Risen Hope

Today is a summary of the two ancient Gentile sources that were discussed the last two posts. This included Lucian of Samosata [L] and Mara bar-Serapion [M].

1. Jesus was worshipped by the Christians. [L]
2. Jesus introduced new teachings in Palestine. [L]
3. He was crucified because of his teachings. [L]
4. Christians believed all believers were brothers. [L]
5. They believed this brotherhood occurred from the moment of conversion taking place. [L]
6. Further, it occurred after denying false gods. [L]
7. These teachings included worshipping Jesus, and [L, M]
8. Living according to his laws. [L, M]
9. Lucian refers to Jesus as a "sage" which, in a Greek context would be equivalent to a "wise man" or "philosopher" and Mara bar-Serapion adds virtuous man. [L, M]
10. Christians were followers of Jesus. [L]
11. Christians believed themselves to be immortal. [L]
12. Christians accepted Jesus' teachings by faith. [L, M]
13. Christians practiced their faith by disregarding material possessions. [L]
14. Christians had "sacred books" which were frequently read. [L]
15. When something affected their community, they spare no trouble, no expense. [L]
16. Because of this, they were taken advantage of by con-men. [L]
17. He twice is called the Jew's King. This is perhaps a reference to Jesus' own teaching about himself or of the notice posted above his head on the titulus while he hung on the cross. [M]
18. The punishment the Jews received was a result of their executing an innocent man. [M]

In an attempt to motivate his son, Serapion, to become like the wise teachers of the past, Mara bar-Serapion writes a letter while in prison. A fragment of this letter is preserved in the British Museum and is dated to between 73 A.D. and the 3rd century A.D.

What advantage did the Athenians gain from putting Socrates to death? Famine and plague came upon them as a judgment for their crime. What advantage did the men of Samos gain from burning Pythagoras? In a moment their land was covered with sand. What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise King? It was just after that their Kingdom was abolished. God justly avenged these three wise men: the Athenians died of hunger; the Samians were overwhelmed by the sea; the Jews, ruined and driven from their land, live in complete dispersion. But Socrates did not die for good; he lived on in the teaching of Plato. Pythagoras did not die for good; he lived on in the statue of Hera. Nor did the wise King die for good; He lived on in the teaching which He had given.[1]

We learn a few things from this short passage[2]:

1. Jesus is considered to be a wise and virtuous man.
2. He twice is called the Jew's King. This is perhaps a reference to Jesus' own teaching about himself or of the notice posted above his head on the titulus while he hung on the cross.
3. The punishment the Jews received was a result of their executing an innocent man.
4. Jesus' teachings lived on in the life and work of his disciples.

1. Mara bar-Serapion
2. Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 207-208.

We have come quite far in this series so far and today we begin looking at the non-biblical ancient Gentile sources that mention Jesus and his followers. The first source that fits this criteria is Lucian of Samosata, a Greek satirical playwright from the second century AD.

In his play The Death of Peregrine[1], Lucian set out to satirize Christians by making them look gullible for their beliefs. In one such scene, he writes:

It was then that he learned the wondrous lore of the Christians, by associating with their priests and scribes in Palestine.   And-how else could it be?-in a trice he made them all look like children, for he was prophet, cult-leader, head of the synagogue, and everything, all by himself. He inter preted and explained some of their books and even composed many, and they revered him as a god, made use of him as a lawgiver, and set him down as a protector, next after that other, to be sure, whom they still worship, the man who was crucified in Palestine because he introduced this new cult into the world.

Then at length Proteus was apprehended for this and thrown into prison, which itself gave him no little reputation as an asset for his future career and the charlatanism and notoriety-seeking that he was enamoured of. Well, when he had been imprisoned, the Christians, regarding the incident as a calamity, left nothing undone in the effort to rescue him Then, as this was impossible, every other form of attention was shown him, not in any casual way but with assiduity, and from the very break of day aged widows and orphan children could be seen waiting near the prison, while their officials even slept inside with him after bribing the guards. Then elaborate meals were brought in, and sacred books of theirs were read aloud, and excellent Peregrinus-for he still went by that name-was called by them 'the new Socrates.'

Indeed, people came even from the cities in Asia, sent by the Christians at their common expense, to succour and defend and encourage the hero. They show incredible speed whenever any such public action is taken; for in no time they lavish their all.  So it was then in the case of Peregrinus; much money came to him from them by reason of his imprisonment, and he procured not a little revenue from it. The poor wretches have convinced themselves, first and foremost, that they are going to be immortal and live for all time, in consequence of which they despise death and even willingly give themselves into custody; most of them. Furthermore, their first lawgiver persuaded them that they are all brothers of one another after they have transgressed once, for all by denying the Greek gods and by worshipping that crucified sophist himself and living under his laws. Therefore they despise all things indiscriminately and consider them common property, receiving such doctrines traditionally without any definite evidence. So if any charlatan and trickster, able to profit by occasions, comes among them, he quickly acquires sudden wealth by imposing upon simple folk....

