Birmingham University “Focus Week” Day 2 of 5: How can this be love when... “You can’t trust the Bible”?

“At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. His conduct was good and [he] was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive; accordingly he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.” (Josephus, Antiquities 18:63-64 C10th Arabic version, quoted in James H. Charlesworth, Jesus Within Judaism (Doubleday, 1988) p.95, cited in Gary R. Habermas, The Historical Jesus (College Press, 1996), p.194. )

“He convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin and brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus, who was called the Christ, and certain others. He accused them of having transgressed the law and delivered them up to be stoned.” “He convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin and brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus, who was called the Christ, and certain others. He accused them of having transgressed the law and delivered them up to be stoned.” (Josephus, Antiquities )

“Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome... Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty: then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind.” “Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome... Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty: then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind.” (Tacitus, Annals 15.44)

“I have asked them if they are Christians, and if they admit it, I repeat the question a second and third time, with a warning of the punishment awaiting them. If they persist, I order them to be led away for execution; for whatever the nature of their admission, I am convinced that their stubbornness and unshakable obstinacy ought not to go unpunished... [continued...] “I have asked them if they are Christians, and if they admit it, I repeat the question a second and third time, with a warning of the punishment awaiting them. If they persist, I order them to be led away for execution; for whatever the nature of their admission, I am convinced that their stubbornness and unshakable obstinacy ought not to go unpunished... [continued...] (Pliny the Younger, Letters, 10.96)

They also declared that the sum total of their guilt or error amounted to no more than this: they had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day to chant verses alternately amongst themselves in honour of Christ as if to a god, and also to bind themselves by oath, not for any criminal purpose, but to abstain from theft, robbery, and adultery...” They also declared that the sum total of their guilt or error amounted to no more than this: they had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day to chant verses alternately amongst themselves in honour of Christ as if to a god, and also to bind themselves by oath, not for any criminal purpose, but to abstain from theft, robbery, and adultery...” (Pliny the Younger, Letters, 10.96)

“The Christians... worship a man to this day - the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account.... [It] was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws.” “The Christians... worship a man to this day - the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account.... [It] was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws.” (Lucian, The Death of Peregrine, 11-13)

Early ANTI-Christian sources say Jesus was: 1. Regarded as wise - Josephus & Lucian. 2. A powerful and honoured teacher - Pliny & the Talmud & Lucian. 3. Performed miraculous feats, but rejected by Jewish leaders - The Talmud. 4a) Crucified - Tacitus, Josephus, Talmud & Lucian. 4b) Crucified under Pontius Pilate - Tacitus & Josephus. 4c) Crucified on the eve of Passover - The Talmud. 5. Reports of Jesus' resurrection - Josephus. 6. Followers believed he was the Messiah - Josephus 7. Christians worshipped Jesus as God - Pliny & Lucian.

Q. Isn’t the New Testament the product of exaggerated stories and Chinese whispers?

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

When were the Gospels written? Probable dates: AD 33 – Jesus is crucified AD 60 – Mark writes his gospel AD 61 – Luke writes his gospel (AD 62 – ‘Acts’ is written by Luke) (AD c62 – Paul’s death in Rome) When were the Gospels written? Probable dates: AD 33 – Jesus is crucified AD 60 – Mark writes his gospel AD 61 – Luke writes his gospel (AD 62 – ‘Acts’ is written by Luke) (AD c62 – Paul’s death in Rome) NB. Paul’s letters are earlier than all four gospels

Q. Didn’t errors creep into the New Testament during the copying process?

EARLIEST WHEN SURVIVING TIME No. of WORK WRITTEN COPY GAP COPIES Herodotus BC AD 900 1,300 years 8 Thucydides c.460 – 400 BC AD 900 1,300 years 8 Caesar’s Gallic 58 – 50 BC AD years 9 – 10 War Livy’s Roman 59 BC – AD 17 AD years 20 History TacitusAD 100 AD ,000 years 20 New AD AD – 260 years 5,000 Greek Testament (full 10,000 Latin manuscripts 9,300 others AD 350) EARLIEST WHEN SURVIVING TIME No. of WORK WRITTEN COPY GAP COPIES Herodotus BC AD 900 1,300 years 8 Thucydides c.460 – 400 BC AD 900 1,300 years 8 Caesar’s Gallic 58 – 50 BC AD years 9 – 10 War Livy’s Roman 59 BC – AD 17 AD years 20 History TacitusAD 100 AD ,000 years 20 New AD AD – 260 years 5,000 Greek Testament (full 10,000 Latin manuscripts 9,300 others AD 350)

“The last foundation for any doubt that the scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed.” Sir Frederick Kenyon, The Bible and Archaelogy [Harper and Row] “The last foundation for any doubt that the scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed.” Sir Frederick Kenyon, The Bible and Archaelogy [Harper and Row]

What about the “Gnostic gospels?”

“Simon Peter said to them, “Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life.” Jesus said: “I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven.” “Simon Peter said to them, “Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life.” Jesus said: “I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Gospel of Thomas, saying 114 James M Robinson [ed.] The Nag Hammadi Library, p.138

[Jesus said:] “If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves, and if you pray, you will be condemned, and if you give to charity, you will harm your spirits.” [Jesus said:] “If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves, and if you pray, you will be condemned, and if you give to charity, you will harm your spirits.” The Gospel of Thomas, saying 14

Why not join us tomorrow to discuss: How can this be love when Jesus was just a moral teacher? Tea tent, 12-1 and 1-2