Was Jesus a Mythical Figure Derived From the Apis Bull? Um, NO, and Here is Why:
Ancient Egyptian religion was quite fascinating, involving a massive plethora of gods (many of them depicted as animal-human hyrbids), magical burial rites, beautifully crafted idols and a mythology at times so sexually explicit that it gives Greek myth a run for its money. Â
One of the most fascinating figures of Ancient Egyptian religion was the Apis Bull.
Now and again, a calf was born in ancient Egypt that met (or somewhat met) the following requirements to be the Apis Bull, a bull thought to be the incarnate god Ptah:
 1. Born of a âvirginâ cow who was impregnated by Ptah (more on that later).
3. Had a mark on its back that looked like a vulture or eagle, or a hawkâs or vultureâs wings, depending on what source you read.
4. White mark on its forehead that looked like a diamond.
5. Had a mark resembling a crescent moon on its right side.
6. Its tail had double hairs.
7. A birthmark or lump resembling a scarab under its tongue.
 When such a calf was discovered, it was spoiled, treated like a big time Hollywood celebrity. It lived in a temple compound in Memphis, where it had a whole slew of cows to mate with.Â
No, not that Memphis. The ancient Egyptian city of Memphis!Â
It also had gold covers to sleep with. The Apis Bull was led daily into a courtyard, allowed to roam free. Priests would watch him while he was in the courtyard, believing that they could predict the future by seeing how the bullâŚmoved. They also thought that its movements inside the Temple, specifically from one room to the next, also had prophetic elements. Indeed, there was also a special chamber with several grates where Apis Bulls were lead in order to give people their fortune. This latter activity worked in the following manner: during a feast day or other holiday, the bull was lead inside the chamber, during which time people would ask things about the future. Both food and symbols were placed beyond each grate. The Apis Bull eventually chose to exit by means of one of the grates, and whatever choice it made was supposed to answer peopleâs prophetic questions. Â
Yes, yes, it seems silly to us, but then again, we have modern psychic hotlines so we canât act that too high and mightyâŚ
Indeed, its supposed prophetic powers didnât end there. On at least one occasion, when adolescents were singing hymns about the Apis Bull as they accompanied him, the bull was believed to have made spirits enter and possess the teenagers, which resulted in them prophesying. One Apis Bull was thought to have predicted the demise of Roman General Germanicus as well.
What sign did it give that Germanicus was going to kick the bucket?
Well, its sign wasâŚchoosing not to eat when Germanicus tried to feed it.
Did anybodyâŚstop to think thatâŚit simply didnât like the food? Or that it was already full? Or that it was sick, or that Germanicusâ hand was stinky? Etc?Â
Along with this, the Apis Bull was thought to speak to people in their dreamsâŚif they slept in its temple. These dreams were considered prophetic.
Nostradamus, eat your heart out.Â
Most of these pampered bulls lived to be 14 years old, dying of natural causes. However, if any of the poor schmucks made it to 25 and didnât croak, the Egyptians, who had spoiled the bull, caring for it like a god (as they thought it was)âŚwould drown it.Â
Didnât pay to be a god in ancient Egypt.Â
After its demise, the Apis Bull was no longer considered Ptah incarnate, for Ptahâs essence had left the body. However, it was thought to have become the god Osiris, lord of the dead, after it croaked.Â
Whether in life or death, it would never escape its divine status. Indeed, the Egyptians mummified Apis Bulls, putting a gilded mask on them. The bull mummies were put into sarcophagi, then taken to Saqqara, where they were finally laid to rest in catacombs. However, after an Apis Bull died, another was sought out, and sure enough, when one was found it was treated in like manner, and thus the cycle continued down and down through the centuries, until Egyptian religion faded into history.
The Apis Bull was a fascinating part of Egyptian history and mythology, one that-you guessed it-Jesus Mythicists like to cite as evidence for their pseudohistorical beliefs. Indeed, some of them believe that Jesus was a mythical character thatâs at least partially derived from the historical Apis Bulls.
Now, it is true that they do parallel (Or should I say âparallelâ) often. Consider the following:
 1. The Apis Bull was born of a virgin cow (Once again, more on that later). Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.
2. The God Ptah impregnated the âVirginâ cow with himself, becoming a bull incarnate. God supernaturally impregnated Mary with Jesus, who is God the Son incarnate in human flesh.
3. The Apis Bull was fully a bull, but also fully a god. Jesus is fully man and fully God.
4. Osiris, the god whom the Apis Bull was believed to be the embodiment of after death, was thought to be both the King of the Underworld and a former Pharaoh of Egypt. Along with this, the Apis Bull was treated like a King in both life and death: Jesus, a descendant of King David (Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38 (Note: though both Matthew and Luke trace Josephâs, Jesusâ stepfatherâs, ancestry, itâs a known fact that ancient Israelites would most often marry their first cousins. Thus, most likely, the genealogies most likely, to a certain extent, reflect both Josephâs and Maryâs lineage. Considering the following passages, it becomes a certainty), John 7:42, Romans 1:3, 2 Timothy 2:8) is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:11-16 (compare with Revelation 1:9-18) and was given the royal treatment during his Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, John 12:12-19 (Note: throwing cloaks before him, the use of palm branches and the recognition of Jesusâ Davidic lineage by the crowd, as well as the Disciples calling him a King and that the Jewsâ hopes for a return of the Davidic monarchy reached fever pitch during the time of the year that Jesus enter Jerusalem, all point to a royal aspect of his Triumphal Entry).
5. A bull was recognized as an Apis Bull if it met the requirements (to a certain extent, more on that later) as noted above. Jesus was recognized as the Messiah due to his fulfillment of Messianic Prophecies (such as the Virgin Birth prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, compare with Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20).
6. The Apis Bull was thought to predict the future. Jesus predicted the future (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21:5-36
7. Some Apis Bulls who lived too long were killed. Jesus was executed.
8. Apis Bulls who were 25 years old were drowned by some of the very people who had venerated and cared for it, thus a âbetrayalâ. Jesus was betrayed by Judas (who was one of his disciples), and it led to Jesusâ crucifixion.
9. The Apis Bulls died, but were thought to be reborn. Osiris, the Egyptian god whom the Apis Bull was the embodiment of in death, died and was resurrected (more on that later). Jesus died, then rose from the grave.
10.   Both the Apis Bull and Jesus did miracles (Speaking to someone in their dreams, sending spirits to possesses people and understanding human speech and desiring to be worshipped (things that no normal bull is smart enough to do) all indicate that the Apis Bull was considered a miracle worker).
11.   The Apis Bull represented the harmonious balance of the universe. Jesus sustains all creation (Hebrews 1:3).
12.   The Apis Bull was usually depicted in art as having a solar disk between its horns. Jesus is often depicted in art as having a halo around his head.
13.   The Apis Bull was worshipped. Jesus was worshipped (Matthew 14:33, 28:17, Luke 24:50-52).
14.   The Apis Bull was a divine servant. Jesus washed his disciplesâ feet, exemplifying servanthood (John 13:1-17. Keep in mind, this was the job for Non-Jewish slaves), and took the form of a servant (Philippians 2:5-7).
15.   Both often not accurately depicted in art (the Apis Bull was sometimes depicted as a minotaur. Jesus is often depicted throughout the world as either white, black, Asian, Native American, even as resembling a Hindu deity, none of which resemble how Jesus would have really looked. Jesus is often depicted as having long hair, yet in real life he didnât (See 1 Corinthians 11:14).
16.   Both lived in the Mediterranean region.
17.   When an Apis Bull died, people anticipated the discovery of a new Apis Calf, which would be seen as the godâs return. Christians likewise anticipate the Second Coming of Christ.
18.   Ptah, whom Apis was the incarnation of while alive, was a creator deity who created things by thoughts, hand and speech (some sources say just thoughts and speech): Jesus is the creator, called the âWordâ (John 1:1). God spoke creation into existence (Genesis 1, see also Psalm 33:6).
19.   Ptah, of whom Apis was thought to be the incarnation of, was a god of craftsmen, and defended craftsmen as well as boatbuilders, stonemasons, blacksmiths and those of several other similar professions. Jesus was both a carpenter and the adopted son of a carpenter (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3). (Note: the Greek word for carpenter, âTektonâ, can also refer to a wood craftsman, stonemason, fabric artificer and metal worker).
