Featured Jesus died on cross in 33 AD, first book of the New Testament was Galatians written as early as 48 AD.

[Multicolored Lemur]

Epistle to the Galatians - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

“ . . the most plausible date for the writing of Galatians is 48 AD. . ”

— — —

So, 15 years between the event and the first surviving writing.

Or, a little longer. Some scholars argue that 30 AD is a better date for Jesus’ crucifixion than is the more traditional date of 33 AD.

But even at date of 15 years, I mean if we go from 33 AD to 48, that’s still a problem. At least it for me. I think it's plenty of time for urban legend, or rural legend, to grow and develop.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Epistle to the Galatians - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Surviving early complete and partial manuscripts include:

• Papyrus 46 (~AD 200)
• Codex Vaticanus (325-350)
• Codex Sinaiticus (330-360)

— — —

Now, this is a problem. Maybe we have even smaller and less complete papyrus pieces earlier than 200 AD. But this is an issue.

 

[Scooter]

I mean if we go from 33 AD to 48, that’s still a problem. At least it for me.

Why? Why is that a problem for you? The followers of Jesus expected Him to return during their lifetime. Notice how Paul thought he would be alive: 1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

Personally, I believe it was only when it became clear that Jesus might not return while they were alive that the writers of the Gospels and Acts put pen the paper. Now, the Pauline Epistles were written to encourage and correct members of the various churches. They were not written to record history. Also remember that 2000 years ago most people were illiterate, so written accounts were less valuable than oral accounts.

Let me ask you this, do you also have a problem with other writings from antiquity? For instance, while there are over 6000 manuscripts or fragments of manuscripts of the New Testament which, as you pointed out date from within 60 years or so, the earliest copy we have from Julius Caesar's "The Galic Wars" is 800-900 years after the original. And there are only around 250 copies. Here's a link that shows several other manuscripts and how few exist today and how distant they are from the originals: https://www.equip.org/articles/the-bibliographical-test-updated/

So, if you have problems with the Biblical manuscript evidence, you must have some major issues with other ancient writings. Why haven't you started a thread about the pitiful evidence for The Galic Wars?

 

[Scooter]

Here's another link that shows the superiority of Biblical manuscript evidence when compared to other ancient writings: https://truthfaithandreason.com/cas...the-bible-compare-to-other-ancient-documents/

I am waiting with bated breath for the new thread that casts doubt on these fraudulent writings from antiquity...

 

[Scooter]

Here's another topic for a thread...Socrates is known as an early philosopher, but we do not possess anything that he wrote. All we know about Socrates comes from his student Plato. Just as Jesus left no written record, what we know about Socrates was written by his followers. There is far less evidence for Socrates than for Jesus Christ. Why aren't people jumping up and down screaming that Socrates never lived, never gave us any philosophy? Why aren't people demanding physical evidence that Socrates lived?

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

while there are over 6000 manuscripts or fragments of manuscripts of the New Testament which,

But how many of these are at all close to the events? For example,

• Papyrus 46 (~AD 200)

That's a lot of living and generations from events which occurred around 30 AD.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

I am waiting with bated breath for the new thread that casts doubt on these fraudulent writings from antiquity...

Because with rare exceptions, people do not base their life on Julius Caesar or on the philosopher Socrates.

And there's no local church teaching a sub-set of Socrates's teachings and convincing people they aren't doing it right, they just aren't good enough, that they're not trying “hard enough” when the truth of the matter is that they're trying too hard and making too big a deal out of it.

And similar.

People have a lot of negative experiences with organized religion. and that's the fact of the matter.

 

[Scooter]

I am waiting with bated breath for the new thread that casts doubt on these fraudulent writings from antiquity...

Because with rare exceptions, people do not base their life on Julius Caesar or on the philosopher Socrates.

And there's no local church teaching a sub-set of Socrates's teachings and convincing people they aren't doing it right, they just aren't good enough, that they're not trying “hard enough” when the truth of the matter is that they're trying too hard and making too big a deal out of it.

And similar.

People have a lot of negative experiences with organized religion. and that's the fact of the matter.

But you’re not involved in a church anymore. You are a nonbeliever who has rejected Christianity. You do not base your life on Julius Caesar, Socrates or Jesus Christ. Yet you continue to challenge the Bible and the Christian faith. Why do you have a problem with ancient Biblical manuscripts but not with other ancient manuscripts? According to you, the Bible no longer influences your life any more than The Galic Wars does. But I don’t t see you challenging this.

Sure people have had a negative experience with organized religion. I’ve had negative experiences at Walmart, but I still shop there. I’ve had negative experience with auto mechanics but I still take my truck to a mechanic when it needs to be fixed. I’ve had negative experiences at church myself. But I don’t let negative experiences affect my relationship with Christ. We all have negative experiences but we put those in the past and move forward. Dwelling on the negative drags us down. I choose to live free from the negativity of life and focus on the positives of Salvation in Christ.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

You are a nonbeliever who has rejected Christianity.

It was a long time ago. But I think I was happy to have escaped.

 

[Scooter]

You are a nonbeliever who has rejected Christianity.

It was a long time ago. But I think I was happy to have escaped.

You "think" you were happy? Hmmm...I know I am happy to be a child of God.