The Logic of the Resurrection
April 12, 2020
G.D.O'Bradovich III
Contemporary researchers could not have failed to hear the claim that the innovative Bible is an infallible document that contains everything pertaining to Christianity and Christian practices. Modern Christians place great significance on these texts for their faith. Of course, faith comes not through reading, but hearing.
We are familiar with certain attempts to reconcile the resurrection accounts, and, in many instances, they are reasonable. For example, the fourth gospel focuses on Mary Magdalene and it is reasonable to suggest that the other women were not with here, at least initially, however, later in the narrative she states “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” One could suggest that Mary Magdalene is utilizing the “Royal We”, or she is pregnant, or she is schizophrenic. However, one can speculate that she is using “we” in the common sense of the word and the reasonable inference is that “we” refers to herself and the other women. Regretfully, of all the exegeses of the resurrection accounts they we have studied, none maintain a reasoned approach throughout. The explanation for these inconsistent results is that the purpose of these commentaries is not ascertaining facts or seeking truth, but demonstrations to uphold the idea regarding the inerrant Bible.
If the four resurrection accounts found in the Bible cannot be rearranged into one understandable narrative without logical contradictions, then not only the infallibility of the Bible is weighted in balance and found wanting, but the Bible, regardless of other benefits it confers, could not be a certain guide for either morality or faith, but would be shown to be a pious fraud. The Gentle Researcher will not conflate the probable or likely interpretations of the Biblical text with the clear teachings of the ancient Churches. In conclusion to this part, logic is the basis for a liberal education and has been described as “the art of thinking” and thinking requires practice. For this essay, logic will consist of either or statements and as always, price and participation vary.
We are familiar with certain attempts to reconcile the resurrection accounts, and, in many instances, they are reasonable. For example, the fourth gospel focuses on Mary Magdalene and it is reasonable to suggest that the other women were not with here, at least initially, however, later in the narrative she states “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” One could suggest that Mary Magdalene is utilizing the “Royal We”, or she is pregnant, or she is schizophrenic. However, one can speculate that she is using “we” in the common sense of the word and the reasonable inference is that “we” refers to herself and the other women. Regretfully, of all the exegeses of the resurrection accounts they we have studied, none maintain a reasoned approach throughout. The explanation for these inconsistent results is that the purpose of these commentaries is not ascertaining facts or seeking truth, but demonstrations to uphold the idea regarding the inerrant Bible.
If the four resurrection accounts found in the Bible cannot be rearranged into one understandable narrative without logical contradictions, then not only the infallibility of the Bible is weighted in balance and found wanting, but the Bible, regardless of other benefits it confers, could not be a certain guide for either morality or faith, but would be shown to be a pious fraud. The Gentle Researcher will not conflate the probable or likely interpretations of the Biblical text with the clear teachings of the ancient Churches. In conclusion to this part, logic is the basis for a liberal education and has been described as “the art of thinking” and thinking requires practice. For this essay, logic will consist of either or statements and as always, price and participation vary.
Time: yet dark
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. John 20:1
Time: very early
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. Matthew 28:1
[NB: The end of the Sabbath was Saturday at sunset and “began to dawn” is approximately twelve hours later. “Dawn”, as the beginning of the day, is a recent innovation in European culture. Sunset begins a new day for the Hebrews, the Roman Catholics, and the Orthodox Christians. The account of the Creation found in Genesis sets the precedent: “the evening and the morning were the nth day”. From these two facts, the Gentle Reader may conclude that the Gospel of Matthew is more recent account than the other gospels.]
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. Luke 24:1
Time: rising of the sun
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Mark 16:1-2
We consider the timing of “very early”, “yet dark”, and to be synonymous for the purpose of this essay. However, the wording of “began to dawn” and “rising of the sun” is different from the previous descriptions and we consider these terms to be synonymous also. Therefore, from the beginning of the resurrection accounts, there are two different narratives.
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. John 20:1
Time: very early
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. Matthew 28:1
[NB: The end of the Sabbath was Saturday at sunset and “began to dawn” is approximately twelve hours later. “Dawn”, as the beginning of the day, is a recent innovation in European culture. Sunset begins a new day for the Hebrews, the Roman Catholics, and the Orthodox Christians. The account of the Creation found in Genesis sets the precedent: “the evening and the morning were the nth day”. From these two facts, the Gentle Reader may conclude that the Gospel of Matthew is more recent account than the other gospels.]
