans 16:25
102
The “mystery” was a
Gnostic
conspiracy
theory which related
to an eternal struggle
between the powers
of good and evil and
which was being kept
a secret from humans
by the powers of evil.
103
These evil powers are
referred
to
in
1
Corinthians 2:6 as, ”
… rulers of this age,”
however Paul was not
referring
to
the
Roman
or
Jewish
rulers.
104
These “rulers” were in
fact …
“ …elemental spirits of the
universe'. (Galatians 4:3 and Colossians 2:8)
“ … the prince of the power of
the air,” (Ephesians 2:2)
“… the spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly
places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
105
“In the original Greek,
(archontes
tou
aiones
toutou), the words
…
denote
the
demonic
powers that were believed
to govern this present
world-order, and their use
in this passage reveals that
Paul was thinking in terms
of current Graeco- Roman
astralism.“
Brandon, S.G.F. (1971). The Trial of Jesus
106
of Nazareth, p. 19.
“For we wrestle not
against
flesh
and
blood,
but
against
principalities, against
powers, against the
rulers of the darkness
of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in
high places.”
Ephesians 6:12
107
Paul states,
“…the mystery was
made known to me
by revelation, …”
Ephesians 3:3.
108
Paul appears to be
saying the “revelation”
he had on the road to
Damascus gave him a
personal insight into a
great cosmic plan for
human redemption in
which god would allow
his son, the Christ, to be
killed by these evil
powers.
109
By killing the Christos,
(who
had
willingly
sacrificed himself for
this very purpose), the
evil powers would be
tricked into believing
they had won a cosmic
victory over god.
110
However, this was
simply a plan by
god to trick these
evil powers.
“None of the rulers of
this age understood
this; for if they had,
they would not have
crucified the Lord of
glory. “
1 Corinthians 2:6-8
111
Gnostic Salvationist
ideas were adapted
by Paul as the basis
of what he claimed
was “… the gospel of
your salvation, “
Ephesians 1:13
112
“My gospel” (Romans 2:16)
“the gospel of Christ”
(Romans 15:19) replaced the
Pharisaic concept of
obedience to the law
with Gnostic concepts
in which belief, (faith),
in Christ, guaranteed
salvation.
113
This salvation was,
“… a secret and
hidden wisdom of
God,
which
God
decreed before the
ages
for
our
glorification. “
1 Corinthians 2:7
114
Paul believed god
would
reveal
his
secret gnosis to all
who believed in his
Son — the Christ!
115
“ … that the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may
give you a spirit of
wisdom
and
of
revelation
in
the
knowledge of him, …”
Ephesians 1:17
116
Believers
granted,
would be
“ --- full wisdom and
insight. He has made
known to us his
hidden purpose ---;”
Ephesians 1:7-9
117
Paul suggests god’s
plan
for
salvation
was
being
kept
hidden by the evil
powers,
from
the
unbelievers, so they
would not receive the
gnosis,
and
be
“saved”.
118
“ … our gospel is veiled,
… to those who are
perishing. … the god of
this world has blinded
the
minds
of
the
unbelievers,
to
keep
them from seeing the
light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the
likeness of God.“
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
119
Gnostic terms
used
throughout the
Epistles.
120
Term “Wisdom” used 31
times in Epistles
Term
Wisdom
Wisdom of God
Wisdom of the world
Jesus Christ our wisdom
Secret and hidden; of the age;
Earthly; spirit of; spiritual; secret
and hidden; depth of; eloquent;
of the wise; Greeks seeking; of
men; human wisdom.
Used
12
3
2
1
1
121
“Yet among the mature we
do
impart
wisdom,
although it is not a wisdom
of this age or of the rulers
of this age, who are
doomed to pass away. But
we impart a secret and
hidden wisdom of God,
which God decreed before
the
ages
for
our
glorification.“
1 Corinthians 2:6-7
122
“To
one
is
given
through the Spirit the
utterance of wisdom,
and to another the
utterance of knowledge
according to the same
Spirit, “
1 Corinthians 12:8
123
“For he has made
known to us in all
wisdom and insight
the mystery of his
will, according to
his purpose which
he
set
forth
in
Christ.”
Ephesians 1:9
124
“ … that the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may
give you a spirit of
wisdom
and
of
revelation
in
the
knowledge of him, …”
Ephesian 1:17
125
“… to make all men see what
is the plan of the mystery
hidden for ages in God who
created all things;
that
through
the
church
the
manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known to
the principalities and powers
in the heavenly places.“
Ephesians 3:9-10
126
… to have all the
riches
of
assured
understanding and the
knowledge
of
God's
mystery, of Christ, in
whom are hid all the
treasures of wisdom
and knowledge.“
“
Colossians 2:2-3
127
128
129
The
Roman
aristocrats
considered the common
people as "dishonorable
and base – “the work of all
artisans is sordid, there
can be nothing honourable
in a workshop". (Cicero)
130
Salvationism
Elitist religious system
131
132
Gentile
converts
had
many pagan beliefs which
were totally alien to the
Jews.