20.   At ancient Memphis (akak Mennefer), Ptah was one of a triad of gods (the others being Nefertem and Sekhmet). Jesus is one of the persons of the Trinity of God (the others being God the Father and God the Holy Spirit).
21.   Ptah, of whom Apis was thought to be the incarnation of, created the gods: Yahweh (whom includes Jesus as God the Son)created the Bene Elohim, powerful supernatural beings that the ancient Israelites believed were the âgodsâ of the pagans (See Michael Heiserâs books âSupernaturalâ, âThe Unseen realmâ and the documentary âThe Unseen Realmâ for more information on the Bene Elohim. More on them later).
22.   Osiris, the god whom the Apis Bull was believed to be the embodiment of after death, was the god of the dead, judging them in the afterlife. Jesus will judge the living and the dead (2 timothy 4:1). Yahweh (Of Whom Jesus is a member of the Trinity), will judge the Dead in the future (1 Peter 1:4-5, Revelation 20:11-15).
23.   The Apis Bull was a mediator between mortals and Osiris, Autum andâŚhimself (as Ptah). Jesus is mediator between God the Father and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5).
Wow, 23 parallels! Looks like there is a connection, right?
 Letâs go over the weaknesses of this line of argument:
 1. JESUS ACTUALLY EXISTED.Â
There is a consensus among historians that Jesus actually existed. The ancient evidence is undeniable, save for those who have a vested interest in believing otherwise. Jesus is an established historical figure. His existence is not up for debate amongst mainstream historians. Jesus Mythicism is about as fringe as flat earthers, Moon landing deniers and the idea that vaccines cause autism.
And yet, despite mainstream history books and websites indicating that Jesus is a historical figure, Jesus Mythicists continue to put their heads in the sand, trying to evoke parallels with mythical figures as a self defense mechanism against accepting an inconvenient truth.
Sorry, Al Gore, I had to borrow that phrase again.Â
Indeed, not only is Jesus a historical figure, but his crucifixion is likewise a historical fact. Jesus wasnât a fictional character derived from the real Apis Bull: he was a real man. His crucifixion wasnât derived from the drowning of Apis Bulls; he was really crucified. Indeed, there is also substantial evidence that Jesus rose from the grave, as seen in âThe Case for the Resurrection of Christâ by Gary R. Habermas and Michael R. Licona, as well as âThe Case for Christâ by Lee Strobel. The facts presented in those books undercuts the idea that Jesusâ resurrection was a myth inspired by that of the repetitive reincarnation of the Apis Bull.
By now, Jesus Mythicists will fume, claiming that, even with the above information, the vast majority of the other parallels are still in place, and thus, most of the Gospel accounts of Christ are derived from the Apis Bull.
Answer: Do orangutans ever preform âDueling Banjosâ?Â
 2. THE PARALLELS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS THEY APPEAR.
 Letâs take a closer look at those parallels again, shall we?
There are several different versions of the myth of the Apis Bullâs conception:
 1. The god Ptah impregnates a virgin cow while taking a form of fire, inseminating her with his seed.
I.e, putting his sperm inside her?
Sounds a lot like sex, doesnât it?Â
Indeed, its on par with how Zeus impregnated a mortal woman named Danae by having sex with her while he was in the form of a shower of gold.
Thus, this virgin cow wasnât a virgin for long.
2. The cow is struck by lightning, which impregnates her with the Apis Bull.Â
At first, this seems like a sexless conception. However, not only does the cow receive Apis when this occurs (possibly indicative of sex), but lightning was considered fire from heaven in the ancient world, which adds weight to the idea that the first two versions of the myth are not actually all that different. Indeed, some sources state that this lightning bolt was indeed the fire Ptah used to impregnate a virgin cow, and that it was bona fide sex.
However, there are two crucial differences when it comes to Herodotusâ version:
1. Ptah is not mentioned.
2. The cow is not said to be a virgin; its just said to be incapable of having anymore offspring after giving birth to the Apis calf.
Now, considering that Herodotus mentioned countless marvels reported to him during his investigations, which included anything from dog-headed men and giant ants to griffins and a woman giving birth to a lionâŚit seems odd that Herodotus wouldnât mention that the mother of the Apis Bull was a virgin cow.
Did his Egyptian sources fail to give him this interesting tidbit of information?
Did Herodotus not listen closely enough to the information?
OrâŚwas he told one of several different versions of the myth?
Keep this in mind as we continue.
Nevertheless, even if Herodotusâ version of the Apis Bullâs conception myth is indicative of a sexless conception, its not indicative of a virgin one.
Indeed, neither version is.
3. The cow is impregnated by special moonlight.Â
Although this version has a bona fide sexless conception, once again, the cow is not said to be virgin; its merely a cow thatâs in heat. We learn this from Plutarch in his book âOn Isis and Osirisâ.
Both PlutarchâŚand HerodotusâŚdo not refer to this cow as a virgin.
Or indicative that, in some versions of the myth, the cow was not actually a virgin before it was impregnated by Ptah?
The latter seems far more likely.
True, Plutarchâs sources on Egyptian mythology only reached back 6 centuries, but the accounts that he wrote down were reflective of Egyptian myths of the 1rst century AD at the very least (remember, his written sources go back 6 centuries before his time).
Jesus lived in the 1rst century AD (possibly born just right before the dawn of the first century AD).
He started his movement about 30 AD or so.
The Gospel oral tradition started in that time, and was later written down as the Gospels.
The written Gospels were a product of the first century AD.
And yet, during this time, the idea that the Apis Bullâs mother was not a virginâŚwas common place amongst ancient Egyptians.
Does it really seem likely that the Gospel story of the virgin birth of Christ was derived from a well-known story of a cow who had sex with a god and gave birth to a bull? Because that was the dominant version of the myth at that time.
4. The cow has sex with an Apis Bull, becoming pregnant with his successor (and, since its his next reincarnation, himself).Â
In not ONE of these myths is the Apis Bull a virgin that conceives without having sex. Even in the one where itâs a virgin, its virginity ends the moment Ptah releases his sperm inside her (remember, they didnât have artificial insemination back then).
Oh, BTW, forgot to add: Not only did Isis, whom the âvirginâ cow was the incarnation of, have sex while in her full goddess form (she had sex with her husband Osiris, conceiving Horus), but she, oddly enough, had sex with OsirisâŚbefore either of them were even born!
Repeat, they got it on in the womb before they were even born!Â
So even if the Isis cow was a virgin and conceived without having sex (which she didnât), Isis herself isnât a virgin. Her being incarnated as a virgin cow doesnât take away from the fact that she had sex anymore than God being incarnated as a Jewish Rabbi named Jesus of Nazareth doesnât take away from the fact that he created the universe (he just didnât do so while as an incarnated man).
Given all of this, we can dismiss this âParallelâ. The only leg it has to stand on is that, at one point, in some versions of the myth, the cow was a virgin before being impregnated, and yet not only was it having sex with a god in order to get pregnant in these versions of the myth, Isis, the goddess whom she was the incarnation of, was anything but. Athena was actually a virgin mother in Greco-Roman myth, and her siring of her son Erichtonius was a FAR greater parallel with the Virgin birth of Christ than that of Isis and the Apis Bull, and yet even THAT parallel is not very strong, as I noted in a previous article.
In other words, itâs a pitiful parallel.
Letâs discard it and move on. Â
Oh, but before we go: People who try to make this parallel work tend to disregard the Virgin birth passage of Isaiah 7:14, which was written CENTURIES before the New Testament. And before any Jesus Mythicists argue that the Hebrew word translated as Virgin in the passage (âAlmahâ) doesnât actually mean virgin: it actually does in some contexts, and Isaiah 7:14 involves more than just a virgin conception (though virginity is nevertheless still tied into it). There are also both aspects of dual fulfillment of prophecy and Midrashic interpretation techniques that likewise overrides objections in terms of context (See my article on Athena and the Prophet Isaiah in the sources section below for more information).
Given this, we have to ask an important question; which is more likely to have an influence on an emerging Messianic Jewish movement of the first century that would later be called Christianity: The conflicting tales of the Apis Bullâs conception, or the virgin birth messianic prophetic passage of Isaiah 7:14?
Hint: Jews, Hebrew BibleâŚ
 B. Impregnates a Female With himself?
Its true that, while Ptah impregnates a cow with his incarnated form, Yahweh in the New Testament likewise impregnates Mary (without sex) with the incarnation of God the Son. However, its interesting to note that, not only does the messianic prophecy of the virgin birth of the Messiah noted above indicates that God would supernaturally impregnate the virgin as a sign, but that the Messiah is indicated elsewhereâŚto be divine.
You see, in Isaiah 9:6-7, the Messiah (who is indicated as human in context), is nevertheless not only called âMighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peaceâ, it states that he will have an eternal reign. Itâs no coincidence that the Gospel of Luke alludes to this passage (Luke 1:32-33). Jeremiah 23:5-6 similarly implies a divine nature to a future human king. Psalm 110 indicates the divine nature of the Messiah, and Micah 5:1-5 indicates that he existed before he was even conceived, which fits well with it (compare to John 8:58, where Jesus says âTruly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM!â). Keep in mind, Micah 2 is partially quoted in Matthew 6 (In the latterâs context, the chief priests and scribes were summoned by Herod the Great after he learned from the Wise Men that the Messiah had been born. He asked the priests and scribes where the Messiah was to be born, and they stated Bethlehem, then quoted part of the passage).
These passages do not refer to a demigod, like Perseus or Achilles; demigods were, according to myths, half mortal and half human, not fully gods and fully men. Plus, I never heard of a demigod who existed before he or she was conceived! No, these passages indicate that the Messiah is fully GodâŚwhile also fully human. Born, growing up, and yet at the same time divine.
Combined with Isaiah 7:14, we can conclude that God would impregnate a virgin supernaturally with his incarnated form, a fully man and fully God messiah. Â
Now, what is more likely to have on a 1rst century messianic Jewish movement that would one day be called Christianity?
A bull that was thought to be both Ptah incarnated and the product of an affair between a cow and Ptah himself?
Or the Messiah of Old Testament prophecy, which tells of God supernaturally causing a virgin to conceive and give birth to his incarnate human form, a Messiah who is fully humanâŚand fully divine?
Hint: Jewish culture, Hebrew BibleâŚÂ
 C. Fully Bull/Man and Fully God?
Yes, the Apis Bull was fully bull and fully God. Jesus was fully man and fully God.
Um, do you know which biblical figure is indicated in Old Testament prophecy to be both fully man and fully God?
 D. Kings, and Royal Treatment?
Though both were treated as royalty, the Apis Bull was ALWAYS treated as such upon being recognized as such (unless it got too old and was thus killed). Jesus was only treated as a king once, and that was during his Triumphal Entry. Indeed, he was treated poorly in his home town of Nazareth (Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6, Luke 4:16-30). Even in places where he was treated better, he wasnât treated as a king. The only exception was Jerusalem, and as the events of the trial and crucifixion of Christ shows, this didnât last long.
Still, Osiris, whom the Apis Bull personified at death, was both a former pharaoh and current king of the Underworld. He was also reborn kingship personified, so he does give the Apis Bull a big touch of royalty.
Having said that, the God in the Old Testament is both referred to as a king and described in a kingly manner (2 chronicles 13:8, Psalm 10:16, Isaiah 37:16, Daniel 6:26. Keep in mind, Jesus is a member of the divine trinity, and thus would have been seen as included in such statements). One very interesting parallel between Osiris and Yahweh as presented in the Old Testament is that both were at one time kings over human nations: the former over Egypt, the latter over Israel, before the Israelites demanded a king (1 Samuel 8:4-9). However, just as the vast majority of the âparallelsâ between Jesus and Osiris fail (see sources section below), The parallels between Osiris and the way that God is presented in the Old Testament are likewise quite slim. Nevertheless, God, as presented in the Old Testament, is presented in a kingly manner, and the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible, would have been the religious text that ancient Jews would have been most familiar with.
Given the above, we need to ask an important question: which would have a greater impact on an emerging 1rst century Messianic Jewish movement that would one day be called Christianity: the pagan myth of King Osiris, or King Yahweh as presented in the Hebrew Bible?
Hint: Jews, Hebrew BibleâŚÂ
 E. Meeting Specific Requirements?
Yes, both the Apis Bull and Jesus met requirements to be considered gods. However, not only where the requirements for the Apis Bull not fully adhered to (such as the requirement that its mother was to be a virgin cow (thankfully for the Egyptians, this wasnât always a requirement due to different myths about the Apis Bullâs origins!), but the requirement standard was even less strictly adhered to in Greco Roman times. In that era, just having one of the requirements was good enough. Compare that to Jesus, who fulfilled hundreds of messianic prophecies.
Thatâs not including the fact that many aspects of Jesus and his life were oddly foreshadowed countless times in the Old Testament. Moses, Samson, the story of Abrahamâs attempted offering of Isaac, the story of the Old Testament Joseph, Noah, the Old Testament passages on Passover, these and many more have striking similarities to events in the life of Christ as presented in the New Testament. Taken together, these countless parallels and prophecies of Christ in the Old Testament FAR outweigh the 20 something parallels between Christ and the Apis Bull. The requirements for the Jewish Messiah, fulfilled in Christ, are a far different level than those requirements for the Apis Bull. Â
 F. Both predicted the future?
Many gods were thought to be able to predict the future. Apollo, a major Greco Roman god, was a god of prophecy. The Moirae, or Fates, knew the destiny of each mortal. Indeed, they crafted each humanâs future (though Zeus could override it, and men could alter their future by influencing the Fates). Both Gaia, Greek goddess and personification of the Earth, and Ouranos, Greek god and personification of the starry sky, predicted that Cronus, god of time, would be overthrown by one of his offspring. Along with this, the God of the Old Testament was known to be able to predict the future (Isaiah 46:9-10). Indeed, all of his Prophets (of which there were many) received their prophecies from the Lord himself (Zechariah, for example, saw visions from the Lord that foretold the future).
Which is more likely to influence an emerging 1rst century messianic Jewish movement that would one day be called Christianity: a bull thought by pagans to predict the future, or the God of the Old Testament, whom Jews believed could predict the future, and his numerous Old Testament prophets?
Hint: Jews, Hebrew BibleâŚÂ
Some Apis Bulls were killed, not all. Indeed, most werenât, because the average age that they croaked was 14, while only those that lived up to 25 were killed. Jesus was indeed killed. Plus, there is a BIG difference between crucifixion and drowning.Â
Yes, just as the Apis Bull was (technically) betrayed, so was Jesus betrayed. However, it should be noted that Jesusâ betrayal by a friend for 30 pieces of silver, as well as his violent death were predicted in the Old Testament in stunning detail (Psalm 22, 41:9, Zechariah 11:12-13, Isaiah 53).
NowâŚwhich is going to have a greater chance of influencing an emerging 1rst century Messianic Jewish movement that would one day be called Christianity: a bull drowned by pagans, or Messianic Prophecies in the Hebrew Bible?
Again, hint: Jews, Hebrew BibleâŚÂ
BTW: as noted above, mostr Apis Bulls died of old age. Only some were drowned, but most died of natural causes. Thus, the majority of them were not âbetrayedâ.
First off, reincarnation is not the same thing as resurrection. Second thing, yes, Osiris was raised from the dead, but he didnât do so on his own: Isis raised him from the grave. Jesus, on the other hand, raised himself from the dead.
Indeed, Osirisâ story is far more similar to that of Lazarus and other biblical figures who were resurrected by Christ than the story of the resurrection of Christ himself.
 J. Both were miracle workers?
All gods were miracle workers, for all had supernatural powers.Â
 K. Balance/sustain the universe?
True, the Apis Bull was thought to balance the universe, while Jesus sustains it. Balance, sustain, one at first might think that these are so similar that there HAS to be a connection between the two.
However, Iâll see your Apis Bull, and raise you The Greek concept of the Logos.
Although Jesus being called the âWordâ (Greek âLogosâ) in John 1:1-3 harkens back to God creating the universe with his voice (more on that later), itâs a known fact that ancient Greek philosophers had the concept of the âWordâ (repeat: Greek âLogosâ), a divine logic thatâŚdrum rollâŚ
âŚbestows order to the cosmos!
