Ann here are some research results and due to length will have to split it up. File for reference so you can connect it with the second post.
The true story of of the life of Jesus has never been unfolded to the
world, either in the accepted Gospels or in the Apocrapha, although a few
stray hints may be found in some of the comments made by the ante-Nicene
Fathers. The facts concerning His identity and mission are among the
priceless mysteries preserved to this day in the secret vaults beneath the
"Houses of the Brethren."
To a few of the Knights Templars, who were initiated into the Arcana
of the Druses, Nazarenes, Essenes, Johannites and other sects still
inhabiting the remote and inaccessible locations in the zholy Land, part of
the story was told. The knowledge of the Templars concerning the early history
of of Christianity was undoubtedly one of the main reasons for their early
persecution and final annihilation. The discrepencies in the writings of the
early Church Fathers not only are not reconcilable but demonstrate beyond
question that even during the first five centuries after Christ these learned
men had for the basis of their writing litle more substantial other than
folklore and hearsay. To the easy believer everything is possible and there
are noproblems. The unemotional person in search of facts, however is
confronted by a host of problems with uncertain factors, of which the
following are typical: According to popular conception,Jesus was crucified
during his 33rd year and in the third year of His ministry following his
baptism.
About A.D. 180, St. Irenaeus , Bishop of Lyons, one of the most eminent
of the ante Nicene theologians, wrote. "Against Heresies," an attack on the
doctrine of the Gnostics. In this work he declared upon the authority of of
the Apostles themselves that Jesus lived to old age. To quote,"They, however,
that they may establish their false opinion regarding that which is written,
"to proclaim the accesptable year of the Lord," maintain that he preached for
one year only and then suffered in the twefth month. In speaking thus, they
are forgtful of their disadvantage destroying His whole work, and robbing
Him of that age which is both more necessary and more honourable than any
other; that more advanced age , I mean during which he also as a teacher
He excelled all others. For how could he have had disciples, if he did not
teach? And how could He have taught, unless He had reached the age of a
Master? For when he came to be baptised, He had not completed His 30th year,
but was beginning to be 30 yrs old ; and according to these men , He
preached only one year reckoning from His baptism. On completion of his 30th
yr He suffered , being in fact still a young man, and who had by no means
advanced to old age, which Our Lord possessed while he still fulfilled the
office of a teacher, even as the Gospel and all the elders tetify; those
who were conversant in Asia with John, the disciple, affirming , that John
conveyed to them that information. And he remained with them until the time
of Trajan.
Some of them, moreover, saw not only John, but the other Apostlles
also, and heard the very same account from them, and bear testimony as to the
validity of the statement. Whom then shall we believe? Whether such men as
these or Ptolemus,who never saw the apostles, and never even in his dreams
attained to the slightest trace of an Apostle.
Commenting on the foregoing passage Godfrey Higgins remarks that it has
fortunely escaped the hands of those destroyers who have attempted to render
the Gospel narratives consistent by deleting all such statements. He also
notes that the doctrine of the crucifixion was a vexata questio among
Christians even during the second century. The evidence of Irenaeus, he says
cannot be touched. On every principle of sound criticism, and of the doctrine
of probabilities, it is unimpeachable."
Iraenaes purpose in writing this document was to contradict another
apparently current in his time to the effect that the ministry only lasted
one year. If Irenaeus, writing this within 80 years after the death of St.John
the Evangelist, should have had reasonabley accurate information. If the
disciples themselves said Jesus lived to old age in the body, why has the
mysterious number 33 been arbitrarily chosen to symbolize his death? Were
the incidents in his life purposely altered so that his actions would fit
more closely into the pattern established by the numerous Savior-Gods who
preceded Him? That these anaolgies were recognized and used as a leverage
in converting the Greeks and Romans is evident from a perusal of the writings
of Justin Martyr, another second century authority. In his "Apology" Justin
addresses the pagans thus: "and when we say also that the Word, who is the
first-birth of God, was produced without sexual union, and that He, Jesus
Christ. our Teacher, was crucified and died, and rose again, and ascended
unto Heaven, we propound nothing different from what you believe regarding
those whom you esteem sons of Jupiter. * * * And if we assert that the Word
of God was born of a God in a peculiar manner , different from ordinary
generation, let it be no extraordinary thing to you, who say that Mercury
is the Angels Word of God. But if anyone objects that he was crucified, in
this also He is on a par with those reputed sons of Jupiter of yours, who
suffered as we now enumerated.
This is the first part of a further related subject on this research. The
rest will follow as soon as I can type it. |
