Search found 3938 matches

by Bernard Muller
Mon Oct 28, 2013 12:34 pm
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket case
Replies: 250
Views: 250205

Re: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket c

historical incident which was 'well known' to everyone in the Empire
What historical incident are you referring to?
Cordially, Bernard
by Bernard Muller
Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:45 am
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket case
Replies: 250
Views: 250205

Re: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket c

to Stephan,
Yes most early Christians were illiterate with plenty of ignorance (but they did not have to be slaves for that). However, there were some educated people among them who could be asked about that Aretas.
Cordially, Bernard
by Bernard Muller
Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:37 am
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket case
Replies: 250
Views: 250205

Re: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket c

to spin,
If you think 2 Cor 11:32 is not an interpolation, but the Aretas in question being Aretas III, then that would put Paul's apostolic episode way earlier (about by one century). Before I go further, I have to ask you: Is it what you think? If not clarify.
Cordially, Bernard
by Bernard Muller
Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:11 am
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket case
Replies: 250
Views: 250205

Re: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket c

2 Cor 31:33 an interpolation (likely an attempt to harmonize Paul's letter with Acts) If that would be the case, why did the interpolator substitute Jews for ethnarch of Aretas? Jews, being after Paul, makes sense. Why change that to ethnarch of Aretas the king? Why change from killing Paul to seiz...
by Bernard Muller
Mon Oct 28, 2013 9:04 am
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket case
Replies: 250
Views: 250205

Re: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket c

This makes a case for the separatist nature of the Jews in the lands of Egypt and Cyrene and it is on account of this that the Jews were given a "governor" (ethnarch, according to Josephus). There is no reason to think that such a position, if it were indeed called an "ethnarch"...
by Bernard Muller
Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:55 am
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket case
Replies: 250
Views: 250205

Re: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket c

Of course, I do not have all the evidence to make my case certain. My goal has always been to show that "In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me" is plausible as being written by Paul around 55 CE, and should not be dismissed as a ...
by Bernard Muller
Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:31 am
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket case
Replies: 250
Views: 250205

Re: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket c

Here is a description of the function of the Jewish ethnarch in Alexandria, from Strabo being quoted by Josephus: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.%20AJ%2014.7.2&lang=original Was that ethnarch nominated by the Jewish king of the time (Herod the Great & Agrippa I), if any? Why ...
by Bernard Muller
Sun Oct 27, 2013 8:54 pm
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket case
Replies: 250
Views: 250205

Re: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket c

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me: (ASV) The Greek has "ethnarch", not governor (giving the impression this guy was governing the city). There is no "under" also, just "of". According to Josephus (Ant....
by Bernard Muller
Sun Oct 27, 2013 2:44 pm
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket case
Replies: 250
Views: 250205

Re: Ethnarch of King Aretas? the legendary Damascus basket c

By these standards any city in the Empire at any time could be argued to have been occupied by a foreign power. I did not say, nor Kasher, that the change of coins during Caligula was because Damascus was occupied by a foreign power. But it suggests more autonomy from Rome (but still with Rome as t...
by Bernard Muller
Sun Oct 27, 2013 2:36 pm
Forum: Christian Texts and History
Topic: A Study in 1 Clement
Replies: 16
Views: 15917

Re: A Study in 1 Clement

Which author of second or third century cites 1 Clement's letter? Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3, 3, 3 "In the time of this Clement, no small dissension having occurred among the brethren at Corinth, the Church in Rome dispatched a most powerful letter to the Corinthians, exhorting them to peac...