Sorting Through the Jesus Myths
OPS_admin | Dec 23, 2009 | Comments 0
By The Rev. Howard Bess
Editor’s Note: Christians love the Jesus stories – from the Virgin Birth of Christmas through the Resurrection at Easter – but a careful examination of the known history of his life and the early Christian faith suggests that these stories were myths created decades after the actual events for the purpose of building the church.
In this guest essay, retired Baptist minister Howard Bess sorts through the narratives of the New Testament and what they say about who Jesus really was:
Jesus from Nazareth was still a young man when he was killed in Jerusalem. The best estimate is that he was in his early 30s.
His public career as a teacher and prophet was short. No longer than three years. His impact on poor, rural people in northern Palestine was profound.
His listeners had never heard or seen anything quite like him. He made a trip to Jerusalem and his life was snuffed out quickly. He was crucified as a rabble-rousing troublemaker.
After the shock of his death, the truth that he spoke took on a life of its own. His followers were emboldened to repeat his stories and sayings. The phenomenon of oral tradition among poor people worked its magic. His band of followers grew rapidly.
Inevitably the key question was asked: “Who was he?”
Full Story Consortiumnews.com.
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