Who Was Jesus? Part 6

The infamous "Jesus Family Tomb" at Talpiot in Jerusalem thus reflects little more than the common usage of the names found therein. Since the modern archaeological era, there have been several tombs not only with the name of Jesus in them but also with the phrase "son of Joseph." There was, in effect, nothing sensational about this decades-old discovery. Regarding the Jesus tomb, Dr. Habermas remarks: The Names "Joseph" and "Jesus" were very popular in the 1st century. "Jesus" appears in at least 99 tombs and on 22 ossuaries. "Joseph" appears on 45 ossuaries.... "Mary" is the most common female name in the ancient Jewish world.2 Ill.u.s.trating how widespread was the name "Jesus," in 1945 at another Talpiot site Professor E.L. Sukenik found two ossuaries with name "Jesus" inscribed on them and crosses carved into them. Sukenik subsequently p.r.o.nounced these discoveries the "earliest Christian evidence." Despite Sukenik's enthusiasm, these ossuaries have now been excluded as evidence, as discussed by Bruce in New Testament Doc.u.ments: ...it now seems fairly certain that the inscriptions have nothing to do with Christianity, but refer to two separate first century individuals named Jesus, neither of them being Jesus of Nazareth.3 In fact, the inscription on the ossuary first unveiled by Sukenik was "Jesus, Son of Joseph," which stunned his audience until he informed them that the two names were very common during the first century. Moreover, in 1873 French archaeologist Charles Clermont-Ganneau had discovered some 30 ossuaries near Jerusalem, some of which contained the names Jesus, Judah and Salome on them. As these artifacts were inscribed with crosses, Ganneau made the case that they were Christian.1 The fact remains, however, that these artifacts too have since been determined to be Jewish, not Christian. Signs of the cross, in fact, do not necessarily represent a Christian symbol, and artifacts possessing them cannot automatically be deemed Christian. Pre-Christian Jews and Pagans also used the symbol of the cross, particularly within the context of religion. This fact of the pre-Christian cross may explain why in the gospels Christ is depicted as telling his followers to "take up" their "crosses." (Mk 8:34) Over 50 years prior to the discovery of the notorious "Jesus Family Tomb" at Talpiot there occurred other finds of similar significance at the Dominus Flevit site in Jerusalem, with some 40 ossuaries, upon certain of which appeared the names Jairus, Jesus, Joseph, Mary, Martha, Matthew, Lazarus, Salome and Zechariah-all appellations appearing in the New Testament. These discoveries have all been ruled out as evidence of the historical Jesus and the gospel tale. Another tomb at the same site, which was excavated by the Italian archaeologist P. Bagatti, yielded a bone box or ossuary with the name of "Shimon bar Yonah," which was deemed in 1962 to be that of the apostle Peter. The brouhaha about that discovery petered out quickly, especially since tradition depicts the apostle dying at Rome, not Jerusalem, and being buried under St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. In fact, the discovery of the purported tomb of Peter at Rome was announced by the Pope in 1950, making it obvious why this later find at Jerusalem escaped notice. Peter's relics themselves were purportedly found in 1968 in the same Roman tomb. Few people outside of Catholicism have taken these claims seriously, and the skepticism regarding all such discoveries is well placed, in consideration of the vast bogus relic and artifact industry that has been in play for millennia.

Indeed, one fact which needs to be kept in mind whenever we hear about archaeological discoveries that may be pertinent to biblical lore: The forgery and fraud within this field have been rampant over the past centuries, beginning in earnest with the Christian convictions of Emperor Constantine's mother, Helena. Those individuals who stood to benefit financially from Helena's religious fervor were only too happy to provide her with whatever "artifacts" she desired-and the result has been the highly profitable and widespread counterfeit relic and artifact industry. Included among these countless bogus artifacts and sites are the "one True Cross," the Holy Sepulcher at Jerusalem, and, apparently, the supposed house of St. Peter at Capernaum. Of course, Christianity has not been alone in this practice of fabricating relics and artifacts; in reality, it has built upon and perfected a longtime habit of the priesthood in general around the world.

The Pilate Inscription and Caiaphas Tomb.

One archaeological find that is widely hyped as providing "evidence" of the gospel story is a Latin inscription on a stone found at Caesarea, Israel, that purportedly mentions Pilate. The pertinent part of this inscription is peculiar in that it has been cramped in below a neatly laid-out phrase referring to a previously unknown term "Tiberium," possibly a temple of Tiberias. Indeed, it seems as if the "I" and "T" in the word "PILATUS" have been sloppily inserted into another word. Be that as it may, the existence of Pontius Pilate is not in question here, as we already know much about him from Josephus and Philo. Even if this inscription is original, it proves little more than that the gospel story was placed in a particular historical setting using a number of historical characters. Another of these figures would be the high priest Caiaphas, whose family tomb was apparently found in 1990. Again, the discovery of this artifact serves only to validate that the gospel story was given a historical setting; it does not verify the events of the tale or the historicity of its other main characters. Nor do either of these finds add anything to our knowledge of who Jesus was.

The Crucified John.

