Theos-Talk Archives (August 1996 Message tl00408)

Hi Jerry,

Some more questions about the historicity of Jesus as stated in Toldoth.

Unveiled Isis, BOOK III chapter III (116-145) page 135 HPB refers to
Epiphanius, Panarion I,II Haer XXVII,VI that refers to idolatry of carpocratians
that represented the image of Jesus made by Pilate. HPB gives credility to this
testimony of Epiphanius, so Jesus lived under Pilate.

Unveiled Isis BOOK III chapter III (116-145) page 119 HPB reproduce
Toldoth that states that Peter was contemporany to Jesus. Some lines before, at
same chapter HPB refers to Christ of Paul (who is the authorship???)  and agrees
that Peter lived under Nero reign. So Jesus never can be lived one century before.

Basilides believed that Jesus was not crucified, but "received the form of Simon", so
he "did not suffer death, but Simon, a certain man of Cyrene". Basilides also
accepted Gospel of Matthew (Clement of Alexandria Stromata VII,XVII cited
by HPB Unveiled Isis BOOK III, chapter III, page 139).
This passage about Simon of Cyrene is present in Matthew 27:32, and it seems
that Basilides recognices the description given in Matthew about Jesus passion,
as authentical (even though his interpretation is different from ortodoxy).
Toldoth gives no reference about Jesus crucifixion. So, comparing this
two sources (gospel of Matthew and Toldoth) it seems that Basilides
recognices the authenticity of story told in Matthew.

http://ccel.wheaton.edu/fathers  file ECF01.TXT
IRENAEUS AGAINST HERESIES,BOOK I,chapter XXIV

   4. Those angels who occupy the lowest heaven, that, namely, which is
visible to us, formed all the things which are in the world, and made
allotments among themselves of the earth and of those nations which are
upon it. The chief of them is he who is thought to be the God of the Jews;
and inasmuch as he desired to render the other nations subject to his own
people, that is, the Jews, all the other princes resisted and opposed him.
Wherefore all other nations were at enmity with his nation. But the father
without birth and without name, perceiving that they would be destroyed,
sent his own first-begotten Nous (he it is who is called Christ) to bestow
deliverance on them that believe in him, from the power of those who made
the world. He appeared, then, on earth as a man, to the nations of these
powers, and wrought miracles. Wherefore he did not himself suffer death,
but Simon, a certain man of Cyrene, being compelled, bore the cross in his
stead; so that this latter being transfigured by him, that he might be
thought to be Jesus, was crucified, through ignorance and error, while
Jesus himself received the form of Simon, and, standing by, laughed at them.
For since he was an incorporeal power, and the Nous (mind) of the unborn
father, he transfigured himself as he pleased, and thus ascended to him who
had sent him, deriding them, inasmuch as he could not be laid hold of, and
was invisible to all. Those, then, who know these things have been freed
from the principalities who formed the world; so that it is not incumbent
on us to confess him who was crucified, but him who came in the form of a
man, and was thought to be crucified, and was called Jesus, and was sent by
the father, that by this dispensation he might destroy the works of the
makers of the world. If any one, therefore, he declares, confesses the
crucified, that man is still a slave, and under the power of those who
formed our bodies; but he who denies him has been freed from these beings,
and is acquainted with the dispensation of the unborn father.

Abrantes