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Nomore_lockout's avatar

Have you ever wondered, how the Roman report on the events of the Passion (if they really happened) might have been worded?

Asked by Nomore_lockout (7592points) November 8th, 2021

I mean, there was some weird crap going down, if we are to assume these events were real. And the Romans were efficient rulers, and reported everything of import. Wonder what Pontius Pilates boss would have written Tiberius?

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7 Answers

elbanditoroso's avatar

@Nomore_lockout your spelling has gone downhill.

To answer the question: they would have lied. As has been written millions of times – historians, and especially historians attached to a government or regime, write history of political purposes (and power!) and cannot be seen as historically accurate.

They would have spun the story to their advantage at the time.

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Nomore_lockout's avatar

I feel for whatever poor shmuck had to make that report. Earthquakes, weird darkness, tombs opening, zombies walking down the street. Uh, check! Better find another job Bro. Maybe the Chinese Empire can use a good administrator.

janbb's avatar

Jesus was referred to by Roman historians such as Tacitus and Josephus:

Josephus and Tacitus
Non-Christian sources used to study and establish the historicity of Jesus include the c. first century Jewish historian Josephus and Roman historian Tacitus. These sources are compared to Christian sources, such as the Pauline letters and synoptic gospels, and are usually independent of each other; that is, the Jewish sources do not draw upon the Roman sources. Similarities and differences between these sources are used in the authentication process.[d]

In Books 18 and 20 of Antiquities of the Jews, written around AD 93 to 94, Josephus twice refers to the biblical Jesus. The general scholarly view holds that the longer passage, known as the Testimonium Flavianum, most likely consists of an authentic nucleus that was subjected to later Christian interpolation or forgery.[51][52] On the other hand, Josephus scholar Louis H. Feldman states that “few have doubted the genuineness” of the reference found in Antiquities 20, 9, 1 to “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James”.[53][54][55][56]

“Tacitus, in his Annals (written c. AD 115), book 15, chapter 44,[57] describes Nero’s scapegoating of the Christians following the Fire of Rome. He writes that the founder of the sect was named Christus (the Christian title for Jesus); that he was executed under Pontius Pilate; and that the movement, initially checked, broke out again in Judea and even in Rome itself.[58] The scholarly consensus is that Tacitus’ reference to the execution of Jesus by Pontius Pilate is both authentic, and of historical value as an independent Roman source.[5”

Wkipedia

Note: You can always flag your own question and ask to edit it. This one will probably be sent back for editing.

Nomore_lockout's avatar

@janbb it needs to be, fore shore.

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