Bart Ehrman on the existence of Christ

I have heard it claimed that Josephus wrote Matthew, Mark, Luke and John plus the writings of Paul. In other words, Josephus and Paul were the same person. Has Bart Ehrman ever discussed this possibility?

PaulK,Here is one such claim:Flavious Josephus And the Apostle Paul Were the Same Person?, page 1There are others.Of course, there are still others who have claimed that Jesus Christ never lived.

Come on PaulK,If you have something (specific) to say, say it. I suppose you, like Bart Ehrman, would not want to discuss Luigi Cascioli:http://www.luigicascioli.it/ateismo_eng.phpor the Baron d'Holbach:Holbach Indexeither.When it comes right down to it, isn't it the "Christian" view that is the "alternative view"?

PaulK & Huntard,I'm just saying there are people who have argued this and that (such as Josephus wrote Matthew, Mark, Luke and John plus the NT writings of Paul), i.e., that Josephus and Paul were one person.If you have something that opposes such a position please point it out (but don't give me something that squashes the discussion -- like it is an "alternative view," that doesn't hack it with me).Cascioli, for example, has claimed that Josephus is unreliable in certain respects and that Jesus Christ was John of Gamala (in Josephus).Have either of you ever read The Fable of Christ (by Luigi Cascioli)? If so, what do you think of his argument about there never having been a Jesus Christ? I asked Bart Ehrman and he told me he had not.On the other hand, If Cascioli is mistaken (about the quote from Josephus in Book 18, Chapter 3, Paragraph 3 ), because Josephus really did mention the NT Jesus (and the paragraph was not a Catholic Church redaction at a later date), it would make a world of difference if Josephus and Paul were: either different people or the same person with different names.I mention Holbach because, as you may know, in his book, System of Nature, he claimed for reasons of personal safety that it was authored by someone else. The story of the Crucifiction of Jesus in the NT, it seems, would argue favorably for these Christian writers, living in a Jewish world, to remain anonymous (like atheist Holbach living in a Christian world). Holbach's 1770 book was outlawed by the French government within a few months after it appeared and, apparently, some were jailed for having either sold it or having purchased it. It's a nasty world sometimes.

PaulK wrote:"...In other words, neither of them [Cascioli and Holbach?] endorse the idea that Josephus wrote any of the NT, and they are not relevant [in any way?] to your original question."My original "question":"I have heard it claimed that Josephus wrote Matthew, Mark, Luke and John plus the writings of Paul. In other words, Josephus and Paul were the same person. Has Bart Ehrman ever discussed this possibility?"Okay.

Truth? What is that.I find it most interesting that PaulK (and yourself) have not read Cascioli (at least he did not say he had). And, although I didn't ask if the two of you ever read Holbach's 1770 book (known by some as the Atheist Bible), neither of you volunteered having done so. I believe that I, like you two, have some skepticism about the possibility that Josephus and Paul were one and the same, but I have no problem considering that possibility. To say it has no business on this thread? wow. I thought this was a "discussion forum." Sorry for having been so presumptuous.By the way, my grammar is American (Chicago Manual of Style) and I am aware that in Europe things are done differently.

PaulK,Maybe you could buy a mirror (or if you have one, look into it once in a while).After you have actually taken the time to read Cascioli and Holbach you may be in a position to call me someone who is "...curiously compelled to attack anyone who points out that it seems to be a crank idea with no serious evidential support." I simply presented an idea ABOUT AND RELATED TO THE TOPIC OF THE THREAD that you have chosen to attack. If you don't want to discuss it (the idea I presented), then why did you respond? And, of course, there is the age old question, What Is Truth?As for The Fable of Christ and System of Nature, real scholars have read them both (real scholars read serious research, whether or not they agree with it, and both of these are serious works of scholarship, whether you think so or not).

Mirror, mirror, on the wall....

PaulK:Please stay on topic.Rules:"...10. Keep discussion civil and avoid inflammatory behavior that might distract attention from the topic. Argue the position, not the person."

As you wish.Percy.You can take your EvC Forum and play your little game.