Apologists also hold up the bones of a crucified victim from the first century named Yehochanan as evidence of the grotesque practice of crucifixion. It is odd that there are no other such discoveries, in consideration of the impression given by Christian history that this practice was significantly widespread in Judea. In any event, such finds, along with those of coins, boats, diaper pins and a.s.sorted other artifacts and relics simply establish a historical or quasi-historical milieu into which the gospel story was placed, rather than providing evidence that the tale is true.

The other archaeological discoveries listed by apologists such as F.F. Bruce to demonstrate the purported historical reliability of the New Testament consist almost exclusively of the same type of circ.u.mstantial evidence, such as an inscription defining a "wall of part.i.tion" in the Jewish temple, the "Pool of Bethesda" at Jerusalem, or inscriptions found at Corinth in Greece naming an "Erastus" and apparently concerning a "synagogue of the Hebrews."

Furthermore, there are countless temples, precincts, statues, inscriptions, pottery and other artifacts of the Greek G.o.ds all over Greece and elsewhere-many in the exact places where ancient authorities such as Herodotus and Pausanias recorded they would be. Does that fact mean the stories of the Greek myths are true? Was Zeus Pateras-G.o.d the Father-a real being who impregnated the virgin Danae by way of a golden shower? Was their offspring, the virgin-born Son of G.o.d, Perseus, a real person who walked the earth? The swampy site of the water-monster the Hydra has been found in Lerna, Greece-does this discovery mean that its killer, the hero and demiG.o.d Hercules, also born of a mortal woman and G.o.d the Father, really existed and performed the miraculous deeds he was supposed to have accomplished? And so on, through many thousands of such archaeological sites and finds around the world that relate to G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses of antiquity. Indeed, the archaeological finds that prove the historical setting and background of many myths, Greek, Roman and otherwise, are extremely abundant-much more so than those corresponding to Christianity. If we were to apply the "argument of abundance" used in the discussion of the New Testament texts to the archaeological finds of ancient Greece, we would need to admit that the Greek G.o.ds were "authentic!"

Again, upon close inspection, it is clear that all of the archaeological finds held up as proofs of early Christianity const.i.tute circ.u.mstantial evidence. After all these centuries, there has emerged, in fact, not one solid sc.r.a.p of evidence of Christ's advent or even the existence of his immediate followers. It seems amazing that so many people for so long have been fervently and diligently seeking evidence to prove or at least flesh out the gospel story-yet, they have invariably come up empty-handed!

Despite the lack of hard, scientific evidence, and after making erroneous claims as to the discredited textual "evidence" regarding the existence of Jesus Christ and the historicity of the gospel tale, Christian apologists nevertheless set forth declarations such as the following from Dr. Geisler: The primary sources of the life of Christ are the four Gospels. However there are considerable reports from non-Christian sources that supplement and confirm the Gospel accounts. These come largely from Greek, Roman, Jewish, and Samaritan sources of the first century.1 Here Geisler is evidently referring to Suetonius, Pliny, Tacitus, Josephus and Thallus; however, as has been demonstrated, the value of these "considerable reports" is dubious to non-existent. Moreover, the a.s.sertion that all these "sources" come from the "first century" is extremely misleading.2 In this same apologetic vein, Habermas also concludes that "ancient extra biblical sources do present a surprisingly large amount of detail concerning both the life of Jesus and the nature of early Christianity."1 Christian scholar Dr. Ben Witherington likewise puts forth the same sort of conclusion: "It is simply not true...that we have had no hard evidence for Jesus' existence before now except in the Bible. That ignores mentions in ancient Roman and Jewish historians such Tacitus, Suetonius and Josephus."2 As we have seen, this a.s.sessment cannot be reasonably and scientifically upheld.

Ignoring all these facts, and using a logical fallacy of appealing to authority and not on the basis of any valid credible and scientific evidence, Christian scholars and apologists also make statements such as those of F.F. Bruce: Some writers may toy with the fancy of a "Christ-myth," but they do not do so on the ground of historical evidence. The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar. It is not historians who propagate the "Christ-myth" theories.3 After investigating these purported evidences from Josephus, Suetonius, Pliny and Tacitus, however, Bruce further acknowledges, "We are thus thrown back on the New Testament writings as our primary doc.u.ments,"4 evincing that the New Testament itself const.i.tutes "well-tested... source-material." Yet, in a footnote to these remarks, Bruce further comments: The NT writings were not, of course, designed as historians' source-material, and apart from Luke-Acts are not written in historiographical style... (Emph. added) Hence, while admitting that there is no historical evidence for the life of Christ, and noting that the gospels themselves were not "designed as historians' source-materials," Bruce nevertheless dismisses the rational deduction that Christ himself may not be historical, going so far as to imply that anyone who comes to such a conclusion cannot be considered a historian-despite the fact that there is essentially no history to go on! To put it another way, after discovering that there is basically no historical evidence for Jesus, with not even the gospels serving as "historian's source-material," it is a.s.serted that no "unbiased historian" can reach the conclusion that Christ may be non-historical. In dealing with the investigation of a "historical" Jesus, then, we are faced with a hopeless and absurd Catch-22.

