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Freethought & Rationalism ArchiveThe archives are read only. |
12-13-2005, 06:25 AM
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#1 |
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Regular Member
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Location: Romania
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Christians - early mentions of the word
I wonder about the earliest true mentions of the word "Christian".
I say that because I find insufficient the only three mentions of the word in the New Testament in two books (Acts and an Epistle). Tacitus' passage seems to be an addition (at least I found some arguments for it). That leaves what? Justin Martyr? Is the passage from Suetonius reliable? I read somewhere about a controversy on it. |
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12-13-2005, 01:24 PM
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#2 |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Birmingham UK
Posts: 4,876
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Pliny c 111 CE refers to Christians in his correspondence with the Emperor Trajan. This is earlier than the references in Suetonius and Tacitus and is generally accepted as authentic.
(The TF in Josephus mentions Christians and IF this is authentic it would be one of the earliest mentions, certainly the oldest mention in a surviving non-Christian work.) Andrew Criddle |
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