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. Luke 24:1
Time: rising of the sun
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Mark 16:1-2
We consider the timing of “very early”, “yet dark”, and to be synonymous for the purpose of this essay. However, the wording of “began to dawn” and “rising of the sun” is different from the previous descriptions and we consider these terms to be synonymous also. Therefore, from the beginning of the resurrection accounts, there are two different narratives.
Matthew Mark Luke John |
2 Narratives
Began to dawn Began to dawn Very early Yet dark |
The stone is found in place
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. Matthew 28:2
The stone was previously moved
And when they [the women] looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. Mark 16:4
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. Luke 24:2
Mary Magdalene ... seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. John 20:1
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary see the stone removed in the account of Matthew. In the other gospels, the stone was removed previous to the arrival of the women. Therefore, there are either two different narratives of the covering stone or two tombs are visited.
Matthew Mark Luke John |
2 Narratives
Began to dawn Began to dawn Very early Yet dark |
2 Narratives
Stone in place Stone previously removed Stone previously removed Stone previously removed |
After considering two facts [the relative time and whether the stone was in place or not], there are still two narratives, as Mark, Luke, and John remain consistent.
Woman/Women: outside the tomb
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary did not enter the tomb in the Gospel of Matthew.
And they [Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome] said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? Mark 16:3
And when she [Mary Magdalene] had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. John 20:14
Woman/Women: inside the tomb
And entering into the sepulchre, they [Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome] saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. Mark 16:5
And they [Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women] entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24:3
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary do not enter the tomb in the gospel of Matthew. In Mark 16:3 and John 20:14, they remain on the outside, while in Mark 16:5 and Luke 24:3, they enter the tomb.
One individual outside the tomb
His [the angel’s] countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary], Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. Matthew 28:3-7
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Luke 24:12
Then she [Mary Magdalene] runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he [he other disciple] stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. John 20:2-5
In Matthew 28:7, there is angel outside the open tomb and in John 20:4 and Luke 24:12, there is a man outside the open tomb.
One individual inside the tomb
And entering into the sepulchre, they [Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome] saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. Mark 16:5-7
One individual outside the tomb and one individual in the tomb
Then cometh Simon Peter following him [the beloved disciple], and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. John 20:6-7
Two individuals inside the tomb
Two men stood by them in shining garments: Luke 24:4
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. John 20:8
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they [the angels] say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. John 20:12-13
And it came to pass, as they [Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women] were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Luke 24:4-7
In John [20:8], there are two men inside the tomb [Simon Peter and the Beloved Disciple] and in Luke [24:4] two angels are inside the tomb. In Matthew [28:3], an angel is outside the tomb; in Mark [16:5], a young man is in the tomb; in John [20:12], there are two angels inside the tomb; and in Luke [24:4], two men are inside the tomb.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary did not enter the tomb in the Gospel of Matthew.
And they [Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome] said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? Mark 16:3
And when she [Mary Magdalene] had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. John 20:14
Woman/Women: inside the tomb
And entering into the sepulchre, they [Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome] saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. Mark 16:5
And they [Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women] entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24:3
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary do not enter the tomb in the gospel of Matthew. In Mark 16:3 and John 20:14, they remain on the outside, while in Mark 16:5 and Luke 24:3, they enter the tomb.
One individual outside the tomb
His [the angel’s] countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary], Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. Matthew 28:3-7
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Luke 24:12
Then she [Mary Magdalene] runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he [he other disciple] stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. John 20:2-5
In Matthew 28:7, there is angel outside the open tomb and in John 20:4 and Luke 24:12, there is a man outside the open tomb.
One individual inside the tomb
And entering into the sepulchre, they [Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome] saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. Mark 16:5-7
One individual outside the tomb and one individual in the tomb
Then cometh Simon Peter following him [the beloved disciple], and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. John 20:6-7
Two individuals inside the tomb
Two men stood by them in shining garments: Luke 24:4
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. John 20:8
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they [the angels] say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. John 20:12-13
And it came to pass, as they [Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women] were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Luke 24:4-7
In John [20:8], there are two men inside the tomb [Simon Peter and the Beloved Disciple] and in Luke [24:4] two angels are inside the tomb. In Matthew [28:3], an angel is outside the tomb; in Mark [16:5], a young man is in the tomb; in John [20:12], there are two angels inside the tomb; and in Luke [24:4], two men are inside the tomb.
