the gospels are inconsistent and contradictory, or that Paul’s writings–letters mainly–predate the gospels and yet make no mention of many of the more striking episodes that make up Jesus’ life. For example, Paul never refers to the virgin birth, never calls Jesus ‘of Nazareth’, does not refer to his trial, nor does he specify that the crucifixion took place in Jerusalem (though he implies it occurred in Judaea, in 1 Thessalonians 2:14/15). He never uses the title ‘Son of Man’ and mentions no miracles Jesus is supposed to have performed. So there is, at the least, widespread scepticism about
...more
