Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

1. Rational people do not hate persons who never existed
2. Rational people hate Jesus.
3. Therefore, Jesus existed.

1. Marcion creates gospels and pauline writings in the second century w/ a non-earthly (non-historical?) Jesus.

2. After altering Marcion's writings, Proto-catholics claim greater authority than Marcion since Jesus gave Peter authority while on earth.

3. Therefore, Jesus exists.

. . . See book by Sand of the same title for further information. You mean this book? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5b/The_Invention_of_the_Jewish_People-Cover.jpg/150px-The_Invention_of_the_Jewish_People-Cover.jpg Sand began his work by looking for research studies about forcibl...

It seems clear to me that the original of Galatians was a Marcionite tirade against circumcision and submission by Christians to obligations of Jewish Law. Since Marcion's opponents in this epistle and in general were from the Proto-Catholic wing of Christianity, this would seem to imply that Proto...

Apparently, birth certificates were invented close to his time and forgery of such certificates was a serious offense.

Maybe he proved it by showing his birth certificate?

In contrast to Acts 12 depiction of an arrogant Agrippa I, Acts 26:27-32 depiction of Agrippa II does portary him acting in a non-arrogant (humbe?) manner when questioning Paul in the following verse; King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul,...

I note this offhanded observation by Andreas J. M. Kropp in the recently released Images and Monuments of Near Eastern Dynasts, 100 BC - AD 100 (Oxford 2013): Agrippa even adopts coin types celebrating Rome's crushing of the Jewish revolt, such as the well-known Victory inscribing a shield (Fig. 10...

The Sibylline Oracles also cite Zechariah although the text below is most likely a christian interpolation. . . Daughter of Zion, holy one, rejoice, Who hast suffered many things; thy king himself Mounted upon a foal is hastening on; Behold, meek he shall come, that he may lift Our slavish yoke, so ...