stephan huller

And I apologize for any rudeness but hanging around here has made me very intolerant of argument by assertion

aa5874

There were no known Public libraries with the Jesus cult stories in the 2nd century . The Public libraries were filled with books from Epicurius, the Stoic, Herodotus, Plato, Zeno, and Diogenes, Cleanthes and other Greek and Roman writers.

Theophilus To Autolycus III Writings attributed to 2nd century writers like Justin, Aristides, Theophilus of Antioch, Irenaeus, Athenagoras mention NOTHING at all about Public libraries with the Jesus cult stories.

Up to the mid 2nd century ONLY the Septuagint was known to be in a Public Library.

And further, up to the late 2nd century Christians were accused of Incest and Cannibalism.

It is hardly likely that the teachings of a Jesus cult would be accepted in Public libraries of the Roman Empire.

Theophilus' To Autolycus 3.4Up to the late 2nd century Christians were considered ATHEISTS and CANNIBALS.

stephan huller

I don't see how your evidence proves anything. Another ridiculous post.

Roger Pearse

I appreciate the kind reply. You're welcome.

If we imagine an ancient library containing boxes labelled with works from philosophical schools; "from the followers of Zeno", "from the followers of Pythagoras", etc; it is certainly possible to imagine a box containing rolls "from the Christians", "from the Jews", etc. Remember the group was illegal; so the Romans certainly knew who they were. If they didn't, they could ask: only a Christian was at all likely to say, "Christianus sum" (I am a Christian), since, as Tertullian tells us, the pagans jeered "Non licet esse vos" (You are not allowed to exist), and the trial records of both the Scilltan martyrs and of the trial of Justin and his friends (? from memory) treat that very statement, with no addition, by the accused as a confession of a capital crime. Indeed there were legal manuals specifying the punishments to be handed out to Christians.

A librarian should certainly know Greek, in both cities, at least until late antiquity.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

stephan huller

Yes some groups were prosecuted. But notice the groups persecuted during the time of Commodus. Apollodorus (earliest manuscripts have a strange remembrance of his name as 'Apollos' = Apelles; see Origen's testimony about the interchangeability of the two names in manuscripts - even to this day). He was from Alexandria and the Scilltan martyrs what do they utter to the question 'what books do you have?' Books of Paul = Marcionite or some such group. Even Tertullian was part of a heretical group by the end of the second century.

Notice also Irenaeus's testimony about the number of 'men of faith' in the Imperial court, their receiving ample means from the Emperor and Eusebius's statement again

stephan huller

I wonder whether this is the origin of the Latin term - even in Greek - to define the Christians (i.e. Christianus). In other words, the classification of the library system defined them. The box was undoubtedly labelled 'Christiani'

Roger Pearse

The secret is the "Ignore list". If you don't use it, you'll go insane.

outhouse

Worked for me a long time ago.


Only bad thing is most of these guys traverse to other forums, and it takes a few days before you figure out who is who.

Duvduv

Excuse me, but isn't this a bit of a pot calling the kettle black??

mountainman