Why the Testimonium Taciteum Is Authentic: A Response to Carrier

The reference to Christ in Tacitus' Annales is one of the earliest references to Jesus by a non-Christian author. Although this so-called "Testimonium Taciteum" is generally accepted as authentic, arguments against the authenticity of the passage given by Richard Carrier have not yet...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Blom, Willem Jan (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill [2019]
In: Vigiliae Christianae
Year: 2019, Volume: 73, Issue: 5, Pages: 564-581
IxTheo Classification:KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity
Further subjects:B Interpolation
B Christian
B Tacitus
B fire of Rome
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Description
Summary:The reference to Christ in Tacitus' Annales is one of the earliest references to Jesus by a non-Christian author. Although this so-called "Testimonium Taciteum" is generally accepted as authentic, arguments against the authenticity of the passage given by Richard Carrier have not yet received a thorough response. In this article, I will argue that the arguments against authenticity of the Testimonium Taciteum do not rest on solid ground, nor does the alternative interpretation of the passage by Carrier. On the other hand, it is probable that Tacitus referred in his passage to the persecution of Christians, although that persecution may have been less connected with the fire of Rome than is commonly suggested. There are also four arguments that favour the authenticity of the Testimonium.
ISSN:1570-0720
Contains:Enthalten in: Vigiliae Christianae
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15700720-12341409