In reality, the puzzling and embarra.s.sing deficiency of historical and archaeological evidence for the greatest man who ever lived and who was famed far and wide has made many people wonder about the story itself, causing them to doubt the most fantastic elements, including the bulk of Christ's signs of divinity. In order to add to our picture of who Jesus was, we will therefore need to inquire elsewhere, in light of this paucity of data, keeping in mind that, again, we cannot afford to avoid disquieting conclusions in our quest for truth.

Who are Elijah and Elisha?

Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Eli'jah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen."

Luke 9:18-19.

We cannot look to contemporary extrabiblical evidence to determine who Jesus really was. We may, however, follow certain internal clues that might give us some ideas. For example, at Luke 9, when discussing who people say he is, Jesus's disciples respond that some believe him to be "Elijah." In Matthew (11:14), Jesus identifies John the Baptist as Elijah instead. Who was Elijah? Why does he appear with Moses next to Jesus during one of Christ's most miraculous events, the Transfiguration?

In the Old Testament (2 Kings 2:11), the esteemed Jewish prophet Elijah ended his earthly career by being taken up into heaven alive, such that "the Jews expected he would return just before the advent of the Messiah, whom he would prepare the minds of the Israelites to receive."1 In the last book before the New Testament, the prophet Malachi ("My messenger") says: "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at h.o.r.eb for all Israel.

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse." (Mal 4:4-5) Thus, in the biblical book, chapter and verses directly preceding the gospel of Matthew it is said that Elijah would appear "before the great and terrible day of the Lord," an interpreted reference to the coming of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Elijah is the messiah's forerunner, the same as John the Baptist.

Concerning the transfiguration scene in the gospels, which places both Elijah and Moses on either side of Jesus, Christian commentator Matthew Henry (1706-1714) states: These two were Moses and Elias [Elijah], men very eminent in their day. They had both fasted forty days and forty nights, as Christ did, and wrought other miracles, and were both remarkable at their going out of the world as well as in their living in the world. Elias was carried to heaven in a fiery chariot, and died not. The body of Moses was never found, possibly it was preserved from corruption, and reserved for this appearance. The Jews had great respect for the memory of Moses and Elias, and therefore they came to witness of him, they came to carry tidings concerning him to the upper world. In them the law and the prophets honoured Christ, and bore testimony to him. Moses and Elias appeared to the disciples; they saw them, and heard them talk, and, either by their discourse or by information from Christ, they knew them to be Moses and Elias; glorified saints shall know one another in heaven. They talked with Christ. Note, Christ has communion with the blessed, and will be no stranger to any of the members of that glorified corporation. Christ was now to be sealed in his prophetic office, and therefore these two great prophets were fittest to attend him, as transferring all their honour and interest to him; for in these last days G.o.d speaks to us by his Son, Heb. 1:1.1 Hence, Moses and Elijah materialize next to Jesus in order to confer their authority on him, and, therefore, as the voice of G.o.d commands at Matthew 17:5, we should "listen to him." Regarding these events, David Brown remarks: Moses represented "the law," Elijah "the prophets," and both together the whole testimony of the Old Testament Scriptures, and the Old Testament saints, to Christ; now not borne in a book, but by living men, not to a coming, but a come Messiah, visibly, for they "appeared," and audibly, for they "spake."1 Jesus is made to appear talking with Moses in order to show that he is the fulfillment of Mosaic law, while Elijah is there in order to demonstrate that Jesus is his heir, i.e., the messiah, as well as the fulfillment of the prophets. As Jesus says at Matthew 5:17, "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them." Furthermore, by G.o.d's voice booming from the heavens, Jesus's place as His Son is exalted higher than the law and the prophets. The scene also serves to ill.u.s.trate that Jesus could not be Elijah, as was suggested by some in the gospel story, because Elijah is there with him.

Moreover, if, as Jesus says, John the Baptist is Elijah, then logically Jesus would be equivalent to Elijah's Old Testament successor, Elisha. Indeed, as "Elisha" means "G.o.d is salvation," so too does "Jesus." Who is Elisha? Why would he be comparable to Jesus himself? Let us look at the events in the life of Elisha in comparison to that of Jesus. Elisha's life, it should be noted, is portrayed in the Old Testament in greater detail than that of Elijah, which indicates that he possesses some importance.

Elisha and Jesus Comparison.

Elisha.

Jesus.

Anointed or christed by his forerunner, Elijah. (1 Kings 19:16) Baptized or "cleansed" by his forerunner, John. (Mt 3:13) a.s.sociated specifically with the number 12. (1 Kings 19:19) Has a circle of 12 disciples. (Mt 10:2) Immediately leaves his mother and father to follow Elijah. (1 Kings 19:20) Directs disciples to immediately leave their parents in order to follow him. (Mt 4:22) Goes to Gilgal ("a wheel, rolling"). (2 Kings 2:1) Goes to Galilee (Heb: "Galiyl": "circuit") and Golgotha (Heb: "galal": "to roll").

Appears in Bethel ("house of G.o.d"). (2 Kings 2:2) Appears in Bethlehem ("house of bread").

Goes to Jericho. (2 Kings 2:4) Goes to Jericho. (Mk 10:46) Takes on the mantle of Elijah (John). (2 Kings 2:13) Takes on the mantle of John (Elijah).