He left home, then, for the second time, to roam about, possessing an ample source of funds in the Christians, through whose ministrations he lived in unalloyed prosperity. For a time he battened himself thus; but then, after he had transgressed in some way even against them-he was seen, I think, eating some of the food that is forbidden them, they no longer accepted him, and so, being at a loss, he thought he must sing a palinode and demand his possessions back from his city. Submitting a petition, he expected to recover them by order of the Emperor. Then, as the city sent representatives to oppose the claim, he achieved nothing, but was directed to abide by what he had once for all determined, under no compulsion from anyone.[2]

Lucian paints a picture here of the early Christians. They were simpletons and easy to take advantage of. All one had to do was to pretend to be one of them and they were known to lavish attention and assistance upon the imposter, even to the point of giving them money and other physical necessities without much discrimination - even if the individual was able to profit from it.

In this short section, we see Lucian touch on several facts regarding Jesus and the Christians[3]:

1. Jesus was worshipped by the Christians.
2. Jesus introduced new teachings in Palestine.
3. He was crucified because of his teachings.
4. Christians believed all believers were brothers.
5. They believed this brotherhood occurred from the moment of conversion taking place.
6. Further, it occurred after denying false gods.
7. These teachings included worshipping Jesus, and
8. Living according to his laws.
9. Lucian refers to Jesus as a "sage" which, in a Greek context would be equivalent to a "wise man" or "philosopher."
10. Christians were followers of Jesus.
11. Christians believed themselves to be immortal.
12. Christians accepted Jesus' teachings by faith.
13. Christians practiced their faith by disregarding material possessions.
14. Christians had "sacred books" which were frequently read.
15. When something affected their community, they spare no trouble, no expense.
16. Because of this, they were taken advantage of by con-men.

1. Also known as The Passing of Peregrinus.
2. Lucian of Samosata, The Passing of Peregrinus, 11-13, 16.
3. Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 206-207.

The last couple of posts have briefly reviewed the ancient Jewish sources and what they reveal about Jesus and his followers. Today will be a summary of that data before looking at Gentile sources beginning tomorrow. The two Jewish sources we viewed were the Talmud [Ta] and the Toledoth Jesu [TJ].

1. Jesus' death was by crucifixion (hanging). [Ta]
2. The time of this event was on the eve of Passover. [Ta]
3. For a forty day period it was announced that Jesus would be stoned. This is consistent with Jewish practice and though it is not recorded explicitly in the New Testament, there seem to be glimpses of this being recorded (John 8:58-59; 10:31-33, 39). [Ta]
4. Jesus was judged to be guilty of "sorcery" and spiritual apostasy in leading Israel astray by  his teaching. [Ta]
5. He lacked anyone coming to his defense and as a result he was killed. [Ta]
6. Jesus died and was buried in Joseph's tomb. [TJ]
7. The Jewish leaders taught that the disciples had stolen his body. [TJ]

The next ancient, non-biblical source, like yesterday, comes from a Jewish source as well. However, this Jewish source is not considered very reliable, but it is being included to show that at least one item of information contained in other ancient sources lived on for several centuries after the event of the empty tomb.

The Toledoth Jesu is a Jewish document that refers to both Jesus and his body after he had died and was buried in Joseph's tomb. According to the document, a gardener named Juda knew of the plot by the disciples to steal Jesus' body from the tomb. Rather than allow this to happen, he went and dug a new grave in his garden, retrieved Jesus' body from Joseph's tomb, and reburied him in his newly dug grave. When the disciples showed up at Joseph's tomb and discovered it empty, they declared that Jesus had been resurrected. When the Jewish leaders investigated and saw that the tomb was empty, Juda took them to the grave he had buried Jesus in and dug up the body for them. Then Juda sold Jesus' dead body to the Jewish leaders for thirty pieces of silver and the Jewish leaders dragged Jesus' body through the streets of Jerusalem.

It is important to keep in mind that this document was compiled around the fifth century AD, though Jewish scholars do not find this document reliable. However, it does trace at least one early tradition dating back to Matthew's gospel (70-85 A.D.)[1]: the claim that the disciples stole the body.

