Simon magus is mentioned by Josephus...
As to Paul existance try this: http://www.egodeath.com/TheFabricatedPaul.htm
i have some quotes from the new world bible from 2 cor 11&12 read them and give us your prognosis, he definitely thought very highly of himself, his vision that he received from the unconscious and inflated his ego for sure.
i'm sure this guy is over the top in his exaggerations about what he did and didn't do probably lots of denial about some of his own fraud being projected onto his boogie man rivals he sarcastically calls superfine apostles.. for i consider that i have not proved inferior to your superfine apostles in a single thing.+ 6 but even if i am unskilled in speech,+ i certainly am not in knowledge; indeed we made it clear to you in every way and in everything.....12 but what i am doing i will continue to do,+ in order to eliminate the pretext of those who are wanting a basis* for being found equal to us in the things* about which they boast.
13 for such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of christ.+ 14 and no wonder, for satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light.+ 15 it is therefore nothing extraordinary if his ministers also keep disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness.
Simon magus is mentioned by Josephus...
As to Paul existance try this: http://www.egodeath.com/TheFabricatedPaul.htm
i have some quotes from the new world bible from 2 cor 11&12 read them and give us your prognosis, he definitely thought very highly of himself, his vision that he received from the unconscious and inflated his ego for sure.
i'm sure this guy is over the top in his exaggerations about what he did and didn't do probably lots of denial about some of his own fraud being projected onto his boogie man rivals he sarcastically calls superfine apostles.. for i consider that i have not proved inferior to your superfine apostles in a single thing.+ 6 but even if i am unskilled in speech,+ i certainly am not in knowledge; indeed we made it clear to you in every way and in everything.....12 but what i am doing i will continue to do,+ in order to eliminate the pretext of those who are wanting a basis* for being found equal to us in the things* about which they boast.
13 for such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of christ.+ 14 and no wonder, for satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light.+ 15 it is therefore nothing extraordinary if his ministers also keep disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness.
skeptic.... actuwhile the romans may indeed have been behind Mark it would have been later then 70ce. Chritianity started as a Logos/Salvation cult and was hinted at by Philo even.
Hebrews is a very early work of Chritisanity and where in hebrews do you see ANYTHING mentioned in the gospelsÉ Jesus is never evn on earth in Hebrews.
(If the Romans used this Jesus cult idea they likely tried to paint `Jesus return`as the coming of Emporer Titus... but thats a very deep topic)
I meant to type Apollonius of Tyre as being an insperation for the Paul story. Before Marcion we have no record of Paul or his letters...
If Paul exisited and had the power and literary quailities to write LONG letters like that why did Jospehus never mention him.... He knew every other Jewish cult leader.
i have some quotes from the new world bible from 2 cor 11&12 read them and give us your prognosis, he definitely thought very highly of himself, his vision that he received from the unconscious and inflated his ego for sure.
i'm sure this guy is over the top in his exaggerations about what he did and didn't do probably lots of denial about some of his own fraud being projected onto his boogie man rivals he sarcastically calls superfine apostles.. for i consider that i have not proved inferior to your superfine apostles in a single thing.+ 6 but even if i am unskilled in speech,+ i certainly am not in knowledge; indeed we made it clear to you in every way and in everything.....12 but what i am doing i will continue to do,+ in order to eliminate the pretext of those who are wanting a basis* for being found equal to us in the things* about which they boast.
13 for such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of christ.+ 14 and no wonder, for satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light.+ 15 it is therefore nothing extraordinary if his ministers also keep disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness.
this is a subject of some importance, the view of the witnesses, likely inherited from franz's influence, seems to be that early christianity developed as a separate religion to the jews.. the view of most contemporary scholars is that the separation occurred slowly, and that influential early christians (e.g.
such as paul, peter, john and james) still saw themselves as jews.. to those of us that are no longer christians (and, most ex-witnesses here, seem to gradually move to that position) this is not an important issue.. but to an organisation that claims it has "the truth," surely it should know the truth about its origins.
yet the evidence is that the modern day religion of jehovah's witnesses, does not know the "truth" concerning the origins of early christianity.
The problem with this questions is it's not valid... Judiasm was split into four different main cults...Christianity started from Judaism mixed with Greek and Roman ideas and with the destruction of Jerusalem.
Later Gentiles joined starting Gnostic cults of Christianity and divorcing Judaism....
Later still Jewish Christians pulled Christianity back in their favor and...
Yeah... this went on until at least the fourth century and even in some degree today.
i've posted evidence elsewhere indicating that ancient israel was at times part of the egyptian empire.
that means that the exodus documents incorporated into the old testament, is a mythical story.
the israelites did not leave egypt.
With the exception of two or three posters so far no one, other then the poster, bothered to check science.
This is the 21st century and our understanding of what the land has told us reveals:
1. Abraham... if he ever existed he never met a Philistine...
2. Joseph. Based on earlier stories but not histoircal.
3. Exodus. Never happened. Oh many priests from Egypt moved north in Shishaks time etc... but no mass exodus.
4. Conquest. Not really. As already stated... more a rebellion within Canaan.
5. Israel's first king was likely Egyptian.
i've posted evidence elsewhere indicating that ancient israel was at times part of the egyptian empire.
that means that the exodus documents incorporated into the old testament, is a mythical story.
the israelites did not leave egypt.
why didn't jesus ever write anything?
why are there no letters to jesus?
no painting of jesus from that time?
why didn't jesus ever write anything?
why are there no letters to jesus?
no painting of jesus from that time?
jws celebrate jesus death according to 1 corinthains 11.. fine.
once a year since it's on the jewish passover... fail... since thats tonight not last night but..... lets overlook that... jws from new zeland to london observed the memorial on april 2 by western clock... of course all in the western hemisphere did this on april 3rd wheevr the sun went down.
thus a domino effect in the jw congregations took place starting at the date line going back to the same spot 24 hours later..... well this is pathetic in many ways... if the jws worshipped in spirt and truth according to john 4 (i'm an atheist ... i don't care) they would observe on jerusalem's time zone according to the gospels and 1 corinthians... but they dont....
JWs celebrate Jesus death according to 1 Corinthains 11.. Fine. Once a year since it's on the Jewish passover... fail... since thats tonight not last night but....
Lets overlook that... JWs from New Zeland to London observed the memorial on April 2 by western clock... Of course all in the western hemisphere did this on April 3rd wheevr the sun went down. Thus a domino effect in the JW congregations took place starting at the date line going back to the same spot 24 hours later....
Well this is pathetic in many ways... if the JWs worshipped in spirt and truth according to John 4 (I'm an atheist ... I don't care) they would observe on Jerusalem's time zone according to the Gospels and 1 Corinthians... BUT they dont...
i've been looking on this site for some time but never posted.
i'll give a little about myself, but not too much.
i'm a ex-bethelite ( brooklyn )and currently serving as an elder (10 years) (thinking about stepping down) on the service committee.