Hi John: My only intention is to provide not only the translation of the Alexandrian kylix’s sgrafitto to read : “Through Christ the Magician”, but to locate it within the historical milieu of the first half of the first century in Alexandria, amply demonstrating that it is both viable and tenable.
I. Prefects of Egypt (certain and approximate dates) Aulus Avilius Flaccus, 32 – 38 Lucius Aemilius Rectus, 41 – 42 Marcus Aevius, 42 - 45 Gaius Iulius Postumus, 45 - 48 Gnaeus Vergilius Capito, 48 – 52 II. Relevant Papyri P. Oxy. 1089 P. Berlin 551 P. Berlin 8877 P. Cairo 10448 P. Berlin 1079 P. London 1912 See also Philo, Against Flaccus Philo, Embassy to Gaius Josephus, Against Apion Josephus, Jewish Antiquities Egyptian Jewish-Christians noted to exist in Acts 2:10 would not be distinguished from Jews in the papyri. Consequently, the text of Joseph Me’le’ze Modrzejewski, The Jews of Egypt, Chapter 8, [especially 165 – 183], which presents a discussion of these texts, prefects, and historical events never takes this into account thereby failing to consider that the feuding and rioting with the Jews and Greeks of Alexandria could also include the Jews feuding and rioting among themselves between Jews and Jewish-Christians, and the Greeks with Jewish-Christians and Greek Christians. Therefore, when reading the relevant papyri it must be kept in mind that references to Jews also includes all sects of Christians. Moreover, Modrzejewski [page 183] makes reference to the Claudius’ reprimanding the Alexandrian Jews for their two unprecedented Embassies, which he says indicates that they should have worked out their problems within their own community before soliciting Rome. This could indicate internal Jewish disputes existed between Jews and Jewish-Christians, or Greeks with Jewish-Christians and Greek Christians, though Modrzejewski’s bent does not spell this out and seems not cognizant of this possibility isolating it to the Greek and Jewish disputes. Apparently, during the 17 – 20 years between the time of the certain dating of the first known presence of Jews in Egypt and the terminus ante quem of the kylix the development of Christianity in Alexandria had taken on more than one form including Gnostic-Christians probably emerging from the Greek and Alexandrian Egyptian converts. The Alexandrian kylix, therefore, res ipsa loquitur opening up a window to these dramatic developments, confirming them. John John N. Lupia III New Jersey, USA; Beirut, Lebanon http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/ God Bless Everyone --- On Mon, 9/22/08, John Whitehorne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: John Whitehorne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [PAPY] > To: [email protected] > Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 9:51 PM > Thanks for this, Stephen. This is mainly for Adam as list > administrator - hi > Adam, could you let discussion of this magical mystery pot > run on, please, > provided it doesnt get too OTT. I think that this is the > most lively I have > seen papy-l for many years. > Jack and John L. - could you in turn take your discussion > of the dating of > the gospels off list, please - it seems to be getting > personal rather than > papyrological.. > Thanks > John > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Stephen M. Bay" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:14 AM > Subject: Re: [PAPY] > > > > It boils down to a question of probability. There may > have been > > Christians in Egypt twenty years after the > crucifixion, but relative > > to the larger population, precious few. The best > estimates put the > > Christian population of Egypt in 100 CE at around one > one-hundredth > > of a percent of the total population. If the surviving > material > > remains are even remotely proportional to the > population > > distribution, the chances of any Christian artifacts > from 100 CE > > being unearthed in Egypt are slim; from 50 CE, much, > much slimmer. > > > > Best regards, > > -Stephen > > > > > > > > Stephen M. Bay > > Assistant Professor, Classics > > Brigham Young University > > (801) 422-1696 > > > > > > On Sep 20, 2008, at 7:30 PM, John Lupia wrote: > > > >> Mr. Kilmon > >> > >> The evidence you seek is now 1.5 billion > population of Roman > >> Catholics globally, whose scriptures you read > called the New > >> Testament with Luke written in AD 37, addressed to > Theophilus, the > >> High Priest in Jerusalem 37-41. > >> > >> > >> John N. Lupia III > >> New Jersey, USA; Beirut, Lebanon > >> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/ > >> God Bless Everyone > >> > >> > >> > >
