Mining Myth and the Gospels I recently watched a debate between Richard Carrier and William Lane Craig, one of Christendom’s great modern apologists. In the debate, Richard Carrier brought up a point about the trial of Jesus,and the role that the character of Barabbas plays in this scenario. In the example of Barabbas, Richard argued that this was a literary device that was used in the Bible not because Barabbas was a historical character, or that the event actually happened, but because it was a tool that utilises a Jewish tradition to make a religious point. This religious tradition that the author of Mark took from is conducted during Yom Kippur where two goats are used in a ritual where one goat is chosen to bear the sins of Israel and sacrificed (hence the term scapegoat), and the other goat being released into the wild to be claimed by the devil. The similarity of the part of the trial of Jesus that this relates to is striking. But it doesnt end there. What does the name of Barabbas mean? It means “the Son of a Father”. In earlier Gospel manuscripts the term was Jesus Barabbas. One Jesus is sacrificed for sins, the other released. Coincidence? Doubtful. Peace.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 04:14:40 +0000
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