It was thought to be an ordering principle for all of creation.
Along with this, some in the Stoic school of Philosophy eventually personified the logos, identifying it as a pneuma.
Spirit, which they thought was a mixture of air and fire.Â
Such spirits were thought to have (another drum roll)âŚreason!
Indeed, Pneumas were thought to be filled with it!
A spirit being thatâs omnipresent, filled with knowledge and gives order to all of creation?
Thus, while Jewish readers would first think of Genesis 1 and Psalm 33:6 upon a first reading of John 1:1-3, ancient Greek readers would think of the Logos philosophical principle, the Logos spirit. Indeed, the Greek understanding melds quite well when combined with Hebrew 1:3. Â
Given this, we donât have to invoke the Apis Bull to understand John 1:1-3 and Hebrew 1:3: We have the Hebrew Bibleâs account of creation, Psalm 33:6 and Greek Philosophy to do that.
The origin of the halo in artwork has nothing to do with Ancient Egypt and everything to do with Greco-Roman culture. Yes, the halo was originally used in artistic depictions of a god, but although Apis was depicted with a sun disk, the Halo specifically was originally used in depictions of the sun god Helios.Â
The only connection between this and the sun disk of Apis is the sun, thatâs it. It wasnât derived from the Apis Bull.
Now, Jesus Mythicists are no doubt frothing at the mouth and pointing their finders, wanting to argue that the reason Jesus was depicted with a halo is because he was a mythical figure partially derived from the Greek god Helios.
I just rolled my eyes so hard that it hurt.
Excuse me for a minute, I need Tylenol. Â
Now, with that over: The problem with that theory is that the Halo was later used in many depictions of Roman emperors. It wasnât until the 4rth century that Christian artists added the halo to depictions of Jesus. It makes sense to do so, considering that Jesus is depicted as, for all intents and purposes, a divine Caesar in the New Testament, one superior to the earthly Caesars (The Greek word âGospelâ (meaning âGood newsâ) was used for Emperor cult celebrations, their birthdays were celebrated (Augustsâ at least was celebrated with a choir), choirs were used in emperor worship and emperors were called âlordâ and âsavior (Compare all of this with Luke 2:10-12. Ancient Christians in the Roman empire would have caught these allusions). Angels, saints and the Virgin Mary were depicted with halos in later centuries.
Thus, Jesusâ halo was not derived from the Apis Bullâs sun disk. Â
Thatâs what people did when it came to their gods, big deal.
Yes, both were servants, but the problem with this parallel is Isaiah 52:13-53:12. This passage is a messianic prophecy that not only has striking parallels with the life of Christ as presented in the Gospels, but is also both quoted and alluded to in the New Testament in reference to Jesus (Matthew 8:16-17, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 26:28, Matthew 27:59-60, Mark 10:45, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, John 12:37-38, Acts 8:32-35, Romans 10:16, Hebrews 9:28, 2 Peter 2:21-25). It also refers to the Messiah as a servant twice (52:13 and 53:11).
NowâŚwhich is going to more likely have an influence on a first century messianic Jewish movement that would one day be called Christianity?
A bull thought by pagans to be a divine servant?
Or messianic prophecies that described the Messiah (who is indicated in the Old Testament as divine)âŚas a suffering servant?
Hint: Jewish culture, Hebrew BibleâŚÂ
 O. Both often not accurately depicted in Art?
A problem that many animals and historical figures had in history. Artwork depicting a strange animal was found in the ancient Peruvian city of Tiahuanaco, an animal that looked like a hippo-rhino hybrid. It was thought by biologists in the 1930s to be a Toxodont. Toxodonts were a group of prehistoric animals that died out in the ice age, animals that were quite rhino like. One species, Toxodon Platensis, had both hippo and rhino-like features, and is at times depicted by modern artists as quite hippo like. Â
So, it seems like a good candidate for what the ancient Tiahuanaco artist was trying to depict, right?
You see, the biologists who identified the animal in said artwork as a Toxodont (which, by the way, died out long before Tiahuanaco was built) werenât informed by archeologists that the image wasâŚin realityâŚthat of a puma! The artwork wasnât mean to depict cougars as they really look, but to convey an aspect of its essence. Â
If you compare a Toxodon with a pumaâŚyou can understand how intentionally way off the ancient artist who crafted the cougar art was. Â
Likewise, Medieval artists had a devil of a time depicting certain animals in art, rendering Hippos, hyenas, elephants and other animals foreign to them in highly absurd ways.Â
Neanderthals were depicted as hairy ape-like brutes before scientists realized how human in appearance they actually were.Â
Buddha was from India, yet countless depictions of him in art show him to be Asian in appearance.Â
Due to an ancient translation error in Exodus 34:29-35, Moses was often depicted as having horns on his head (the text in the Hebrew actually states that his face glowed, not that he had horns).Â
And letâs not forget the history of paleo-artists, how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals were initially depicted erroneously, only for such errors to be corrected with later evidence (the Iguanodon comes to mind. Below is how it was initially depicted, compared to more current artwork depicting Iguanodon).
Plus, if people were using the Apis Bull myth to construct the figure of Christ, how would they have anticipated that Jesus would eventually be depicted as far, far different from a Galilean Jew? Indeed, considering the established historical fact that Jesus DID exist, the idea that Christians borrowed the element of false artistic rendering of the Apis Bull, intentionally depicting Jesus in art as different from what he actually looked like, is even more absurd.
 P. Both lived in the Mediterranean region?
LOL so we countless other godsâŚand Individuals thought to be gods! Pharaohs were thought to be gods. Petsuchos, crocodiles thought to be the Egyptian god Sobek incarnate, were kept in the ancient Egyptian city of (Take a guess?) Crocodilopolis (Iâm not pulling your chain: thatâs the name of the city). Some Caesars, including Caligula and Domitian, sought worship while they were still alive, while all other Caesars were worshipped after they died (that is until the Empire became Christian). Â
Oh, and where was Yahweh worshipped during Old Testament times?
Hint: Israel is in the Mediterranean region.
Once again, Jewish culture, Hebrew BibleâŚÂ
 Q. Anticipated return?
Yes, just like Petsuchos!
Oh, and BTW: you might want to compare the passages about the return of Christ, the Battle of Armageddon and his Millennial Reign (Revelation 19:11-20:6) with Zechariah chapter 14 and Joel 2:1-11.
Which is going to more likely have an influence on a 1rst century Messianic Jewish movement that would one day be called Christianity: The continual return of a paganized bull, or the biblical prophecies about God coming with an army at his back to reign on Earth forever?
Once again: Jewish culture, Hebrew BibleâŚ
 R. Creating Things by Their Word?
First, Ptah didnât create everything: Humans and animals were created by Khnum. Jesus, however, being the Word of Logos of God, created everything (John 1:1-3).
Second, itâs no coincidence that Genesis 1 has God creating the heavens and the earth with his words. Itâs also no coincidence that Psalm 33:6 states that God created the heavens and stars by speaking. When you take both passages into consideration, and compare them with John 1:1-3, you can see what the author of John is indicating: Jesus, Godâs âWordâ (Greek Logos), was creating the heavens and the earth during the seven days of creation. Targums, Aramaic translations of the Hebrew Bible, reinforce this view, using the Aramaic word for âspeakâ (âmemraâ) in reference to Yahwehâs acts of creation. Keep in mind, some Targums date centuries before Christianity arose. Itâs possible that Targums use of memra may have had an influence on this creation passage in John.
Now, letâs ask ourselves: Which would have a bigger influence on the writing of John 1:1-3?
A pagan Egyptian god who created some things by his thoughts, hands and words?
Or the Hebrew God, depicted in the Old Testament as creating everything by the power of his voice?
Once again: Jewish culture, Hebrew BibleâŚ
 S. Carpenter Connection?
I guess you could call a carpenter a craftsman of sorts, but Jesus wasnât a patron deity of craftsmen like Ptah: he is God incarnate in human flesh who happened to work as both a rabbiâŚand a carpenter. Along with this, Ptah was not the only god of craftsmen in the ancient world. The Greeks had Hephaestus (Roman Vulcan). Indeed, unlike Ptah/Apis, Hephaestus actually was depicted as riding a donkey, just like Jesus (Matthew 21:1-5, Mark 11:1-7, Luke 19:28-35, John 12:12-15), This, combined with the fact that he is almost always, if not always, depicted in human form, makes Hephaestus more like Christ in this regard than Ptah/Apis!
Course, before Jesus Mythicists say âYou shot yourself in the footâ, not only are Hephaestus and Jesus about as similar to each other as pan cakes and space shuttles, but the Gospels state that Jesus riding on a Donkey was a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 (which is quoted in both Matthew and Johnâs accounts).
Jesus Mythicists keep forgetting Jewish culture and the Hebrew Bible.
You know, the bedrocks of Jewish life?
No, Ptah was not a member of a trinity. He was a member of a triad of 3 different gods, not three persons within a godhead. A trinity is FAR different from three gods. Indeed, not only was Ptah not considered a member of a triad throughout Egypt, but other locations in Egypt had their own triads. Thebes, for example, had Amun, Mut and Khonsu. Heck, if you want to try to argue (repeat: try to argue) for a Pagan equivalent of the Trinity, youâd do better either use the Hindu Trimurti or the Moon Goddess âtrinityâ of the Greco-Roman world (Diana, Selene and Hecate were all Greek moon goddess that because so fused in character that they were eventually at times depicted as a single unified moon goddess (sometimes with three heads). In this fused form, each goddess represented a lunar phase: Selene the full moon, Hecate the new moon, Diana the crescent moon.
And yetâŚnot only are these latter âtrinitiesâ not an exact match for the Christian one, the Christian Trinity is beyond human understanding.
Now, Jesus Mythicists will protest, arguing that its possible for a pagan mythology of three gods to evolve into a concept like the Trinity. Indeed, theyâd also argue that its possible for a 1rst century messianic Jewish movement to adopt either aspects of a triad or pagan âtrinityâ and come up with one of their own.
Well, itâs not impossible that such things could occur (though the latter is HIGHLY unlikely), BUTâŚthere is a problem.
You seeâŚthe Hebrew bible, which predates the NTâŚhas passages that support the Trinity.
God refers to himself several times as âusâ The Holy Spirit (also called the Spirit of the Lord) is mentioned in the Old Testament on several occasions (Genesis 1:2, Judges 13:25, 14:6, 14:19, 15:14, Psalm 51:11-13, Isaiah 11:2, 48:16, 61:1, etc). Indeed, Isaiah 63:10 indicates that the Holy Spirit can experience grief! It also makes a curious distinction between Yahweh and the Holy Spirit. An even stronger distinction is seen in Isaiah 48:16, where Yahweh sends both his own divine Spirit and the Prophet Isaiah to the Israelites (see full chapter for context). Likewise, while there are several angels called âangel of the lordâ, there is one being called âAngel of the Lordâ thatâs pictured as somewhat distinct from God, is nevertheless identified as God (Genesis 16:13, 22:12, Exodus 2:3-6, 23:20-22, Numbers 22:35-38, Judges 2:1-2, 6:11-14, Zechariah 12:8). Along with this, there is something curious to be found in Deuteronomy 6:4, which is a passage that refers to the oneness of God:
âHear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.â
The Hebrew word for one, âEchadâ, doesnât just imply âOneâ or âunityâ. It actually indicates a plurality with said unity.
These, and many other passages (including Psalm 45:6-8, Psalm 110:1 (Keep in mind King David wrote that verse. Who is Davidâs Lord, and his is lord over that lord?), are together evidence of Godâs plurality in the Old Testament. They meld quite well with New Testament passages on the Trinity as well.
Whatâs most likely to have been an influence on the doctrine of the Trinity, a doctrine of a 1rst century messianic Jewish movement that would one day be called Christianity?
Moon Goddess âTrinityâ?
Or Hebrew bible passages showing God is one, yet more than one?
Answer: Jewish culture, Hebrew Bible, etc⌠Â
This parallel needs more explanation before we can see if it has any merit.Â
According to Divine Council Theology, there is a council composed of Yahweh and supernatural beings called âSons of Godâ (Genesis 6:1-4, Deuteronomy 32:8 (more on variant readings later) Job 1:6) Glorious Ones/Celestial Beings (Jude 1:8, 2 Peter 2:10) and âgodsâ (more on that later. See Psalm 82:1, 6). Though at times referred to as angels in a seemingly loose sense (Jude 1:6, 2 Peter 2:4 (see âIVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testamentâs section on both Jude 1:6-7 and 2 Peter 2:4-6 for more details), they are nevertheless differentiated from angels proper (i.e. messenger spirits) in 2 Peter 2:10-11. Though angels have greater supernatural powers, they wonât even think about slandering them, due to their higher rank (2 Peter 2:11). Lucifer seems to have been a member as well (Jude 1:8-9). Passages that refer to this divine council include Psalm 82 (which, though quoted by Christ in John chapter 10 and believed to therefore, in context, to refer to the Jewish people, the idea that Jesus is using it to refer to the Jews has been debunked), Psalm 89:5-7, Daniel 7:9-10, 1 Kings 22:19-23. As I mentioned previously, some passages refer to members of this divine council as âgodsâ, but the Hebrew word translated as âgodsâ in those passages is âElohimâ, and although Elohim is one of the names of God, its also a term that refers to any supernatural being, including demons and the spirits of dead humans. Thus, when God is referred to as Elohim, it means that he is THE Elohim, the biggest boy on the block. Nevertheless, its interesting to note that some will still refer to them as âgodsâ.Â
In Deuteronomy 32:7-9, Moses speaks of the deep past, when God divided mankind. This of course is referring to the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). In this passage of Deuteronomy, it states that God fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the Sons of God, the Bene Elohim (verse 8). In the next verse, it states that the Israelites are the Lordâs portion. This means that God had other people groups live in regions ruled specifically by specific members of the divine council (who are in turn subservient to God), while God was directly in charge of the Israelites. Given the religious nature between God and the Israelites, it seems that, after the sin of the Tower of Babel, God basically gave humanity over to their sinful passions (in a quite similar way to what we find in Romans chapter 1), letting them worship anything other than him, including members of the divine council. Thus, the pagan gods of old were not just mere idols and imagination; they were real supernatural beings.Â
This is support by the following passages:
 âThey stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.â
Deuteronomy 32:16-17 (Emphasis mine).
âNo, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.â
1 Corinthians 10:21 (Emphasis mine).
 Indeed, this Divine council is chastised by God in Psalm 82.
Given all of this, we can conclude that, at the very least, there is a divine council, where God holds court with high-ranking Bene Elohim or Celestial beings which are differentiated from both angels (2 Peter 2:10-11) and archangels (Jude 1:8-9). Though God needs no council, and cannot be overruled by members of the Divine Council, he nevertheless chooses to make use of said council, just as he doesnât need Christians to spread his Gospel (Heâs almighty), but uses us nevertheless to spread his good news. The evidence is so impressive it would be insane to deny it.Â
But does this mean that the Celestial Beings (I love that title the best, so Iâm going to run with it!) are trulyâŚgods?Â
At first, this seems to definitely fly in the face of the Biblical doctrine of monotheism. However, some who hold to divine council theology would say that passages that indicate that there is only one God should be interpreted as being on par with saying something like âOur home townâs Hockey team is the ONLY hockey team!â or âTaco Bell is the ONLY fast food joint!â. Those statements donât literally mean that there are no other hockey teams or no other fast-food joints; they simply mean that there are no hockey teams like OUR hockey team, no fast-food joints LIKE Taco Bell. It means that they are unrivaled. The fact that God is unique in his very being, that he one of a kind, with no other being like him, is used to support this view. No other being is all powerful, no other is all knowing, no other is omnipresent, no other is all loving, no other being has always existed without having to be created. All of these attributes belong solely to God.
Thus, its not a question of no other gods: itâs a question of no other god like our GOD. There are many so-called gods, but only one is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient and timeless: Yahweh.
