Ben Wilson

People who believe that their God is about to make a new world and that those who die in loyalty to him will rise again and share gloriously in the rule of that world are far more likely to lose respect for a wealthy aristocracy than people who think that this life, this world, and this age are the only ones that will ever be. Okay. So that's interesting, right?

The chief priests, the Sadducees, they're the leading aristocrats. And so they have no problem saying, yeah, like this life is all there is. And so look, we must be blessed because we have it good in this life. We're wealthy, we're respected, we have the good life.

The chief priests, the Sadducees, they're the leading aristocrats. And so they have no problem saying, yeah, like this life is all there is. And so look, we must be blessed because we have it good in this life. We're wealthy, we're respected, we have the good life.

Whereas the Pharisees, who were not, you know, they weren't peasants, they weren't the lowest classes, but they were not in favor politically the same way that the Sadducees were. And so they and the Christians have more incentive to believe in a resurrection because it's their way of saying, yeah, well, that doesn't matter.

Whereas the Pharisees, who were not, you know, they weren't peasants, they weren't the lowest classes, but they were not in favor politically the same way that the Sadducees were. And so they and the Christians have more incentive to believe in a resurrection because it's their way of saying, yeah, well, that doesn't matter.

If we're in God's favor, then we're going to have it better than you in the resurrection. So I thought that was very interesting that there is that dichotomy. And I also found it very interesting. I didn't know that there was this disagreement that many Jews did not believe in any sort of afterlife.

If we're in God's favor, then we're going to have it better than you in the resurrection. So I thought that was very interesting that there is that dichotomy. And I also found it very interesting. I didn't know that there was this disagreement that many Jews did not believe in any sort of afterlife.

And certainly even up to the day, there's not the same emphasis on the afterlife that there is among Christians. Okay. One other note is how do we know that Jesus was real at all? You know, there are some people who tried to argue for a while that there was no historical Jesus, that this was all an invention of Paul.

And certainly even up to the day, there's not the same emphasis on the afterlife that there is among Christians. Okay. One other note is how do we know that Jesus was real at all? You know, there are some people who tried to argue for a while that there was no historical Jesus, that this was all an invention of Paul.

That theory has fallen out of favor and is not well regarded by mainstream historians at this point. But, well, how do we know then? One of the key pieces of evidence is a passage from Josephus, who was a well-regarded Jewish historian. This is what N.T. Wright says about it.

That theory has fallen out of favor and is not well regarded by mainstream historians at this point. But, well, how do we know then? One of the key pieces of evidence is a passage from Josephus, who was a well-regarded Jewish historian. This is what N.T. Wright says about it.

The authenticity of the Jesus passage in Josephus, the Testimonium Flavianum, is disputed, but I'm convinced that Josephus did have a Jesus passage, even though it was subsequently dressed up a bit.

The authenticity of the Jesus passage in Josephus, the Testimonium Flavianum, is disputed, but I'm convinced that Josephus did have a Jesus passage, even though it was subsequently dressed up a bit.

As we have it, the passage reads, "...about this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man, for he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly." He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks.

As we have it, the passage reads, "...about this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man, for he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly." He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks.

He was the Messiah, and when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease. He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him.

He was the Messiah, and when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease. He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him.

And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared. And then N.T. Wright says that the highlighted passages are probably later editions by Christians to spruce it up a little bit. So here's how it reads, the same passage, without the highlighted portions.

And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared. And then N.T. Wright says that the highlighted passages are probably later editions by Christians to spruce it up a little bit. So here's how it reads, the same passage, without the highlighted portions.

About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, for he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. And when upon the accusation of the principal man among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease.