This is my new updated blogging index for this fine book. In 2011, Jesus Mythicism, the idea that Jesus never existed, was at peak popularity on the internet with sites like Neil Godfrey’s Vridar and Project Reason’s forum, and I was searching for scholarship engaging with Christ Myth theorist Earl Doherty, and I found Prof … “The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus (2024)” Anthology by James Crossley (Editor), Chris Keith (Editor) – FINAL Updated Blogging Index

The crucifixion of Cleomenes III and his snake that converts the onlookers has been ignored by commenters in large part because a date for Mark has been assigned from the war due to Jesus’s supposed prediction (66-74; probably 70). This seems to be mostly apologetics because it establishes the earliness boundary, not the lateness one. … (Conclusion) The Late Dates of the Gospels

Last time I thought a bit with Robert M Price about a late date for the gospels thinking about topics like Marcion. It seemed that Mark and Matthew alluded to the Jewish revolt (though Mark was a bit of a stretch), and that all synoptics seemed to be post-Plutarch with the key allusion to the … (2/2) The Late Date of the Gospels

Price notes that the Gospel of Mark was probably written in Rome.  It contains Latinisms like “centurion” even though it was written in Greek.  It makes sense that it was the venerated gospel of Rome, since it is 90 percent preserved in Matthew and 60 percent preserved in Luke, so if it was not venerated … The Late Date of the Gospels

The notion of one’s eyes being opened in the bible is an important theme, meaning transformation. Adam and Eve’s eyes are opened to their nakedness, as Paul/Saul’s were opened to the wrongness of persecuting the early church. We see something similar with the transformation of the soldiers at the cross in the synoptics, which seems … The Death of Jesus: Eyes Opened Beyond Substitutionary Atonement

I was thinking last time about how the Jews thought God brought judgment against them historically through them being conquered. I’d like to apply this to the destruction of the temple in 70CE. This seems to be a big impetus for the gospels, and so Mark is usually thought of as inventing Jesus making a … (2/2) Who Killed Jesus? The Christ Myth Theory and Ancient Writing

We often look at the idea of sin from the point of view of an individual’s personal shortcomings.  In light of this modern interpretation of the individual, Jesus’s sacrifice as substitutionary atonement seems to make sense.  But this is not the ancient view.  The Jews for instance taught God brought judgement on Egypt, not as … Who Killed Jesus? The Christ Myth Theory and Ancient Writing

We thought previously about the pneumatikos or resurrection spiritual body of Jesus that would allow him to simultaneously indwell all believers as “Christ in You” to power you up in your spiritual fight against the tempter. In this conclusion I’ll flesh this out a little. Adam and Eve were given God’s word/law regarding the Tree … (Conclusion) Jesus and the Book of Daniel: πνεῦμα (Septuagint “pneuma”)

The interpretation of “Christ in You” being angelic possession as a haggadic midrash of the “excellent spirit” of Daniel 6:3 (being both the character of Daniel and the spirit that guided and empowered him), we noted the connection to the daimonion guiding Socrates. By the Roman Imperial period we find Jesus in, this concept had … (2/2) Jesus and the Book of Daniel: πνεῦμα (Septuagint “pneuma”)

And Daniel was clothed in purple and was great and esteemed before king Darius, as he was knowledgeable and intelligent and a holy spirit was in him (Daniel 6:3, Old Greek) And Daniel was above them, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king appointed him over his whole kingdom (Daniel 6:3, Theodotion) … Jesus and the Book of Daniel: πνεῦμα (Septuagint “pneuma”)