287. Jesus Christ: The Mystery

Jesus Christ: The Mystery In today's episode, Tom and Dominic discuss the most mysterious historical figure of all, Jesus Christ.

They take a deep look at who he was, his teachings, and whether he actually existed. 

[andrewmaille]

Fantastic episode for both Christians and Atheists alike, big fan of this one!

[johnbenson]

I enjoyed that. Very balanced and informative.

[patrickselden]

Fascinating podcast, gents!
Thank you very much... ☝️😎

[Daniela_Explored]

STOP! I am drooling through the introduction! “Skip to the end” ❤🎉❤

[examplelife]

We know a huge amount about Cleopatra, because of her involvement with two extremely important Roman individuals. This information comes to us through Roman writings, we know about her times
when she is involved with these two individuals but nothing or very little from other sources. Yet the total amount of information known her is tiny in comparison with the supposed information regarding Jesus. None of the information written about Jesus is contemporary and it is extremely important to understand that they are written in the third person. So despite their names, Mark, Matthew, Luke and John they weren't written by anybody with those names, writing about their experiences. Not to mention the apostles were supposed to be illiterate

[simonwells]

I'm half way through episode 1 and i have a question.... is there any mention of Brian?

[maxjelley]

love this channel, great content and womderfully prepared. I've also just been told that Tom is my neighbour and I dont meet many people who share my obsession with these kinds of questions so that's good. Great stuff guys, keep it up!

[mindfulskills]

Please correct me if I misunderstand, but according to Tom Holland, Rome wasn't even collecting taxes from Galilee? Then all of the films, books and TV shows we've seen where tax collectors (like Matthew supposedly was before following Jesus) are wrong? Or is it just that the tax collectors in Galilee (including Capernaum, where Jesus spent most of his time) were collecting for Herod Antipas, and not for Caesar? If this is true, then the TV series "The Chosen" (which supposedly uses historical consultants to get the period right) is totally wrong, and people have had the wrong idea for decades if not centuries. Would appreciate if someone would clear this up for me. Thanks.

[jozsefnemeth]

Timothy McGrew has an entairtaing and insightful talk on Are the Gospels and Acts reliable historical documents?

[michaelbedford]

I love how, after about a minute, you say the name 'Jesus Christ' as if the plumber had just rung to say he wouldn't be coming to fix your leak 'til tomorrow.

[maryj]

Thank you gentlemen from an old irredeemably collapsed catholic

[timh.boston]

Can somebody please forward me the link to become the rest is history clubs, member?

[andrewbuswell]

Thank you for this episode. The ‘brother of Christ’ reference in Josephus is also disputed as chief priests were apparently also called Christ (as they were anointed) and the passage which contains it is all about a succession crisis concerning high priests. I thought the gospel of Mark is usually dated in the 70s when the temple was destroyed as it is very focussed on temple references. The earliest Christian writings are the epistles of Paul and they are mainly strangely uninterested in the life of Jesus.

[SatSingh-mmgg]

@38:00, yes! And if these guys over here are Hellenist last week and now this week Romanish, then of course there seems to be a question of identity and authenticity?

[ericmatthaei]

I’m wondering, given that about half of Acts is written as a biography of St. Paul, but doesn’t end with his martyrdom, and given that Acts is presented as a continuation of the Gospel of Luke by the same author, is it skepticism, scholarship, or just open hostility to the Christian tradition that causes you to date the writing of Luke’s gospel to the end of the first century. If Luke wrote his gospel that late, why doesn’t he finish Acts with the end of Paul’s earthly life, or at least the end of his ministry? It seems implausible to date that gospel so late.

[jelly_fischer]

Pythagoras. He navigated the triangle efficiently and people hated him for it 🤦‍♂️

[paulgeorge]

One of the major sects mentioned by Josephus and Pliny the Elder were the Essenes. But there is no mention of them in the gospels or Paul's letters. Why is this?

[JonniePolyester]

Still trying to find out why and when the crucifix became the symbol of Christianity and when did a Jewish sect become a separate religion.

[fernandoseguel-of]

Maravilloso. Acá en Atacama los escucho con gran placer

[shivabreathes]

It was very interesting and revealing to know that the soldiers under Pontius Pilate were not Romans, as has always been supposed, but most likely Samaritans.

This finally explains a mystery I have always wondered about: Why would Roman soldiers beat Jesus so savagely, taunt him and make a crown of thorns for him? To them he would presumably have been just another Judean rebel, no different from any other.

However, if the soldiers were Samaritans, not Roman, and were therefore “Jew-ish” and hated the Judeans, this would explain why they would have mocked and savagely beaten Jesus. For them Jesus’s claim to be the Jewish Messiah would have inspired great ire, and this would also explain things like them drawing lots for his clothes etc. None of which I could ever imagine Roman soldiers doing.

This really adds useful context to the understanding of the Gospel accounts.