What were Jesus and early Christians like?

[TimOneill]

And anyone should think you're included in that group why?

Because, unlike you or your brother, I know the relevant critical scholarship, I can read the relevant texts in their original language and I know what I'm talking about. You can't and don't. Spot the difference.

I'm sure there was a historical Jesus. And a historical Bob and a historical George. Please tell me why I should think the Gospels relate any accurate historical information about this Jesus---or just stop babbling about the majority of scholars who can't seem to find any agreement over the basic facts other than that this man was born and died like thousands of other crucified victims.

*yawn* The usual ex-fundie "all or nothing" crap. The evidence indicates a Jewish preacher who was crucified by Pilatus in Judea and who had a brother called James who was later executed by the Priests in Jerusalem about 30 years later. Guess who.

Right. One instance. Like I said. Do you read?

I read the Greek. The very first thing gMark says about Jesus is:
ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲτ τῆς Γαλιλαίας
(Mark 1:9)
Explain why this isn't what it clearly is - a reference to where he originally came from. Then a little later we get gMark telling us Jesus came to his hometown (ἔρχεται εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ ). He'd just left Capernaum and "the country of the Gerasenes", so where was this hometown other than the place gMark has just told us he originally "came from"? Unless you have some textual basis for deciding Mark 1:9 isn't original to the text. If so - evidence please.

In other words, you're about as qualified as my brother.

If your brother thinks there is only one source behind the gospels, I'm much better informed than your brother. Because your brother is demonstrably wrong.

Here's a suggestion: go fuck yourself.

I'll simply note this feeble squeak for future reference and say no more.