Crosses the Jordan river by miraculously parting the waters. (2 Kings 2:14) Crosses the sea of Galilee by miraculously walking on the water. (Mt 14:24) Curses some boys, destroying them. (2 Kings 2:24) Curses a fig tree, destroying it. (Mt 21:9) Replenishes the land with water. (2 Kings 3:20) Gives the woman at the well the "living water." (Jn 4:10-11) Replenishes the "heart" with "living water." (Jn 7:38) Miraculously increases oil to fill empty jars. (2 Kings 4:1-6) Miraculously turns water in jars into wine. (Jn 2:7-9) Causes an old woman to conceive miraculously. (2 Kings 4:14) Is the product of a miraculous conception.

Called the "man of G.o.d." (2 Kings 4:16) Called the "son of G.o.d."

Prays to the Lord in a room with the door shut. (2 Kings 4:33) Specifically instructs on prayer to the Lord in a room with the door shut. (Mt 6:6) Raises a child from the dead. (2 Kings 4:34) Raises a child from the dead. (Mt 9:25) Miraculously feeds the mult.i.tudes, starting with small amounts of food and ending up with leftovers. (2 Kings 42-44) Miraculously feeds the mult.i.tudes, starting with small amounts of food and ending up with leftovers. (Mt 15:34-37) Heals a leper. (2 Kings 5:12-14) Heals lepers.

Restores sight to the blind. (2 Kings 6:20) Restores sight to the blind.

Saves Israel from foreign invasions and influences; is Israel's savior. (2 Kings 6:8-23; 9:1-3) Saves the lost sheep of Israel from foreign influences; is Israel's savior.

Is threatened with death by Israel's king. (2 Kings 6:31) Is threatened with death by Israel's king. (Mt 2:13) Delivers Israel in a day of "good news." (Gk: "evangelias") (2 Kings 7:9) Delivers Israel with his "good news." (Eng: "gospel"; Gk: "evangelion") Predicts famine in Israel. (2 Kings 8:1) Predicts famines and other disasters. (Mt 24:7) The man of G.o.d wept. (2 Kings 8:11) The son of G.o.d wept. (Jn 11:35) Elisha's "servant" becomes king of Syria, "betrays" Israel. (2 Kings 8:13) Jesus's disciple betrays him, the Lord of Israel.

As can be seen, the lives of these two figures, Elisha, the Old Testament man of G.o.d named "G.o.d saves," and Jesus, the New Testament son of G.o.d named "G.o.d saves," run very closely in several salient instances. At first glance, there also seem to be some serious differences between Elisha and the later Jesus, such as Elisha's display of wrath when he destroys boys and causes blindness and leprosy. Even here, however, Elisha and Jesus are alike, as in the non-canonical early Christian text depicting Christ's childhood, The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (c. 185 ad/ce?), a "lost book of the Bible," Jesus is portrayed as an angry boy who kills and maims people. In one episode (3:1-3), a furious five-year-old Jesus calls the young son of Annas the scribe a "G.o.dless, brainless moron" and vows to make him "wither away," instantly killing him. In the next chapter, Jesus kills a boy who b.u.mps into him. When the parents of the murdered child complain, Jesus causes them to go blind. (5:2) Jesus next sa.s.ses his stepfather, Joseph, when the latter goes to punish him for these deeds. When a teacher tells Joseph that he should commit Jesus to his care, the young savior laughs and remarks: "Really, teacher, what my father has said to you is true. I am the Lord of this people and am here in your presence and have been born among you and am with you. I know where you are from and how many years there will be in your lives. I am telling you the truth, teacher, when you were born, I existed. And if you want to be a perfect teacher, listen to me and I will teach you wisdom which n.o.body knows except me and the one who sent me to you. For you are my disciple and I know you, how old you are and how old you will live to be. And when you see the cross my father has described, you will believe that everything I have said to you is true."1 Throughout the Infancy Gospel, Jesus is portrayed as a belligerent and arrogant little boy, as well as a violent killer who soon makes everyone afraid of him. He is also depicted as the lord and savior who raises up a playmate who had fallen off a roof and died. (9:5) The boy Jesus further saves a man who had chopped off his own foot with an axe, and he creates clay birds that he miraculously animates, among other miracles. Even without using this non-canonical Christian text, Jesus's fiery personality can be seen in the gospel accounts, as at Mark 1:43, when Jesus "sternly charges" and sends away a leper who was pestering him. At Mark 3:5, Jesus becomes peeved with the Jewish authorities: "And he looked around at them in anger..." In the well-known pericope of the moneychangers, Jesus takes a whip and violently and angrily overturns their tables. Mark 10:14 also depicts Christ as "indignant" at not being allowed to touch the children brought to him for healing, rebuking his disciples for preventing the exchange. While such an emotion might seem understandable, Matthew (Mt 19:14) and Luke (Lk 18:16) both omit it, possibly for purposes of public relations.

Joseph, a Type of Jesus.

Another prominent Old Testament figure who shares some interesting parallels with Jesus is Joseph, son of Jacob/ Israel, famed for his "coat of many colors." The correspondences between Joseph and Jesus include the following: * Jesus, also a "son of Jacob/Israel" (Mt 1:2) is born of a miraculous birth, as is Joseph, whose mother, Rachel, was previously barren but miraculously conceives. (Gen 30:22-24) * Jesus has 12 disciples; Joseph is one of 12 brothers. (Gen 35:22) * Joseph is a shepherd (Gen 37:2); Jesus is the "Good Shepherd."

