Extant Writings seem to indicate that Paul was the first to write the assertian that Jesus was crucified. Was Paul also the first to assert that Jesus was crucified, without any qualifications?
The starting point to try and answer this question is the earliest extant direct claim that Jesus was Crucified. By "Direct" I mean that the author claims that Jesus was crucified and not just that someone else the author knew made the claim. Here is one of Paul's Direct claims:
http://www.errancywiki.com/index.php/1_Corinthians_2
JW:2:1 And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
2:5 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
2:6 We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought:
2:7 but we speak God`s wisdom in a mystery, [even] the [wisdom] that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:
2:8 which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:
2:9 but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And [which] entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.
2:10 But unto us God revealed [them] through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
2:11 For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.
2:12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.
2:13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man`s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual [words].
2:14 Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.
2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Note especially:
"2:8 which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:"
Paul never gives any detail regarding specifically who these rulers were. Subsequent Christian writings vary as to who exactly did the supposed crucifying. All seem to agree though that it was some type of ruler(s), Roman, Israel, Priests, Pharisees, El-satira. Is the subsequent Christian assertian based mainly/exclusively on Paul's statement here in 1 Corinthians?
Also note that Revelation is smeared all over the above quote and there is no indication of any historical witness source for Paul's assertian. It's almost as if Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza created this religion:
- George: Why don't we create a new religion.
Jerry: What would our evidence be?
George: (Having a Revelation). Nothing!
Jerry: How can you have a religion with no evidence?
George: We'll say you have to have Faith.
Jerry: And how would you know that?
George: Revelation!
Jerry: So how would you get it started?
George: With a Revelation! (George and Jerry point at each other in agreement). The first "Episode" will be a Revelation about Nothing!
Jerry: I think you've got Something.
Joseph
REVELATION, n.
A famous book in which St. John the Divine concealed all that he knew. The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing.