From Christ to Jesus
A Study on the Origin of Christianity
Abstract & Summary
From Christ to Jesus
A Study on the Origin of Christianity
What's in the Title?
  • It is inspired by the title of a book and documentary by current scholarship while taking the opposite side:
  • "From Christ" refers to the Epistles where Jesus is only described as a heavenly being and savior.
    "To Jesus" corresponds to the story of this God on earth which was created afterwards by the first Gospel.
  • It is also a tribute to French historian P.L. Couchoud (1879-1959) who promoted the German thesis of the non-historicity of Jesus Christ. He found a passage that seems to say that because of his humiliating self-sacrifice, an unnamed heavenly being has been granted the mighty name of Jesus.
    "And being found in human form, he humbled himself
    And became obedient unto death [even death on a cross].
    Therefore God has highly exalted him,
    And bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
    That at the name of Jesus    , every knee should bow,
    In heaven and on earth, and under the earth,
    And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
    To the glory of God the Father."
    Philippians 2:8-11
    “The God-Man does not receive the name of Jesus till after his crucifixion. That alone, in my judgment, is fatal to the historicity of Jesus.”
    P.L. Couchoud, 1939, The Creation of Christ
    close
Abstract
It is a certainty today that Christianity started by a man who became deified, whether this man was God himself, a miraculous prophet or an ordinary human being. Inside this paradigm, critical NT (New Testament) scholarship has shown that very little of what is said about Jesus in the Gospels can be true. However, despite an outstanding silence regarding this man in all the other records -Jewish, Pagan and especially Christian with the Epistles- (besides a couple of cases we will see chap. 6) none of these studies ever checked that their Gospel scenario -taught authoritatively by all seminaries and divinity schools- was correct.
Here, without making any assumption, we analyzed everything the Epistles, the Gospels and early non-Biblical texts say about Jesus. We also examine the sources of the Epistles and Gospels, how the stories were created and how they spread. Then, we check the validity of a few possible references to a HJ (Historical Jesus) outside the Gospels.
Contrary to what is universally taken for granted, the best scenario for the birth of Christianity is a God who became historicized. The two main outcomes are that there is a good chance Jesus didn't exist and a certitude that Christianity is wrong.
"Nobody is going to pour truth into your brain.
It’s something you have to find out for yourself"
Noam Chomsky
Summary
Exegesis
Today		 Critical
Bug		 The
Epistles		 The
Gospels		 Jesus
Outside		 Debating
References		 Conclusion
1 - Where are we today?
After 150 years of research, N.T. (New Testament) Scholarship is still unable to reach a consensus on what kind of man was the founder of Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth. But the experts are also primarily theologians living in a Christian environment pursuing many other agendas. They learnt from conservative divinity schools and universities hermetic to new ideas and who regularly retaliate against their own best professors and students. It is not a surprise then to find that their studies suffer from numerous historical issues, biased methodology and above all, terrible assumptions.
"Everything we do at Moody falls under the authority of the Bible, which declares timeless truth that is relevant today and throughout every generation."
"I am concerned, not with an unattainable objectivity, but with an attainable honesty."
J.D. Crossan The Historical Jesus
Nevertheless, a critical and secular branch of these scholars has discredited most of the OT (Old Testament) and the Gospels; something still unknown by the masses in 2023. Christianity was the great synthesizer of its time and a puzzle where all its Hellenic and Jewish pieces have been unveiled, leaving no place for a God.
Several historians like G.A. Wells, E. Doherty and R. Carrier went even further. They have produced since the 70's many valid arguments for a theory that would radically change our understanding of early Christianity.
2 - A Critical Bug in Mainstream Scenario
The main problem in all mainstream theories is the absence of any HJ (Historical Jesus) in the first Christian writings.
Among the two possible Scenarios for the Birth of Christianity, the God Historicized -a common practice of the time called today Euhemerism- is never suggested. Yet, its pattern is tightly matched when we look for key-words about Jesus like Lord, Savior, Crucified, Died, Nazareth, Pilate, Mary, Miracle, Jerusalem... across 200 years of Christian records.
Digging deeper, the 22 Christian documents known as the Epistles,
  • written by a dozen of different authors, Paul being the most prominent,
  • many of which predate the Gospels by several decades,
  • considered An Authoritative Guide
do contain more than 500 references to the Christ, the Son, Jesus (='Yahweh saves' in Hebrew) or the Lord, who is involved in three scenes Sacramental Meal, Metaphoric Crucifixion, Visions of Resurrection.
But, here is the thing, if we put aside three verses (Gal. 1:19, 1 The. 2:15-16, 1 Tim. 6:13) that we will look chapter 6, in 80,000 words, these Epistles never mention any:
  • Place: Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jordan River, Sea of Galilee, Capharnaum, Bethsaida, Chorazin, Tyre, Cana, Nain, Bethany, Tiberias, Jericho, Caesarea Philippi... Jerusalem is never connected with Jesus' death. Any Temple, Gethsemane garden, hill of Calvary, empty tomb...
