# How did early Christians reconcile divinity of the bible with it's human authors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 26, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751 "2018-12-26T19:57:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/81 "2018-12-28T16:32:51Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > I wouldn’t say I doubt their veracity, I like to assume good intentions. But I don’t know, can you provide an example? You have already provided examples of researchers you do not agree with. By the way, “I wouldn’t say I doubt their veracity, I like to assume good intentions” sounds like damning with faint praise-you either doubt their veracity or you don’t. Do you believe that a large group of dead people arose when Jesus died? > [@Matthew 27:50-54](#): > > "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. > At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/82 "2018-12-28T16:37:49Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Where are you going with this? I am trying to find out if you are applying critical thinking to your beliefs. As far as I can tell, you accept all Church dogma unchallenged. Is there anything in the the New Testament that you find unbelievable? ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/83 "2018-12-28T16:38:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You have already provided examples of researchers you do not agree with. By the way, “I wouldn’t say I doubt their veracity, I like to assume good intentions” sounds like damning with faint praise-you either doubt their veracity or you don’t. Fair enough, I guess I can’t really answer that without a specific example. I may doubt the veracity of a specific researcher here or there, but not universally just because they disagree. It would be more an issue of _why_ they disagree that could potentially expose dishonesty. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Do you believe that a large group of dead people arose when Jesus died? I have no reason to doubt the Gospel account, but the literal facts of that particular passage is not something I would stake my life on. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/84 "2018-12-28T16:41:53Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I am trying to find out if you are applying critical thinking to your beliefs. As far as I can tell, you accept all Church dogma unchallenged. > > Is there anything in the the New Testament that you find unbelievable? Yes, I admit to accepting all Church dogma. I became convinced that the Catholic Church is the institution founded by Jesus, with his promises attached, so I have no choice but to assent to its authority, or else leave Christianity altogether. Unbelievable? Well any alleged supernatural event is hard to swallow, but when you come to believe that Jesus is the Creator God, of course it’s believable. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/85 "2018-12-28T16:45:40Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Yes, I admit to accepting all Church dogma. I became convinced that the Catholic Church is the institution founded by Jesus, with his promises attached, so I have no choice but to assent to its authority, or else leave Christianity altogether. > > Unbelievable? Well any alleged supernatural event is hard to swallow, but when you come to believe that Jesus is the Creator God, of course it’s believable. Despite advertising itself as “The Church”, there _are_ other Christian sects out there and, if need be, even older religions. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/86 "2018-12-28T16:50:04Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Yes, I admit to accepting all Church dogma. I became convinced that the Catholic Church is the institution founded by Jesus, with his promises attached, so I have no choice but to assent to its authority, or else leave Christianity altogether. > > Unbelievable? Well any alleged supernatural event is hard to swallow, but when you come to believe that Jesus is the Creator God, of course it’s believable. Are there people alive today who were alive in Jesus’ time? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/87 "2018-12-28T16:51:43Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > **I have no reason to doubt the Gospel account** , but the literal facts of that particular passage is not something I would stake my life on. (bolding mine)No reason? A large group of holy zombies rose up out of the ground and wandered into town. Better yet, a large group of holy zombies rose up out of the ground and wandered into the town, _and Matthew was the only one to make mention of this event._ ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/88 "2018-12-28T16:51:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Despite advertising itself as “The Church”, there _are_ other Christian sects out there and, if need be, even older religions. Yes, I was raised in other Christian sects. I have analyzed their claims and found them lacking. I am admittedly not very familiar with Eastern religions, but I am convinced of the divinity of Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/89 "2018-12-28T16:53:49Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Are there people alive today who were alive in Jesus’ time? Certainly none that we know about. If there’s someone out there who is over 2,000 years old, then good on them. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/90 "2018-12-28T16:54:49Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > (bolding mine)No reason? > A large group of holy zombies rose up out of the ground and wandered into town. > Better yet, a large group of holy zombies rose up out of the ground and wandered into the town, _and Matthew was the only one to make mention of this event._ Maybe I’m just a trusting person. Why would he make that up? Maybe the passage loses something in the English, lol, who knows? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/91 "2018-12-28T16:59:37Z")
I have a co-worker who converted to Catholicism in his adulthood, as part of a gradual movement from atheism through other Christian faiths. He’s a perfectly sane human being, apart from being a therapist, and his take on it is pretty simple: “I fully recognize that it’s laughably inconsistent, totally illogical, and beyond reason. I \*choose \*to believe despite this, because doing so brings value to my life. YMMV.” ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/92 "2018-12-28T17:00:26Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Certainly none that we know about. If there’s someone out there who is over 2,000 years old, then good on them. Hmm, Jesus said there are: > [@](#): > > Matthew 16:28 > > 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/93 "2018-12-28T17:03:43Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Hmm, Jesus said there are: That statement is almost universally accepted as referring to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70. It could also refer to the establishment of the Church at Pentecost. It does not refer to the coming at the final judgment as referred to in the Nicene Creed. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/94 "2018-12-28T17:04:38Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Maybe I’m just a trusting person. > > Why would he make that up? Maybe the passage loses something in the English, lol, who knows? I’m glad you take your religion so seriously…lol. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/95 "2018-12-28T17:09:28Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m glad you take your religion so seriously…lol. My religion does not stand or fall on the literalness or lack thereof of the infamous “zombie passage”. I take articles of faith and dogma very seriously. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/96 "2018-12-28T17:12:03Z")
> [@Razncain](#): > > Alrighty then, name a single exorcism by Jesus, or a single miracle that has merit? If these weren’t actual events to you, explain the significance. Oh gee, most of His Miracles were healing the sick, something that even today a decent faith healer can do and a Quack can do with a nostrum and a MD can do with sugar pills. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/97 "2018-12-28T17:14:06Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > That statement is almost universally accepted as referring to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70. It could also refer to the establishment of the Church at Pentecost. Once again, I must question the size of your “universe”, for it is as easy as typing “Matthew 16:28” into whatever search engine you use to find out that what you claim is certainly not “universally accepted”. Perhaps what you say is accepted by your particular Christian sect? I do not know. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/98 "2018-12-28T17:16:46Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > That statement is almost universally accepted as referring to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70. Did Jesus appear to anyone at the destruction of the temple in AD 70? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/99 "2018-12-28T17:17:32Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > My religion does not stand or fall on the literalness or lack thereof of the infamous “zombie passage”. > > I take articles of faith and dogma very seriously. So the “lol” is directed not at what you are taught. Is it perhaps directed at those that that would question what you are taught? ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751/100 "2018-12-28T17:20:01Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Did Jesus appear to anyone at the destruction of the temple in AD 70? I don’t know. Why are you interpreting “the Son of Man coming in his kingdom” as necessarily referring to a physical appearance of Jesus? Did the Apostles interpret it that way? Did the early church fathers interpret it that way? Have Popes historically interpreted it that way? Does Joel Osteen interpret it that way? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751.md?page=6)