There was a pre-Christian belief in a Jesus

Pro's resolution: There was a pre-Christian belief in a Jesus. Con's resolution: There was not a pre-Christian belief in a Jesus. In order to support his/her resolution that there was a pre-Christian belief in a Jesus, pro states that Jews were looking for a Messiah, and used Philo of Alexandria and the Talmud as evidence for the resolution that there was a pre-Christian belief in a Jesus. Pro then concluded that: 1) The Jews were already looking for a messiah before the start and rise of Christianity 2) The Philo of Alexandria establishes the view of a pre-Christian Messiah that shares the same qualities that are attributed to Jesus, and possibly even named Jesus (as the Philo of Alexandria has many similarities with Zechariah, which talks about Joshua (which is what Jesus" name actually would have been in Hebrew) 3) The Talmud helps establish that there was a pre-Christian belief in a Jesus from the early 1st century BCE I shall now provide a rebuttal for each statement of the conclusion: 1) The Jews were already looking for a messiah before the start and rise of Christianity The word Jesus comes from Joshua, which is Hebrew for "YAHWEH is salvation." In the context of the resolution, "a Jesus" means someone who is like Jesus Christ. The word Christ means "the anointed one" which is Greek for Messiah. In Hebrew, the word Messiah means, "mashiach" which literally means "the anointed one" '[1] The Messiah is a key concept in Judaism, in fact, the Messiah is in Rabam's 13 Principles of faith for Judaism: G-d exists G-d is one and unique G-d is incorporeal G-d is eternal Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other The words of the prophets are true Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses There will be no other Torah G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked The Messiah will come The dead will be resurrected [2] [3] In Judaism, it is believed that the Messiah will do several things. He will: 1)Be a descendant of King David. 2)Gain sovereignty over the land of Israel, 3)Gather the Jews there from the four corners of the earth, 4)Restore them to full observance of Torah law, 5) Bring peace to the whole world. [4] [5] In Christianity, it is believed that Jesus is the Messiah. He fulfilled these prophecies: 44 Prophecies Jesus Christ Fulfilled Prophecies About JesusOld Testament ScriptureNew Testament Fulfillment 1Messiah would be born of a woman.Genesis 3:15Matthew 1:20 Galatians 4:4 2Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.Micah 5:2Matthew 2:1 Luke 2:4-6 3Messiah would be born of a virgin.Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:22-23 Luke 1:26-31 4Messiah would come from the line of Abraham.Genesis 12:3 Genesis 22:18Matthew 1:1 Romans 9:5 5Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac.Genesis 17:19 Genesis 21:12Luke 3:34 6Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob.Numbers 24:17Matthew 1:2 7Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah.Genesis 49:10Luke 3:33 Hebrews 7:14 8Messiah would be heir to King David's throne.2 Samuel 7:12-13 Isaiah 9:7Luke 1:32-33 Romans 1:3 9Messiah's throne will be anointed and eternal.Psalm 45:6-7 Daniel 2:44Luke 1:33 Hebrews 1:8-12 10Messiah would be called Immanuel.Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:23 11Messiah would spend a season in Egypt.Hosea 11:1Matthew 2:14-15 12A massacre of children would happen at Messiah's birthplace.Jeremiah 31:15Matthew 2:16-18 13A messenger would prepare the way for MessiahIsaiah 40:3-5Luke 3:3-6 14Messiah would be rejected by his own people.Psalm 69:8 Isaiah 53:3John 1:11 John 7:5 15Messiah would be a prophet.Deuteronomy 18:15Acts 3:20-22 16Messiah would be preceded by Elijah.Malachi 4:5-6Matthew 11:13-14 17Messiah would be declared the Son of God.Psalm 2:7Matthew 3:16-17 18Messiah would be called a Nazarene.Isaiah 11:1Matthew 2:23 19Messiah would bring light to Galilee.Isaiah 9:1-2Matthew 4:13-16 20Messiah would speak in parables.Psalm 78:2-4 Isaiah 6:9-10Matthew 13:10-15, 34-35 21Messiah would be sent to heal the broken hearted.Isaiah 61:1-2Luke 