The Deir Ali inscription proves that Chrestos was not a holy name

[Peter Kirby]

It's a good question when the abbreviations were introduced to the texts for the first time. It is possible to assume that they were present in the autographs of the Pauline letters, but I don't assume that this is true.

[lclapshaw]

It is true that I consider it more likely that a person named Paulos/Paulus, being a Roman name, writing to people in a Roman veteran colony, Corinth, being composed mostly of Roman military veterans and their families, would find the abbreviation IC XC for Iulius the Xrhstos instantly recognizable to his audience without the need to elaborate, as opposed to some unknown Jewish guy named Ihsous the Xristos, being a total nonsense phrase to a Roman and Greek readership.

Alright, thank you for bringing the discussion back to a focus on what you consider to be more likely here.

Here's a link to where I introduce the possibility viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10597

[Peter Kirby]

PS, SA's attack on KK is unworthy.

You're right.

Thanks for the kind words, Stephen. I'll let those experts do their thing.

And, under the new forum rules, I've cleaned up this thread, moving some posts ~~NIP~~ (a couple from me, a few from SA).

Those rules are:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=129

Forum-Wide Rules

1. Use Your Filter. Please look over your post once. If something looks gratuitous, please consider deleting it. If something looks like it is just plain mean-spirited, please consider toning it down. Or, stated negatively: no direct insults, i.e., comments that are obviously hurtful and explicitly insulting to another person on the forum. Posts that don't follow this rule can be moved.
2. Assume Good Faith. If someone states that they believe a proposition, always allow that they seriously do believe the proposition. Stated negatively, posts that accuse other members of not really believing what they claim, when the accusation is not supported by the other member's statements, do not follow this rule and can be moved.
3. Be Moderate. What you write should be reasonable and proportionate in its rhetoric, compared to the rhetoric of that to which you reply. Be considerate. Or, stated negatively: a post thoroughly saturated with severe invective should not be written, and posts that escalate rhetoric brutally shouldn't either. Posts that do not follow this rule can be moved.
4. Stay on Topic. Posts with little or no substantial content relevant to the purpose of the thread and the forum can be moved. In the historical discussion forums, this includes any posts that have any memes, videos, or non-informative images.
5. Personal Matters are Off-Topic. A post containing comments on other posters in a way usually considered to be exceedingly personal such as regarding nationality, race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation can be moved.
6. Forum Business is Off-Topic. A post containing any comments about the forum, about the forum rules, about the moderation of the forum, about moderation actions taken or not taken, and so on can be moved to Forum Business.
7. Be an Adult. Respect the moderation team and the mess that is public discussion. People will say things that are silly and annoying. Ideas will be floated that make no sense. Egos will be bruised by criticism. Action won't always be taken.
8. No Bullying. This forum is meant to facilitate the free exchange of ideas. It is not meant to be a safe haven for people to take advantage of this for any possible abuse. A pattern of harassment of any specific user can lead to a suspension or ban.
9. No Doxing or Sock Puppet Allegations. Attempts to "dox" or "unmask" other users of the forum by posting personal details or speculating on their identity (including any allegations of being the same as another person on the internet, however identified) can lead to a suspension or ban. Any accusation about another user presenting a fake user profile or being a sock puppet can lead to a suspension or ban. Doxing will be deleted.
10. No Spam. Spam will be deleted. Spammer accounts will be deleted.

The newer rules to "Be Moderate" and that "Personal Matters are Off-Topic" were especially relevant for this cleanup.