Toto

What is Eusebius' motive here?

Most scholars do date most of the apocrypha to the second or third centuries.

mountainman

Dear Toto,

Consistent with the forgery into Josephus known as the TF. Eusebius sought priority dates in the patristic literature by inserting references to christianity. The books of Lucian had been around the empire for centuries. Eusebius can now pick up a book by this author demonstrating a mention of christians. Eusebius IMO did the same thing with Julius Africanus, Origen and Porphyry.


Simple forgery.


Yes, I am aware of this. Most scholars do date - correctly or incorrectly - most of the apocrypha to the second or third centuries. The basis of the chronology is the Eusebian literature sponsored by Constantine. We have no other monumental, epigraphic or other archaeological evidence to support Eusebius. IMO we are dealing with a fourth century christian origins. The only two available carbon dting citations relating to the new testament corpus and thus christian origins are in fact citations to the new testament apochryphal literature, and are dated 290 CE and 348 CE (plus or minus 60 years). This C14 chronology is not inconsistent with my thesis.

And one additional point here is that the chronology of the Acts of Philip is not second or third centuries but fourth century, and perhaps quite late in the fourth century.


Best wishes,


Pete