The Testimony of Nathan Son of Isaac Concerning Jesus of Nazareth

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Deus Vult's picture
The Testimony of Nathan Son of Isaac Concerning Jesus of Nazareth

What do you make of this? Would it be a candidate for the Atheist Book Club?

https://www.amazon.com/Testimony-Nathan-Isaac-Concerning-Nazareth/dp/171...

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Cognostic's picture
It's useless: "This is a

It's useless: "This is a translation of a Greek manuscript that appears to date to the tenth or eleventh century but purports to be an account of a contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth who actually knew him and who debunks certain of the miracles."
https://www.amazon.com/Testimony-Nathan-Isaac-Concerning-Nazareth/dp/171...

How old would someone have to be who knew Jesus and was interviewed in the tenth or eleventh century?

Deus Vult's picture
That's from the review; the

That's from the review; the actual book description reads, "Having the appearance of a tenth- or eleventh-century COPY of a first-century composition . . . ."

Cognostic's picture
So, Because it looks like a

So, Because it looks like a first century composition we should believe this person spoke with Jesus? I'm so confused. Just tell me what to believe.

Deus Vult's picture
This also comes from the

This also comes from the review and makes clear that an actual first century origin is the most remote possibility:

"The translator states that it could be a modern forgery (tests still have to be conducted on the manuscript); that it could actually date to the tenth or eleventh century but still be a forgery in that it was not originally composed in the time of Jesus as stated; and finally--and most remotely--that it could be a copy of something originally dating to the first century. The most remote possibility is the most intriguing and cuts two ways: It would deal a blow to both Christian believers and to the mythicists who don't believe in a historical Jesus."

The last sentence is quite provocative, even if from a purely hypothetical perspective. Assuming an actual manuscript from the first century was ever found which debunked the miracles of Jesus and his resurrection, would atheists gleefully accept it as a proof against Christianity, or would they dispute its authenticity because it attests the reality of a historical Jesus?

Sheldon's picture
" would atheists gleefully

" would atheists gleefully accept it as a proof against Christianity,"

Claims that are not properly evidenced don't need to be disproved. Proper evidence that Jesus was an historical person doesn't come close to proper evidence he was anything more.

Sheldon's picture
""Having the appearance of a

""Having the appearance of a tenth- or eleventh-century COPY of a first-century composition"

Underwhelmed is how I would describe myself right now.

Deus Vult's picture
I went ahead and got a copy

I went ahead and got a copy for grins. The tenth- or eleventh-century dating is based on the writing style--"uncial"--of that period. The first century origin is based on the vocabulary and style of the Greek. So if it's a modern forgery or a tenth- or eleventh-century forgery, the forger did his homework on first century Greek. The work appears to be fairly erudite and is well documented with footnotes; select words and passages in Greek are given in transliteration and commented upon. Any Greek scholars in the house?

Anonymous's picture
Nathan? HOT DOGS?? where???

Nathan?

HOT DOGS?? where???

Deus Vult's picture
Although there's nothing

Although there's nothing about Nathan's hot dogs in the Testimony, what Tamar the Courtesan did to Jesus' hot dog is described in detail on page 16 ;-) ;-) ;-)

chimp3's picture
I might be an atheist but I

I might be an atheist but I much prefer Hebrew National's. MMMM! Beefy!

Cognostic's picture
I wish you were all here in

I wish you were all here in Korea. I would treat you all to the second worst hot-dogs in the world. They are completely tasteless but not as bad as Philippine hot-dogs. Philippine hot-dogs are bright red and mush in your mouth. This is their actual color. Never eat a hot-dog in the Philippines.

http://martinpurefoods.com/mpmain/hotdogs/

I would fly to America to suck on an Oscar Myers Wiener.

What they do to hot-dogs in Korea is a sin. Bits of potato stuck to the outside....
https://soranews24.com/2014/10/28/koreas-kogo-is-the-ultimate-french-fry...

This one is topped with sugar and ketchup ---- Sugar and ketchup are common toppings for street vendors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcyaP72189s

And remember, though these Korean hot-dogs look like hot-dogs they taste like ummm.... something you would use to torture a North Korean spy with. "Talk you bastard or I will force you to eat another hot-dog."

We have a Cosco here in Daejeon and occasionally they get regular American hot-dogs. With all the expats about, the shelves are empty in a couple of days and then the wait begins. I have not had a hot-dog in six months now. I miss hot-dogs.

Deus Vult's picture
What about corn dogs?

What about corn dogs?

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Deus Vult's picture
That's what Tamar the

That's what Tamar the Courtesan did with Jesus' corndog!

Grinseed's picture
I just lost my appetite

I just lost my appetite forever looking at that pic...all over again, a blast from the past best left buried. She still in politics or just bible-pushing gay-reforming fundamentalism?

Deus Vult's picture
"She still in politics or

"She still in politics or just bible-pushing gay-reforming fundamentalism?"
I wasn't able to find any current political office she holds.

Deus Vult's picture
I saw on another forum that

I saw on another forum that "Ben Armhardt" is an anagram of "Bart D. Ehrman"! Could this be some kind of egghead spoof?

Nyarlathotep's picture
Anything peer reviewed on

Anything peer reviewed on this material? I prefer not to use Amazon book reviews/sales pitches as a source for controversial claims.

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