* Joseph was rejected by his family, as was Jesus.

* Jesus is betrayed for silver pieces by Judas, while Joseph is sold for silver pieces by Judah, et al. (Gen 37:26-28)1 * Both Joseph and Jesus go into Egypt as youngsters to avoid danger. (Gen 37:28) * Joseph and Jesus both are imprisoned.

* Joseph is confined with two other prisoners (Gen 40:2-3); Jesus is condemned between two criminals.

* Both Joseph and Jesus attain notoriety for feeding bread to hungry people.

* The age of 30 is noteworthy in the lives of both Joseph (Gen 41:46) and Jesus (Lk 3:23).

* Joseph and Jesus alike possess divine powers to predict the future. (Gen 44:15) * Joseph's father "prays" him to "forgive" his brothers' "transgression" and "sin." (Gen 50:17) Jesus is prayed to for forgiveness of transgressions and sins.

* Joseph is the "deliverer of his family." Jesus is the deliverer of the family of mankind.

* Jesus is the "savior of the world," while at Genesis 41:45, Pharaoh calls Joseph the "savior of the world."1 Regarding the correlations between Joseph and Jesus, the Catholic Encyclopedia remarks: A character so beautiful made Joseph a most worthy type of Christ, the model of all perfection, and it is comparatively easy to point out some of the traits of resemblance between Jacob's beloved son and the dearly beloved Son of G.o.d. Like Jesus, Joseph was hated and cast out by his brethren, and yet wrought out their salvation through the sufferings they had brought upon him. Like Jesus, Joseph obtained his exaltation only after pa.s.sing through the deepest and most undeserved humiliations; and, in the kingdom over which he ruled, he invited his brethren to join those whom heretofore they had looked upon as strangers, in order that they also might enjoy the blessings which he had stored up for them. Like the Saviour of the world, Joseph had but words of forgiveness and blessing for all who, recognizing their misery, had recourse to his supreme power. It was to Joseph of old, as to Jesus, that all had to appeal for relief, offer homages of the deepest respect, and yield ready obedience in all things. Finally, to the Patriarch Joseph, as to Jesus, it was given to inaugurate a new order of things for the greater power and glory of the monarch to whom he owed his exaltation.2 Hence, the CE acknowledges that Joseph is a "type of Christ," which is to say a "prefiguring," precursor or foreshadowing of Jesus. As discussed by early Church fathers such as Justin Martyr and Tertullian, there were several "types of Christ" in the Old Testament, including Isaac, Jonah, Ezekiel, Saul, David, Solomon, Jeremiah, Moses and Moses's successor Joshua, likewise named "Jesus" in the Septuagint, two to three centuries prior to the Christian era.1 In consideration of the numerous, detailed and remarkable correspondences between Elisha ("G.o.d saves") and Jesus ("G.o.d saves"), and between Joseph and Jesus, as well as many other "types of Christ" in Jewish and Pagan literature, as remarked upon even by the early Church fathers, it is fair to ask whether or not the gospel writers had in mind closely reproducing in Jesus these other esteemed figures. Such a suggestion, of course, would imply that the gospels are not necessarily biographies of actual occurrences in the life of an historical figure but could represent a fictionalized compilation of characters.

Jesus as Fulfillment of Prophecy.

"But all this has taken place, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.

Matthew 26:56 "Hide the prophecy, tell the narrative, and invent the history."

Dr. John D. Crossan, The Historical Jesus (372) In addition to various Old Testament characters serving to "prefigure" the person of Jesus Christ are the numerous Old Testament scriptures held up as "prophecies" of the messiah fulfilled in Christ. Over the centuries, in fact, since the story of Jesus began to be circulated, believers have appealed to these scriptures to demonstrate that Jesus was indeed the messiah. These prophetic scriptures number in the hundreds, depending on the apologetic text consulted, with upwards of 1,000 in some circles, the book of Psalms alone possessing almost 100 by some counts-all these have been cited as "fulfillment of prophecy" in the purported advent of Jesus Christ.

When these scriptures deemed prophetic of the coming messiah are placed side by side with the characteristics and sayings of Jesus, as well as the events of his life, a startling and convincing comparison is apparent. Many of these comparisons or "prophecies," however, are highly tenuous and in reality have little if anything to do with the coming messiah; nor are they truly "prophecies." Indeed, it is not just the Christian apologists but the gospel writers themselves, and perhaps interpolating later scribes, who have glommed onto OT scriptures that are not "prophecies," trying to make them appear to be predicting Jesus's advent. When the list is critically pared down, many fewer scriptures are possibly applicable.

It is important to note also that Jesus himself is reported to say that he did not come to "abolish the law or the prophets" but to fulfill them. (Mt 5:17) In Luke (24:25-27) the resurrected Jesus scolds the dimwitted disciples who are "slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" He then reminds them that "the Christ" needs to endure "these things" in order to "enter into his glory," and he proceeds to expound upon "Moses and all the prophets," interpreting the characteristics found in these scriptures as applicable to himself. At Luke 24:44, Jesus states that "everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." At John 5:39, Christ mentions the scriptures about eternal life that "bear witness" to him, and at 5:46 he states that Moses wrote about him. Other books in the New Testament, such as Acts and certain of the epistles likewise testify to Christ's fulfillment of prophecy.

