Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
THE HISTORIC JESUS<br />
M.M.NINAN<br />
CHAPTER ONE<br />
<strong>Historic</strong>ity of Crucifxion<br />
While the gospels deal with the crucifixion in detail there are only<br />
a few non-Christian sources that documented these events. This<br />
is to be expected since it was done in a small state of Israel<br />
which was under the rule of the Great Roman Empire. However<br />
we do have a few such mention.<br />
• Mara bar Serapion, is a Stoic philosopher from ancient<br />
Syria, and<br />
is the author of the Letter of Mara bar<br />
Serapion, where he refers to crucifxion of a “wise King”<br />
who was executed by fellow Jews. This is considered to<br />
be the earliest non-Jewish, non-Christian references to a<br />
historical <strong>Jesus</strong>. The letter is dated to the first century AD<br />
and a 6th or 7th century AD manuscript (BL Add. 14658)<br />
is kept in British Library. It was first published by William<br />
Cureton, in the 19th<br />
Century.<br />
117
Change language