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Apostles Quote by Alvar Ellegård

“I argue that the Jesus of the Gospels is essentially a myth. The Gospels are largely fiction. They were created around the turn of the first and second century in order to give concreteness and substance to the Jesus who, as the Messiah, had appeared to Paul and his fellow apostles in ecstatic…” quote by Alvar Ellegård
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““I argue that the Jesus of the Gospels is essentially a myth. The Gospels are largely fiction. They were created around the turn of the first and second century in order to give concreteness and substance to the Jesus who, as the Messiah, had appeared to Paul and his fellow apostles in ecstatic visions.””

Alvar Ellegård

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Apostles Christ-myth Christ-myth-theory Dreams Ecstatic-visions Gospels Gospels Essentially Gospels Largely Historicity-of-jesus Historicity-of-the-gospels Jesus Gospels Jesus-myth Jews Messiah Myth Myth Gospels Religion Unreliable Visions

About This Quote

The author claims that the historical Jesus is a mythic construct, arguing that the Gospels were written later to solidify visionary experiences into a concrete narrative.

In simple terms: Gospels as later myth-making

Key Takeaway

Gospels may be literary, not historical

Themes

mythology religious history textual criticism early Christianity visionary experience

Mood

analytical skeptical inquisitive

Type

theoretical critical academic

When to use this quote

  • academic debate on Jesus historicity
  • seminar on early Christian texts
  • theological curriculum
  • public discourse on religion

Key Concepts

myth vs. history authorship dating apostolic visions

Practical Applications

  • scholarly analysis of gospel origins
  • teaching critical thinking about religious narratives

Questions to Reflect On

  • What evidence supports a mythic versus historic Jesus?
  • How do we assess the reliability of ancient religious texts?

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