(October 26, 2015 at 4:22 pm)Minimalist Wrote: In Carrier's excellent "On the Historicity of Jesus" he cites this comment about Romans:
Quote:2. The Peculiar Indifference of Paul and his Christians
As a psychologist once put it (about Paul's letter to fellow congregants in
Rome, whom he had not yet met and thus can't have shared his own stories
with):
Imagine for a moment that one of your friends writes you a twenty-page
letter passionately wanting to share her excitement about a new teacher.
This letter has only one topic, your friend's new teacher. [But] at the end
of her letter, you still do not know one thing about her teacher. Yet, Paul
presents the central figure of his theology this way . . . . It [seems] impossible
to imagine how Paul could avoid telling one story or parable of--or
fail I to note one physical trait or personal quality of-Jesus. 8
8. Billy Wheaton and Joy Fuller, Hooks and Ladders: A Journey on a Bridge to
Nowhere with American Evangelical Christians (Bloomington, IN: Universe, 2009),
p. 31
I included the footnote for the citation because, unlike your silly-assed bible, Dr. Carrier provides his sources.
Wow, how near sighted of these 'learn-ed' people. Do they not understand the full scope of the teachings of Paul? Do you not understand Paul's full scope of teaching? Romans is a gospel message not an account of Christ's personal life. Luke (As in the book of Luke) was a deciple of Paul, therefore what Luke knew of Jesus, Paul taught. In otherwords the book of Luke was Paul's account of the life and ministry of Christ.
That said, nothing in History says that the book of Romans was the only thing ever sent by Paul to Rome. Matter of fact we know he sent several men (whom he greets in this letter/Also to whom this letter was sent to in rome) to seed a church in Rome.. So What message do you think Paul sent with the men to seed the church at Rome when He himself is sending the gospel?
What message do you think had to be sent inorder for Paul to write 16 chapters about Christ and never discuss who Christ was?
I guess basic logistics/common sense isn't a strong suit of those who you elected to do your thinking for you. Or perhaps the "Doctor" you quoted is just out of their wheelhouse when speaking about Paul, Romans, or the establishment of the church their at that time.
