Controversies of the Early Christian History

faith-and-doubt

• Does the fact that we have these kinds of discrepancies mean that we can't trust the gospels? Most critical historians concluded Jesus was probably born in Nazareth.

  GCEC-RC-011

• Isaiah 7 is talking about a political situation, but when translated into Greek, 'young woman' became the Greek word for virgin—reshaping Christian doctrine entirely.

  GCEC-RC-015

obedience-and-authority

• The gospels almost certainly were not written by eyewitnesses. Their authors were highly educated Greek-speaking Christians living decades after Jesus.

  GCEC-RC-007

• Thomas opposed sex even within marriage; this idea became the basis of Roman Catholic teachings that priests should remain celibate.

  GCEC-RC-021

self-and-identity

• These differences could be accounted for by saying Matthew recorded some stories and Luke others—but the inconsistencies between accounts remain stark.

  GCEC-RC-010

• In the ancient world, a large number of men were thought to be sons of God—supernaturally born, miracle-workers, ascending to heaven at life's end.

  GCEC-RC-016