Featured Theory — the Greek “mystery religion” version of Christianity was already widespread at the time of Paul’s travels.

[Multicolored Lemur]

Greco-Roman mysteries - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

“Mystery religions, mystery cults, sacred mysteries or simply mysteries (Greek: μυστήρια), were religious schools of the Greco-Roman world for which participation was reserved to initiates (mystai). The main characteristic of these religious schools was the secrecy associated with the particulars of the initiation and the ritual practice, . . . “

“ . . . Emperor Julian, of the mid-4th century, is believed by some scholars to have been associated with various mystery cults—most notably the mithraists. . . “

[I think Mithra or Mithras was supposed to have been risen from the dead ascended to heaven ]

“ . . . Through the 1st to 4th century, Christianity stood in direct competition for adherents . . . ”

—————

Maybe my theory is wrong.

And/or it’s the people closest to you who you’re in most competition with.

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Google AI —
“Mithraic mythology centers on Mithras being born from a rock, slaying a bull, and ascending to heaven, but not a death and resurrection narrative”

So we have the element of ascension to heaven.

 

[Scooter]

So basically you just made this up

Nope, I wish I could take credit for this. But a lot of people have talked about “Greek mystery religions.” I guess people who more tend to be skeptics and non-believers.

I’m just saying . . . Looking at the extent of Paul’s Big 4 travels, perhaps proto-Christianity was pretty far along.

So what evidence do you present to support your claim that some mystery religion influenced Paul? So far all you have offered is your unsubstantiated opinion.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

So what evidence do you present to support your claim that some mystery religion influenced Paul?

All this traveling, and seemingly to specific cities. As if Paul is “back-preaching” ? ??

This is my own term I’ve come up to mean that a religious believer gots back and tells fellow believers— Hey, you all don’t quite have it right. You’ve got to listen to my latest insight, experience, etc.


* Plus, in his 2nd and 3rd journeys when he was a free man, Paul made it all the way (back?) to Greece, as if that was important to him.

 

[Scooter]

So what evidence do you present to support your claim that some mystery religion influenced Paul?

All this traveling, and seemingly to specific cities. As if Paul is “back-preaching” ? ??

This is my own term I’ve come up to mean that a religious believer gots back and tells fellow believers— Hey, you all don’t quite have it right. You’ve got to listen to my latest insight, experience, etc.


* Plus, in his 2nd and 3rd journeys when he was a free man, Paul made it all the way (back?) to Greece, as if that was important to him.

So, you admit you have no real evidence. You just made this up. Ok.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

So, you admit you have no real evidence. You just made this up. Ok.

Second Journey

Nope, I don’t agree with the no evidence. The travel is the evidence. As if Paul really wanted to bring his message “back home”!

And everyone, please notice that Paul would later write letters to 4 of these cities —

Philippi,
Thessalonica,
Corinth, and
Ephesus.

 

[Scooter]

Of course Paul traveled. But he traveled preaching Jesus and establishing churches that worshipped the risen Savior. Your claim that he was influenced by some mysterious Greek religion is without merit. Just because Paul traveled to various cities in no way means he adopted any of the pagan ways practiced in those cities. Therefore, your claim is make-believe. It is a theory conjured out of thin air.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

https://successcenter.web.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj1551/files/2024-02/acts_study_resource_-_weeks_13-14_0.pdf

This is a good 2-page summary of Acts by Baylor University, which is a Baptist University here in Texas.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Your claim that he was influenced by some mysterious Greek religion is without merit.

My theory is that Paul was heavily influenced by Greek mystery religions BEFORE his intense existence.

AFTER his intense experience on the Road to Damascus, he seems heavily motivated to go back and give his new insight. He views were pretty much already set at that point.


• Paul seems particularly motivated to make it to the Greek peninsula.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

SAB Acts 16

www.skepticsannotatedbible.com

Paul, Silas, and Timothy went through Phrygia and Galatia,
but they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach in Asia. [2]

Then they wanted to go to Bithynia,
but the Spriit wouldn't let them. [3]

Paul had a vision one night of a man from Macedonia, [4]
who said to him,

​

Come to Macedonia and help us.​

———————————

Macedonia is a large region that’s most of northern Greece.

This is from the “Skeptics’ Annotated Bible,” and they’re not exactly believers! But maybe they give a pretty honest summary of books in the Bible, as they do here from Acts chapter 16.

 

[Scooter]

My theory is that Paul was heavily influenced by Greek mystery religions BEFORE his intense existence.

Before his conversion, Paul was a Pharisee. As a Pharisee, Paul was steeped in the Jew’s religion. Gal.1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Paul studied Judaism under the most respected Hebrew scholar of the day. Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

Your theory has no support whatsoever. It is simply make-believe.