© 2005 Tim Simmons

(10) Irreconcilable Differences
The accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection as depicted in the gospels are in serious conflict. Furthermore, Jesus’ resurrection appearances were not originally part of the gospel of Mark (the earliest of the four gospels). Mark originally ended at 15:8 with the women running from the tomb frightened. Verses 9-20 were a later addition. What the Christian scholars often overlook is the interesting phenomenon of later gospel manuscripts knowing more details than the earlier ones! This is a clear indication that those details were never part of the original oral and written accounts but were inserted into the later copies.

(9) Been There, Done That
The concepts of heaven, hell, eternal life, etc., all predate Christianity as does a savior-god who died and was resurrected. (See Zoroastrianism, Osiris, Dionysus, etc.)

(8) The Silence of the Lamb
There are no historical writings by any first century historian that mention Jesus by name although there are many writings by early historians about Christians. The two passages in the writings of Josephus that are often waved around as proof Jesus actually lived are clearly forgeries. (See Earl Doherty’s comprehensive work, “Josephus Unbound”, at http://pages.ca.inter.net/~oblio/supp10.htm )

(7) The Making of a Messiah
Almost every miracle and event in Jesus’ life can be found in the Old Testament stories. Here are only a few of them.
a) Feeding the multitudes (2nd Kings 4:42-44, Matthew 14:13-21)
b) Shades of Jonah (Jonah 1:4-6, 15, Mark 4:35-39)
c) Jesus’ dying words (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 = Psalm 22:1, Luke 23:46 = Psalm 31:5, John 19:30)
d) Infanticide and one escapes (Exodus 1:22-2:10, Matthew 2:13-18)
e) The king rides on two donkeys at once! (Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:2-7)

(6) Jesus Believed the Old Testament
Jesus is depicted as believing the Old Testament verbatim and therefore invalidates himself since much of the Old Testament can be shown to be false.

(5) What Prophecies?
Jesus is not foreshadowed in the Old Testament (messianic prophecies were
not messianic prophecies!)
a) Whom they pierced (John 19:34-37, Zechariah 12:10-14,13:1-3)
b) Out of Egypt (Matthew 2:14-15, Hosea 11:1-2)
c) Rachel weeping (Matthew 2:17-18, Jeremiah 31:15-17)
d) Speaking in parables (Matthew 13:35, Psalms 78:2)
e) Nazarene nowhere in there (Matthew 2:23)
f) What third day prophecy? (Luke 18:31-33, Luke 24:46, 1st Corinthians
15:3-4)
g) Bethlehem was a man (Matthew 2:3-6, Micah 5:2, 1st Chronicles 4:4)
h) Virgin birth: a sign to Ahaz (Matthew 1:20-23, Isaiah 7 and 8)
i) Thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15, Matthew 27:9-10, Zechariah 11:12-13)

(4) A Sign To Ahaz
Isaiah 7's virgin (or young maiden) birth is not a prophecy about a coming
messiah. Period. It was a sign to Ahaz (that a boy, not a girl, would be born of the young woman) which already happened during Ahaz’s lifetime. This makes the authors of the virgin birth gospels (Matthew and Luke) in error! Paul never mentions the supposed virgin birth of Jesus or any prophesies regarding it. Bible scholars tell us that Paul probably never even heard of the virgin birth story in relation to Jesus. The earliest known Christian writings, the letters of Paul and the gospel of Mark, say nothing of it. It is a later development in the Jesus legend as the early Christians attempted to convert the Romans and Greeks. Anyone who was anyone in those cultures was born of a virgin. Julius Caesar, Hercules, Plato, and many other notables, both historical and mythical, were said to be born of virgins. It had to happen to Jesus too, eventually, if the Christians were to gain converts in the Greco-Roman world.

(3) Broken Promise, Failed Prophecy: What’s the Difference?
Jesus promised to return from heaven within the lifetimes of his
listeners – he never did. (Matthew 16:27-28, Matthew 24:34, Matthew 25:13, Matthew 10:23)

(2) The Severed Line
The Messiah was to be of the lineage of David yet Jesus was born of a
virgin! (Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Zechariah 13:1, Matthew 1:1,20-24, 9:27, 12:3, 23, 15:22, 20:29-31, 21:9, 15, Mark 12:35, Luke 1:27-33, John 7:42, Romans 1:1-3, 1st Timothy 2:8, Revelation 5:5, 22:16, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38, Jeremiah 36:27-31)

And the number 1 reason why Christianity is false…

(1) Jesus Sinned
Jesus sinned by making himself unclean when he touched the leper and dead
girl (a violation of Levitical law which all Jews were under. Jesus himself
agreed he was under the law.) (Ezekiel 44:25-27,Lev 13:1-8, Lev 5:2-6, Num
5:1-3, Num 19:11, Matt 9:23-26, Matthew 8:2-4)