He made attacks on Christianity claiming that Christianity is a threat to Rome because Christianity came out of … As a Neo-Platonic philosopher, Celsus believed God, the Logos, to be ineffable and the Source of all things. Lucian was not an expert on Christianity 3. Wagenseil, 19) repeats the Jewish fiction that the body of Jesus had been stolen from the sepulchre. Celsus Arguments Against Christianity Essay 1677 Words | 7 Pages. which Egyptians pride themselves on possessing. Craig A. Evans (London: Routledge, 2008). Here is the first of the two relevant quotes: "As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instiga p. 65. google_ad_width = 728; However, a good God would not have created an evil which would “threaten to destroy his own offspring.”, Christ, alleges Celsus, claimed to have been born of virgin birth. Send-to-Kindle or Email . Year: 1987. In addition the Talmud records an individual named Jesus ben Pandera or Pandira. On the contrary to what the Christian religion believes Celsus Pages: 158. Origen. p. 2165. Although Christ might well have taught such a thing at some point during his ministry (we just don’t know), one only learns of his unique birth from the gospels of Matthew and Luke written roughly forty years after his ministry. Celsus on Jesus. . His Although his works, which he wrote between the years 175 and 180, have been lost to history we are fortunate to have him quoted carefully and extensively in the writings of the third-century theologian Origen of Alexandria. Celsus adds, that "The Christians stupidly introduce nothing more venerable than the goats and dogs of the Egyptians in their narrations respecting Jesus. It seems that Celsus derived his knowledge of the Christian religion from talking to Christians and from reading some of their materials, such as the gospels of Matthew and Luke, and perhaps a letter of the Apostle Paul. In fact, it is implausible to even suggest God could come down among men. ( Log Out /  Celsus was a Greek philosopher of the second century CE remembered for his polemics and critiques of the Christian religion and its founder, Jesus Christ. Handbook for the Study of the Historical Jesus. Celsus (Greek: Κέλσος) was a 2nd-century Roman philosopher, writing in Greek, and an opponent of early Christianity. Close. Netherlands: BRILL. The following quotes are taken from Celsus On the True Doctrine, translated by R. Joseph Hoffman, Oxford University Press, 1987: Myther's argue that Celsus is unclear about thinking that Jesus lived, he may just be repeating Christian legeond. Because there was no room at an Inn Jesus was born in a stable. Origen, Contra Celsum 1.28 Translation, quoted from Mead. If we take his writings at face value, his insights into Christianity could be bunk considering that he was not well versed in their teachings. Jesus… Bishop's Encyclopedia of Religion, Society and Philosophy, Follow Bishop's Encyclopedia of Religion, Society and Philosophy on WordPress.com. Although his works, which he wrote between the years 175 and 180, have been lost to history we are fortunate to have him quoted carefully and extensively in the writings of the third-century theologian Origen of Alexandria. Van Voorst, Robert., Evans, Craig A., and Chilton, Bruce. Celsus' writings no longer survive in tact, but we have access to some of his work when Origen quotes passages for the purpose of refutation. Celsus appealed to his Christian contemporaries to abandon their separatism and work to bring all men into the ideal of “one religion.” If Christians would only integrate their beliefs into the state-sanctioned religion of polytheism, they could live in peace. I would have liked to read a book on his work that felt more organized. Celsus lived in during the 2nd century, CE. He was a Greek philosopher and tried to use argument in the logical sense to show the Christians how depraved and faulty their thinking was. Pantera was a common name among Roman soldiers of the period, although most commentators think that some Jews used this name because of its similarity to the term parthenos (“virgin”) (13). Celsus’s Value as a Witness to Christianity and the Historical Jesus. CELSUS (178ECE) Wrote"On the True Doctrine, known primarily from the polemical book, "Contra Celsum," written br Origen of Alexandria in response the Celsus's questions. ascribed to Jesus a knowledge of future events . The author tells us that Jesus taught "a few years ago:" "Jesus is the leader of their generation, in so far as they are Christians, and a few years ago he began to teach this doctrine, being regarded by Christians as the son of God." A Greek philosopher named Celsus living around the second century of the Christian era recorded a notable rumor. Language: english. Featuring the Church Fathers, Catholic Encyclopedia, Summa Theologica and more. Music: Interested in learning music theory? N'hésitez pas a visiter https://www.facebook.com/senecalmusique/pour écouter des chansons d'André Senécal et le compte youtube pour d'autres vidéos. This savior, I shall attempt to show, deceived many and caused them to accept a form of belief harmful to the well-being of mankind. Please login to your account first; Need help? He is also much too late as a writer to be viewed as a reliable writer on the historical Jesus. Celsus had written a critique of Christianity called The True Word, ... but