133
“ … , the Greek and the barbarian,
were alike accustomed to receive -- a long succession … of angels, of
deities, or aeons, or emanations,
issuing from the throne of light. …
their religions were teeming with
such ideas, as happening in the
past, and they were looking for
and expecting an Angel-Messiah.
Doane, (1992). Bible Myths and Their Paralells in
Other Religions. pp. 136-137.
134
“ … Christ was made up
from
the
features
of
various Gods, “
Massey, G, The Historical Jesus and the Mythical
Jesus, p. 21.
135
136
Christian shopkeepers
bad reputation
137
Heated arguments with
Christian who had
different beliefs
138
Because Paul’s teachings
were antagonistic to those
of the Nazarenes there is
little doubt there was a
doctrinal
struggle;
see
Galatians
1:5-8
and
2
Corinthians 11:3-4
139
Known as the "brethren," "the
faithful," "elect,"
"saints,"
"believers.“ “ … in Antioch
the disciples were for the first
time called Christians. “
Acts 11:26: also Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16
140
The Council of Jerusalem, circa 50
AD, sought to establish a balance
between Jewish believers and
Gentile converts.
Peter’s decision was that, “ … we
should not trouble those of the
Gentiles who turn to God,
but
should write to them to abstain
from the pollutions of idols and
from unchastity and from what is
strangled and from blood.”
Acts 15:19-20
141
In the struggle between Paul
and the Nazarenes, events
came to a climax in 66 AD.
142
After an anti-tax revolt, Florus, the
Roman procurator stole silver
from the Temple; the Jews rioted
wiping out the local
Roman
garrison - Jewish War, 66-73 AD
143
Reinforcements from Syria, under
legate Cestius Gallus were routed,
and this led to the four year siege
of Jerusalem by Titus!
144
Disciples,“ … not to depart from
Jerusalem, but to wait for the
promise of the Father,” Acts 1:4
145
146
After the Jewish-Roman War
the remnant of the Jewish
Christians fled Jerusalem
and settled in Pella. (Eusebius)
147
“History is written by the
victors”
Winston Churchill.
148
“History is written by the
victors”
Winston Churchill.
With all opposition gone, the
Gentile Christians were frre to
write their own version of
“history”.
149
The gospel writers removed
all references to disputes
between
Paul
and
the
Nazarenes,
so
that
it
appeared the teachings of
Jesus had been transmitted
intact and unchanged .
150
They
were
free
to
add
fictional
material,
pagan
myths
and
to
fill
the
“gospels” with non-Jewish
terminology!
151
“ … the high priest
said to him, "I adjure
you by the living God,
tell us if you are the
Christ, the Son of
God.“
Matthew 26:63
152
“For God so loved the
world that he gave his
only Son, that whoever
believes in him should
not perish but have
eternal life.”
John 3:16
153
Terms such as the “Son”
and “Holy Ghost” were
pagan, and would have
made no sense to the
monotheistic Jews!
154
Yahweh could not have a
“Son” — furthermore, as
the “chosen people” the
Jews believed they were
all
the
sons
and
daughters of Yahweh!
155
Such terminology provides
strong evidence that the
gospels were written by
Gentiles presenting their own
version of the life and
teachings of Jesus.
156
Approximate dates
when gospels
written
Mark
Matthew
Luke
John
70- + AD
80 – 90 AD
80 – 90 AD
100 AD
157
With little knowledge of
Judaea or Jewish practices,
the Gentile authors of the
gospels
made
many
errors.
158
“Christianity probably began ...
with a different idea of the
resurrection than is claimed
today. The evidence suggests the
first Christians, at least up to
and including Paul, thought
Christ's "soul" was taken up to
heaven and clothed in a new
body, after leaving his old body
in the grave forever.“
Carrier, R.C. (2005). The Spiritual Body of Christ and the Legend
of the Empty Tomb. In Price, R.M.; Lowder, J.J., eds. The Empty
Tomb: Jesus Beyond the Grave.. p. 105.
159
This version did not need a
tomb, this story developed
later, probably from Egypt as
an attempt to glorify Jesus!
160
“ … now there was a man
named Joseph from the Jewish
town of Arimathea.” Luke 23:51
No record of Arimathea in the
Old Testament, Torah, Talmud,
or anywhere else, except in the
Gospels … Joseph of Arimathea
a fictional character.
161
Joseph of Arimathea sealed
the tomb of Jesus with a
large stone (Matthew 27:60, Mark
15:46), very unlikely.
162
Jesus’ paternal grandfather?
Matthew 1:16 says it was Jacob.
Luke 3:23 says it was Heli.
163
“The genealogies included in
each of the two Gospels are not
only
different
they
are
incompatible .“
Spong, J.S. (1992), Born of a Woman, p. 48
164
The Ten Commandments.
