Freethought & Rationalism Archive

aa5874 · 01-04-2008, 10:36 AM

In going through "Church History" by Eusebius, I have come across certain passages that seem to contradict gMatthew's account of Pilate's knowledge of the events after the death and burial of Jesus.

The author of gMatthew claimed Pilate sent soldiers to guard the tomb where Jesus was buried, with the advice of the chief priests and others. Sometime later, the next day, after guarding the tomb, the soldiers returned to the chief priests and apparently told them that the body of Jesus was no longer at the tomb, it had disappeared.

Now, at the time the soldiers were making their report of the missing body, according to gMatthew, Pilate, the governor, only knew that Jesus was dead and his tomb was under guard by soldiers. Pilate never knew that the body of Jesus had vanished.

After the soldiers gave their report, the chief priest bribed them to say the disciples did come and steal the body of Jesus and would talk to Pilate if he ever learnt of the disappearance or robbery.

According to author, it was commonly reported among the Jews, that the body of Jesus was stolen by his disciples up to the time the author wrote about the event, decades later, maybe around or after 70 CE.

So, in summary, based of gMatthew, Pilate had no idea that Jesus was resurrected, only that his body was stolen.

But Eusebius, in Church History, totally contradicted gMatthew.

Eusebius claimed Pilate knew or heard and believed that Jesus was actually resurrected and was believed to be a God, and reported the matter to Tiberius who himself went to the Senate of Rome to officially declare the resurrection of Jesus.

Church History 2.2

Quote:

1. "And when the wonderful resurrection and ascension of our Saviour was already noised abroad, in accordance with an ancient custom which prevailed among the rulers of the provinces, of reporting to the emperor the novel occurrences which took place in them, in order that nothing might escape him, Pontius Pilate informed Tiberius of the reports which were noised abroad through all Palestine concerning the resurrection of our Saviour Jesus from the dead.

2. He gave an account also of other wonders which he had learned of him, and how after his death, after having risen from the dead, he was now believed by many to be a God. They say that Tiberius referred the matter to the Senate, but they had rejected it......."

The Jews, according to gMatthew, written at around 70CE or later, commonly reported that Jesus' body was stolen, and was crucified as a blasphemer, during the governorship of Pilate, yet Eusebius, in contradiction, writing in the 4th century, claimed Pilate knew Jesus was believed to be a God and was resurrected.

From where did Eusebius get this "history" of Pilate?

Toto · 01-04-2008, 12:18 PM

Mod advisory: Please stick to the subject and avoid these personal asides. (Are people still in holiday mode or what?)

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01-04-2008, 12:18 PM	#2
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Mod advisory: Please stick to the subject and avoid these personal asides. (Are people still in holiday mode or what?) offending posts split to E

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