by such foolishness as depended on preaching. Celsus lived in during the 2nd century, CE. He's also criticized for writting after the time of Christ by over 100 years (late second century). Contra Celsum, edited and translated by Henry Chadwick. This was the … The 2nd-century pagan philosopher Celsus is less dogmatic in his attacks on Christianity: the Christian miracles are insufficiently attested and most improbable, but, even if they were genuine, they could hardly offset the miracles of the pagan world—e.g., the healings of Asclepius. google_ad_height = 90; Ibid. Nevertheless, Celsus’s main attack on Christianity is philosophical, not historical. Celsus’s fullest statement about Jesus comes at 1.28 where Origen summarizes Celsus’s attack on Jesus. “Nevertheless, it is evident that Celsus is a rich source for pagan and Jewish polemic agains Christianity, and to a lesser degree, its Christ. Celsus adds, that "The Christians stupidly introduce nothing more venerable than the goats and dogs of the Egyptians in their narrations respecting Jesus. Celsus makes a number of striking claims that are historically disputable. Aspirations to teach Religion Studies, World Religion, Philosophy of Religion. CELSUS 4 arguments against Christianity Misty Fleming Paper 1 The first of 4 arguments I believe to be of importance is that of the virgin birth. Further, no credible and early historical sources support Celsus’ contention that Christ was conceived due to an affair between his mother and the Roman soldier Pantera. As for his followers, Christ had ten or twelve “infamous publicans and fishermen” whom he taught the worse of habits, such as begging and robbing (4). Not only was Christ ugly and small, states Celsus, but he also did not fulfill the Messianic expectations of the Hebrew people (3). He returned home "Jesus had come from a village in Judea, and was the son of a poor Jewess who gained her living by the work of her own hands. It was said that Jesus was born to a virgin and God himself. 2000. Celsus points out that Jesus was a Jew: "The Jews, like other separate nationalities, have established laws according to their national genius, and preserve a form of worship which has at least the merit of being ancestral and national, - for each nation has its own institutions, whatever they may chance to be. 3, § 1). 18. Celsus had written a critique of Christianity called The True Word, ... but by such foolishness as depended on preaching. James obtained his BTh with cum laude, and is currently pursuing his postgraduate in Religious Studies. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. In fact, the resurrection has its origin in a hysterical female as well as in the wishful thinking of Christ’s followers (8). "What is said by a few who are considered as Christians, concerning the doctrine of Jesus and the precepts of Christianity, is not designed for the wiser, but for the more unlearned and ignorant part of mankind. Celsus likely knew the story of Christ’s death and resurrection from Matthew’s gospel. 2.6m members in the atheism community. to go to Egypt. Since Jesus' conception occurred roughly around 6 BCE, he was in the right region at the right time, though that doesn't prove anything. Jesus claims to be born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem. This article looks at some of the criticisms the ancient Greek writer Celsus posited against Christianity and Jesus Christ. Origen's work has survived and thereby preserved Celsus' w… Lucian by no means was an expert on Christianity. Celsus' books, along with those of Porphry and others, were condemned by order of Valentinian III and Theodosious in 448CE. Welcome to r/atheism, the web's largest atheist forum. Indeed, among pagan authors Celsus is unique in relaying both Jewish and Greco-Roman objections to Christianity… Polemical and tendencious, his treatment of Christ is of little value in our knowledge of the historical Jesus” (19). 2. CELSUS (178ECE) Wrote"On the True Doctrine, known primarily from the polemical book, "Contra Celsum," written br Origen of Alexandria in response the Celsus's questions. Celse, philosophe romain du II e siècle écrivant en langue grecque, est l’auteur d’un ouvrage analytique et articulé, Discours véritable (en grec ancien : Λόγος Ἀληθής), rédigé vers 178.Il s’agissait d’un ouvrage dans lequel il attaquait le christianisme naissant par les armes du raisonnement et du ridicule. Christ’s ministry dates to the first half of the first century CE, over 150 years before Celsus’ time of writing, more or less. . 2000. 4. Celsus revealed himself to be a member of the upper class when he makes his statements regarding Jesus; who obviously could not be the son of god as he was born a peasant. Scholars Tom Holmén and Stanley E. Porter explain that “Sometime around 175 CE, the Neo-Platonist thinker Celsus wrote a comprehensive attack on Christianity entitled True Doctrine. It was said that Jesus was born to a virgin and God himself. For example, to the best of our knowledge, the historical Jesus did not himself teach that he was born of a virgin, despite this becoming an orthodox Christian belief. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. James Bishop is from South Africa. Preview. Celsus was the author of a work titled On The True Doctrine (Logos Alēthēs). Celsus points out that Jesus was a Jew: "The Jews, like other separate nationalities, have established laws according to their national genius, and preserve a form of worship which has at least the merit of being ancestral and national, - for each nation has its own institutions, whatever they may chance to be. De medicina, now considered one of the finest medical classics, was largely ignored by contemporaries. soldier named Panthéra (i.32)]. Tijsseling, E. (2020). p. 67-68. /* 728x90, created 12/15/10 */ The True Word stated that Mary would have been unworthy to be noticed by God "because she … Celsus uses more elements from the life of Jesus against the Christians here. Celsus refers to both the miracles and some of the (misconstrued) background of Jesus in a very real, albeit negative, way. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Van Voorst, Robert., Evans, Craig A., and Chilton, Bruce. Pliny the Younger : Lucian : Celsus : Alexamenos : Gaianus : Pliny the Younger. His more detailed information about Jesus, which by virtue of his knowledge of Christian writings should be fairly accurate, is distorted by his sharp polemic, a part of which is lampooning” (18). How can he repent when they become ungrateful or wicked? Around the year 240 CE, a copy of Celsus’s work found its way to Origen who was requested to write a refutation of it. The 2nd-century Greek philosopher Celsus, while arguing against Christianity, also accepted that Jesus existed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Publisher: Oxford University Press. This is the challenge over the compatibility of a good and just God and evil, “But if these [Eden, Adam and Eve] are Truly creator’s works, can it be that god should make what is evil? Any thoughts? Celsus’s value does lie, however, in him informing historians of Christian belief, in particular the belief in the virgin birth of Christ within the second century. ( Log Out /  Aulus Cornelius Celsus, (flourished 1st century ad, Rome), one of the greatest Roman medical writers, author of an encyclopaedia dealing with agriculture, military art, rhetoric, philosophy, law, and medicine, of which only the medical portion has survived. Since the time in which he is said to have lived, a number of noted individuals have criticised Jesus. ( Log Out /  Change ). Further, Celsus provides historians with valuable information on Jewish responses to Christianity in the second century given his extensive use of Jewish polemic reflected in his criticisms. Celsus then posits a challenge that many thinkers throughout history have made against the Christian concept of God and that still remains a topic of lively debate today. Posted by 9 years ago. De medicina, now considered one of the finest medical classics, was largely ignored by contemporaries. Jesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence. Jesus and the Christian Doctrine Jesus' life as told by its followers is for Celsus `monstrous fiction'. His assertion of divine dignity is disproved by his poverty and his miserable end. He thinks that most of Jesus's best points were already said by Plato and Jesus … “[T]he value of Celsus’s comments about the historical Jesus is limited. p. 12. Jesus, on account of his poverty, was hired out Because we do not have the exact wording of True Doctrine and cannot be sure that Origen has given us the order of Celsus’s book, conclusions must be tentative. Celsus's late second century "On the True Doctrine: A Discourse Against the Christians," is one of the most remarkable and thorough-going arguments ever written against the core beliefs and practices of Christianity, ancient or modern. Van Voorst, Robert., Evans, Craig A., and Chilton, Bruce. Although very few scholars have ever supported this idea, most would say that Celsus’s testimony, along with some other later polemical Jewish sources making the same claim (such as the Talmud), is insufficient to support this idea, especially when compared to earlier sources claiming otherwise. Celsus' books, along with those of Porphry and others, were condemned by order of Valentinian III and Theodosious in 448CE. Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars, 25.4. "What is said by a few who are considered as Christians, concerning the doctrine of Jesus and the precepts of Christianity, is not designed for the wiser, but for the more unlearned and ignorant part of mankind. The book was suppressed by the growing Christian community, and banned in 448 AD by order of Valentinian III and Theodosius II, along with Porphyry's 15 books attacking the Christians, The Philosophy from Oracles, so no complete copies are extant, but it can be reconstructed from Origen's detailed account of it in his 8 volume refutation, which quotes Celsus extensively. Borrowing and Misunderstanding Greek Philosophy. mother had been turned out of doors by her husband, who was a His logic is that if there is evil in the world, and the world is itself God’s creation, then God must have created evil. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing. 5 quotes from Celsus: 'First, however, I must deal with the matter of Jesus, the so-called savior, who not long ago taught new doctrines and was thought to be a son of God. ( Log Out /  Celsus’s value as testimony is limited because of his strong anti-Christian agenda, which suggests him not to have been particularly impartial when authoring his material. Celsus rejected the doctrine of Christ’s divinity, which he knew to be a central belief to the Christian religion. highly elated at possessing these powers, and on the strength of (Celsus, On True Doctrine.) Jesus claims to be born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem. When his mother's deceit was discovered that she was pregnant by a Roman soldier, she was driven away by her husband and convinced of adultery. 2000. Celsus might have heard this from the Jews; he makes his Jew say that he could tell more about Jesus if he chose. but also testified that the result corresponded to His predictions.” (Origen Against Celsus, Book 2, Chapter 14) “And with regard to the eclipse in the time of Tiberius Caesar, in whose reign Jesus low Jesus, but in Celsus’ view, Jesus was an ignorant charlatan who led those more ignorant than himself into an immoral way of living.4 As one can imagine, Origen was not at all happy with Celsus’ view of Jesus or with his view of the Christian life. Celsus claims that many of the ideas Christians have are expressed better and earlier by the Greeks who were “modest enough to refrain from saying that their ideas came from a god or a son of god” (14). The human soul is also divine in origin but imprisoned in the body because of some primordial sin. google_ad_client = "pub-3104410065622460"; But when Celsus has introduced the Jew as disputing with Jesus and pouring ridicule on the pretence, as he thinks, of his birth from a virgin, and as quoting the Greek myths about Danae and Melanippe and Auge and Antiope, I have to reply that these words would be appropriate to a vulgar buffoon and not to a man who takes his professed task seriously. If they refuse to render due service to the gods, and to respect those who are set over this service, let them not come to manhood, or marry wives, or have children, or indeed take any share in the affairs of life; but let them depart hence with all speed, and leave no posterity behind them, that such a race may become extinct from the face of the … 3. He calls this a fabrication and alleges Christ to have “invented his birth from a virgin,”. This is why Celsus ridicules Christians for their use of blind faith instead of reason: “For just as among them scoundrels frequently take advantage of the lack of education of gullible people and lead them wherever they wish, so also this happens among the Christians… some do not even want to give or to receive a reason for what they believe” (9). his life in disgrace.”40 Never mind the fact that Jesus prophesied his own death,41 as did Joseph Smith.42 This only makes matters worse, in fact, because Christ “had told his robber band beforehand that he would come to no good end and wind up a dead man.”43 Jesus is there-fore, according to Celsus, “a man who managed to get carpenter by trade, on being convicted of adultery [with a p. 68. I would have liked to read a book on his work that felt more organized. Yet, he has no suspicion of the distinction between the universally accepted teachings of the "great Church" of the Christians and the doctrines peculiar to Ophites, Marcionites , and other heretical sects . Since Jewish sources would not have been readily available to Celsus it seems reasonable to assume that this information had been floating around for some time, and easier to obtain. Where is he to banish them, out of the world that he himself has made?” (10), Celsus’s charge touches on the so-called problem of evil. Being thus driven away by Celsus agreed with the Jews in the chief points of their controversy with Christians, denying the divinity of Jesus, declaring all the marvelous stories about him to be fables similar to those of Greek mythology, and saying that the Jews were right in refusing to accept Jesus, especially as he was betrayed even by his own disciples, and left helpless into the hands of his enemies. His mother had been turned out of doors by her husband, who was a carpenter by trade, on being convicted of adultery [with a soldier named Panthéra (i.32)]. Categories: Religion. Ibid. Origen attempted to answer Celsus’s charges in his work Against Celsus. Such is not the company that befits a god, argues Celsus. 1980. He was a Greek philosopher and tried to use argument in the logical sense to show the Christians how depraved and faulty their thinking was. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Burn a pinch of incense in honor of the cult of Emperor worship and be done with persecution. The Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the body is borrowed and is little more than the Greek idea of the transmigration of the soul (16). He also appealed to Christians to adopt paganism instead of Christianity. Christ Divinity, Miracles, and Resurrection. Celsus wrote his work True Discourse (or, True Reason) as a polemic against the Christians in approximately 178 CE. Celsus on the True Doctrine: A Discourse Against the Christians: Celsus: Amazon.com.au: Books He is a graduate in Creative Brand Communication and Marketing (CBC), and in Theology (majoring in psychology). Here he writes that Jesus performed his miracles through sorcery: O … Pliny the Younger, Letters, 10.96. Origen, however, rightly explains this phrase as a rhetorical device (ii. Belief in the virgin birth was evidently well-known in the second century and was for some, like Celsus, an item of ridicule.