The Problem with the Gospels

[Minimalist]

The gospel of Mark is believed to have made its appearance in about 70 AD

I was gazing back at the earlier posts and noted this comment, C/P. While true that "Mark" is believed to date from 70AD that is mainly because he recounts the destruction of the temple which Titus attained in 70. However, it was not true that no stone was left standing. As a matter of fact in the aftermath of the war the Legion X made its camp at Jerusalem and, like every other legionary camp in the empire, a veritable cottage industry of support/service businesses (taverns, traders, whorehouses) sprang up to support it.

The leveling of Jerusalem comes when Hadrian decided to rebuild the site into the new city of Aelia Capitolina in 135. The rubble was pushed down and tamped and the new city built on top of it. Thus, Mark 13

1: And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" 2: And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down."

does describe a historical reality but it a reality that did not come to be until c 140 AD.

Just a little historical curiosity.