The following chart highlights some of the better-known and more obvious scriptures ill.u.s.trating the Old Testament "messianic prophecies" and their relationship to the New Testament gospel of Jesus. Many of these purportedly prophetic fulfillments are included because of the specific mention in the New Testament of "prophets," "prophecy" or otherwise identified by such phrases as "in fulfillment of scripture" or "it is written." Also included here are other verses utilized in the creation of the gospels, such as those appearing in the Sermon on the Mount, previously discussed as having been strung together from Old Testament scriptures.

Old Testament New Testament Jewish tradition based on scriptural interpretation held that there would be a messiah from the house of David, descended from Abraham. (Gen 12:3, 18:18; Is 9:7) The messiah would also be a "star out of Jacob" (Num 24:17) and a "branch of Jesse." (Is 11:1) In the genealogies of Matthew and Luke-which are not the same-Jesus is said to have descended from Abraham and David. (Mt 1:1; Lk 1:32-33; 3:34) The genealogies also list Jacob and Jesse as Jesus's ancestors. (Mt 1:2, 1:6; Lk 3:34, 3:32) "Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Is 7:14; RSV) "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Is 7:14; KJV) "Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.... All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had

spoken by the prophet: 'Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.'" (Mt 1:18-23; Lk 1:27-31).

"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples." (Gen 49:10) "But you, O Bethlehem, Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from old, from ancient days." (Micah 5:2) Jesus is a descendant of Judah. (Mt 2:6; Lk 3:33) After Jesus is born in Bethlehem, Herod asks the wise men where he is. They answer that he is in Bethlehem, "so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'" (Mt 2:1-6) "May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!" (Ps 72:10) "...all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense..." (Is 60:6) "...behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem..." (Mt 2:1) "...they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." (Mt 2:11) "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." (Hosea 11:1) "And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." (Mt 2:14-15) "Thus says the Lord: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are not.'" (Jer 31:15) "Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 'A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.'" (Mt 2:17-18) "'Therefore beware, and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for lo, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a n.a.z.irite to G.o.d from birth; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.'" (Judg 13:4-5) "And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'" (Mt 2:23) "A voice cries: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for G.o.d.'" (Is 40:3) "For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" (Mt 3:3) "He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." (Jn 1:23) "As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the lord, make his paths straight.'" (Lk 3:3-6) "I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, 'You are my son, today I have begotten you.'" (Ps 2:7) "...and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'"1 (Mt 3:17) "The Spirit of the Lord G.o.d is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to all the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor..." (Is 61:1-2) "And [Jesus] stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.'" (Lk 4:16-19) "... In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations." (Is 9:1-2) "...and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 'The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles...'" (Mt 4:13-15) "And I will sanctify my great name..." (Ezek 36:23) (KJV) "...Hallowed be thy name." (Mt 6:9)2 "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day....'" (Ex 16:4) "Give us this day our daily bread." (Mt 6:11) "Give us day by day our daily bread." (Lk 11:3) "Thine, O Lord, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory... thine [is] the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all." (1 Chron 29:11) (KJV) "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Mt 6:13) (KJV) "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession." (Ps 2:8) "You will seek me and find me..." (Jer 29:13) "...[it is] the voice of my beloved that knocketh, [saying], Open to me..." (Sgs 5:2) (KJV) "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you..." (Mt 7:7) "...you shall love your neighbor as yourself..." (Lev 19:18) "So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." (Mt 7:12) "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief...

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by G.o.d, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastis.e.m.e.nt that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed....

"...yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Is 53:4-12) "That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, 'He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.'" (Mt 8:16-17) "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground..." (Is 44:3) "Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters..." (Is 55:1) "He who believes in me, as the scriptures has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" (Jn 7:38) "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy..." (Is 35:5-6) "...the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear..." (Mt 11:5; Mk 7:35-37) "And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke..." (Mt 9:33) "Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me..." (Mal 3:1) "This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.'" (Mt 11:10; Lk 7:27) "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes." (Mal 4:5) "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; and if you were willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come." (Mt 11:13-14) "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law." (Is 42:1-4) "...he healed them all, and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 'Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice to the

Gentiles. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will any one hear his voice in the streets; he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick, till he brings justice to victory; and in his names will the Gentiles hope.'" (Mt 12:15-21).

