The Sources of Celsus’s Criticism of Jesus
Theological Developments in the Second Century AD
By (author) E. Tijsseling
This book is about what Celsus wrote about Jesus in the Second Century, what Celsus’s image of God was like, and especially where Celsus found the ammunition to criticize Jesus so fiercely. Why did Christianity’s growth bother a pagan philosopher, who was committed to Roman religion? Why did it bother a Platonic philosopher, although Christianity was never meant to be a philosophy? Egge Tijsseling explores the idea that Christians finished the Roman Empire, because they did not want to join the army – Jesus preached nonviolence, and if they did join the army, they only recruited more Christians, and finally because Christianity was “soft”, and therefore attractive for many in the strict and hierarchic Roman world. This book investigates Celsus’ reasons to write such a versatile book against Jesus, that Origen almost a century later needed eight books to refute him.
This book is about what Celsus wrote about Jesus in the Second Century, what Celsus’s image of God was like, and especially where Celsus found the ammunition to criticize Jesus so fiercely. Why did Christianity’s growth bother a pagan philosopher, who was committed to Roman religion? Why did it bother a Platonic philosopher, although Christianity was never meant to be a philosophy? Egge Tijsseling explores the idea that Christians finished the Roman Empire, because they did not want to join the army – Jesus preached nonviolence, and if they did join the army, they only recruited more Christians, and finally because Christianity was “soft”, and therefore attractive for many in the strict and hierarchic Roman world. This book investigates Celsus’ reasons to write such a versatile book against Jesus, that Origen almost a century later needed eight books to refute him.
- By (author) E. Tijsseling
"As a whole, Tijsseling has offered a helpful and intriguing volume on Celsus's critiques of the Gospels and Jesus. . . . Scholars of second-century Christianity will benefit from simply reading through these testimonials, conveniently gathered into one volume." Kruger, Michael J., Church History, October 2, 2023
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Other Titles in this Series
Synopsis of the Book of Esther
Masoretic Text, Old Greek, Alpha Text, Old Latin, Vulgate, Jewish Antiquities
Prophecy after the Prophets?
The Contribution of the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Understanding of Biblical and Extra-Biblical Prophecy
Volume 52
“With All Your Soul Fear the Lord” (Sir. 7:27)
Collected Essays on the Book of Ben Sira II
Volume 87
Re-thinking the Death of Jesus
An Exegetical and Theological Study of Hilasmos and Agape in 1 John 2:1-2 and 4:7-10
Volume 73
Studies on Jewish and Christian Historical Summaries from the Hellenistic and Early Roman Periods
Volume 95
In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes
Studies in the Biblical Text in Honour of Anneli Aejmelaeus
Volume 72
“If Christ is Preached as Raised from the Dead…”
Studies in Honour of Riemer Roukema on the Occasion of His Retirement
Volume 123
Beyond the Breach
An Exegetical Study of John 4:1-42 as a Text of Jewish-Samaritan Reconciliation
Volume 92
Three Versions of Esther
Their Relationship to Anti-Semitic and Feminist Critique of the Story
Volume 74
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