In Mark 10:19, incorrectly cites
“do not defraud”
as a
commandment
165
The Ten Commandments.
In Mark 10:19, incorrectly cites
“do not defraud”
as a
commandment
Either Jesus did not know the
Ten Commandments, or else
these words were written by an
author not fully aware of the
Jewish commandments?
166
“When he came
down from the mountain, great
crowds
followed
him;
and
behold, a leper came to him and
knelt before him, “
Matthew
8:2
Lepers did not wander
around the countryside.
freely
Leviticus 13:46. “ … he shall dwell
alone in a habitation outside the
camp.
167
E.g. Luke 3:2 claims there were two
high priests Annas and Caiaphas.
Annas was deposed in 15 AD,
Caiaphas elected 18 AD; John 18:13
claims Caiaphas, “ … was high
priest that year.
168
After Jesus’ arrest he was taken
directly to the home of Caiaphas
(Matthew 26:57; Mark 14:53; Luke
22:54) yet
John 18:13 clearly
states that he was taken to the
home of Annas.
169
Jesus attacks the money
lenders in the Temple; (Matthew
21:12) — two problems!
170
1. The traders and moneylenders were in the streets
leading to the temple!
171
2.
Fortress Antonio
172
Where was the Sermon on the
Mount delivered?
Matthew 5:1:
When he saw the crowds he went
up the hill … and this is the
teaching he gave:
In this version Jesus delivers nine
beatitudes.
173
Where was the Sermon on the
Mount delivered?
Luke 6:17:
He came down the hill with them
and took his stand on level
ground …. Then turning to his
disciples he began to speak
[verse 20]
In this version Jesus delivers
four beatitudes.
174
Who took Jesus down
from
the
cross
and
placed him in his tomb?
175
Who took Jesus down
from
the
cross
and
placed him in his tomb?
Joseph of Arimathea
(Luke 23:53)
176
Who took Jesus down
from
the
cross
and
placed him in his tomb?
The people of Jerusalem
(Acts 13:27-29)
177
How did Judas die?
178
How did Judas die?
He hanged himself (Matthew 27:5)
179
How did Judas die?
He fell down in the field.“
and all his bowels gushed
out.” (Acts 1:18)
180
“ … the four gospels … cannot
be regarded at all points as
reliable and factual reports. …
Neither is there agreement
about the authenticity of the
miracle accounts. ”
Holl, A. (1971), Jesus in Bad Company, pp. 16-17.
181
The gospels, written during the
latter part of the first century,
sought to record oral records
of Jesus’ life as well as the
beliefs that had evolved by this
time …
182
“ … by then, Jesus had become
the
Christ,
the
Suffering
Saviour and Redeemer of
Mankind and the Son of God, it
is quite certain that anything
in the historical Jesus story
that conflicted in any doctrinal
way with the then-image of
Him was discarded.”
Joyce, D. (1973). The Jesus Scroll, . p. 4.
183
“ … the Gospels are also the
work of men who believed that
they
were
recording
the
earthly life of a divine being,
whose
death
was
the
culminating episode in a
divine
plan
designed
to
accomplish the salvation of
mankind. “
Brandon, S.G.F. (1971). The Trial of Jesus of
Nazareth, p. 18.
184
Jesus mythos continued to
expand after 70 AD.
“So filled are the birth
stories
of
Jesus
with
legendary details that their
historicity collapses when
they are placed under the
microscope
of
modern
scholarship.”
Spong, J.S. (1992), Born of a Woman p. 44.
185
“ … the birth narratives, (of
Matthew and Luke) … most
analytical scholars, --- now
class as midrash, religious
teaching conveyed by poetic
fancy and allegory, not sober
history.”
Barnes, E.W. (1948), The Rise of Christianity, pp.
103-104.
186
187
Christ is the Good Shepherd! So
was Horus.
Christ is the Lamb of God! So
was Horus.
Christ is the Bread of Life! So
was Horus.
Christ is the Truth and the Life!
So was Horus.
Christ is the Lord! So was Horus.
Massey, G, The Historical Jesus and the Mythical
Jesus, p. 22
188
MITHRA:
Born of a virgin mother in a cave,
on 22-23 rd December;
Priests called “fathers”, followers
brothers and sisters;
As bearer of the keys of heaven he
opened the gates of heaven to the
faithful;
Put to death wearing a crown of
thorns;
Raised after 3 days. in a rock tomb
189
190
Concept of “salvation” saving of the soul from
sin, and “survival” in an
eternal afterlife, the basis
of many religions.
191
“Let me not be
rejected …”
Egyptian Book of the Dead
192
Salvationism
in a new guise.
193
Christianity — Paul’s
creation, a synthesis of
primitive
superstition,
Gnosticism, mysticism,
and dualism.
194
195
End
196
197