"I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation..." (Ps 78:2-4) "All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: 'I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.'" (Mt 13:34-35) "The Lord your G.o.d will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren-him you shall heed..." (Deut 18:15) "When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, 'This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!'" (Jn 6:14) "Moses said, 'The Lord G.o.d will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever you he tells you." (Acts 3:22) "Binding his foal to the vine and his a.s.s's colt to the choice vine..." (Gen 49:11) "Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an a.s.s, on a colt the foal of an a.s.s." (Zech 9:9) "So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!' And Jesus found a young a.s.s and sat upon it; as it is written, 'Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an a.s.s's colt!'" (Jn 12:13-14) "Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an a.s.s, and on a colt, the foal of an a.s.s." (Mt 21:2-5) "And there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the Lord of hosts on that day." (Zech 14:21) "Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?" (Jer 7:11) "And Jesus entered the temple of G.o.d and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, 'It is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer"; but you make it a den of robbers.'" (Mt 21:12-13) "I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation [Yeshuwah]. The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner." (Ps 118:21-22) "Jesus [Yeshua] said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures: "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner..."'" (Mt 21:42) "...and upon the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator." (Dan 9:27) "Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate." (Dan 11:31) "And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate is set up..." (Dan 12:11) "So when you seed the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains..." (Mt 24:15-16) "Then I said to them, 'If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.' And they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of silver." (Zech 11:12) "and [Judas] said, 'What will you give me if I deliver him to you?' And they paid him thirty pieces of silver." (Mt. 26:15) "Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered..." (Zech 13:7) "Then Jesus said to them, 'You will all fall away because of me this night; for it is written, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered."'" (Mt 26:31; Mk 14:27) "...let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause." (Ps 35:19) "More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause..." (Ps 69:4) "It is to fulfil the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'" (Jn 15:25) "Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted his heel against me." (Ps 41:9) "...Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples..." (Mt 26:26) "Jesus said to him, 'Friend, why are you here?' Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him." (Mt 26:50; Jn 13:21) "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting." (Is 50:6) "Then they spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him..." (Mt 26:67) "...So I took the thirty shekels of silver and cast them into the treasury in the house of the Lord." (Zech 11:13) "And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty [pieces] of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord." (Zech 11:13) (KJV) "And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed..." (Mt 27:5) "So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in." (Mt 27:7) "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." (Jer 18:2) "And I bought the field at An'athoth from Han'amel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver." (Jer 32:9) "Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 'And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.'" (Mt 27:9-10) "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth..." (Is 53:7) "But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer." (Mt 27:12) "And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley; and they shall testify, 'Our hands did not shed this blood, neither did our eyes see it shed. Forgive, O Lord, thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and set not the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of thy people Israel; but let the guilt of blood be forgiven them.' So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord." (Deut 21:6-9) "I wash my hands in innocence..." (Ps 26:6) "If any one goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we shall be guiltless; but if a hand is laid upon any one who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head." (Josh 2:19) "So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.' And all the people answered, 'His blood be on us and on our children!'" (Mt 27:24-25) "They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." (Ps 69:21) "...they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall..." (Mt 27:34) "After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), 'I thirst.' A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth." (Jn 19:28-29) "...they divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots." (Ps 22:18) "And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots..." (Mt 27:35) "When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts.... So they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.' This was to fulfil the scripture, 'They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.'" (Jn 19:23-24) "...because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Is 53:12) "Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left." (Mt 27:38) "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of G.o.d, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (Jn 1:29) "So Moses returned to the Lord and said, 'Alas, this people have sinned a great sin... But now, if thou wilt forgive their sin..." (Ex 32:31-32) "And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'..." (Lk 23:34) "All who see me mock at me, they make mouths at me, they wag their heads;" (Ps 22:7) "I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads." (Ps 109:25) "And those who pa.s.sed by derided him, wagging their heads." (Mt 27:39) "'And on that day,' says the Lord G.o.d, 'I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight.'" (Amos 8:9) "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour." (Mt 27:45) "My G.o.d, my G.o.d, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Ps 22:1) "...My G.o.d, my G.o.d, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mt 27:46) "Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful G.o.d." (Ps 31:5) "Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!'"... (Lk 23:46) "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." (Is 26:19) (KJV) "...the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many." (Mt 27:52-53) "'And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compa.s.sion and supplication, so that when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him...The land shall mourn...'" (Zech 12:10) "Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; they have pierced my hands and feet..." (Ps 22:16) "He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken." (Ps 34:20) "...when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear... For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, 'Not a bone of him shall be broken.' And again another scripture says, 'They shall look on him whom they have pierced.'" (Jn 19:33-37) "My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my kinsmen stand afar off." (Ps 38:11) "And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things." (Lk 23:49) "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death..." (Is 53:9) "When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathe'a, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.... And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, And laid it in his own new tomb..." (Mt 27:57, 59-60) "After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him." (Hos 6:2) "...the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." (Lk 24:7) "Thou didst ascend the high mount..." (Ps 68:18) "You have ascended on high..." (Ps 68:18) (NKJV) "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of G.o.d." (Mk 16:19) (KJV) "...he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." (Lk 24:51) (KJV) "Your divine throne endures for ever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore G.o.d, your G.o.d, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows..." (Ps 45:6-7) "But the Son he says, 'Thy throne, O G.o.d, is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou has loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore G.o.d, thy G.o.d, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades.'" (Heb 1:8-9) "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.'" (Ps 110:4) "So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, 'Thou are my Son, today I have begotten thee'; as he says also in another place, 'Thou are a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.'" (Heb 5:5-6) These numerous correlations and many others between the Old and New Testaments may be found in the footnotes of the RSV and other versions, and need not be reproduced in full here. Suffice it to say that the writers of the New Testament were very familiar with the Old Testament-the only "scriptures" of the time to which they could possibly refer-and that many of these scriptures were adapted from the Greek OT or Septuagint. In fact, almost all the Old Testament scriptures common to Matthew, Mark and Luke come from the Septuagint, rather than the Hebrew OT. As today, pious Jews at the time when the gospel story supposedly occurred studied the scriptures intensely and knew them very well-including and especially those interpreted to apply to the coming messiah, for whom they were desperately waiting.

