Where Did Jesus Die? — Page 117
Chapter Nine—Paganism and Paul 117 the doctrine originated by Paul resulted in the taking of Jesus, a mortal being as God; and yet he had been sent to establish the Oneness of God and to teach that no one should be worshipped besides Him! Did Jesus Prophesy the Crucifixion and Resurrection? In 1927, when I was in Damascus, a debate in writing took place between myself and Rev. Alfred Nelson, then in charge of the Christian Mission in Damascus, on the subject: ‘Did Jesus die on the Cross?’ During this he asked me the following question: ‘If we believe that Jesus did not die on the cross, then was his prophecy that he would be killed and rise again on the third day untrue?’ My reply to this question was: You cannot say positively that these were the exact words spoken by Jesus. These books were written at a time when the theory of crucifixion, invented by Paul, had come to be accepted by the majority of the Christians. Luke as we know, was very much in the company of Paul. He accompanied him on many of his travels. 1 He was with him at Rome. 2 And Mark, according to a fragment of Papias, was the fol- lower and interpreter of Peter. 3 Furthermore, it is in dispute who were the authors of the other two Gospels. It is not strange, therefore that we should find 1. See for instance the Acts 16:12 and 28:13. 2. 2 Tim. 4:11 3. Ency. Brit. , edition II Vol. 17 p. 729.