DRAFT
A List of Verses Against the Jesus Myth Thesis
The following is a list of verses (with brief comments) taken from the New Testament epistles that I believe cast serious doubt on the Jesus-Myth thesis. I make no claim that this list is exhaustive.
All quotations are from the New International Version (NIV).
Romans:
1:3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David
Human nature (lit. "flesh"). Descendant of physical human (David).
3:25-26 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
"presented him" would seem to imply that Jesus’ sacrifice occurred openly in the physical world and not in a spiritual realm viewable only to mystics.
"at the present time". Though perhaps not strictly relevant to Doherty’s thesis, this verse runs counter to the idea presented by others advancing the Myth thesis that Jesus was thought to have lived sometime in the distant past.
5:12-19 (14,15,16,17,18,19)12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Compares Jesus with Adam - a physical man.
vs 14: Jesus "was to come", ie he came.
vs 15,17-19: Jesus is a "man".
8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
Jesus came in the form like that of sinful man.
9:5 Theirs [the people of Israel's] are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
Christ is a Jew with a human ancestry.
1 Corinthians:
2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
While it is admittedly uncertain whether "rulers of this age" is a reference to earthly rulers or not, that uncertainty is sufficient to severely damage an argument from silence.
7:10-11 10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
This teaching is specifically attributed to Jesus. Similar teachings against divorce by Jesus can be found in Matthew 5:31-32; 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18.
9:5 Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas?
A reference to Jesus' brothers.
9:14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
This teaching is specifically attributed to Jesus. Jesus' expression of this sentiment can be found in Matthew 10:10 and Luke 10:7.
11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you...
Doherty theorises Paul as having visions of a spiritual Jesus, and getting all the teachings in such a manner. That Paul may have had visions of Jesus which taught him things is entirely acceptable to even the most fundamentalist Christian. This verse serves as a prime example of such an apparent claim of Paul.
Yet Morris (in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians), despite the fact that he agrees with Doherty as to the vision interpretation of this verse, admits that most commentators believe that this verse should be interpreted to refer to the passing on of an already established Christian tradition:
The verbs received and delivered (paralamboano and paradidomi) are almost technical terms for receiving and passing on the Christian traditions (cf. verse 2). This, taken with the general probability, leads most commentators to feel that Paul should not be taken as meaning that he had a revelation from the Lord on this matter.
11:23-25 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
Jesus was somewhere:
where there could be "night" (and presumably therefore, day)
where there was bread, that could be eaten and drink that could be drunk
where there was people he could talk to and a person who could betray him
This is also in accordance with the event as recorded in the Gospels.
15:3-4 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Why we should interpret "according to the Scriptures" to mean "we know this to be a spiritual truth because the Scriptures tell us" as opposed to "the physical event we told you about happened in accordance with what the Scriptures said would happen" as Doherty desires is not clear. However one point is interesting: That he was buried is not indicated as happening according to the Scriptures. Hence even if Doherty's interpretation of "according to the Scriptures" was to be accepted, it would not account for the assertion that Jesus was buried. This passage is far more consistent with a view that sees Jesus' death, burial and resurrection as being believed by the writer to be physical events predicted by Scripture.
15:21-22 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
Jesus is a man just as Adam is a man. Paul (presumably) believed Adam a physical being, so such a reference to Jesus as being like Adam should reasonably be taken to indicate a belief that Jesus was also a physical being.
2 Corinthians:
5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Christ once had flesh, but no longer does.
Galatians:
1:19 I saw none of the other apostles--only James, the Lord's brother.
Jesus had a brother named James.
3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.
Christ is descended from Abraham.
4:4 4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
Jesus was born of a human woman.
The "born under the law" comment is telling against any mythical thesis since the Law only applies to physical humans who are Jewish.
Ephesians:
2:17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
Jesus taught peace. Matthew 5:38-44; John 14:27; 16:33
4:9-10 9What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.
Jesus descended to dwell on earth.
Philippians:
2:7-8 7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death--
even death on a cross!
Jesus was observed to appear as a man.
Colossians:
1:22 But now he [God] has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--
"Christ's physical body": says it all really.
The Greek translates literally word-for-word as "in the body of the flesh". If what the writer really meant was "in the body of the spirit" then presumably he would have been quite capable of saying so.
2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
God in a body: this would appear to imply a physical incarnation.
2:14 having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
The mythicists apparently suggest that not only can people be crucified, bleed, have bodies etc in the mythical sphere, but apparently such mundane items as nails exist in spiritual realms.
2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
The mythicist thesis appears inconsistent with a public spectacle, since they present a Jesus who died in a spiritual realm only visible to a few visionaries.
3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
The "word of Christ" may be a reference to the teachings of Christ.
1 Thessalonians:
1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did things that were imitable by physical humans. An obvious explanation for that is that he was one himself.
2:1514For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, 15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men 16in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
The Jews killed Jesus, just like they did the prophets. This passage as it stands is obviously fatal to the Jesus Myth position and so it must be claimed to be a later interpolation if the thesis is to hold.