On the surface of it, if taken literally the New Testament seems to record the advent of the messiah, as prophesied in the Old Testament. However, there may be a different reason for this appearance. In scrutinizing all of the Old Testament "prophecies" that purportedly relate to the coming messiah, it is evident that the gospels were deliberately designed to show that these scriptures had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. When these and other OT scriptures are studied and seriously considered, therefore, it is logical to ask if they const.i.tute "prophecies" and "prefiguring" of the advent of a historical Jesus Christ-or if they were used as a blueprint in the creation of a fictional messiah.

The suggestion that the gospel story const.i.tutes a patchwork of Old Testament scriptures used as a framework throws light upon some of the more illogical parts of the tale, such as at Matthew 27:12, when Jesus is being accused by the chief priests and elders yet says nothing. If we consider that this pa.s.sage was written in order to "fulfill prophecy" at Isaiah 53:7, the pericope takes on greater sense.

The deliberate historicizing of "prophecies" by ancient writers is well known among biblical scholars, as reflected in the discussion by Dr. Crossan of a reconstructed text called the "Cross Gospel," the author of which, Crossan states, "attempts to write, from prophetic allusions, a first 'historical narrative' about the pa.s.sion of Jesus." Concerning the Old Testament scriptures purportedly prophesying Christ's pa.s.sion, Crossan remarks that "historicized narratives were created out of those prophetic complexes, stories so good that their prophetic origins were almost totally obliterated."1 Hence, over the centuries stories have been created using "prophecies"; based on the evidence presented above, it is not unreasonable to aver that the gospel tale is one of them, with its prophetic origins obscured.

Questions about the Gospel Story.

"The Bible is a human book with human characteristics."

Dr. Norman L. Geisler, I Don't Have Enough Faith

to be an Atheist (372).

If you have been told repeatedly by authorities, usually since you were very young, that the gospel story is true in every fact and detail, and that the Bible is the inerrant Word of G.o.d, you may very well believe it. After all, aren't the people in authority there for a reason, and don't they always tell the truth? Nevertheless, over the centuries many people have not been convinced that the miracles recounted in the gospels really happened, believing instead that Jesus's zealous followers added these stories to his biography in order to convince others that he was divine. These people who are skeptical cite other tales and myths that contain similar miracles and magic tricks to show that the gospel story is not unique.

In addition, many people have problems accepting all the obvious contradictions in the Bible as a whole but also in the gospel story, as well as apparent mistakes, failed prophecies and repugnant doctrines. The objections raised by Bible critics include questions and concerns about the following: * Miracles and impossibilities * Failed prophecies * Contradictions and inconsistencies * Errors in time and place * Chronological discrepancies * Erroneous translations and interpretations * Illogic and Irrationality * Lack of character * Repulsive deeds, sayings and doctrines Although comprehensive in some aspects, the scope of this present work is not to list and address all of the problems with the gospel texts but to provide an appropriate sampling instead. It probably need not be stated that these are quandaries the average priest or pastor does not generally discuss with the congregation.

Miracles, Impossibilities and Implausibilities.

In the New Testament, there are so many miracles, including feeding the mult.i.tudes and walking on water, it would require too much s.p.a.ce to elucidate upon all of them, so we will examine only some of the most spectacular and unbelievable.

From the very beginning we find implausible fables that cast doubt upon the gospel story's historicity. Not only are we faced with the incredible story of Mary's impregnation by the Holy Spirit, but at Luke 1:41-44 John the Baptist is depicted as "leaping" in his mother's womb at the sound of Mary's voice, because she is carrying "the Lord." Hence, John miraculously recognizes Jesus before either is born. As an adult, upon first sight John p.r.o.nounces Jesus "the Lamb of G.o.d who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29), and he is a witness to the heavens opening up, "Spirit of G.o.d descending like a dove" upon Christ, and G.o.d's voice establishing Jesus as his Son. At this development, John the Baptist a.s.serts, "I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of G.o.d" (Jn 1:33-34). Yet, after all the signs and wonders, why does the Baptist later send word from prison, asking Christ if he is the messiah? (Lk 7:18-23) Does this scenario truly seem realistic?

Also, if John's mother, Elizabeth, and Jesus's mother, Mary, are cousins, meaning John and Jesus are also cousins, how is it that John did not grow up around Jesus, such that the two meet as complete strangers as adults? The area being discussed is only 90 miles in length-is it logical that these two families would never have met again, particularly since John's mother, Elizabeth, whose husband was a priest in the Temple, was aware that Mary's baby, Jesus, was her Lord? Would the pious Elizabeth-like so many other Jews of her time, possibly desperately awaiting the messiah-truly spend the next decades at such a distance as not to know Christ at all? Moreover, many women who have given birth in proximity of one another become very friendly and dependent on each other, especially if they are relatives-could Elizabeth and Mary really have visited with each other only prior to Mary giving birth?