The New Testament is Historically Accurate

The ancient Greeks built many temples to Hercules, and worshiped him as a god. Perhaps it would be enlightening to compare the New Testament to the Dodekathlon.[1] Arguments for the Dodekathlon. 1. Embarrassing Details Hercules was born of a married human woman and of the God King Zeus. This was adultery.[2] The sister/wife of Zeus attempted to murder the child by the use of snakes.[2] Hercules murdered his family.[2] Thus the story of Hercules must be true. 2. Historical Details The twelve labors of Hercules must have happened, because each location was named, and can be found on a map today.[3] 3. Martyrdom Hercules was a martyr, revered for consistent persecution of himself before ascending to Heaven.[2] Countering arguments for the New Testament 1. Embarrassing Details: >> If you were going to make up a story and write a pseudo-autobiographical book, how would you picture yourself in the book? I don't no about you, but I'd be making myself look pretty good. No, the point was to make the hero look good: deep and wise. In this case the others should appear stupid. >> Peter also is called "Satan!" Drama. If everyone was all for Jesus' plan then it would make less of a story. >> their leader is referred to as Satan Adversary.[4] Which in that role, he was. >> Let's look at the story of the woman that washed Jesus's feet. The woman was a known prostitute. The woman was long held to be Mary Magdaline, who was NOT a prostitute.[6] >>The first people to ever find the empty tomb were women. In those days, women were not seen as viable witnesses! Jesus would appear to his wife first, of of course. 2. Historical Details >> Eyewitness accounts "There are no "eyewitness" accounts written about Jesus during his lifetime, so historians have to rely on interpretations of the four main canonical gospel texts, mostly scrawled several decades after his death."[7] 3. Martyrdom >> The NT writers and believers also obviously believed what they preached. They died. Read the Bible. One was crucified upside down, one was beheaded, and another was banished to die on a deserted island. They really believed. My opponent contends that items are in the bible that are not. Further. Everyone dies. It is up to the storyteller to state how. 1. There was talk of a cover-up Do not miss the impact of the fact that the prevailing theory was that the disciples had stolen the body. The biblical text cited was written to refute this argument. But the argument was alive and well during that time. "this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day."[] 2. Jesus didn't really die Of course he did. My point. 3. The NT was written in a positive light See rebuttal above. 4. "Why was he executed. Because of public outcry. He was causing a rebellion." >> Matthew 26:59-66 First, to address the text. The position of the High Priest was that of the religious leader. The Roman Catholic pope would not execute a man for claiming to be Jesus. He might call the police if a man invaded the Vatican. Under Roman law, even the High Priest did not have the power to execute a person. If a man presented extreme disorderly conduct in the place of worship,[9] he could call the Romans.[10] My opponent's quote is invalid. The above is the facts of the matter, there is a lot of embellishment in the bible regarding these items. New Testament contradictions in the next round. [1] http://www.perseus.tufts.edu... [2] http://www.perseus.tufts.edu... [3] http://www.igreekmythology.com... [4] http://www.blueletterbible.org... [5] http://en.wikipedia.org... [6] http://www.bbc.co.uk... [7] http://www.livescience.com... [8] http://www.biblegateway.com... [9] http://www.biblegateway.com... [10] http://www.biblegateway.com...