Biblical contradictions II

Apparently they would become like one of us. Becoming like something isnt identical to being exactly the same. Like in this context is to have a nature similar to that of God.Clearly man is similar to God, we murder, torture, lie and cheat, just like God does.Brian

The Theologian needs to deal with Mark 10:23 when the man-God declares that: Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." God can do anything, but he cannot lie? Seems a bit of a crappy God to me.

Hi Mark, hows it goin?Regarding the authorship of Genesis, Jesus said that Moses wrote the Torah.John 5:46-47: 'If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?'Matthew 8:4: 'And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go show yourself to the priest, and present the offering that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.’Any first year student knows that Moses did not write the Torah so Jesus, if he did say these words, was either just repeating a commonly held belief of the time, a time of ignorant peasants of course who didnt question anything and this made Jesus as gullible and ignorant as the rest of the them. However, if Jesus is God then he would know that Moses didnt write the Torah so therefore he was lying through his teeth, again.Brian.

Hi Theo,I think you need to check your sources and be a littel more critical in your thinking. For example, you state: Tacitus as born around 55-56 CE, but he didnt write his Annals until about 116 AD, and his reference is minimal, he is simply repeating a belief held by a group, this is not confirmation that Jesus existed, in fact, Tacitus doesnt mention jesus.Josephus was also not a contemporary of Jesus as Jesus was dead before Josephus was born. And, since you are a theologian, you know how Christans have faked Josephus' work?Tertullian lived in the mid to late 3rd century CE, how is this evidence of someone living 150 plus years before?Thallus, not much use either really, where does he mention jesus? To claim that Thallus' record of an eclipse is evidence that Jesus existed, is really stretching it a lot.Your other two sources are hopeless as evidence.Brian

These two lived more than 1800 years after jesus, how can they be witnesses to his existence?Re Josephus, this is really basic bible studies, do a websearch for 'Testimonium Flavius', or 'Josephus forged'. One big problem withthe Josephus quote is that he allegedly said that Jesus was the Messiah, then continued to live as a pharisaic Jew until he died. I am astounded that a theologian doesnt know this.Also, re authorship of the Torah, read Julius Welhaussen, another basic introduction to any biblical studies course.The 'Documentary Hypothesis' explains why there are often doublets or even triplets of the same story in the torah. It explains why there are two creation accounts, two flood narratives and two exodus accounts. It also explains the interchanging use of El and YWHW.Living in the third century does not qualifiy you as an eyewitness, what sources was this thrid century person using?Brian.

Tacitus simply didnt mention Jesus, as you agree. 'Christ' means 'annointed', and Christs were ten a penny in Palestine, in fact, every King of Israel was a 'Christ', a Messiah. Tacitus' reference may also be a late addition to his annals, the 'author' even gets Pilate's title wrong. ut as I said, even if this is Jesus, it does not confirm his existence, it only confirms that there were a group called 'christians' and they take their name from an entity that may or not have been real.I know who simon greenleaf is and regarding his ability to analyse sources, do you know which sources he used?

Hi CA,I only have a few minutes so I will be brief and if you want to discuss any particular points in greater detail then I would be happy to do so. 1. Simon Bar Kochba
2. Menachem Ben Amiel
3. King David (2 Samuel 2:4)
4. King Saul (1 Samuel 10:1)
5. Solomon (1 Kings 1:9)
6. Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:30)
7. Shabbtai Tzvi
8. Jehu (2 Kings 9:6)
9. Hazael (1 Kings 19:15)
10. Elish (1 Kings:19:16)‘Messiah’ is the English equivalent of the Hebrew,Mashiach which is translated as ‘Anointed’. ‘Mashiach’ refers to a person who is recruited into some particular task for God, and basically means they have been anointed by having oil poured over their head. For example Exodus 29:10 Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head. .As a result, there are numerous ‘messiahs’ in the Bible because every king was anointed with oil to mark the beginning of their reign, even high priests could be messiahs as they were normally anointed too.Take David as an example when he is talking about Saul: But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go.Therefore, linguistically, pick any anointed person and you have a messiah. The Bible is littered with anointed people.Brian.