Steven Carr

Did the Magi exist?

Is there any evidence that these people existed?

Would Christians have invented people who did not exist in reality?

Layman

Other than the Gospel of Matthew you mean?

Are you suggesting that when the early Christians discussed people, that we should employ a methodology of suspicion and conclude that because they mentioned a person that sucha person was a fabrication?

Did they invent Paul? Peter? James? Herod? Pilate? John the Baptist? Priscilla and Acquilla? Barnabas? Apollos? Timothy? Caesar?

I can see why a historian would conclude that the Magi are unsupported by other evidnce. But it'd be silly for them to conclude that the rest of these people are mere inventions.

It seems that what you are saying is that when a Christian refers to someone who is unsupported by other evidence and who is part of a fantastic story unlikely on its face, we should conclude invention.

Gregg

No, we shouldn't "conclude" invention. But we should consider it a strong possibility. There's no reason the Gospels can't include a mixture of historic and invented characters. That's pretty common in historical fiction.

Steven Carr

I had asked 'Is there any evidence that these people (the Magi) existed?'


Layman continues to refuse point-blank to answer straight-forward clear questions. His evasiveness and inability to answer is obvious to all.

Did the Magi exist? Were they invented by Christians? Please answer the question. It is an easy question to understand.

judge

what exactly are you loking for?

(a) evidence that the particular magi mentioned in Matthews existed?

(b) evidence that Magi in general existed?

If it is (a) then what sort of evidence will do?

Doctor X

. . . if you can find their ossaries . . . check behind the toilet. . . .

--J.D.

Gregg

I'll just make a quick call to my good friend Oded Golan.

Doctor X

Glad that did not go over . . . like a lead ossary . . . HA!HA!HA!HA! . . .HA . . . Heh . . . ha . . . er?

Anyways, so I do not upset The Powers that Be more than usual, I am unaware of any evidence the Magi existed. I must also admit that the whole story in Mt seems rather "fabulous."

Furthermore, if I may be allowed a fallacy, if such evidence existed, I would expect to fall over it every time the "Did Junior Exist" topic hits this forum.

--J.D.

Layman

You asked about evidence? I asked if you meant other than the Gospel of Matthew.

If you want to see questions answered, try these:

Are you suggesting that when the early Christians discussed people, that we should employ a methodology of suspicion and conclude that because they mentioned a person that sucha person was a fabrication?

Did they invent Paul? Peter? James? Herod? Pilate? John the Baptist? Priscilla and Acquilla? Barnabas? Apollos? Timothy? Caesar?

Soul Invictus

Probably something outside the fact that the book of Matthew says they did, in order to support this assertion.

Don't mind me - just being smart.