The claim that the disciples stole the body as an explanation for the Jewish leaders does show their active and persistent concern that they attempt to provide an alternate explanation for what happened to the body. Around 150 A.D., Justin Martyr wrote that the Jewish leaders had certain men trained to travel around the Mediterranean world and Rome giving this explanation for the empty tomb. Tertullian confirms this around 200 A.D.[2]

If nothing else, then at least the following information can be taken from this late, unreliable story:

1. Jesus died and was buried in Joseph's tomb.
2. The Jewish leaders taught that the disciples had stolen his body.

1. Matthew 28:11-15
2. Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 205-206.

Moving along in the series I will now look at two Jewish sources that make mention of Jesus and His followers. The first source this post will deal with is the Talmud.

For some short and quick history the Talmud is a combination of the Mishnah and the Gemaras. The Mishnah is a collection of oral tradition that was written down and organized by subject matter. The Gemaras is the commentary of the Mishnah. The quotation that mentions Jesus is found in the Babylonian Talmud in the location Sanhedrin 43a.

On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, 'He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy. Any one who can say anything in his favour, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.' But since nothing was brought forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover![1]

What we can gather from this short passage is the following facts[2]:

1. Jesus' death was by crucifixion (hanging).
2. The time of this event was on the eve of Passover.
3. For a forty day period it was announced that Jesus would be stoned. This is consistent with Jewish practice and though it is not recorded explicitly in the New Testament, there seem to be glimpses of this being recorded (John 8:58-59; 10:31-33, 39).
4. Jesus was judged to be guilty of "sorcery" and spiritual apostasy in leading Israel astray by  his teaching.
5. He lacked anyone coming to his defense and as a result he was killed.

1. Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 202-205.
2. Ibid.

The last few posts have looked at three Roman government officials who recorded mentioned some information about either Jesus or his followers. Those three officials are Pliny the Younger [P], Emperor Trajan [Tr], and Emperor Hadrian [H]. Below is a summary of the last few posts and what they wrote:

1. Christ was worshipped as a deity by early believers. [P]
2. The teachings of Jesus were called "excessive superstition" and "contagious superstition." [P]
3. Jesus' ethical teachings are reflected as an oath taken by Christians never to be guilty of a number of sins. [P]
4. There is a possible reference to communion and the Christian celebration of the "love feast" which is their regathering and partaking of ordinary food. [P]
5. A possible reference to Sunday worship since Pliny says they met "on a certain day." [P]
6. Christians were identifiable by their worship practice and what they refused to worship. [P]
7. True believers could not be forced to worship the gods or the emperor. [P]
8. Christian worship involved a pre-dawn service. [P]
9. Christian worship included the singing of hymns. [P]
10. Christians came from all classes, ages, localities, and sexes. [P]
11. There was structure and positions in the church as inferred by the mention of two deaconesses. [P]
12. Christians were frequently reported as lawbreakers in Asia and were punished in various ways. [P, H]
13. The emperors encouraged a certain amount of tolerance and ordered that they not be harassed. [Tr, H]
14. Christians could only be found guilty and punished after careful examination. [Tr, H]
15. Undocumented charges were not to be heard or brought against Christians. Anyone doing so would be punished instead. [H]

Tomorrow will begin looking at two Jewish sources and what they had to say about Jesus and his followers.

We will end the week with the third and final government official that mentions Christians and how they were to be treated. Emperor Hadrian (117-138 A.D.) replies in a letter to Asian proconsul Minucius Fundanus, who was the successor to Serenius Granianus (Asian proconsul and author of the initial letter to which Hadrian was replying).

I do not wish, therefore, that the matter should be passed by without examination, so that these men may neither be harassed, nor opportunity of malicious proceedings be offered to informers. If, therefore, the provincials can clearly evince their charges against the Christians, so as to answer before the tribunal, let them pursue this course only, but not by mere petitions, and ere out cries against the Christians. For it is far more proper, if any one would bring an accusation, that you should examine it.[1]

So, if someone is being charged with being a Christian, then an investigation must ensue and they must be charged according to the crime they have committed. We can see the following data from Hadrian's response[2]:

1. Christians were frequently reported as lawbreakers in Asia and were punished in various ways.
2. Like Trajan, Hadrian encouraged a certain amount of tolerance and ordered that they not be harassed.
3. If Christians were found guilty after careful examination, then they ought to be punished.
4. However, undocumented charges were not to be heard or brought against them and if anyone did so, then the one leveling the undocumented charges were to be punished instead.

1. Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 200-201.
2. Ibid., 201.

