Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Julio · 05-23-2010, 03:45 AM

Pilate’s wife dreamed to save Jesus…
If the dream was an attempt to save Jesus from the cross, who was behind that dream?
Was it inspiration from the devil?
Or, was God trying to save Jesus from the crucifixion?
If the dream came from God, why not give it directly to Pilate?

Matthew 27:19 - “When he was set down on the judgment seat,
his wife sent unto him, saying,
Have thou nothing to do with that just man:
for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.”

Asha Vahishta · 05-23-2010, 06:37 AM

There is no such thing as a scripture which is inspired by a non-mythical deity.

From the xian perspective I'm going with Satan, he sent the dream in an attempt to spoil the plan of an omniscient, omnipotent deity.

How stupid is this Satan guy??

Julio · 05-23-2010, 11:02 PM

Well then! Had Satan succeeded, what would history be today?

Vampyroteuthis · 05-24-2010, 07:53 AM

Off to BC&H.

Toto · 05-24-2010, 08:29 AM

I think it is a mistake to try to evaluate this logically. It is poetry and drama, meant to evoke an emotional response. Pilate's wife seems to be a plot device, a bit of dramatic effect with references to the Hebrew Scriptures, one of the cast of gentile characters who recognize that Jesus is the son of God while the Jews try to have him crucified.

The usual tie in to the Hebrew Scriptures is

Job 33

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men
as they slumber in their beds,

16 he may speak in their ears
and terrify them with warnings,

17 to turn man from wrongdoing
and keep him from pride,

18 to preserve his soul from the pit,
his life from perishing by the sword.

(Note that there were some medieval thinkers, and some modern evangelicals, who claim that Pilate's wife's dream was sent by Satan to avoid scripture from being fulfilled.)

Pilate's wife

Quote:

Pilate’s wife, meanwhile, remains an enigma. She’s consigned to an off-stage role in the Bible, neither described nor named. But early Christians dubbed her Claudia Procula, called her the first gentile follower of Jesus, and canonized her for trying to save him.

Claudia’s story hardly ends there. In fact, each subsequent generation has remade Claudia in its own image. She’s a tool of the devil in medieval Passion plays, a tortured seer in Victorian literature, and a proto-feminist who speaks truth to power in the minds of some modern women.

"She’s an outstanding example of a woman who had this intuition, this feeling,” said Barbara Litrell, who co-wrote a booklet on biblical women distributed by FutureChurch, a group that pushes for gender equality in the Catholic Church. “She knew that Jesus was a special person and she feared for her husband."

Julio · 05-24-2010, 08:40 AM

Thanks, Toto; very interesting.
I wonder if there is some manuscript without that particular verse, do you perhaps know?

Nathaniel · 05-24-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julio

Pilate’s wife dreamed to save Jesus…

Did she? You seem to be reading into the text somewhat.

Asha Vahishta · 05-24-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julio

Well then! Had Satan succeeded, what would history be today?

Jesus, finding himself stuck on earth for another year, acquires more followers and writes the definitive book on Christianity. Satan loses again :angry:

Julio · 05-24-2010, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asha Vahishta

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julio

Well then! Had Satan succeeded, what would history be today?

Jesus, finding himself stuck on earth for another year, acquires more followers and writes the definitive book on Christianity. Satan loses again :angry:

LOL!
Excellent observation!
Had not considered that option!

05-23-2010, 03:45 AM	#1
Julio Banned Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Johannesburg Posts: 5,187	Matthew 27:19 - not inspired scripture Pilate’s wife dreamed to save Jesus… If the dream was an attempt to save Jesus from the cross, who was behind that dream? Was it inspiration from the devil? Or, was God trying to save Jesus from the crucifixion? If the dream came from God, why not give it directly to Pilate? Matthew 27:19 - “When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.”

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05-23-2010, 06:37 AM	#2
Asha Vahishta Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,256	There is no such thing as a scripture which is inspired by a non-mythical deity. From the xian perspective I'm going with Satan, he sent the dream in an attempt to spoil the plan of an omniscient, omnipotent deity. How stupid is this Satan guy??

05-23-2010, 11:02 PM	#3
Julio Banned Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Johannesburg Posts: 5,187	Well then! Had Satan succeeded, what would history be today?

05-24-2010, 07:53 AM	#4
Vampyroteuthis Contributor Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 14,915	*Off to BC&H.*

05-24-2010, 08:40 AM	#6
Julio Banned Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Johannesburg Posts: 5,187	Thanks, Toto; very interesting. I wonder if there is some manuscript without that particular verse, do you perhaps know?

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