  • Time: Only that "God sent his Son when the fullness of time had come" Gal 4:4, and that this mystery is revealed today to apostles like Paul and "behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. Jesus is never anchored in time. Nothing indicates that his crucifixion (or anything else) happened in a specific period in history, recently or not.
  • People: Herod, Any family member: Mary, Joseph, brothers, sisters. Anyone Jesus met: John the Baptist, Judas, Lazarus, Jairus, the Samaritans, Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Arimathea, Zacchaeus, Nicodemus, Simeon and Anna, the Pharisees, the word 'Disciples', the Sanhedrin, any Roman including Pilate...
  • Story: birth, baptism, 40 days in the wild, teaching at 12 in the Temple, fulfilling all OT prophecies, transfiguration, miracles (see below)... Any Passion story: entry into Jerusalem, cleansing of the Temple, betrayal by Judas, denial by Peter, trial by the Sanhedrin then the Romans, any Jewish mob, beating, Barabbas, earthquake, dark sky, apparition in flesh, doubting Thomas...
  • Saying*: any ministry, moral maxims, Cynic principles, Lord's prayer or any other prayer, sermons, prophecies, anything about the 'Kingdom of God', his claim to be the 'Son of Man', words on the cross, view on Judaism... Any parable: mustard seed, sower, tenants, fig tree, faithful servant, wheat & tares, leaven, hidden treasure, pearl, lost sheep, laborers in the vineyard, two sons, ten virgins, good Samaritan, rich fool, prodigal son...
    * Not counting when Jesus talks from the OT or Heaven or inside the head of an Apostle.
  • Miracle: feeding 5000, then 4000, stills storm, walks on water, turns water to wine. Any raising of Jairus' daughter, widow's son and Lazarus. Any healing of blind man (2x), Gadarene demoniac, Syrophoenician girl, centurion's servant, official's son, ten lepers, blind Bartimaeus, cripple at pool...
So we are left with six undisputable historical facts about Jesus in the Gospels that are ridiculously absent in the Epistles:
  • Baptized by John the Baptist.
  • Galilean who preached and worked miracles.
  • Limited his activity to Israel.
  • Called up those who would become his disciples.
  • Raised controversy over the role of the temple.
  • Crucified outside Jerusalem by the Roman authorities.
    [Only that he has been crucified]
This kind of Silence doesn't exist anywhere else. For examples:
  • In the NT, when an author talks about Jesus while being familiar with the Gospels:
    "Men of Israel, hear me: I speak of Jesus of Nazareth,
    a man singled out by God and made known to you through miracles, portents and signs... God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
    Speech of Peter in the Acts (2:22-36), written by Luke around 120-150 CE.
  • Or in another unrelated case, Pliny the Younger talking about the death of his uncle:
    During the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, in Pliny the Younger's mere 1,500 words we learn that his father died from respiratory failure after breathing the ashfall of Mount Vesuvius in his attempt to investigate the disaster and rescue survivors as commander of the Roman naval fleet stationed nearby.
    R. Carrier On the Historicity of Jesus
Anyone would have been curious to know what God did and said when he was among us. The Apostles would have been eager to talk about him, to preach what he said and why they think he was the Messiah. The opposite only leads to an absurd scenario.
This is an Argument from Silence that current scholarship is unable to explain! There is very little chance that Christianity would have started by the words and life of Jesus of Nazareth because the first Christians never mentioned them!
3 - Jesus in the Epistles: No Man Left Behind
We give first a quick overview of the 1st Century religious context. In late antiquity, an impressive network of different Jewish beliefs, sects & schools had spread across the diaspora & Palestine. Following the O.T. (which followed Zoroastrianism), some were believing in a multi-layers sky where many celestial creatures like Demons, Angels, Archangels, Heavenly Men, Son of Man... existed.
Many Jews were also expecting the imminent arrival of the Messiah (=Christ in Greek). Although traditional views saw him as a triumphant king on earth, others were already describing him as an Archangel, a Heavenly Judge, an Intermediary to God...even possibly, as a suffering figure. These 'views' were drawn from revelations and scriptural re-interpretation.
This Jewish world syncretised with the Greek world, particularly its Philosophy and Ancient Mysteries.
The HJ paradigm would be at odds with this context because it contradicts Judaism's fundamental theological tenet and no other man would have been exalted this way. Most religions start by people claiming revelations from angels; Jesus would be for Paul what Ahura Mazda was for Zoroaster, Archangel Jibreel (Gabriel) for Muhammed (Islam) or Angel Moroni for Joseph Smith (Mormons).
