Objection · Case 01 · Historical Jesus
The letter never names Jesus, and the wise king could be someone else. Isn’t calling this evidence for Jesus speculative?
One objection from the free evidence repository at apologetics.pro.
Response
Agreed, and this exhibit says so: Jesus is not named and the date is uncertain. The identification rests on the letter linking the wise king’s execution with the Jews’ subsequent loss of their kingdom, which fits the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 better than any other candidate. But fits is not proves. Mara bar Serapion is offered as a possible additional voice, explicitly not one to lean on, and nothing else here depends on it.
About this exhibit
This objection is to Mara bar Serapion.
Mara bar Serapion was a Syrian writer who, in a letter to his son, mentioned a wise king of the Jews who was executed, after which his people suffered. He does not name Jesus. The date of the letter…
Under Claim 02: Jesus is attested as a real person by non-Christian ancient historians.