The Jesus Problem: A Restatement of the Myth TheoryRobertson, J. M. (John Mackinnon)
Religion
The Jesus Problem: A Restatement of the Myth Theory
Robertson, J. M. (John Mackinnon)
Jesus Christ
[199] This thesis was substantially put by me in the first edition of
Pagan Christs (1903). Dr. Conybeare, who appears incapable of accuracy
in such matters, ascribes the Joshua theory (Hist. Christ, pp. 32,
35) and the special hypothesis that Joshua was mythically the son of
Miriam, to Professor Smith, who never broached either. His pretext
is a passage in the preface to the second edition of Christianity
and Mythology, which he perverts in defiance of the context. On this
basis he proceeds to charge "imitation." Aspersion in Dr. Conybeare's
polemic is usually thus independent of fact.
[200] Historical Christ, p. 17.
[201] Id. pp. 8-9.
[202] Neither is it put by Prof. Drews, who merely cites (above,
p. 41, note) from Niemojewski, without endorsing it, an "astral"
theory of Jesus and Pilate. Dr. Conybeare appears incapable of giving
a true account of anything he antagonizes, whether in politics
or in religion. Elsewhere Drews speaks of astral elements in the
Christ story; but so do those adherents of the biographical school
who recognize the zodiacal source of the Woman-and-Child myth in
Revelation.
[203] At another point (p. 87, note) Dr. Conybeare triumphantly
cites Winckler as saying that "the humanization of the Joshua myth
was complete when the book of Joshua was compiled." This grants
the whole case. "Humanization" tells of previous deity; and just as
Achilles remained a God after being presented in the Iliad, Joshua
was "human" only for those whose sole lore concerning him was that
of the Hexateuch.
[204] Der vorchristliche Jesus, p. 1 sq.
[205] Mk. v, 27; Lk. xxiv, 19; Acts xviii, 25; xxviii, 31.
[206] Perhaps an exception should be made of Dr. Conybeare,
who believes Jesus to have been a "successful exorcist"
(M.M.M. p. 142). This writer sees no difficulty in the fact that in
Mark Jesus is no exorcist at Nazareth, and refuses to work wonders.
[207] P.C. 164.
[208] Rev. xxi, 14.
[209] iv, 4.
[210] Cp. ii, 9; iii, 9.
[211] iii, 14, 15; xix, 13.
[212] Origins of Christianity, ed. 1914, p. 27.
[213] Found in the Alexandrian and Vatican codices, and preferred by
Lachmann, Tregelles, and Westcott and Hort.
[214] to deuteron. The R.V. puts "afterward" in the text, with
"Gr. the second time" in the margin. Mr. Whittaker reads "afterward"
also, after "the second time"--apparently by oversight.
[215] Deane, Pseudepigrapha, 1891, p. 312.
[216] Josh. xxiv, 31, in Septuagint.
[217] C.M. 352.
[218] Art. by H. G. Wood in The Cambridge Magazine, Jan. 20, 1917,
p. 216.
[219] P.C. 202.
[220] Cambridge Magazine, Feb. 3, 1917, p. 289.
[221] G.B. v, 45 sq., 223; P.C. 364, 373-4.
[222] P.C. 112 sq., 131 sq., 140, 142, 144, 352, 362-4, 368.
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