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Dharma · 03-24-2005, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fortuna

By "Roman scripture" I assume that you refer to the NT. While it is true that later scripture in the Roman Christian church was latin, the early(pre-4th century CE) papyri and codexes are in fact written in greek. (except that one of the codexes is syriac, I believe, and a few other papyri).

In fact ,the majority of the early NT is in greek. Take for example ,the earliest fragment known, P52. Here is a pic of it. Notice that it is greek.

Now, that is not to necessarily say that they weren't Roman in origin. It is believed that many educated Romans seem to have been bilingual latin/greek. (and that may only be for reading and writing, of that I'm not certain)
If you have ever visited Pompeii, Herculaneum, or the Catacombs of Rome, you will notice that you see both greek and latin inscriptions.

According to tradition, and history, it was Jerome who translated the entire Hebrew scriptures and NT into latin, not that some parts weren't previously translated before then.

Point being, the majority of earliest papyri and codexes of the NT that we have are written in greek, not latin.

by Roman scripture I mean which ever language is used in Roman Catholic rituals and ceremonies...I thought it was Latin...but you bring an interesting point, Christ or Christos (latin Christi) is actually Greek for "annointed one"...and it is in "THE NAME OF CHRIST" not the name of "messiach"(hebrew) that all prayers are rendered. This would basically mean that for all intents and purposes Christianity is about the name of Christ -- not the name of Jewish Gods...

we must remember that the myth of Christ is more European :

1) virgin birth...i.e. Christ is NOT descended from Abraham, since he does not have a paternal lineage from the Jewish one.

2) Christmas (December 25) has no equivalent in Jewish religion but has equivalence in European religion.

3) Easter is named after a pre-Christian Goddess with the same name and Jewish religion doesn't have an equivalent holiday on that date.

4) cross is held sacred...cross, swastika are all held sacred in Christian and pre-Christian religions but NOT Judaism.

5) the name of God is "Christ" not "Yah" or "Elohim"...again giving away Greek-Roman religion.

6) Goddess worship, not popular in Judaism, but takes the form of the Rosary and worshipping Mary the mother of God...

7) Sunday worship...again a holiday for pre-Christian Europe NOT Jews.

Perhaps Jesus himself was a Romanized Jew or adopted Jew of unknown ancestry which is why Jews rejected him since he was thought of as some kind of traitor or Roman stooge of unknown lineage (thought of as a bastard)...but was a high spiritual attainer who combined Judaic practice and other non-Judaic religions practiced at the time and was given the Greek spiritual title of the "Christ" or "Christos".

Christianity became more Jewish after the protestant reformation and the belief that Jesus was Jewish by lineage...

Fortuna · 03-24-2005, 12:40 PM

Dharma,

Thanks. My issue was clarification of what you referred to by the term "Roman Scripture".

You have also clarified what you meant by "European" in the same context.
I tend to think of those things you spoke of as "Roman" or "Greco-Roman" rather than European.(when I think of "European", I also think of the Norse Mythology, Gothic/Germanic, Britian myth, Gaulish myth, Saxon, etc). I might suggest that "Greco-Roman" might in this context be more accurate for some of the things you listed.

I have no doubt that those things you mention are of "Greco-Roman" or "European" (in your terminology) origin.

Just need to understand your use of the terminology. Thanks for the clarification.

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03-24-2005, 12:40 PM	#12
Fortuna Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 293	Dharma, Thanks. My issue was clarification of what you referred to by the term "Roman Scripture". You have also clarified what you meant by "European" in the same context. I tend to think of those things you spoke of as "Roman" or "Greco-Roman" rather than European.(when I think of "European", I also think of the Norse Mythology, Gothic/Germanic, Britian myth, Gaulish myth, Saxon, etc). I might suggest that "Greco-Roman" might in this context be more accurate for some of the things you listed. I have no doubt that those things you mention are of "Greco-Roman" or "European" (in your terminology) origin. Just need to understand your use of the terminology. Thanks for the clarification.

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