Matthew Mark Luke John |
2 Narratives
Began to dawn Began to dawn Very early Yet dark |
2 Narratives
Stone in place Stone previously removed Stone previously removed Stone previously removed |
3 Narratives
One angel One man Two men Two angels |
There are three narratives, as Luke and John have two men or angels in the tomb, while Mark and Matthew have one man or angel. We err on the side of caution regarding the accounts and consider the men and angels, or messengers, to
be synonymous. However, we will not allow two men be one man, nor two angels be one angel.
be synonymous. However, we will not allow two men be one man, nor two angels be one angel.
The progression of individuals outside and inside the tomb:
One entity outside
Matthew 28:3
[Angel] |
Luke 24:12
[Peter] |
John 20:4
[Beloved disciple] |
One entity inside
|
Mark 16:5 [young man] |
Two entities outside
|
John 20:5
[Beloved disciple and Simon Peter] |
One entity outside and one inside
|
John 20:6
[Beloved disciple and Simon Peter] |
Two entities inside the tomb
Luke 24:4
[two men] |
John 20:8
[Beloved disciple and Simon Peter] |
Woman outside the tomb
Women outside the tomb Women inside the tomb |
John 20:11
[Mary Magdalene] Matthew 28:5 [2 women] Mark 16:5 [3 women] Luke 24:3 [at least 5 women] |
What the woman are told:
Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. Matthew 28:5-7
Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. Mark 16:6-7
Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Luke 24:5-7
The women are told in Matthew and Mark that Jesus will meet them in Galilee and this is omitted in Luke.
Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. Matthew 28:5-7
Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. Mark 16:6-7
Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Luke 24:5-7
The women are told in Matthew and Mark that Jesus will meet them in Galilee and this is omitted in Luke.
What the Women do: Tell the Apostles
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. Matthew 28:8
And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. Mark 16:10-11
And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Luke 24:8-11
What the Women do: Did not tell the Apostles
And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. Mark 16:8
Matthew, Luke, and John agree that the women told Apostles. In Mark, the women do not tell the Apostles, but Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and she tells the Apostles [Mark 16:9-11].
By considering angels to be men, three separate accounts of the events surrounding the resurrection.
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. Matthew 28:8
And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. Mark 16:10-11
And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Luke 24:8-11
What the Women do: Did not tell the Apostles
And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. Mark 16:8
Matthew, Luke, and John agree that the women told Apostles. In Mark, the women do not tell the Apostles, but Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and she tells the Apostles [Mark 16:9-11].
By considering angels to be men, three separate accounts of the events surrounding the resurrection.
Matthew Mark Luke John |
2 narratives
Began to dawn Began to dawn Very early Yet dark |
2 narratives
Stone in place Stone previously removed Stone previously removed Stone previously removed |
3 narratives
One angel One young man Two men Two angels |
3 narratives
Told disciples Told no one Told disciples Told disciples |
The mourners meet Jesus
And as they [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary] went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Matthew 28:9-10
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mark 16:9
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. John 20:11-18
The mourners did not meet Jesus
In the gospel of Luke, the women do not see Jesus.
And as they [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary] went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Matthew 28:9-10
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mark 16:9
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. John 20:11-18
The mourners did not meet Jesus
In the gospel of Luke, the women do not see Jesus.
M M L J |
2 narratives
Began to dawn Began to dawn Very early Yet dark |
3 narratives
Stone in place Stone removed Stone removed Stone removed |
3 narratives
One angel One man Two men Two angels |
3 narratives
Told disciples Told no one Told disciples Told disciples |
4 narratives
Saw Jesus Saw Jesus Did not see Jesus Saw Jesus |
In the gospel of John, only Mary Magdalene sees Jesus, while the women in the gospel of Luke did not see Jesus.
Unorganized
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. John 20:9-10
[None of the disciples, who were presumably Jewish, or at least Israelites, and had been with Jesus for at least three years, nor the women who ministered to Jesus, nor the leaders of the Sanhedrin, nor the scribes and pharisees were aware of the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah must rise again from the dead.]
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. John 20:9-10
[None of the disciples, who were presumably Jewish, or at least Israelites, and had been with Jesus for at least three years, nor the women who ministered to Jesus, nor the leaders of the Sanhedrin, nor the scribes and pharisees were aware of the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah must rise again from the dead.]
Conclusion
The Nicene Creed simply states that Christ “rose on the third day according to the scriptures”. Since the creed does not state the exact books that constitute the scriptures, we cannot know. The Orthodox Church has no dogma on the Bible and this is not surprising, as our research strongly concludes that the modern Bible is a product, not of the early church, but of the western church. Whatever discrepancies and contradictions exist in the four gospels concerning peripheral conversations and events, they all are in agreement that Jesus rose on the third day. One can say that the four gospels have different accounts, or traditions, regarding the same resurrection, similarly, the various national Orthodox churches have differing traditions, yet, they all possess the same faith.