4:18-19 22Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek.Psalm 110:4Hebrews 5:5-6 23Messiah would be called King.Psalm 2:6 Zechariah 9:9Matthew 27:37 Mark 11:7-11 24Messiah would be praised by little children.Psalm 8:2Matthew 21:16 25Messiah would be betrayed.Psalm 41:9 Zechariah 11:12-13Luke 22:47-48 Matthew 26:14-16 26Messiah's price money would be used to buy a potter's field.Zechariah 11:12-13Matthew 27:9-10 27Messiah would be falsely accused.Psalm 35:11Mark 14:57-58 28Messiah would be silent before his accusers.Isaiah 53:7Mark 15:4-5 29Messiah would be spat upon and struck.Isaiah 50:6Matthew 26:67 30Messiah would be hated without cause.Psalm 35:19 Psalm 69:4John 15:24-25 31Messiah would be crucified with criminals.Isaiah 53:12Matthew 27:38 Mark 15:27-28 32Messiah would be given vinegar to drink.Psalm 69:21Matthew 27:34 John 19:28-30 33Messiah's hands and feet would be pierced.Psalm 22:16 Zechariah 12:10John 20:25-27 34Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed.Psalm 22:7-8Luke 23:35 35Soldiers would gamble for Messiah's garments.Psalm 22:18Luke 23:34 Matthew 27:35-36 36Messiah's bones would not be broken.Exodus 12:46 Psalm 34:20John 19:33-36 37Messiah would be forsaken by God.Psalm 22:1Matthew 27:46 38Messiah would pray for his enemies.Psalm 109:4Luke 23:34 39Soldiers would pierce Messiah's side.Zechariah 12:10John 19:34 40Messiah would be buried with the rich.Isaiah 53:9Matthew 27:57-60 41Messiah would resurrect from the dead.Psalm 16:10 Psalm 49:15Matthew 28:2-7 Acts 2:22-32 42Messiah would ascend to heaven.Psalm 24:7-10Mark 16:19 Luke 24:51 43Messiah would be seated at God's right hand.Psalm 68:18 Psalm 110:1Mark 16:19 Matthew 22:44 44Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin.Isaiah 53:5-12Romans 5:6-8 [6] While Jesus did fulfill many of the Old Testament prophecies, Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah because he did not fulfill all of the Messianic prophecies. The main prophecy Jesus failed to fufill was bringing peace to the world. (Isaiah 2:4) The distinction between the Messiah and Jesus is important because it was important for Jesus to fulfill being the Messiah, not the Messiah fulfill being like Jesus. Before Jesus Christ, people did not have a notion of Jesus Christ, but they did have a notion of the Messiah. Thus there was a pre-Christian belief in a Messiah, but not a pre-Christian belief in a Jesus. [7][8] 2) The Philo of Alexandria establishes the view of a pre-Christian Messiah that shares the same qualities that are attributed to Jesus, and possibly even named Jesus (as the Philo of Alexandria has many similarities with Zechariah, which talks about Joshua (which is what Jesus" name actually would have been in Hebrew) The Joshua that Zechariah was referring to was Joshua (Jeshua) the High Priest, who was the first person chosen to be the High Priest of the Second Temple. (Ezra 2:2, 3:2-9, 4:3, 5:2, Neh 7:7, Hag 1:1, 2:2, 4,12, Zech 3:1, 8, 6:11) While Joshua the High Priest had a similar name to Jesus and were both Jewish leaders, Joshua and Jesus did not have much else in common. 3) The Talmud helps establish that there was a pre-Christian belief in a Jesus from the early 1st century BCE Jews believe that Jesus is not the Messiah Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah The key disagreement between religious Jews and Christians is whether Jesus is the Messiah, and more specifically, whether he fulfilled the requirements to become the Messiah. Before Jesus, there was no belief in Jesus, but there was a belief in the Messiah. Therefore there was not a pre-Christian belief in a Jesus, instead there was a pre-Christian belief in a Messiah. Sources: [1] http://www.jewfaq.org... (The Messianic Idea in Judaism) [2] http://www.jewfaq.org... [3] http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org... [4]http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org... [5]http://www.jewfaq.org... (Olam Ha-Ba: The Messianic Age) [6]http://christianity.about.com... [7]http://www.jewfaq.org... (What About Jesus?) [8]http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org... (Paragraph 5)