The Invention of Jesus Christ: 7 Common Questions
Read Time:4 Minute, 55 Second
When Paul started sharing his stories, prior to 33-36 CE, there was no mention of a Jesus Christ nor did this savior have any known following. So just where did the story of Jesus come from?
As with all great stories told over the centuries the story of Jesus has many origins and developed more and more during each retelling. What started out as Paul’s imagination and personal interpretation of Hebrew scriptures eventually became the Jesus we know today through an accumulation of traits pulled from various stories and storytellers.
Age of the Messiahs
Prior to 33-36 CE
Prior to the story of Jesus there were many alleged saviors believed to be the Jewish messiah predicted by Hebrew scriptures. Some were made-up figures and others were real people with their own followers. Although none of these alleged saviors were known as Jesus Christ, historians still use the terms “Christian” and “Christianity” as blanket terms to describe all early Jewish messiah cults.
Yes, the photo is from the comedy “The Life of Brian.”
The Birth of Jesus Christ
During 33-36 CE
Paul, the founder of Christianity, was the first person in history to mention anything about the figure Jesus Christ. This first mentioning did not occur until several years after the story of Jesus takes place. Also, according to Paul himself, he never met Jesus in person and did not learn about him from any other person. So where did his knowledge of Jesus come from?
Everything we know today about the character Jesus is based on, or derived from, Paul’s writings. And everything Paul wrote was based on what he claims to be a “divinely guided” interpretation of religious Jewish texts.
About This Jesus…
Jesus was based on scripture
According to Paul, his knowledge of Jesus was revealed to him through a divinely guided interpretation of Hebrew scriptures instead of a historic event just 20 years earlier. The knowledge of Jesus dying for our sins, being buried, and rising on the third day is all “according to the scriptures” and “made known through the prophetic writings.” Paul never mentions having any encounter with Jesus and only quotes scripture, not Jesus. He even specifically says that his knowledge of Jesus was not received from another man nor was it taught to him.
Knowledge of Jesus was exclusive
According to Paul only a chosen group were given knowledge of Jesus. Gnosticism is usually associated with a particular sect of Christians but the word itself refers to having divinely given knowledge. Paul himself, along with the others mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, were all claimed to be gnostic. Only they received the exclusive knowledge of Jesus Christ, after Jesus’ supposed death, when Jesus appeared to them just as he finally appeared to Paul which was through a divine interpretation of Hebrew Scriptures.
Jesus was not known to the public
According to Paul not a single person, other than those with divinely given knowledge in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, was aware of Jesus’ significance until Paul himself personally shared this knowledge with the public. Paul states that his knowledge of Jesus was previously a mystery and that it was kept secret since the world began. Paul even describes the future coming of Jesus as a revelation, something that will happen for the first time, and dismisses any “returning” aspect.
Common Questions
1. Is Jesus Just a Lie?
Not likely. Paul probably really did think that he was given special knowledge. Historically speaking, such behavior was pretty common in ancient times when gods where sprouting up left and right.
2. Didn’t Paul meet Jesus’ brother?
Paul probably did meet a guy named James who either had a brother named Jesus (which was very common) or that was believed to be the Jewish messiah (which was also quite common). Even if Paul did meet this James he still claims that his knowledge of Jesus did not come from another person. This obviously would include James, meaning Paul did not learning about Jesus from the alleged brother.
3. Didn’t Paul Persecute Jesus?
Paul only persecuted the rapidly spreading belief of a Jewish messiah being revealed. He was not persecuting the belief in the specific messiah Jesus Christ as no one was even mentioning such a savior.
4. Didn’t Paul meet Jesus on the road to Damascus?
Acts, which contains the story of a journey to Damascus, was not written by Paul. It is a story involving Paul written by a later author, likely the author of Luke. Paul himself never mentions meeting Jesus and only cites religious scriptures as his source of knowledge about Jesus.
5. Was Jesus a Mythical Figure?
“Mythical figures” is a term typically related to figures that are believed to only exist in a mythical realm. However, Paul believed Jesus was born of flesh & blood and once lived in the real world. Although Jesus is a myth, his story is not set in only a mythical realm.
6. God has a son in Hebrew scriptures?
Paul most likely based the notion of God having a son from passages like Proverbs 30:4 which asks, “what is his [God’s] name, and what is his son’s name”. He may have also misinterpreted Psalms 2:7-12 which refers to King David as God’s “begotten” son.
7. Where did Jesus’ name come from?
Jesus’ original name in Hebrew is Yahu’shuah which simply means “Yahweh saves” or “salvation.” The Hebrew word yahu’shuah is often used in the Tanach (Old Testament) and in the official Jewish daily and festival Prayer Books where it is generally translated as “salvation”. Yahu’shuah (“Jesus” in English) was also a very common and generic name for the time.
English = Jesus
Latin = Iesus
Greek = lesous
Arabic = Yeshuah
Hebrew = Yahu’shuah
Many thanks to TruthSaves.
Follow MadMike’sAmerica on Facebook and Twitter, and don’t forget to visit our HOME PAGE.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
I heard Jesus was just some guy hanging around?
“He even specifically says that his knowledge of Jesus was not received from another man nor was it taught to him.” So possibly he heard of at least one part of the story from a woman?
I have thought for years that Mary started this beJesus ball rolling by coming up with a hellofa story to placate ol’ Joseph after it became apparent that she was with bambino. It would stand to reason that she’d have to follow through with it. I stand by my theory…amen.
I think Paul got high on his own supply and punked everyone. That people are still being punked today, shows the capacity for stupidity in our fellow humans is neverending, but hey that is just me.
Faith? Define it. Do you have faith the sun will rise in the morning? What if it’s cloudy? Yes you can be assured it’s there and you can be assured that you will see it at some point. You can have FAITH in that, but to have FAITH in some silly superstition? Did you know rattlesnakes won’t let go of you until sundown should you be bitten? That’s complete and absolute nonsense of course but millions of people have faith in the myth. There is no God, no Jesus, no Devil, unless he’s in us. All myths contrived for one political reason or another, not to mention they make for good reading. Even authors in the old testament days had to make money somehow.
This is interesting, as is the Holy Book itself. The scriptures contain words to live and die by, but not all of it can possibly be true, and some of it is downright hateful. The only analyses that matters is faith. If you have faith that Our Lord existed and by embracing him you will be saved that’s all that matters.
I think the whole thing, like god himself and the rest of that religious bullshit, is just that: bullshit!