A thorough analysis of the Epistles shows they were preaching a very different Jesus than the one in the Gospels. Here he is The Son of God The Glory of God The Image and Likeness of God The Power and Wisdom of God The Love of God The First-Born of All Creation Co-Creator of the Universe Upholding the Universe All things have been created through him & for him All things are held together in him Through whom we exist A Spirit A Revealer and Mediator The Logos The Anti-Adam A Heavenly Judge A Heavenly Man.
But not a clue that he was also Jesus of Nazareth or even A Recent Man in Galilee.
This Jesus suffered a sacrificial crucifixion as a Forever High Priest Descending/ Ascending Redeemer Dying & Rising Savior. But there are no hints on where? when? who did it? or any temple betrayal trial Jewish mob Barabbas... even an empty tomb! See Passion Story.
The other fatal blow is that the authors tell us they solely knew this Jesus by Visiting the Heavens Visions Scriptures reinterpretations Being possessed by Christ Baptism & Eucharist. This is the way celestial figures have always been created including all the Jewish Angelology, the apocalyptic judge "Son of Man" and the Logos by Philo who have so much in common with this Jesus.
And Paul has seen Jesus like the others who have nothing to add to his message.
Current scholarship cannot explain this sudden elevation of an unknown illiterate Jewish peasant to the rank of Son of God, sustainer of the universe and world's sin redeemer, nor the existence of large Christian communities like the one in Rome, right at the beginning.

Epistles Result
So the dozen authors of the Epistles, including Paul, were believing in Jesus, not that Jesus was a recent man on earth. This Messianic Jewish sect in big cities of the diaspora was preaching a heavenly Messiah they know by Visions & Scriptures. He was the Son of God and had many different roles in the sky, including for some, a savior who would have reverted Adam's original sin through a mythical sacrifice, a sacrifice similar to the ones of the popular savior Gods of the time (Attis, Mithra, Osiris, Adonis, Dionysos... who never existed historically).
4 - Jesus in the Gospels: Facts or Fictions?
? ? ? ?
After Paul came the First Jewish-Roman War (66-74 CE).
"By the end of that same [first] century, after eight years of class warfare and colonial revolt, the Jewish homeland was devastated, Jerusalem and its great Temple were destroyed, and leadership had shifted its paradigm from Temple, priest, and sacrifice to Torah, rabbi, and study. That is religious paradigm shift writ large."
J.D. Crossan The Power of Parable
This period was also a time of
  • Midrash where Jews were transposing past sacred-scenes into current time...
  • Ancient Greek Novels/Romances (five survived complete from antiquity).
  • Hellenic Philosophies including Cynicism.
  • Martyrdom Stories. The idea of sacrificing oneself for one’s religious principles, country, or philosophical ideals was remarkably common.
The ancient world was full of local and national traditions about men, semi-divine figures or gods involved in the beginnings of religions, communities and nations.
"Beginning in protohistorical times many civilizations and kingdoms adopted some version of a heroic model national origin myth, including the Hittites and Zhou dynasty in the Bronze Age; the Scythians, Wu-sun, Romans and Koguryo in Antiquity; Turks and Mongols during the Middle Ages; and the Dzungar Khanate in the late Renaissance."
C. Beckwith 2009 Empires of the Silk Road
Greek and Hebrew founding myths established the special relationship between a deity and local people, who traced their origins from a hero and authenticated their ancestral rights through the founding myth.
In this literary context (plus the religious one seen for the Epistles), the story of Jesus of Nazareth appeared for the first time in the Gospel of Mark, sometime around 80 CE. Following the ancient Jewish process of inventing historico-religious stories, an unknown individual we call today Mark, created a supernatural and symbolic tale where many scenes -birth, temptation, baptism, transfiguration and especially the full Passion story- are a remake of the OT.
The character corresponds with the worldwide paradigm of the mythic hero archetype while having also many traits of Biblical prophets like Moses, Elijah and Elisa.
Top 15 Heroes in Folklore
  • Oedipus 21
  • Moses 20
  • Jesus 20
  • Theseus 19
  • Dionysus 19
  • Romulus 18
  • Perseus 17
  • Hercules 17
  • Zeus 15
  • Bellerophon 14
  • Jason 14
  • Osiris 14
  • Pelops 13
  • Asclepius 12
  • Joseph 12 (in Genesis)
A. Dundes Holy Writ as Oral Lit: The Bible as Folklore slightly updated by R. Carrier
During messianic expectation, he is preaching the arrival of the Kingdom of God in either a violent or soft way. He is also an incredible miracles worker (1 new miracle every 20 verses in the first Gospel, all following the same pattern) and a Cynic philosopher common in the Greco-Roman world. Finally, despite a remarkable life, he is put to death during the Passover sacrifice in a classic martyrdom story.