There are no inherent contradictions in the belief in Christ is necessary for attaining Heaven and avoiding Hell, where Heaven and Hell are separate locations first taught by Roman Church in the medieval ages and subsequently adopted by most Christian communities. Heaven and Hell are not separate locations in Orthodox thought, but the same location is experienced differently by the Christian and non Christian. Although the Incarnation cannot be marginalized and remains part of the modern fundamentalist beliefs, the purpose of the Incarnation is reasoned such that God needs a perfect sacrifice for the remission of the sins of fallen man. This is a simple statement and, yet, it seems inelegant. The proper parallel is that God became man, so that man can become god and Heaven is the reward of the servant following, to the best of his ability, his Master. Of course, elegant statements can be untrue and inelegant statements can be true.
It is claimed that eternal truths has been divinely revealed to the Roman, Orthodox, and Protestants, and as these groups teach contradictory “truths”, it is left to the Gentle Reader to determine, either through logic or reasoning or both, the veracity of these competing claims.
Firstly, the Gentle Researcher may wish to begin with the concept of “Catholic”, which is taught as being believed by all people, at all times, and in all places. If a new dogma is promoted, then this innovation cannot hold to the standard of being universal, as previous generations would not be aware of future decrees concerning the welfare to their immortal souls. Furthermore, for a group to say that their teachings have not changed, but that they express themselves differently, the Gentle Reader may decide this type of statement is true and forthright or Machiavellian mischief. At times, the Roman pontiff speaks on behalf of God and presents new revelations to the faithful [cf. 1854, 1870, and 1950]. Secondly, the Gentle Researcher would determine which of the three claimants has not added new dogmas to eternal truths. Thirdly, knowledge of the salvation of one’s immortal soul is subjective and can only be known through the intervention of God. These involvements can be understood as a type of further revelation; revelation of a personal nature.
The Gentle Reader will reach his own informed conclusions on the resurrections accounts as found in the gospels and the profound ignorance of Messianic prophecies by diverse groups in the Biblical narratives, while the Gentle Researcher will reach his own conclusions, based, no doubt, on logic, regarding the subjective nature of revealed religions and the competing claims thereof, elegant statements as approaching truth, and, as always, theosis.
There are no inherent contradictions in the belief in Christ is necessary for attaining Heaven and avoiding Hell, where Heaven and Hell are separate locations first taught by Roman Church in the medieval ages and subsequently adopted by most Christian communities. Heaven and Hell are not separate locations in Orthodox thought, but the same location is experienced differently by the Christian and non Christian. Although the Incarnation cannot be marginalized and remains part of the modern fundamentalist beliefs, the purpose of the Incarnation is reasoned such that God needs a perfect sacrifice for the remission of the sins of fallen man. This is a simple statement and, yet, it seems inelegant. The proper parallel is that God became man, so that man can become god and Heaven is the reward of the servant following, to the best of his ability, his Master. Of course, elegant statements can be untrue and inelegant statements can be true.
It is claimed that eternal truths has been divinely revealed to the Roman, Orthodox, and Protestants, and as these groups teach contradictory “truths”, it is left to the Gentle Reader to determine, either through logic or reasoning or both, the veracity of these competing claims.
Firstly, the Gentle Researcher may wish to begin with the concept of “Catholic”, which is taught as being believed by all people, at all times, and in all places. If a new dogma is promoted, then this innovation cannot hold to the standard of being universal, as previous generations would not be aware of future decrees concerning the welfare to their immortal souls. Furthermore, for a group to say that their teachings have not changed, but that they express themselves differently, the Gentle Reader may decide this type of statement is true and forthright or Machiavellian mischief. At times, the Roman pontiff speaks on behalf of God and presents new revelations to the faithful [cf. 1854, 1870, and 1950]. Secondly, the Gentle Researcher would determine which of the three claimants has not added new dogmas to eternal truths. Thirdly, knowledge of the salvation of one’s immortal soul is subjective and can only be known through the intervention of God. These involvements can be understood as a type of further revelation; revelation of a personal nature.
The Gentle Reader will reach his own informed conclusions on the resurrections accounts as found in the gospels and the profound ignorance of Messianic prophecies by diverse groups in the Biblical narratives, while the Gentle Researcher will reach his own conclusions, based, no doubt, on logic, regarding the subjective nature of revealed religions and the competing claims thereof, elegant statements as approaching truth, and, as always, theosis.