Why do skeptics question whether the Biblical Jesus Christ ever existed?

[NorrinRadd]

Here's an interview between Dr. Kurt Jaros (Theology) and Dr. Craig Keener (Biblical Studies) discussing "The Jesus of History & The Christ of Faith."

[shunyadragon]

Nor it seems was Philo, going by a write up on Patheos (and by your own assessments).

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rollto...ury-fridays-4/

Indeed, Philo did not write about Jesus’ life, his execution, his death, or his resurrection. Part of me thinks Philo would have found the notion of an Incarnation unpalatable in the first place, like just from a philosophical standpoint. His god would not ever take human form and wolf down fish in front of his shocked followers like some peasant.

In Philo’s handling, the physical events of the Torah all become spiritualized, allegorical calls to the human condition. The Messiah himself isn’t even a physical person to Philo. Instead, it’s an “incorporeal” manifestation of the Logos. (See here, XIV. (60).)

However, Philo also did not write a word about any of Jesus’ supposed disciples and apostles. So he never mentions any of the miracles we hear about in Acts, either. He doesn’t mention the existence of the many hundreds of Christians who must have been floating around — remember that supposed bunch of 500 totes-for-realsies “witnesses” who totally saw Jesus float up into the sky? Or how the whole city of Jerusalem supposedly knew about Jesus’ death?

I'm sure that if Philo had written anything where the context would logically lead to an expectation that Jesus would be mentioned, it would have been stated by now. Not a dicky-bird.
If this particular write-up is accurate, Philo would have had a very solid reason for not acknowledging Christ even if there was a place in his writing where it could logically be expected.

I'm not satisfied that the cited write-up is more than partisan rhetoric, but if it had any validity, it would provide a very good reason for avoiding mention of anything to do with Christ or Christianity. The reference to Philo's actual writing (XIV (60)) neither supports nor opposes the write-up's conclusions.

You nor any one else has provided a 'solid reason' for the above bold assertion. I never asserted Jesus did not exist, not that he was not a Messiah.

As usual you dofge the bullet

[shunyadragon]

Your religion certainly believes He existed:

https://bahaiteachings.org/who-is-christ-to-bahais/

Who, then, is Jesus? According to the Bible He is the Son of Man, the Son of God, Lord, Prophet, Messenger, Teacher, Servant, Savior, Apostle, and High Priest. So the above-quoted Bible verses demonstrate the Baha’i explanation that in various circumstances the Manifestations of God identify themselves by different names and stations – even the station of divinity and Godhead:

“Were any of the all-embracing Manifestations of God to declare, ‘I am God!’ He verily speaketh the truth, and no doubt attacheth thereto. For it hath been repeatedly demonstrated that through their Revelation, their attributes and names, the Revelation of God, His name and His attributes, are made manifest in the world…”

My religion is NOT the topic of the thread.

[shunyadragon]

Here's an interview between Dr. Kurt Jaros (Theology) and Dr. Craig Keener (Biblical Studies) discussing "The Jesus of History & The Christ of Faith."

Nothing new here. This is just the usual the 'text of the Bible proves the text.'

[rogue06]

Speaking of Philo... exactly how, when and where did he die?

[rogue06]

Nothing new here. This is just the usual the 'text of the Bible proves the text.'

Another one who thinks that the Bible is a single work rather than a collection of very different works by a number of different authors.

You are no different than a lawyer complaining that all the witnesses testifying about a case presented by the other side should only count as a single source because they were presented by the same person.

[shunyadragon]

Speaking of Philo... exactly how, when and where did he die?

He died ~50 AD likely in Alexandria.

[shunyadragon]

Nor it seems was Philo, going by a write up on Patheos (and by your own assessments).

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rollto...ury-fridays-4/

Indeed, Philo did not write about Jesus’ life, his execution, his death, or his resurrection. Part of me thinks Philo would have found the notion of an Incarnation unpalatable in the first place, like just from a philosophical standpoint. His god would not ever take human form and wolf down fish in front of his shocked followers like some peasant.

In Philo’s handling, the physical events of the Torah all become spiritualized, allegorical calls to the human condition. The Messiah himself isn’t even a physical person to Philo. Instead, it’s an “incorporeal” manifestation of the Logos. (See here, XIV. (60).)

However, Philo also did not write a word about any of Jesus’ supposed disciples and apostles. So he never mentions any of the miracles we hear about in Acts, either. He doesn’t mention the existence of the many hundreds of Christians who must have been floating around — remember that supposed bunch of 500 totes-for-realsies “witnesses” who totally saw Jesus float up into the sky? Or how the whole city of Jerusalem supposedly knew about Jesus’ death?

I'm sure that if Philo had written anything where the context would logically lead to an expectation that Jesus would be mentioned, it would have been stated by now. Not a dicky-bird.
If this particular write-up is accurate, Philo would have had a very solid reason for not acknowledging Christ even if there was a place in his writing where it could logically be expected.

I'm not satisfied that the cited write-up is more than partisan rhetoric, but if it had any validity, it would provide a very good reason for avoiding mention of anything to do with Christ or Christianity. The reference to Philo's actual writing (XIV (60)) neither supports nor opposes the write-up's conclusions.

biased source, and 'arguing from ignorance.'The facts are not 'partisan rhetoric. More than one source has been citer.

[rogue06]

He died ~50 AD likely in Alexandria.

That is anything but exact. He died somewhere around... and likely in...

Odd for such a famous person that we don't have anything more precise.

Maybe he was a fictional personage.

[shunyadragon]

That is anything but exact. He died somewhere around... and likely in...

Odd for such a famous person that we don't have anything more precise.

Maybe he was a fictional personage.

There are many records and references to the life of Philo in his life time from other sources.

Not unusual, the dates of the birth and death of Jesus Christ is uncertain. No one living in Jerusalem during his life time made any mention of Jesus. Maybe a fictional person? Ahem

[tabibito]

biased source, and 'arguing from ignorance.'The facts are not 'partisan rhetoric. More than one source has been citer.

It is a write-up that imposes meanings on its sources that (at least on occasion) cannot be substantiated by reference to the sources themselves.

[rogue06]

There are many records and references to the life of Philo in his life time from other sources.

Ditto for Jesus.

Not unusual, the dates of the birth and death of Jesus Christ is uncertain.

Same for Philo. But in his case nobody knows when he was born, when he died, where he died or how he died.

No one living in Jerusalem during his life time made any mention of Jesus. Maybe a fictional person? Ahem

Was Jesus a famous person during his lifetime? Supposedly this Philo character was, had famous relatives as well.

And yet, nobody knows when he was born, when he died, where he died or how he died.

Obviously more than enough to call his existence into doubt.

[seer]

My religion is NOT the topic of the thread.

Of course it is, your religion teaches that Christ did exist with the titles of Son of Man, the Son of God, Lord, Prophet, Messenger, Teacher, Servant, Savior, etc...And that is true no matter what Philo wrote or not.

[NorrinRadd]

Nothing new here. This is just the usual the 'text of the Bible proves the text.'

1) I never claimed it provided anything "new."

2) For some of us, it's an interesting overview.

3) Your simplistic characterization is the total ass-hattery I've come to expect from you.

[tabibito]

There are many records and references to the life of Philo in his life time from other sources.

Not unusual, the dates of the birth and death of Jesus Christ is uncertain. No one living in Jerusalem during his life time made any mention of Jesus. Maybe a fictional person? Ahem

Are any of those sources contemporaneous - from within the lifetime of Philo?