4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
One of Doherty's points is that the idea of Jesus coming down from heaven to the physical earth and taking a physical body would have been "unthinkable". Yet it is exactly that that this passage appears to envisenge.
1 Timothy:
1:4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.
While it is not certain which genealogies are being referred to here, the genealogies of Jesus spring to mind. The conflicting genealogies recorded in Matthew and Luke suggest there was some argument about the human ancestry of Jesus, and it seems reasonably likely that this conflict was what the writer here is referring to.
1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
Did Jesus comes into the world or not? The Myth thesis says no, but this verse says yes.
2:55For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Again: Jesus is a man.
3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
Jesus appeared in a body. To who? Not the angels - as they are stated separately. He appeared to humans in bodily form.
6:3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
This may be a reference to the teachings of Jesus.
6:13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you
Jesus was a physical person who was brought before a physical ruler. This is unacceptable to the Jesus Myth thesis and so an interpolation must be claimed.
2 Timothy:
2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
Jesus was descended from David.
Titus:
3:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
While it is not certain which genealogies are being referred to here, the genealogies of Jesus spring to mind. The conflicting genealogies recorded in Matthew and Luke suggest there was some argument about the human ancestry of Jesus, and it seems reasonably likely that this conflict was what the writer here is referring to.
Hebrews:
1:1-21In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
Jesus has taught the Jews like the prophets of old.
2:3-43how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Jesus taught salvation, and people heard him. His teaching was accompanied by miracles.
2:7, 9 7You made him [man] a little lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honor....
9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.Jesus was a man.
2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he [Jesus] too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
Jesus was a flesh and blood human.
2:17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
If he is "like his brothers in every way" and his brothers are physical humans, what does that make him?
3:1-61Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
Jesus is comparable to Moses, who was believed to be a physical human.
5:7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
"Jesus' life on earth". Literally: "days of the flesh".
7:14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
Jesus was of the tribe of Judah.
9:11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.
Came where as high priest? Presumably, to earth.
9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Christ has come once already and will appear a second time.
10:5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
Jesus "came into the world".
13:12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.
"outside the city gate". This is in agreement with gospel teaching on the subject - see John 19:20.
1 Peter:
3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
He was put to death (lit.) "in the flesh" but made alive "in the spirit". While the Myth thesis holds that Jesus' flesh existence was really only a spiritual one, this verse clearly distinguishes the two ideas.
4:1,61Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
6
For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.Again the body of men is contrasted with spiritual existence. Christ is said to have such a body which parallels the body that humans suffer in and that those who are now dead used to have: ie a physical body.
5:1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
According to the gospel accounts Peter, who the writer is claiming to be, really is a witness of Christ's sufferings as is claimed here.
2 Peter:
1:14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
The writer, who is claiming to be Peter, is referring to Jesus’ dialog with Peter as recorded in the Gospel of John (21:15-19)
1:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Jesus' coming was apparently something that could be witnessed by humans.
1:18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him [Jesus] on the sacred mountain.
Jesus is alleged to have stood on a mountain with the writer. This is a reference to the Transfiguration (Matthew 17, Mark 9, Luke 9).
3:2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
This verse demonstrates that two of Doherty's claims do not fit well together. Doherty alleges this writer to have knowledge of the Gospels as indicated by the reference to the Transfiguration and the prediction of Peter's death. However, Doherty also claims that when writers elsewhere use such language as "given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles" the writer is thinking of a revelation given by the spiritual Jesus to the spiritually aware apostolic intermediaries. This verse shows how a writer who believes in a physical Jesus and has knowledge of the written gospels can use such language and mean nothing of the sort.
1 John:
2:22-2422Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son. 23No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.
The writer attacks those who would deny that Jesus is the Christ. This makes no sense under Doherty's thesis. Doherty sees "Jesus Christ" as a single title meaning "annointed saviour" for a spiritual being. The writer shows that Jesus and Christ are thought of as two distinct concepts. The traditional thesis that Jesus is the name a man for whom is claimed the title of "Christ" fits this passage perfectly.
3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
The world does not know the Christians, but it did not know Jesus. Unlike the Christians who are currently in the world and suffering opposition from the world, Jesus -it is implied- used to be in the world and suffered opposition from the world.
3:23 And this is his [God’s] command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he [Jesus or God?] commanded us.
Whether the second he being referred to as giving the command to "love one another" is Jesus or God is not clear. However the reader should be reminded of the passage in John’s gospel (13:31-35) where Jesus is portrayed giving such a command.
4:1-31Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
The writer is upset by those who are refusing to acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh.
4:14-1514And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
This flesh Jesus that came in was something that could be seen and testified to.
5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
"Jesus" and "the Christ" are again mentioned as if they are two distinguishable things.
5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
"Jesus" and "the Son of God" are also demonstrated in a similar way to be not synonymous by definition.
7-117Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
Again it is asserted that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. (See note on 1 John 4:1-3)
2 Thessalonians, Philemon, James, 3 John & Jude:
No references.