The Historical Reliability of the New Testament

[Randy Carson]

Wrong again.

The Bible is truth because it is inspired, and we can know that it is inspired because and infallible Catholic Church says so, and we know that the Catholic Church is infallible NOT because an inspired text so but because a historically reliable text says so.

That's very different.

Fine, I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt and not go down the infallibility route, but since you brought it up:



As for historically reliable, you haven't even come close to establishing that. All you've done is throw up assertions.

Nice graphic but flawed since that is not the Catholic argument. 

Does the term "straw man" mean nothing to you?

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Ah, but in this case, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the ruling body, asked for Jesus' body. Not wanting to create further conflict with the Jews, Pilate agreed to hand over the body.

Oh yes, that would be it, seeing that they were appointed by the Romans and entirely dependent on them.

abaris-

Have you EVER read the NT? Or a good book on Christian theology? Cause you're awfully ignorant of the facts.

Matthew 27:11-24
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[b] Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproarwas starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

You should read Luke 23 for a longer account of how Pilate tried to avoid executing Jesus.

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The Romans soldiers were professional killers, and there is NO WAY Jesus came down off the cross alive.

Which, happily seals off ANOTHER rabbit trail commonly pursued by skeptics - the Swoon Theory. 

Let's give DP a hand for his clear thinking on this important point!

Thanks but I think you missed my point with the context of Pliny's letters to Trajan.

Pliny's basic tone was "who the fuck are these Christians?" It hardly lends itself to the theory that he really did survive and was seen by his followers. 

"The swoon theory" is only proposed by Christians as an "alternative" to the resurrection. Skeptics aren't interested in "theories" like this. It's not my job as a skeptic to explain anything to you. It's your job to prove what you believe. 

But thank you for the compliment. Maybe you can address some of my other posts that you've previously ignored?

Heh...Pliny's letter and the Emperor's replies suggest that news of the Christians had come to the attention of highest levels of the Roman government.

So much for the Legend theory.

As for the Swoon Theory being a Christian argument...yeah, we've been trying to explain away that whole resurrection thing for 2,000 years. It makes it so hard to win converts with THAT hanging over our heads.