Notes:

Note #1. – See Jewish Sanhedrin 10:11,7:12,&:16,104-106. See Joseph Klausner – Jesus of Nazareth, New York, Mc millian, 1925 pages 23-28,35. Note #2. – Papias wrote (5) books entitled Expositions of the Oracles of the Lord. These writings are lost but some of their content is preserved by Eusebius (A.D. 260-339) in his work –The Church History.

Papias stated “And whenever anyone came who had been a follower of the Elders, I would ask about their words – what Andrew or Peter had said or Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s disciples and what Aristion and the presbyter John, disciples of the Lord were still saying. For I did not think that information from books would help me as much as the word of a living, surviving voice” – Book 3:39 Eusebius quotes Irenaeus as saying regarding Papias – “To these things also Papias – who was an ancient writer, heard John and was a companion of Polycarp….” Book 3:39

Note #3. Polycarp was the bishop of the church at Smyrna and the teacher of Irenaeus. He wrote the letter to the Philippians in A.D.110. Eusebius relates information from Irenaeus – “Polycarp not only was instructed by apostles and conversed with many who had seen the Lord, but also was appointed by apostles in Asia as Bishop of Smyrna. I also saw him in my childhood, for he lived a long time and passed away in extreme old age in glorious martyrdom. He continually taught the things he had learned from the apostles…” Eusebius – The Church History – Book. 4:14

Note #4.Origen stated that Clement was a disciple of the apostles – Origen – De Principiis 2.3.6. Church father Tertullian refers to Clement as being appointed by Peter to the office of bishop of Rome. He wrote the letter to the Corinthians which is still in existence.

Note #5. Ignatius was a companion of Polycarp and along with Polycarp and Papias was a student of the Apostle John. See Eusebius The Church History – Book 3:23.

Note #6. The following resources are recommended for both their ease of reading and the scholar level research on the subject matter of the reliability of the New Testament.A. Josh McDowell – The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict – Thomas Nelson Pub. – 1999 B. Craig Blomberg – The Historical Reliability of the Gospels – Intervarsity Press – 2007 C. Paul Barnett – Is the New Testament Reliable? – Intervarsity Press – 2003 D. Robert B. Stewart, Editor – The Reliability of the New Testament – Fortress Press – 2011 E. M.J. Wilkens, J.P. Moreland – Jesus Under Fire – Zondervan Pub. – 1995 F. Josh McDowell, Bill Wilson – He Walked Among Us – Here’s Life Publishers – 1988 G. Lee Strobel – The Case For Christ – Zondervan Pub. – 1998 F. Bruce M. Metzger – The New Testament its Background ,its Growth and Content – Abingdon Press – 1989

Note #7. The New Testament is very clear on the Divinity and Deity of Jesus Christ. Jesus was fully a man but He was also fully God in human flesh. The following are some key New Testament references that indicate this: John 1:1-14 ; John 5:17,18 ; John 8:52-58 ; John 10:30 ; John 14:9; John 20:28 ; Philippians 2:5-11 ; Colossians 1:14-19 ; I Timothy 3:16 ; Titus 2:11-14 ; II Peter 1:1 ; Hebrews 1:1-3.

Note #8. Adapted from Arise, Sir Knight , a sermon by James Allan Francis, in The Real Jesus and Other Sermons ( Philadelphia: Judson, 1926 , page 123,124.)

Note #9. The nature of Christ’s miracles: No one before or since has ever come even close to approaching the power of Jesus Christ. He remains forever the unique Son of God. His miracles recorded in the Gospel were: 1.) Undeniable 2.) Awesome in power and scope 3.) Instantaneous 4.) Authoritative 5.) Complete 6.) Specific 7.) Irrefutable.

Note #10. 10 myths regarding Jesus:1. He was not an historical person. He never existed.2. He is and was irrelevant.3. He was just a good man.4. He was a great moral teacher.5. He was a sincere but deluded individual.6. He was a fabrication of 4th and 5th century religionists.7. He was a simple, humble man with a higher spiritual consciousness.8. He was one of the many religious avatars or saviors who have existed.9. He was not a real man but instead was a conceptual idea or a spiritual manifestation.10. He was the worst of all manipulators and liars.

All of these myth’s, when examined by the best historical evidence available to us (the New Testament documents) do not stand. The growth and development of the persecuted church of the 1st and 2nd century points to a message open to examination and investigation in the public arena. No credible evidence supporting these viewpoints has ever been substantiated but rather only propagated for public consumption. The New Testament eyewitness record gives us only one real person referred to as Jesus Christ of Nazareth and He is proclaimed and presented to us as Lord – (based on His resurrection and ascension). If this evidence is rejected we are left with only conjecture.