The story of Jesus has been one of the most frequently told in world history. But I am a little confused. Did he really say he was going to return? Here are a series of questions I have about this subject:
When Was Jesus Born?
No one has been able to ascertain exactly when Jesus was born. Scholars typically place the year of his birth at around 4 BC (Before Christ) or BCE (Before Common Era).
Was Jesus born before he was born?
When did Jesus die?
As with his birth, there is no certain year for his death. Scholars put his death at around 30 CE (Common Era).
Why wasn’t the year of his death noted anywhere if it was that important?
What did Jesus tell people about the coming Kingdom of God?
He told them that it would take place during their lifetimes. (Matthew 24:34)
Why don’t Christians acknowledge that this prediction was wrong?
When did the Apostle Paul, one of the earliest Christian writers, begin to preach?
Paul makes no mention in his letters of the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place in 70 CE. It is reasonable to assume he must have written them before that point in time. Paul was an early persecutor of Christians and subsequently had his “conversion” to Christianity some time later. So, it is widely thought that he wrote his letters somewhere around 50-60 CE.
What is significant about Paul’s letters?
Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:6 that there were 500 witnesses to the risen Jesus but gives no names even though he says they are still around.
Why didn’t he produce these witnesses instead of giving what sounds like hearsay?
When were the Gospels put into writing?
Paul never says anything about what we now call the Gospels (of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), so his preaching must have taken place before they were put into writing. Scholar consensus has the Gospels starting around 70 CE with Mark, Matthew and Luke and ending with John in about 90 CE.
What is significant about the last Gospel, that of John?
John is the only Gospel to refer to Jesus as God. (Source: Ehrman, Bart D.: Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why. HarperCollins, 2005.)
Why don’t the other Gospels say anything about this key tenet of the Christian faith?
There is no discussion in the Gospel of John of an upcoming “Kingdom of God.” (Source: "Biblical Literature." Encyclopedia Britannica Online).
Why did the Gospels stop mentioning the upcoming Kingdom?
Did the early Christians change the message when it suited their interests in attracting converts and establishing their religion?
Christians, help me out here!
When Was Jesus Born?
No one has been able to ascertain exactly when Jesus was born. Scholars typically place the year of his birth at around 4 BC (Before Christ) or BCE (Before Common Era).
Was Jesus born before he was born?
When did Jesus die?
As with his birth, there is no certain year for his death. Scholars put his death at around 30 CE (Common Era).
Why wasn’t the year of his death noted anywhere if it was that important?
What did Jesus tell people about the coming Kingdom of God?
He told them that it would take place during their lifetimes. (Matthew 24:34)
Why don’t Christians acknowledge that this prediction was wrong?
When did the Apostle Paul, one of the earliest Christian writers, begin to preach?
Paul makes no mention in his letters of the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place in 70 CE. It is reasonable to assume he must have written them before that point in time. Paul was an early persecutor of Christians and subsequently had his “conversion” to Christianity some time later. So, it is widely thought that he wrote his letters somewhere around 50-60 CE.
What is significant about Paul’s letters?
Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:6 that there were 500 witnesses to the risen Jesus but gives no names even though he says they are still around.
Why didn’t he produce these witnesses instead of giving what sounds like hearsay?
When were the Gospels put into writing?
Paul never says anything about what we now call the Gospels (of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), so his preaching must have taken place before they were put into writing. Scholar consensus has the Gospels starting around 70 CE with Mark, Matthew and Luke and ending with John in about 90 CE.
What is significant about the last Gospel, that of John?
John is the only Gospel to refer to Jesus as God. (Source: Ehrman, Bart D.: Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why. HarperCollins, 2005.)
Why don’t the other Gospels say anything about this key tenet of the Christian faith?
There is no discussion in the Gospel of John of an upcoming “Kingdom of God.” (Source: "Biblical Literature." Encyclopedia Britannica Online).
Why did the Gospels stop mentioning the upcoming Kingdom?
Did the early Christians change the message when it suited their interests in attracting converts and establishing their religion?
Christians, help me out here!
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