If Paul is going to preach only the crucifixion and the resurrection, then
here at least he has to have something to say about them. If he spends the
day telling of Jesus' death and rising, and the significance of these
events, he cannot avoid questions about the physical setting, the historical
circumstances. He cannot talk about the death and resurrection of Jesus and
confine them in some rootless netherworld of spiritual significance with no
link to a worldly time and place.
Or can he? In fact, that is precisely what he does.
An Imaginary Scene
But let's say, for the sake of argument, that Paul steadfastly refused to
gather or preach any information on any aspect of Jesus' earthly life and teachings. We might envision something like the following scene
(no irreverence intended) in some rich Greek's house in the Diaspora, a mix of converts and interested friends and bystanders
gathered about Paul on a warm summer evening. Their conversation might go something like this:
Demetrios: (the host and owner of the house) So, Paul, tell us more about Jesus the Savior. I have heard that he taught the
people with great authority about the coming kingdom of God, and how we should
all love one another.
Paul: Yes, I have heard rumors to that effect, but I
consider such things to be unimportant, and as it happens I am not familiar
with any of his teachings.
Demetrios: I see. But your mission is to gentiles
like ourselves, is it not? Surely Jesus himself included gentiles in his own
ministry and directed his apostles to go out and preach to them? I would
certainly like to think that he did.
Paul: I suppose that's possible. I don't have any
first-hand information.
Hermes: You have performed signs and wonders for us,
Paul, which convinces us that the Lord is indeed speaking through you. I
understand that Jesus himself performed great feats over nature and once fed thousands
with a few loaves of bread. My friend Ampliatus heard about that when he was in the east.
Paul: (clearing his throat) Oh, I don't concern myself
with such things, and you shouldn't either. They're quite insignificant, and
you don't need to know about them to believe in the risen Son of God.
Junias: When I heard you would be here, Paul, I told
my sick mother that perhaps you would come around to see her and expel the
demon that is making her ill. I, too, have heard from a relative in Galilee that
Jesus expelled demons and healed many people-
Herodian: (interrupting in some agitation) Yes, the
demons have been especially active in my own household. My brother has
contracted a fever, and just last week the roof of my workshop collapsed for no reason-
Paul: (with a placating gesture) There is no doubt that
evil spirits beset us on all sides, my friends, and we must have faith that God
will deliver us from them. As to reports of healings by Jesus, perhaps he did,
but then every wonder-worker in the country makes such claims, so perhaps we
should not place too much importance on such things.
Olympas: You have told us about the coming End,
Paul, and I look forward to our promised deliverance from this sorry world,
but I am greatly frighted by what may happen. Did Jesus reveal anything to
his disciples about what things would be like when he comes back from heaven?
Paul: (somewhat miffed) Who knows? One can't rely on what
those so-called 'men of repute' in Jerusalem are spreading around anyway. After
all, they're only fishermen. Besides, as I have told you, I have information on the
subject directly from Christ himself-
Agrippa: (a Jew) Some of my Jewish friends have
heard of your preaching, Paul, but when I invited them to join us at table,
they said they could not break their purity regulations and eat with gentiles.
Did Jesus follow such strict rules and refuse to eat with the unclean-
(gesturing to the others) not that I subscribe to such rigid views myself.
Paul (exasperated) I have no idea.
Crispus: (looking a little pained) I have a Jewish
friend, too, who is a follower of Christ. But he says that even the gentile has
to be circumcised-(pained expressions all around)-and follow every aspect of the
Jewish law if he wishes to become a member of your faith in Christ.
Is that so? Did Jesus specify such a requirement?
Paul: My friends, my friends, why all these foolish
questions? What Jesus may have said or done in the course of his life is completely
immaterial. I have already informed you of the only thing that matters,
Christ's own suffering and death, and his rising from the dead. These are the things that
have brought us salvation!
Demetrios: (hastily, sensing some perplexity and
unease among his guests) Yes, my friends, the Lord's passion is surely what we should all be focusing
on, and what he went through in his terrible ordeal. Tell us about that,
Paul. Was he tortured and scourged before they crucified him?
Paul: (shrugging) I assume he was. The Romans do that to
everyone they crucify.
Gaius: (spitting in disgust) Yes, and here they
break the condemned man's legs to make him die more painfully.
I suppose they did that to Jesus, too?
Paul: I don't know. I wasn't there.
Archippus: Tell us what he said, Paul, when they put
him up on the cross. Even now the authorities are persecuting new believers in
Christ and I wonder if we'll suffer their hatred, too, just as Christ did. Did he speak?
Did he stand fast? Did he condemn them for what they did?
Paul: (curtly) I didn't ask. But let me tell you about
what the Lord revealed to me personally-
Julia Oh, how I envy you, Paul! You who have been
to Jerusalem and could stand on the very spot where Jesus was crucified. That
would give me the shivers. You must have felt his presence. Is that when he
spoke to you?
Paul: My dear lady, I've never been to Calvary. I
couldn't find the time when I went to see Peter and James. It's only a little hill, after all.
Persis: But the tomb, Paul. Did you not see that?
Are there still signs of the Lord's resurrection? Do Jesus'
followers pray there every Easter Sunday?
Paul: (throwing up his hands) As to that, I couldn't say.
But one tomb is much like another, don't you think? Why fill your heads with such paltry
details? We should better focus on the eternal significance of these events-
Demetrios: (noting nervously that a couple of his
guests had quietly slipped away) Well, I am sure we all agree that Paul has been very enlightening on
the subject of Christ Jesus. Perhaps we should retire to the atrium for
aperitifs and he can tell us more. . . .
A fantasy?
In more ways than one. There are other, insurmountable problems in these sorts of explanations.
If Paul had no interest in Jesus the teacher, in Jesus the miracle worker, in Jesus the apocalyptic prophet,
what on earth led him to this man, and caused him to elevate him to such a cosmic level?
Earl Doherty,
The Jesus Puzzle Appendix 2