Plus, considering that the Celestial beings are supernatural beings, and that they were worshipped as godsâŚwell, a god can be defined as a supernatural being that is worshipped and prayed to.Â
Now, with all of that considered, letâs remember that Jesus created everything, according to John 1:1-3. âEverythingâ would include the Glorious Ones/Celestial Beings of 2 Peter 2:10 and Jude 1:6, the members of Godâs Divine Council who were worshipped by pagans as gods.Â
Thus, Jesus created the âgodsâ, right?Â
Well, letâs look again at those âgodsâ, shall we?
The Celestial beings could be, in essence, the same kind of being as angels (including fallen angels), only having higher rank. They could also be a different kind of supernatural being (though angel can be applied loosely to any non-human supernatural being that serves God, hence why the fallen Sons of God in Genesis 6:1-4, who were thought to be imprisoned for their crime, were called âangelsâ in Jude 1:6).  Either way, there is no evidence that these beings are of a âgod raceâ, on par with what we see in pagan mythologies. Indeed, the idea that they are true gods because they are supernatural beings who were worshipped as gods doesnât prove that they are true deities. The spirits of dead Roman Caesars, for example, were worshipped as gods in ancient Rome. They are supernatural beings (spirits of the dead) and were worshipped as gods. Does that mean that they are in essence different from any other departed spirit? Does it mean that the Caesarâs ghosts are a divine race of beings different from angels and human souls? No, they are no different from any other human spirit; they were simply human spirits who were worshipped as gods. In like manner, just because these Celestial Beings were worshipped by pagans as gods doesnât = that they are truly divine race; one could see them as supernatural beings who were worshipped as gods without claiming them to be gods. Indeed, as mentioned previously, the term âElohimâ can refer to any spirit being, so when we see the divine council being referred to as âgodsâ, it need not indicate that they were a truly divine race of beings. Supernatural, yes, but divine, no.
True, Jesus did call these beings âgodsâ (Greek âTheosâ) in John chapter 10, but we have to remember that, while the passage, like the vast majority of the New Testament, was written in Greek, Jesus may very well have been speaking Aramaic when he made this statement (a common language in the region at the time). Jesus spoke both languages, so itâs highly unlikely that he pronounced all of his teachings in Greek. Indeed, many of his teachings are indicative of Aramaic origins. The Aramaic word for gods is âElahâ, and it would have been the word Jesus used for âgodsâ if he spoke in Aramaic during the events of John 10. Elah is the equivalent of the Hebrew âEloahâ.
And what is the plural form of âEloahâ?
This is quite fascinating, as such supernatural beings, even if singular, were nevertheless referred to at times in the plural sense (The Prophet Samuelâs departed spirit is called an âElohimâ in 1 Samuel 28:13-14). Nevertheless, the Aramaic word is ultimately linked to Elohim, a word that could refer to any supernatural being.
Plus, even if Jesus is speaking Greek (and thus quoting from the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible, which uses âTheosâ (âgodsâ) in Psalm 82), one could still conclude that at least some of the Jews amongst him would have known that Theos was a Greek translation of the Hebrew Elohim, which, though can refer to a god, at its basic level refers to any supernatural being.
Thus, Jesusâ message in John 10 is basically âIf Celestial Beings were called Elohim, then why canât I be referred to as THE Elohim, as God? If they can be called âSons of Godâ (Bene Elohim, a grand title for high-ranking supernatural beings who serve God), then how much more can I, God the Word, be called Son of God (I.e. God the Son, a member of the Divine Trinity)?â
Course, even if the âgodsâ passages in Psalm 82 were in reality meant to refer to the Celestial Beings âgodsâ, it could be argued that such beings are referred to by God in the passage (as well as by Christ in John 10) as âgodsâ in a figurative sense, just as many erroneously believe that the passage refers to Jews as gods in a figurative sense (though despite many translations rendering the word as âgodsâ, the term âElohimâ, in reference primarily to a supernatural being, is more correct). Â
Thus, Jesusâ message in John 10 could be conveyed as âIf the Celestial Beings can be called âgodsâ in a figurative sense, then why canât I, Yahweh incarnate, be called âGodâ in the literal senseâ?
Either way, this undercuts the idea that these beings were intended to be thought of as a race of gods. The only way we can refer to them as gods in a technical sense is that they are supernatural beings that are worshipped as gods, but if we are going to therefore conclude that they are literally in essence a species of god, then weâd also have to conclude that the souls of dead Caesars are a race of gods different in essence from those of other departed mortals.
Still, to be fair, if we want to define gods as supernatural beings that are worshipped, then the Celestial Beings fit that bill, so there is a somewhat parallel here between the Apis Bull (as Ptah incarnate) and Jesus Christ.
HoweverâŚwhen Jesus Mythicists try to use a combo of old and new testaments to argue their case, they really shoot themselves in the foot. You see, the Old Testament indicates that Yahweh is the creator of everything (Genesis 1-2, Proverbs 16:4) which includes the Celestial Beings, and the Old Testament, aka the Hebrew Bible, was written long before Jesus was born.
Once again, whatâs more likely to influence a 1rst century messianic Jewish movement that would one day be called Christianity?
Ptahâs creation of the gods?
Or the Old Testament fact that God created everything, including the Celestial Beings of the Divine Council?
Once again: Jewish culture, Hebrew BibleâŚ
 Well, Osiris, whom Apis embodied while dead, was the judge of the dead in Egyptian Mythology. However, if you want to look at a real parallel with New Testament passages about Jesus judging the dead, you need not look at Egyptian mythology.
You need to look at the Old Testament.
Letâs look at two passages from the Book of Daniel. First, Daniel 7:9-10:
âAs I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.â (Emphasis mine).
Though in an end times context, this passage at first doesnât seem to have any bearing on the origins of Christ presented as the judge of the dead. However, things become perplexing when we turn to Daniel 12:1-3:
âAt that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.â (Emphasis mine).
Notice that this judgment of the dead also involves people being saved whose names are foundâŚin a book.
One of the same books mentioned in Daniel chapter 7?
Itâs obvious that a judgment of the dead occurs in thus passage, and though Michael is named in it, its easy to spot that God, not Michael, is the one raising the dead.
ButâŚwhere have we seen all of this before?
Well, among other parts of the New Testament, the Book of Revelation:
 âThen I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.â -Revelation 20:11-15 (Emphasis mine).
Notice the similarities with what we find in the book of Daniel? This is even more interesting when you compare Revelation 20:13 with Revelation 20:4-6, which both mentions the resurrection of the righteous deadâŚand separates it from the resurrection of the damned. Both events occur at two different times, and Revelation 20:13 is seemingly showing the latter resurrection.
Now, what is more likely going to influence a 1rst century messianic Jewish movement that would one day be called Christianity?
The Egyptian myth of the god Osiris judging the dead?
Or Old Testament prophecies that tell of end times judgments of the dead?
Once again: Jewish culture, Hebrew BibleâŚ
W. Mediator Between Gods and Men?
Yes, both are mediators. However, its funny to note that in Isaiah 53:12, which is the last verse of a large Messianic prophecy that both has many striking parallels to the life of Christ and is also both quoted and alluded to often in the New TestamentâŚstates the future messiah not only bore the sins of manyâŚbut also makes intercession for transgressors (referring to a future event in context).
Repeat: Intercession for transgressors.
What is another word for âintercessionâ?
And what is another word for âIntercessorâ?
Which is more likely to influence a first century messianic Jewish movement that would one day be called Christianity?
A bull thought to be mediator between mortals and pagan gods that observant Jews obviously didnât worship?
Or a messianic prophecy that states, among other things, that the Messiah would be intercessor for transgressors, i.e. sinners?
Once again: Um, Jewish Culture, Hebrew BibleâŚÂ
Wow! All 23 parallels rendered absolutelyâŚNOTHING!!!!
Indeed, this is especially the case when we compare the hundreds of messianic prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, and the Old Testament figures whom Jesus parallels (Moses, Samson, etc). However, before we go over those, we have to bring up yet another point:
 3. PARALELLS MEAN DIDDLY SQUAT!!!
 Parallels, on their own, mean nothing in terms of origin. You have to have more than mere parallels to indicate that a historical figure is a myth derived from another mythical figure, or that a historical figure is a myth derived from another historical figure, or that a historical event is in reality a fiction derived from another fictional event, or that a fictional or mythical figure is derived from another fictional or mythical figure, so on and so forth. Otherwise, weâd have to conclude that modern battle tanks are fictional weapons derived either from DaVinciâs tank design or the Mughal war elephants (The latter of which were huge, often armored, at times had cannons on their backs, suffered from weaponry specifically designed to stop them, and terrified enemy troops. Just like a tank!) or that Gorillas are fictional creatures derived from bigfoot-like monsters of folklore, or that certain historical figures (and even computer programs) are actually fiction because they fit well inside mythical categories, etc. Indeed, parallels between historical figures and fictional/mythical figures, those between historical figures, and those between historical events and fictional events are quite numerous. The following are several examples:
 1. The real-life Mignonette sinking (and the subsequent cannibalism involved) shares at least 7 parallels with Edgar Allan Poeâs âThe Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucketâ (including cannibalism, and both the victimâs name (Richard Parker) and occupation (Cabin boy).
2. The Titanic Disaster shares 12 parallels with the fictional events described in the novel âFutility/Wreck of the Titanâ by Morgan Robertson (written 14 years before the Titanic sank).
3. Tay the Fem Chatbot, a real-life AI chatbot, has 13 parallels with Frankensteinâs Monster.
4. Andre the Giant, the legendary wrestler, has 18 parallels with the mythical Hercules.
5. Hitler has 26 parallels with Napoleon.
6. Alexander the Great has 30 parallels with the mythical Achilles.
  Are we going to say that the historical events mentioned above are fictional, and derived from similar fictional tales?
Are we going to say that the historical figures (and the historical chatbot) mentioned above are myths, derived in term from mythical/fictional figures?
Then why would we do the same for Christ?Â
Keep in mind, Jesus has 16 parallels with Samson and 26 parallels with Moses. Nevertheless, despite these parallels with Old Testament figures being of a FAR higher quality and FAR more sound compared to the âparallelsâ between Christ and pagan mythical figures, and despite Samson and Moses coming from the same Hebraic culture, from the same Hebrew bible⌠this still isnât enough to show that Jesus was a mythical figure derived from them, as historical evidence for his existence shows. This fact remains secured even when we see Jesusâ similarities with other biblical figures, such as Isaac and the Old Testament Joseph. It also remains secure when we note both the countless Old Testament allusions found in the New Testament and the countless cited Old Testament passages in the New Testament. If Jesus Mythicists were clever about their argument (and not into both sensationalism (as the idea of a Pagan origin of Christ generates) and not dedicated to âowningâ Christians with paganism, theyâd try to argue that, considering all the countless parallels between him and Old Testament figures, between the New Testament and the Old Testament, and the Old Testament allusions and citations (including Messianic prophecy citations) in the New Testament and the hundreds of Messianic Prophecies fulfilled in ChristâŚJesus was a mythical figure derived from a combination of Old Testament figures and passages.
I mean, thatâs a HUGE amount of parallels and connections, right?
However, they donât generally make such an argument. One reason why they donât do so is because it wonât have as a much of an effect (and wont sell as many books. What rhymes with BarrierâŚ). Indeed, Old Testament figures that share parallels with Christ are considered types, Old Testament heroes of faith whose lives were echoes of a coming New Testament reality, a coming of the Jewish Messiah named Jesus (hence the term âTypologyâ), so that hampers the effect that such an argument could have in terms of atheistic evangelism. Also, the idea that Jesus was a mythical figure derived from the Old Testament has multiple problems, such as the fact that, among other things, Jews by and large in the first century AD expected a coming warrior Messiah. Given the intense longing for such (a hunger fed by suffering under at times harsh Roman rule), if the early Jewish Christians had created a fictional Christ, one would expect Christ being depicted less like a suffering servant and, in some way, more like a conquering hero (perhaps, among other things, depicted as generating a fiery sword and clashing with demons that he cast out of people, firing arrows of fire at them as they fled, etc). Indeed, they would have written little to nothing about the crucifixion if this was the case (not what 1rst century Jews expected of a warrior messiah). This is probably one reason why most 1rst century Jews didnât convert to Christianity: though the Messiah as suffering servant was noted in the Old Testament, Jews by and large were anticipating an equivalent of Judas Maccabeus to fight the Romans and restore the Jewish Kingdom.
If youâre going to craft a fictional Jewish Messiah in the 1rst century, and desire Jewish converts, you need to know your audience.
The Disciples, all 1rst century Jews, didnât know their fellow Jews?Â
Thatâs not evidence of a fictional Jewish messiah: its evidence that a real Jesus of Nazareth didnât meet their expectations and was thus rejected as Messiah.
Letâs also bring up the fact that, in the Gospels, Jesus never ever addresses major controversies of the first century church, such as womenâs role in the early church and over whether Gentile converts should be circumcised or not, etc. If 1rst century Christians had invented a fictional Christ, one would imagine that theyâd have said fictional Christ address such topics in the Gospels. We could also bring up the fact that the church was being persecuted during the first century, and thus, inventing a fictional Jewish Messiah of an emerging new religion could potentially lead you to be fed to lions.Â
Would you risk such a fate for fiction?
Or would you risk it for a real flesh and blood man that you believed to be the Messiah, the Son of the Living God?
Also, the idea that Jesus was a mythical character derived from Messianic prophecies rests on the metaphysical assumption that the miraculous doesnât exist, an assumption that cannot be proven, is not based on science (which studies the natural world, not the supernatural world, and doesnât allow for supernatural hypotheses (due to science not studying it), hence why creationism isnât science) and goes against numerous airtight Philosophical arguments that indicate that there is a God and thus the supernatural. They donât want to accept the idea that the reason Jesus seemingly fulfilled those prophecies isâŚbecause he fulfilled them. Meanwhile, Christians easily interpret the biblical connections between Jesus and Old Testament Messianic prophecies as evidence that Jesus simply fulfilled them. Typology and the biblical doctrine of prophecy makes it hard for Jesus Mythicists to argue that Jesus was a mythical figure derived from the Old Testament.
However, they most often choose to go down the Pagan path, because in that case, there is neither typology nor fulfilled prophecies to adhere to. Its an attempt to undercut the historicity of Christ-and thus Christianity-from the root.
Yet their tactic is in vain, because the evidence does not support their precious wishful thinking.
Jesus is a historical figure.