Today I continue looking at ancient non-biblical sources. The next few posts will be focused on Roman government officials. First up is Pliny the Younger. Pliny was a "Roman author and administrator who served as the governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor."[1] Pliny is considered to be one of the world's greatest letter writers and 10 books that preserved his letters are still in existence today.

In his tenth book (c. 112 A.D.), Pliny mentions Christianity in his province as well as some information regarding Jesus. In a letter to Emperor Trajan, Pliny writes a fairly lengthy letter inquiring advice on how to proceed with driving out Christianity (we will read Trajan's response to Pliny in tomorrow's post). Here is just a small portion of what Pliny wrote:

They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food-but ordinary and innocent food. Even this, they affirmed, they had ceased to do after my edict by which, in accordance with your instructions, I had forbidden political associations. Accordingly, I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses. But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition.[2]

From this it is possible to pick out the following facts regarding the worship practices of the early Christians[3]:

1. Christ was worshipped as a deity by early believers (seems to be a high Christology in practice).
2. The teachings of Jesus were called "excessive superstition" and "contagious superstition."
3. Jesus' ethical teachings are reflected as an oath taken by Christians never to be guilty of a number of sins mentioned in the letter.
4. A possible reference to communion and the Christian celebration of the "love feast" which is their regathering and partaking of ordinary food.
5. A possible reference to Sunday worship since Pliny says that they met "on a certain day."
6. Christians were identifiable by their worship practice and what they refused to worship - this allowed Pliny to target Christians for interrogation as well as execution.
7. Pliny reports that true believers could not be forced to worship the gods or the emperor.
8. Christian worship involved a pre-dawn service.
9. This time of worship included the singing of hymns.
10. The Christians came from all classes, ages, localities and sexes.
11. There was structure and positions in the church since Pliny mentions two deaconesses who were tortured for information.

1. Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 197.
2. Pliny the Younger, Letters 10.96-97.
3. Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 200-201.

The last four posts have been spent looking at ancient non-biblical historians from the 1st and 2nd century A.D. Before moving on to look at ancient Roman government officials and what they have to say about Jesus and his followers, I thought it would be good to pause and provide a summary of what we have covered so far.

There were four historians that we have looked at and they are:

1. Cornelius Tacticus [T] (c. 55-120 A.D.) - Roman historian
2. Gaius Suetonius Tranquillas [S] - Roman historian and chief secretary to Emperor Hadrian (117-138 A.D.)
3. Flavius Josephus [J] (c. 37/8 - 97 A.D.) - Jewish Pharisee turned historian who served under the Roman emperor Vespasian
4. Thallus [Th] (c. 52 A.D.)

Below is the information that we can learn from them about Jesus and his followers:

1. Jesus was known as a wise and virtuous man, recognized for good conduct [J]
2. He had many disciples, both Jews and Gentiles [J]
3. Christians were first named for their founder [T, S]
4. Jesus was put to death by the Roman procurator Pontius Pilatus [T, J]
5. His manner of death was by crucifixion [J]
6. There was widespread darkness in the land, implied to have taken place during Jesus' crucifixion [Th]
7. This happened during the reign of Emperor Tiberius [T]
8. Jesus death ended the "superstition" for a short time [T]
9. But it broke out again [T, J]
10. The disciples reported the Jesus had risen from the dead [J]
11. The disciples reported that Jesus had appeared to them on the third day after his crucifixion [J]
12. The teaching had its origin in Judea [T]
13. Unbelievers offered naturalistic explanations for what occurred [Th]
14. Jesus was the brother of James [J]
15. Jesus' followers carried his teaching to Rome [T, J, Th]
16. Perhaps Jesus was the Messiah concerning whom the Old Testament prophets spoke and predicted wonders [J]
17. Jesus was called Messiah by some people [J]
18. The Jews were expelled from Rome due to their disturbances [S]
19. Their teachings caused a riot in Rome [S]
20. A fire broke out during the rule of Emperor Nero and he blamed the Christians who lived in Rome [T]
21. The Christians beliefs were called "mischievous" implying that they were not in accord with social custom [S]
22. The Christians were hated for their abominations [T]
23. Christians that were arrested pleaded guilty [T]
24. They were convicted for "hatred for mankind" [T]
25. They were mocked [T]
26. They were tortured, nailed to crosses, or burnt to death [T]
27. The general population had compassion for the Christians due to the manner in which Nero had them killed [T]
28. Punishments were thought o satisfy one man's glut for cruelty rather than serve as punishment for any crime [T]

Tomorrow I will begin to look at each of the Roman Government officials and what they had to say about Jesus and his followers. When we are done looking at them, I will add their findings to the list of summaries above in a separate post.