Tacitus recorded at least one reference to Christ and two to early Christianity, one in each of his major works. The most important one is that found in the Annals, written about 115 A.D. The following was recounted concerning the great fire in Rome during the reign of Nero:

Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular.

Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.

Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man’s cruelty, that they were being destroyed.

From this report we can learn several facts, both explicit and implicit, concerning Christ and the Christians who lived in Rome in the 60s A.D. Chronologically, we may ascertain the following information.

(1) Christians were named for their founder, Christus (from the Latin), (2) who was put to death by the Roman procurator Pontius Pilatus (also Latin), (3) during the reign of emperor Tiberius (14 37 A.D.). (4) His death ended the “superstition” for a short time, (5) but it broke out again, (6) especially in Judaea, where the teaching had its origin.

(7) His followers carried his doctrine to Rome. (8) When the great fire destroyed a large part of the city during the reign of Nero (68 A.D.), the emperor placed the blame on the Christians who lived in Rome. (9) Tacitus reports that this group was hated for their abominations. (10) These Christians were arrested after pleading guilty, (11) and many were convicted for “hatred for mankind.”

(12) They were mocked and (13) then tortured, including being “nailed to crosses” or burnt to death. (14) Because of these actions, the people had compassion on the Christians. (15) Tacitus therefore concluded that such punishments were not for the public good but were simply “to glut one man’s cruelty.”

RULES

So what? L. Ron Hubbard existed too. Doesn't make Scientology any more true.

(August 19, 2014 at 1:52 am)oukoida Wrote: So what? L. Ron Hubbard existed too. Doesn't make Scientology any more true.

What it does do is show the first Christians who were the 12 Apostles believed they had seen Jesus alive from the dead.

"A most mischievous superstition."

Tacitus is probably a much later forgery which is common with jesus freaks since there were no legitimate historical references so they invented some.

The best case scenario is that Tacitus repeated what some xtian told him and even that seems to be a stretch since we have no indication of this bullshit existing in the first century.

Much of what Tacitus wrote turns up in the much later work of Sulpicius Severus....at least as far as Nero is concerned. In fact, even early xtian writers knew nothing of Nero persecuting xtians for the Great Fire in Rome.

Paul said he spent 15 days with Peter, and spent time with John and James the brother of Jesus.

(August 19, 2014 at 2:05 am)revivin Wrote:

(August 19, 2014 at 1:52 am)oukoida Wrote: So what? L. Ron Hubbard existed too. Doesn't make Scientology any more true.

What it does do is show the first Christians who were the 12 Apostles believed they had seen Jesus alive from the dead.

Key-word being "believed", guess what. It could all be a forgery. They might have made up the resurrection stories to revive their cult.

Joseph Smith said he had spoke to angels and god himself had given him the golden tablets to translate. Didn't make his con any more real.

The only difference between the Apostles and Smith is that the formers' was a group organized fraud, the latter did everything on his own.

(August 19, 2014 at 2:31 am)revivin Wrote: Paul said he spent 15 days with Peter, and spent time with John and James the brother of Jesus.

.. and why would anyone ever say anything that wasn't true?

QED