For People Who Think There Was No Historical Jesus

[Minimalist]

If Eusebius invented this passage he must have done it to make people think that some records existed.

As Eusebius clearly states in Book 8, 2 of Ecclesiastical History: (he is talking about martyrs)

2. But it is not our place to describe the sad misfortunes which finally came upon them, as we do not think it proper, moreover, to record their divisions and unnatural conduct to each other before the persecution. Wherefore we have decided to relate nothing concerning them except the things in which we can vindicate the Divine judgment.

3. Hence we shall not mention those who were shaken by the persecution, nor those who in everything pertaining to salvation were shipwrecked, and by their own will were sunk in the depths of the flood. But we shall introduce into this history in general only those events which may be useful first to ourselves and afterwards to posterity

This is a man with an agenda. Pretty much like Goebbels.

The xtians found themselves, in the aftermath of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, with an ally on the throne. There is no indication prior to this that xtians cared a whit for things such as the "historical jesus" or relics or pilgrimages or whatever. The aforementioned Origen lived in Caesarea, about 20 miles from "Nazareth" yet apparently never felt the need to visit it. Somehow, and I have to think it is due to politics, the need to have an actual "person" became of importance to the proto-orthodox at this time. We are still at a time in history when writing a book was for a specific purpose if not a specific patron.

Why would anyone want to forge a passage in Tacitus about Nero persecuting Chrestians who were members of a gnostic sect, though?

Who said they were gnostics? Might have been the same bunch of Chrestian troublemakers that Suetonius mentioned. Or, it might have not happened at all.

Severus was writing as a 5th century Christian about Christian persecution in his own work so there was no need to mention what Tacitus supposedly said about Christ being executed by Pilate. Everyone would have known that in the 5th century.

Gee....why would xtians repeat the same shit over and over? Oh, its in their creeds that they make everyone recite like little friggin' sheep. The fact remains that Severus did not quote what is now purported to be Tacitus' words...nor, does he cite Tacitus as his source.

Christians like to think that the Tacitus passage gives proof that Jesus existed but it doesn't. Most scholars these days say it just gives us some idea of what Christians believed at the time the Annals were written. The interesting thing is that the rant attributed to Tacitus doesn't mention crucifixion or Jesus or even give a hint that Peter was one of the Christians who were crucified at the spectacle.

Exactly. But xtians are very eager to fool themselves.