The Making of Jesus
Two thousand years ago gods were a dime a dozen. People worshiped Osiris, Glycon, Simon, Apollonius of Tyana, Pythagoras, Orpheus, Dionysus, Zalmoxis, Kore, Samothrace, Attis, Adonis, Horus and Mithras. Their claims to fame included being born of a virgin, walking on water, healing lepers, raising the dead, turning water into wine, and dying and rising again. The writers of the Christian scriptures—like those of Judaism before it, Islam after it, and the countless religions scattered all about it—were influenced by the superstitions of the time and borrowed (or less charitably—plagiarized) from other stories in making their own. But my argument is not that Jesus was copied from “pagan” religions (though these had an influence) but was largely created from the Jewish scriptures themselves—primarily the books of Kings which give us the escapades of the god-like characters, Elijah and Elisha. In fact, Jesus speaks about Eljah coming to get everything ready for him (Mt 17:11-12), compares himself to Elijah and Elisha (Lk 4:25-27) and Elijah even makes an appearance and converses with Jesus (Lk 9:30-31). Some people think Jesus IS Elijah (Mt 16:14). Even the names mean the same thing — Elisha meaning “God (Jehovah) is salvation” and Jesus, “Jehovah saves.”
Obviously, the gospel accounts aren’t word for word copies of these earlier myths, but many share an unmistakable theme upon which the later writer based his stories. The Jesus character presented in the bible was not a unique person in history but a literary Frankenstein, largely cobbled together from dozens of long existing stories.
THE FOLLOWING 30 COMPARISONS TAKEN COLLECTIVELY SHOW THAT JESUS WAS LIKELY A CHARACTER BASED ON ELIJAH AND ELISHA.
SHARP DRESSED MAN
Elijah (Elisha’s predecessor) wore animal skins tied with a leather belt (2K 1:8)
John the Baptist (Jesus’ predecessor) wore animal skins tied with a leather belt (Mk 1:6)
HOLY SPIRIT, HOLY RIVER
Elisha received the spirit at the Jordan (2K 2:9)
Jesus received the spirit at the Jordan (Mk 1:1)
40 DAY & NIGHT FAST
Elijah went 40 days & nights in the wilderness without food (1K 19:4)
Jesus went 40 days & nights in the wilderness without food (Mt 4)
Also Moses (Ex 34:28)
MINISTERING ANGELS
An angel helped Elijah before his wilderness trip (1K 19:5-9)
Angels helped Jesus after his wilderness trip (Mk 1:12-13)
PROPHET
Elijah was called a prophet (1K 1:3)
Jesus was called a prophet (Lk 7:17)
GROUPIES
Elisha had a group of followers (2K 6)
Jesus had a group of followers (Mk 13)
FAITHFUL SERVANT
Elijah did as God commanded (2K 1:4)
Jesus did as God commanded (Jn 4:34)
VISIONS OF DOOM
Elijah could see the future and spoke of horrible violence coming soon (2K 8:12)
Jesus could see the future and spoke of horrible violence coming soon (Lk 21:10-33)
DRINK OF WATER
Upon entering a town, Elijah had a woman get him a glass of water and then worked a miracle (1K 17:10)
Upon entering a town, Jesus had a woman get him a glass of water and then promised a miracle (Jn 4:5)
COMMANDER OF THE ELEMENTS
Elijah controlled the weather (1K 17:1)
Jesus controlled the weather (Mk 4:39 also Ps 107:28)
CROSSING THE WATER
Elijah and Elisha walked across divided water (2K 2:8)