Nothing looks reliable while the burden of proof is on their side! Moreover the story makes no sense without supernatural or obvious inventions!
Hypothetical reconstructed texts like Q that could be independent of Mark are mainly a list of sayings that don't contain anything related to the passion and crucifixion. Thus, this Jesus would have nothing in common with the one in the Epistles. They are unrelated. This kind of shallow preacher could have existed (30%), but we know very little of him, even his name. We know nothing about his death, not even if he went once in Jerusalem. He is unconnected to the birth of Christianity.
Gospels Results
5 - Jesus outside the Bible
Philo Tiberias Josephus
Before 110-120 CE, or even later since Ignatius & Tacitus are unreliable, the HJ is unknown to all writers:
Epictetus Seneca Plutarch Pliny Suetonus
  • Jewish Philo of Alexandria, Justus of Tiberias, Josephus (see Interpolations)
  • Greek & Roman Pliny the Elder, Seneca, Epictetus, Martial, Juvenal... Also missing from Pliny the Younger, Suetonius and Plutarch despite they all wrote about Christianity.
The lack of any HJ in so many texts contradicts much of the Gospels and tells us that
either Jesus was a nobody or he did not exist
Even more problematic, like in the Epistles, he is also missing from many early Christian records:
Didache Shepherd Odes Felix Clement Barnabas
And four out of five Christian apologists of the 2nd Century:
  • Minucius Felix
  • Theophilus, Tatian & Athenagoras
  • Justin Martyr did believe in a HJ in his latest wrtings but not when he wrote this one:
    "But Christ-if has indeed been born, and exists anywhere- is unknown"
    Dialogue with Trypho 8:6
We can see a more earthly Jesus in 1 Clement (Sayings) and especially Barnabas (Sayings Wonders Israel) but the figure cannot still be anchored in time.
The lack of any clear reference to a HJ in so many Christian documents is much better explained by the Myth theory.
The nature of Jesus in the 2nd & 3rd centuries is also a major concern for the HJ.
  • Catholicism was First and Majority A form of Christian faith later declared heretical, Gnosticism, preceded the establishment of orthodox beliefs and churches in whole areas like western Syria, Egypt, Antioch and Edessa.
  • Catholicism Clashed with Paulinism Church father Tertullian called Paul "the apostle of the heretics". See also this supposed speech of Peter against Simon Magus who would have claimed like Paul to know Jesus from visions:
    "But can any one be rendered fit for instruction through apparitions?...
    then I ask, 'Why did our teacher abide and discourse a whole year to those who were awake?'"
    The Clementine Homilies book 17 chapter 19
  • Many Different Doctrines
    “Early Christianity was an enormously diverse affair. Different groups had different understandings of God, Christ, salvation, the creation, the afterlife, and most everything else.”
    B. Ehrman
    The sheer variety of Christian expression and competitiveness in the first century is inexplicable if it all proceeded from a single missionary movement beginning from a single source.
6 - Debating possible references to a HJ
Historicist Myth
For more than 1,000 years, Christianity was controlling the reproduction and elimination of texts. The list of interpolations and proven forgeries shows how much the winning sect used that time to tamper with evidence.
The two important interpolations, Josephus and 1 Thessalonians 2:15 are supported by many scholars. A historical Testimonium Flavianum is practically untenable today.
A handful of possible references in the Epistles to a HJ can be dismissed by simply interpreting them in their context. Particularly, the famous "Brother of the Lord", should be understood in the brotherhood cultic sense, maybe baptized, like everywhere else in Paul.
Moreover, the identification by NT Scholarship of James the pillar/the Just with one of the hypothetical brothers, is very unlikely. In the Gospels, Jesus renounced family and the only sign that one of his supposedely insignifiant brothers became the leader of the Church, has a good chance to be an accidental interpolation in Josephus Antiquities 20.9.1. The idea of James, the biological brother of Jesus arrived very late in Christian development, possibly through Hegesippus (110-180 CE), a Christian who fought Marcionism, then Clement of Alexandria (d. 215 CE)
Conclusion
The Epistles have unearthed something we thought forever buried in the past, the origin of Christianity is probably a Myth. The crucifixion and eucharist were mythical scenes revealed through visions and scripture reinterpretation.
"I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ."
Galatians 1.12
And we all agree that Paul never met the HJ.
The Origin of Christianity gets a new Timeline that better fits our records.
Concerning Christianity's hypothesis, its probability to be true would be negligible after this historical study alone.
Now, because Christianity makes also a lot of scientific & philosophic claims, I continued my investigation with one much shorter that evaluate them, and more broadly the existence of this kind of God. Here is the result:
After we include this analyse, the chance of Christianity dropped from negligible to a plain zero. So we have...

 
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