Ben Masada    [18759.   Posted 29-Nov-2008 Sat 14:57] View Near Messages
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+++ WERE THERE TWO DIFFERENT JESUSES? +++
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When Luke wrote the book of Acts to Theophilus, he guaranteed him that he had dealt with ALL that Jesus did and taught until the end of his life on
earth. (Acts 1:1,2) If Luke is someone worthy believing, there must be something wrong with Matthew.

1. I am not talking about the huge difference in the genealogy of Jesus. (Mat. 1:1-17)

2. I am not talking about the anxiety of Mary to explain her pregnancy without having yet slept with Joseph. (Mat. 1:18-25)

3. I am not talking about the Astrologers from the East who came to worship the new-born king of the Jews. (Mat. 2:1,2)

4. I am not talking about the star that stood still over the place where the child was. (Mat. 2:9-11)

5. I am not talking about the flight with the child to Egypt. (Mat. 2:13-15)

6. I am not talking about the slaughtering of the innocent under the age of two with the Herodian intent to catch Jesus. (Mat. 2:16-18)

7. I am not talking about a lot of other things that Luke ignored in his accurate account of EVERYTHING about Jesus to Theophilus.

Here`s what I am talking about: While the Jesus of Matthew was still in Egypt, waiting for Herod to die, the Jesus of Luke was born, circumcised after eight days, presented in the Temple on the 33rd day, and immediately after these requirements of the Law, the family headed back to Nazareth. (Luke 2:21,22,39)

In the meantime, the Jesus of Matthew was still trapped in Egypt, waiting for the word of the "angel" with the news that Herod had finally died. Perhaps in order to spare the embarrassment, the age of this Jesus is omitted.

Therefore, how many Jesuses were there? If there was but one, either gospel writer is lying or neither ever met each other. But then again, how about the spirit that inspired the revelation? I think Christianity will better off if we don`t remove that stone. The smell will be too strong.

Ben

Ben Masada    [18758.   Posted 27-Nov-2008 Thu 07:18] View Near Messages
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+++ THE METAMORPHOSE OF APOLLOS +++
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The text is in Acts 18:24-28.

The Sect of the Nazarenes was blooming in Alexandria. Apollos, a Nazarene
Jew from Alexandria had decided to go on a trip North to Ephesus. Being
well-known as a charismatic and eloquent Teacher in the Scriptures, he was
invited to deliver the Shabbat sermon in the local Nazarene Synagogue. The
text says that he would speak about Jesus with accuracy. (Acts 18:25)

It happens that on that same day, a couple of former Jews called Aquila and Priscilla were attending services at the same Synagogue. The couple had recently arrived from Italy because of a decree signed by Claudius Caesar, that would expell all Jews from Rome. (Acts 18:2) Their trade was
Tentmaking. Since Paul was also a Tentmaker, they somehow met, got together, and Paul succeeded to convert them. (Acts 18:1-3)

So, back to the Nazarene Synagogue of Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla realized that there was something wrong with Apollos` sermon. He would not
mention even once that Jesus was the Messiah, son of God, and that he had
resurrected. After the services, they invited Apollos to their home, converted him to the Pauline way they believed about Jesus, and the Apollos who returned was no longer the same who had left. He would now preach that Jesus was the Messiah. (Acts 18:28) He was still charismatic and eloquent, but the previous accuracy about Jesus was no longer the same. Apollos had completely metamorphosed.

The point here for discussion is: If Apollos was an expert in the Scriptures, and a member of the Sect of the Nazarenes, how come he had to
know from Christians all those things about Jesus? The obvious conclusion
is that the whole thing had been fabricated by Paul about 30 years after
Jesus` death.

Now, please, kindly share with me your comments.

Ben

Ben Masada    [18757.   Posted 26-Nov-2008 Wed 18:49] View Near Messages
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+++ THE PAULINE PARADOX +++
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When Paul started preaching about Jesus as the Messiah and son of God, he
never realized that he had created a huge paradox.

You see, for Jesus to be the Messiah, he had to be a biological son of Joseph`s, who was the one from the Tribe of Judah. Mary was from the Tribe
of Levi. She was of the family of Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, the
Levite. (Luke 1:5,36)

Since Jesus is also claimed to be son of God, he could not have been the
Messiah, because God is not subject to human genealogies.

On the other hand, if Christians decide to grab the chance of at least make of Jesus the Messiah by agreeing that he was Joseph`s biological son,
he could not be son of God; and here the situation gets worse, because even the doctrine of the Trinity will collapse.

That`s indeed a paradox that can be conceived only by faith, which requires no explanation. But then again, where faith begins, knowledge ends; and for lack of knowledge people perish. (Hosea 4:6)

Now, if there is anyone out there with enough wisdom to unriddle this Pauline paradox, I`ll be happy to take off my hat to him or her. In the meantime, the Sphinx rests among the Egyptian pyramids while waiting for the passers-by. Good luck!

Ben