Jesus walked across the top of water (Mk 6:45)
HELPING THE ARMY OFFICER
Elisha helped an army officer (2K 5:1-15)
Jesus helped an army officer (Mt 8:5-6)
NOW YOU SEE, NOW YOU DON’T
Elisha caused the seeing to go blind (2K 6:18) and the blind to see (2K 6:20)
Jesus made the blind see (Mk 8: 21-26)
THE LEPER
Elisha healed a man with leprosy (2K 5)
Jesus healed a man with leprosy (Mk 1:41)
RAISING THE DEAD I
Elijah raised a widow’s dead son & gave him to his mother (1K 17:21)
Jesus raised a widow’s dead son & gave him to his mother (Lk 7:11)
RAISING THE DEAD II
Elisha raised a dead child in a home (2K 4:27-37)
Jesus raised a dead child in a home (Mk 5:22-43)
RAISING THE DEAD III
Elisha’s bones raised a dead man in a tomb (2 K:21)
Jesus raised a dead man in a tomb (Jn 11)
FEEDING THE MULTITUDE
Elisha fed a multitude and had left overs (2K 4:42)
Jesus fed a multitude and had left overs (Mk 6:31)
CURSE OF DEATH
Elisha’s curse caused death (2K 2:24)
Jesus’ curse caused death (Mt 21:18)
MAGIC NUMBER
Elijah used 12 stones to rebuild the altar (1K 18:32)
Jesus used 12 disciples to build the Church (Mt 10:1)
FOOT OF THE MASTER
A distraught woman held Elisha’s feet (2K 4:27)
A distraught woman held Jesus’ feet (Lk 7:36)
FINANCIAL WIZARD
Elisha worked a financial miracle (2K 4:1)
Jesus worked a financial miracle (Mt 17: 24)
TRANSFORMER
Elisha transformed a substance — food (2K 4:38) and water (2K 2:19-22)
Jesus transformed a substance — water (Jn 2:6)
FIRE FROM HEAVEN
Elijah called down fire from heaven to kill people (2K 1:10)
Jesus’ disciples asked to call down fire from heaven to kill people (Lk 9:54)
GO IN PEACE
Elisha said “Go in peace” (2 K 5:19)
Jesus said “Go in peace” (Lk 7:50)
DUPLICITOUS UNDERLING
Elisha’s duplicitous servant asked for 3,000 silver coins & suffered dire consequences (2K 5)
Jesus’ duplicitous disciple accepted 30 silver coins & suffered dire consequences (Mt 26:14)
WANTED MAN
The people wanted to kill Elijah (1 K 19:10)
The people wanted to kill Jesus (Mt 27:20)
MY LORD, MY LORD!
As Elijah “died,” Elisha cried out, “My father, my father” (2K:2:12)
As Elisha died, the king cried out “My father, my father” (2K 13:14)
As Jesus died, he cried out, “My God, my God” (Mt 27:46)
TEARING OF CLOTH
Elisha tore his cloak in two upon Elijah’s death (2K 12)
The Temple’s curtain tore in two upon Jesus’ death (Mt 27:51)
HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN
Elijah was visibly taken to heaven (2K 2:11)
Jesus was visibly taken to heaven (Acts 1:9)
NT PASSAGES WITH CITED OT SCRIPTURE SHOWING INDISPUTABLE SOURCE:
ELIJAH AND ELISHA (1K 17:8-24, 2K 5) (Lk 4:23-27)
Jesus cites the miracles performed by Elijah and Elisha
FATE OF CRIMINALS ( ?) (Lk 22:37)
Jesus cites OT scripture about sharing the fate of criminals
GOING TO KILL THEM ALL! (Lk 17:22-30)
Jesus cites the stories of Noah and Sodom and says when the Son of Man is revealed it will be like in the time of Noah when The Flood came and “killed them all” and when fire and sulfur rained on Sodom and “killed them all.”
DAVID’S BREAD (1Samuel 21:1-6) (Mk 2:25-26)
Jesus cites the story of David and his men eating holy bread
KILL THE CURSERS (Ex 21:17) (Mt 15:4)
Jesus notes God’s Law that demands those cursing their parents must be killed.
3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS (Mt 12:40) (Jon 1:17)
Jesus said, just as Jonah spent 3 days and nights in the belly of a fish, he will spend 3 days and nights in the earth
UNBROKEN BONES (Ps 34:20, also Ex 12:46) (Jn 19:34)
The Psalmist’s words that the righteous won’t have any bones broken
is cited and Jesus’ bones aren’t broken
PIERCING (Jn 19:34) (Zec 12:10)
Jesus is pierced by a soldier and Zechariah’s words that people will look upon the pierced is cited
DONKEY DONKEY (Zec 9:9) (Mt 21:1)
Matthew cites Zechariah’s words that a king comes riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey and Jesus mounts both a donkey and a colt
SCATTERED FLOCK (Zec 13:7) (Mt 26:31)
Jesus says his disciples will run away and cites Zechariah’s words that God said kill the shepherd and the sheep will scatter
ESCAPE TO EGYPT (Ho 11) (Mt 2:14)
Jesus is taken to Egypt and Hosea’s words are cited: “out of Egypt I have called my son”
UNROLLING THE SCROLL (Jn 4:16-20)
Jesus quotes OT scripture and says it has come true with his reading
IMMANUEL (Is 7:14) (Mt 1:22)
Isaiah said a young woman will give birth to a son named Immanuel
OT verse is cited / Note: “young woman” is mistranslated as “virgin”
BETHLEHEM (Mic 5:2) (Mt 2:6)
God said he will bring forth a ruler from Bethlehem
OT verse is cited / Jesus is born in Bethlehem
GALILEE (Mt 4:12-17)
OT verse is cited / Jesus goes away to Galilee
NT STORIES WITH LIKELY OT SOURCES
DIVINE BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
An angel told Samson’s mother she’d have a son (Jg 13:2)
An angel told Jesus’ mother she’d have a son (Lk 1:30)
WONDER WOMB
Joseph was a miracle baby (Gn 30:22)
Jesus was a miracle baby (Mt 1:18)
PRAYER OF PRAISE
Hannah praises God after conceiving Samuel by divine intervention (1 Sm 2:1)
Mary praises God after conceiving Jesus by divine intervention (Lk 1:46)
GLORY OF THE LORD
Isaiah writes of the shining “glory of the Lord” (Isaiah 60)
Luke writes of the shining “glory of the Lord” (Lk 2:9)
GOLD, FRANKINCENSE & MYRRH
Solomon received gifts of gold and myrrh (1K 10:10)
Isaiah said kings shall bring gold and frankincense (Is 60:1)
Jesus received gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Mt 2:11)
SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS
A king orders the murder of male children but Moses is saved (Ex 1:9)
A king orders the murder of male children but Jesus is saved (Mt 2:16)
30 CANDLES
Joseph began his public work at age 30 (Gn 41:46)
Jesus began his public work at age 30 (Lk 3:23)
WORDS FROM ON HIGH
Moses spoke to crowds about God from a mountain (Dt 5)
Jesus spoke to crowds about God from a hill (Mt 5)
PROFITABLE BETRAYAL
Judah (& bros) made 20 pieces of silver by betraying Joseph (Gn 37:28)
Judas made 30 pieces of silver by betraying Jesus (Mt 26:15)
PERFECT LAMB
Moses said a flawless lamb must be killed to save people (Ex 12:5)
Jesus is said to be a flawless lamb killed to save people (1 P 1:19)
FLESH-EATING WORMS
Isaiah said worms and fire await the disobedient (Isaiah 66:24)
Jesus said worms and fire await the disobedient (Mk 9:48)
BLIND NO MORE
God heals the blind (Is 35:5)
Jesus heals the blind (Mt 20:34)
BOAT IN A STORM
Asleep on a boat, Jonah is awakened and thrown overboard to calm a storm. (Jon 1)
Asleep on a boat, Jesus is awakened and he calms a storm. (Mk 4:35)
MID-DAY NIGHT
The sky is darkened at noon (Am 8:8)
The sky is darkened at noon (Mt 27:45)
ZOMBIES
The dead climb out of their graves (Ez 37:12)
The dead climb out of their graves (Mt 27:52)
GAMBLING FOR CLOTHES - Stolen Theme 52
“They gamble for my clothes and divide them among themselves” (Ps 22:18)
Men gamble for Jesus’ clothes and divide them among themselves (Mk 15:24)
SCAPEGOAT/LAMB - Stolen Theme 44
A goat carried away all the sins of the people (Lv 16:28)
Jesus carried away all the sins of the people (1 P 2:24)
HYSSOP BRANCH- Stolen Theme 45
A hyssop branch was used to wipe the blood of a slain lamb on doorposts (Ex 12:22)
A hyssop branch was used to lift a wine-soaked sponge to Jesus on the cross (Jn 19:29)
TEMPLE “CLEANSING” - Stolen Theme 38
Zechariah writes of no more traders in the Lord’s house (Zec 14:21)
Jesus drives out traders in the Lord’s house (Mt 21:12)
SHEPHERD - Stolen Theme 26
Joseph was a shepherd (Gn 37:2)
Jesus was a shepherd (Jn 10:11)
(more to come)
IN CONCLUSION
The True Believer may rationalize all of this away but there’s no disputing that there’s nothing unique about Jesus. Further study of comparative religions reveals Christianity stole all of its ideas—from the virgin birth to Jesus’ prophesied thousand year reign upon his return—from older scriptures and “pagan religions.” In fact, Christianity IS a pagan religion. It simply has outlasted most of its competition, aided by two millennia of persecuting them.