Oh, and BTW, Jesus Mythicists: heâs also the Son of the Living God!Â
âThe Way To Eternity: Egyptian Mythâ by Fergus Fleming and Alan Lothain (Consultant Dr. Joan Fletcher), 12, 51, 67-68, 70, 96
âThe Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythologyâ by Arthur Cotterell and Rachel Storm, 268, 308, 310, 316, Â
âTitans and Olympians: Greek & Roman Mythâ By Tony Allan, Sarah Maitland and Dr. Michael Trapp (consultant), 79
âThe Encyclopedia of the Godsâ by Michael Jordan, 21
Plutarch, "Isis and Osiris", 12, 43
âThe Historiesâ by Herodotus, 1.84, 2.153, 3.27-29, 33, 64, 102, 105, 116, 4.13, 27, 191
âThe Encyclopedia of the Ancient Roman Empireâ by Carlos Gomez (General editor), 83, 186
âThe Archeological Study Bible (NIV)â, 1721
âThe Bible Background Commentary: New Testamentâ by Craig S. Keener, 96-97, 156-57, 185, 230, 285-86
âA Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literatureâ, Third Edition (BDAG, Revised and Edited version), by Frederick William Danker and Walter Bauer, 995
âZondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance, Second Editionâ by Edward W. Goodrick and John Kohlenberger III, 185, 1596
âThe New Strongâs Expanded exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Red Letter Editionâ, by James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D, and John R. Kohlenberger III, 95 of the concordance, 248 of its Greek Dictionary of the New Testament
âSystematic Theology Volume 2: God, Creationâ by Dr. Norman Geisler, 278-79, 88-90
âSystematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrineâ by Wayne Grudem, 226-230
âEvidence That Demands A Verdictâ by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell, PhD (Updated and Expanded Ed), 143-171, 208-231
âEvidence For Christianityâ by Josh McDowell, 194-244
âSupernaturalâ by Michael Heiser, 19-21 Â
âESV Study Bible, 2608-09, 2635-661
âAnswering Jewish Objections to Jesus, Volume 3: Messianic Prophecy Objectionsâ by Michael Brown, 17-32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCp-ayAp7fE
âHistorical Atlas: A Comprehensive History of the Worldâ
Chief Consultant Dr Geoffery Wawro, pages 84-85, 106-07
âThe Encyclopedia of the Ancient Roman Empireâ
General Editor: Carlos Gomez (3 others worked on it), 200-201
âThe West: Encounters and Transformations (Concise Edition)â, by Brian Levack, Edward Muir, Michael Maas and Meredith Veldman, 111-114
âThe Illustrated Atlas of Jewish History: 4000 Years of Historyâ by Martin Gilbert and Josephine Bacon, 41-42
âThe Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlasâ by Jean-Pierre Isbouts (National Geographic), 134, 267-70
âIn the Footsteps of Jesusâ by Jean-Pierre Isbouts (National Geographic), 226
âNorris McWhirterâs Book of Historical Recordsâ, by Norris McWhirter, 42
âDid Jesus Exist? The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazarethâ by Bart D. Ehrman
âThe Foundations of Western Civilization: Course Guidebookâ by Professor Thomas F.X. Noble, 89-96
âThe Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World: Course Guidebookâ by Professor Robert Garland, 227-29.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Jesus_Christ/
https://historyforatheists.com/jesus-mythicism/
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Jesus_Outside_the_New_Testament/lwzliMSRGGkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Mara+bar+serapion+Jesus&pg=PA53&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Historical_Jesus_in_Context/HIp_0N3uPPcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Thallus+Jesus&pg=PA405&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Handbook_for_the_Study_of_the_Historical/LuKMmVu0tpMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Lucian+of+Samosata++Jesus&pg=PA2162&printsec=frontcover
https://brill.com/view/journals/jshj/jshj-overview.xml
https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/17737
https://www.history.com/news/was-jesus-real-historical-evidence
https://www.abc.net.au/religion/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas-mythicisms-in-the-air/10098732
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbtspV95k48
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn0L9QZWyq8
"Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium"
https://www.abc.net.au/religion/john-dickson-why-historians-dont-doubt-jesus-existed/13687464
https://www.abc.net.au/religion/john-dickson-revisiting-the-historicity-of-jesus/13730526
https://merionwest.com/2022/01/18/in-reply-to-jesus-mythicism-is-about-to-go-mainstream/
âThe Middle East: The Cradle of Civilization Revealedâ by Dr. Stephen Bourke (13 other historians worked on it), 294-95
https://www.britannica.com/art/halo-art
https://www.worldhistory.org/Apis/
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_World_Religions/dbibAAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Apis+Bull+sired+light&pg=PA65&printsec=frontcover
https://www.livius.org/articles/religion/apis/
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sacred_Bull_Holy_Cow/s_KxhuShJSEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Ptah%2BInseminated%2Bcow%2Blightning&pg=PA58&printsec=frontcover
https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/bullcult/
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/ptah.htm
https://www.worldhistory.org/Memphis_(Ancient_Egypt)/
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Egyptian_Mythology/3hgGNb6wM2kC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Plutarch+Egyptian+Mythology&pg=PA41&printsec=frontcover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnB2Uj7gWSE
https://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Moirai.html
https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Apollon.html
https://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanKronos.html
https://www.worldhistory.org/Caligula/
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Following_Osiris/sVcjDgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Osiris+king+of+the+Underworld&pg=PA475&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Israel_s_Only_Shepherd/L8neBAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Domitian+roman+emperor+thought+he+was+a+god+wanted+to+be+worshipped+while+alive&pg=PA167&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pagan_Holiday/dJY8HvKIVZ0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Lion%2BLeontopolis%2Bincarnation&pg=PA319&printsec=frontcover
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Targum
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hephaestus
https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Hephaistos.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw
âAncient Mysteriesâ by Peter James and Nick Thorpe, 231-44
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-toxodon.html
âPrehistoric Lifeâ by Angeles Gavira Guerrero and Peter Frances (Senior Ed.), 432.
âThe Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creaturesâ (Revised Ed) by Douglas Palmer (Consultant Editor), 253.
https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/fossils/la-chapelle-aux-saints
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/1909-reconstruction-of-the-La-Chapelle-aux-Saints-Neandertal-by-Kupka-published-in_fig3_247933255
https://www.michelangelo.net/moses/
âThe Apologetics Study Bible (HCSB) by Ted Cabal (General ed.), 142
âThe Hebrew Bible: A translation With Commentary, The Five Books of Mosesâ by Robert Alter, 351-52
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-discovery-of-iguanodon.html#:~:text=Discovered%20in%20Sussex%20in%201822,start%20our%20fascination%20with%20dinosaurs.
âAncient Discoveriesâ, Ancient Tank Tech Episode.
âWar Elephantsâ by John M. Kistler, 211-12, 214
âWar Elephantsâ by Konstantin Nossov, 14-19
https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/what-does-the-old-testament-say-about-the-trinity
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Egyptian_Mythology_Ancient_Gods_and_Godd/RSshBgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Apis%2BBull%2BMediator%2Bgods&pg=PA21&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_New_Cultural_Atlas_of_Egypt/zqYSQYXkai0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Apis%2BBull%2BMediator%2Bgods&pg=PA172&printsec=frontcover
https://thedivinecouncil.com/Heiser%20Psa82inJohn10%20RegSBL2011.pdf
https://beliefmap.org/gospel-stories/jesus-sayings/aramaic-substratum Â
https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/elahh-aramaic.html
https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/elowahh.html
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Power_of_the_Almighty/HCSGJHT45sMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Elohim+plural+of+Eloah&pg=PA432&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Job/2T2lDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Elohim+plural+of+Eloah&pg=PR15&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Evangelism_and_Christian_Apologetics/dfkAWzzqsJMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Elohim+plural+of+Eloah&pg=PA356&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Encyclopedia_of_God/wG_XP083ogcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Aramaic+Elah+equivalent+Hebrew+Eloah&pg=PT107&printsec=frontcover
https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/the-messiah-is-god/
https://jewsforjesus.org/learn/divine-titles-of-the-messiah
https://jewsforjesus.org/jewish-resources/messianic-prophecy/the-messiah-would-be-the-suffering-servant/
https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/another-word-for/intercession.html
https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/another-word-for/intercessor.html
https://www.tumblr.com/sirtravisjacksonoftexas/624904287995265024/do-so-called-similarities-between-jesus-and
https://www.tumblr.com/sirtravisjacksonoftexas/628287347439665153/alexander-the-great-and-achilles-examining-the
https://www.tumblr.com/sirtravisjacksonoftexas/628111397046370304/is-jesus-one-of-the-dying-and-rising-gods-and
https://www.tumblr.com/sirtravisjacksonoftexas/627024203052433408/did-judaism-and-christianity-borrow-from
https://www.tumblr.com/sirtravisjacksonoftexas/629456545082736640/was-jesus-a-mythical-figure-based-on-moses-um
https://www.tumblr.com/sirtravisjacksonoftexas/629703829423865856/was-jesus-a-mythical-figure-based-on-samson-um
https://www.tumblr.com/sirtravisjacksonoftexas/615781564580773888/was-jesus-a-fictional-character-based-on-pagan
https://www.army.mil/article/256344/master_gunners_a_tank_crews_key_to_success#:~:text=Brandishing%20these%20impressive%20vehicles%20onto,a%20gunner%20and%20a%20loader. Â
https://www.tumblr.com/sirtravisjacksonoftexas/684519740337733632/was-the-virgin-mary-a-mythical-figure-derived-from
https://www.tumblr.com/sirtravisjacksonoftexas/628113211750776832/do-supposed-parallels-between-the-gospels-and
https://undsci.berkeley.edu/understanding-science-101/what-is-science/science-has-limits-a-few-things-that-science-does-not-do/
https://undsci.berkeley.edu/glossary/supernatural/
https://undsci.berkeley.edu/whats-natural/
https://undsci.berkeley.edu/glossary/natural/
https://undsci.berkeley.edu/science-and-religion-reconcilable-differences/
https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/moral-argument.htm
https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/cosmological-argument.htm
https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/ontological-argument.htm
https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/teleological-argument.htm
https://strangenotions.com/god-exists/Â
https://www.zmescience.com/other/medieval-elephant-56720/
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