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8 comments:
Hi John - FYI one of your recommended websites is gone. WisdomCommons.org.
Christians like to use the longevity of the bible/christianity as proof of its truth. I don't understand the connection. Just because many people fall for it, how does that, in any way, mean that it is true? and the fact that christians were willing to martyr themselves - that was also presented as proof of truth. However, these same people would say that suicide bombers of 9/11 were badly misinformed about religion. But they believed it enough to give their lives. Isn't that proof of its truth?
But I like the point you brought up - that christianity managed to oppress any dissenting voices through many means, often including torture and murder. The bible also explicitly condones child abuse, and the many mysogenist passages in the bible indirectly condone abuse of women. And I know what christians will say - that I have to put these passages in context. Even if that were so, wouldn't a perfect god, writing a perfect book, know that the vague meaning of the words would cause untold suffering?
It's me again! Check out this website:
http://www.evilbible.com/
I would like to hear responses from christians on the allegations against the bible on this site. It condemns the bible for actively condoning murder, rape, infanticide, slavery, and many other repugnant things - and not just once, but over and over. And this does not end with "merciful Jesus" - he comes to fulfill the law, and is responsible for atrocities himself.
Janet, Great site. But I don’t think you’ll get much of a response from Christians. I have come to realize that what the unbeliever sees as unjustified atrocities the believer sees as completely justified, necessary, and holy acts. Afterall, if one can justify hell, everything else is a walk in the park.
If this is true, then there really is no point in attempting to debate the issue. Religious people will hold on to their beliefs regardless of evidence or argument. And I know that christians are encouraged not to fraternize with the enemy; that is, atheists (atheists of "of the world"); and certainly, most christians will not read anything that may shake their faith. The christians on your website seem to be far more courageous than most; at least they enter into the discussion.
:)
<(((><
Though it can be frustrating I don’t think it’s pointless to engage in debate but we have to lower our expectations. I think the unbeliever can learn a lot about themselves, humanity in general, being more empathetic towards people we don’t see eye to eye with on important things. Hopefully, the believer, though likely unswayed by our arguments, will at least come away from such conversations with a little more respect for our position and maybe see us as a little more human and a little less depraved.
That's a good point John - we should not try to "convert" anyone but rather display our humanity.
I know how atheists are demonized in many religious cultures. As you know, I have never come out to my parents, not directly, and told them that I am an atheist. One thing I appreciate so much about this blog, and your christian commenters, is that I can speak my mind. In the "real world", atheists are shut down. My parents are allowed to preach to me, but I cannot reply with honesty and tell them what I believe. They are very old - they might have a heart attack if I told them the truth. It would truly be WORSE than if I told them I was a murderer or child molester. At least then, I could be forgiven by the blood of the lamb. But an atheist! That is the only unforgiveable sin!
Or, on the other hand, if we managed to have a discussion (which is highly unlikely) and I managed to shake their faith, it would be worse because it would mean that most of their life's work was for nothing. Also, they have lost loved ones and are so looking forward to seeing them in heaven! And lastly they would "freak out" thinking that I will burn in hell. Then they'll really step up the preaching trying to save my keister from hellfire. Just last night, my dad was telling me how he thinks of me when he does nightly devotions with mom; how I would "enjoy" the devotional reading. It makes me feel sick to my stomach because it's all christian propoganda, but I have to make nice and not say anything to break their heart. It's quite awful. I just do not want to hurt them. But how long can I go on essentially lying about my beliefs? (this is a rhetorical question - I'm thinking aloud like I tend to do on your site).
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