Where Did the 12 Apostles Go - CourtneyR.dev's 2nd Brain

Where Did the 12 Apostles Go? ![rw-book-cover](https://img.youtube.com/vi/605MhQdS7NE/maxresdefault.jpg) [[3. Resources/Readwise/Full Document Contents/Articles/Where Did the 12 Apostles Go|Full Document Contents]] ## Document Notes > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: [biblical_scholarship, christian_apologetics, historical_criticism] > author: Dan McClellan > source: YouTube > reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=605MhQdS7NE > date created: 2024-12-28 09:15 > > # 🏷️ Title: Where did the 12 apostles go? - A Critical Analysis >  ## 🧰 Action Inbox - [H1] Research apocryphal texts and dating — late 2nd-5th century sources #biblical_scholarship - [H2] Examine martyrdom claims against historical evidence — most lack early attestation #critical_thinking - [H3] Study human motivations for self-sacrifice — beyond truth/lie dichotomy #psychology ## 🧭 Table of Contents - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#️-notes) - [📚 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#️-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - [🛡️ DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ### 🔗 References - [Original Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=605MhQdS7NE) ## 📝 Summary - Biblical scholar Dan McClellan critically examines popular claims about the 12 apostles' missionary journeys and martyrdoms - Why it matters: These stories are widely used in Christian apologetics but lack early historical evidence - Key stakeholders: Christians, biblical scholars, apologetics enthusiasts, and those interested in early church history - Risks and tradeoffs: Challenges traditional beliefs while promoting historical accuracy over religious tradition - Bottom line takeaway: Most apostolic martyrdom traditions originate from late apocryphal texts (2nd-5th centuries) that are otherwise rejected by mainstream Christianity ## 📖 Main Content McClellan systematically deconstructs popular claims about apostolic missions and martyrdoms, revealing that most traditions trace to apocryphal texts written centuries after the apostles' deaths. He distinguishes between historical evidence and religious tradition, noting that texts like the Acts of Peter, Acts of Andrew, and Acts of Thomas are generally rejected as unhistorical by Christian scholars except for their martyrdom claims. The scholar also addresses the common apologetic argument that people wouldn't die for a lie they created, explaining this presents a false dichotomy that ignores sincere belief in false claims and the complex motivations behind self-sacrifice throughout history. ## 🗒️ Notes #### ⏱️ [00:00](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=0) — [H1] Peter's crucifixion upside down claim - Key idea: Popular tradition lacks early historical support - Evidence: "Tradition of Peter being crucified upside down comes from a late 2nd century apocryphal text called the Acts of Peter" #### ⏱️ [01:15](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=75) — [H2] Andrew's crucifixion in Patras - Key idea: Another late apocryphal source for martyrdom tradition - Evidence: "Tradition of Andrew being crucified also comes from a late 2nd or early 3rd century apocryphal text called the acts of Andrew" #### ⏱️ [01:45](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=105) — [H2] James the Greater's Spanish mission impossibility - Key idea: Timeline conflicts with biblical account - Evidence: "Traditions about James the Greater preaching in Spain don't come from anywhere near the Bible. They actually originate in traditions from 6th and 7th century CE Spain" #### ⏱️ [02:15](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=135) — [H2] John's authorship problems - Key idea: Traditional identifications lack scholarly support - Evidence: "This account relies on the identification of the beloved disciple John with John the author of revelation which is pretty widely rejected by scholars today" #### ⏱️ [02:45](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=165) — [H3] Philip's crucifixion tradition - Key idea: Late source with minimal early attestation - Evidence: "Our earliest discussion about the death of Philip comes from a writer named Pelicrates of Ephesus writing toward the end of the 2nd century CE" #### ⏱️ [03:15](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=195) — [H3] Bartholomew's flaying and beheading - Key idea: Very late martyrdom traditions - Evidence: "Our earliest references to a tradition of Bartholomew being martyed come from a late fourth or early fifth century CE. apocryphal text" #### ⏱️ [03:45](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=225) — [H3] Thomas pierced by spears - Key idea: Early 3rd century apocryphal source - Evidence: "The tradition of Thomas's martyrdom comes from the early 3rd century apocryphal acts of Thomas" #### ⏱️ [04:00](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=240) — [H3] Matthew's Ethiopian ministry - Key idea: Inconsistent and late traditions - Evidence: "Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia" #### ⏱️ [04:15](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=255) — [H2] James the Less confusion - Key idea: Conflation of different James figures - Evidence: "Later Christians conflated James the less the son of Alphus with James the brother of Jesus" #### ⏱️ [04:45](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=285) — [H3] Remaining apostles' late traditions - Key idea: All follow same pattern of late apocryphal sources - Evidence: "Traditions about the martyrdom of Thaddius or Jude originate in 3rd and 4th century CE apocryphal texts" #### ⏱️ [05:30](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=330) — [H1] Apologetic argument deconstruction - Key idea: False dichotomy in "dying for a lie" argument - Evidence: "Nobody is suggesting that Jesus's 12 apostles made up the lie of his resurrection" #### ⏱️ [06:15](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=375) — [H1] Sincere belief vs. fabrication - Key idea: People can sincerely believe false things - Evidence: "There is an enormous difference between sincerely believing something that's not true and making up a lie" #### ⏱️ [07:00](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=420) — [H1] Human nature and martyrdom - Key idea: Complex motivations drive self-sacrifice - Evidence: "People frequently will sacrifice their lives for something that they believe is greater than them" #### ⏱️ [08:00](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=480) — [H1] Historical precedents for religious martyrdom - Key idea: Many religions have martyrs for various beliefs - Evidence: "Throughout history, countless people have laid their lives down for the messages of Islam and of Mormonism and of Buddhism" #### ⏱️ [08:45](https://youtu.be/605MhQdS7NE?t=525) — [H1] Critical thinking appeal - Key idea: Need for scholarly rigor over apologetic enthusiasm - Evidence: "I think you should learn to think more critically about the claims that you come across rather than just excitedly and uncritically repeating them" ## 📚 References - [Acts of Peter - Late 2nd century apocryphal text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Peter) - [1 Clement 5 - Early reference to Peter's death](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm) - [Josephus on James the brother of Jesus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus_on_Jesus) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase - Popular stories about the 12 apostles' missions and martyrdoms mostly come from much later fictional texts that Christians otherwise reject as unhistorical - The common argument that apostles wouldn't die for a lie they made up creates a false choice between deliberate deception and historical accuracy - People throughout history have willingly died for beliefs they held sincerely but which were nonetheless false or unverifiable ## 📰 Newsletter Biblical scholarship meets apologetics in this fascinating analysis! Dan McClellan systematically examines popular claims about apostolic martyrdoms, revealing how most trace to late apocryphal sources. This highlights the importance of distinguishing historical evidence from religious tradition - a valuable skill for anyone studying ancient texts or evaluating historical claims. Key takeaway: Critical thinking doesn't diminish faith; it strengthens our understanding of how traditions develop over time. Resources: [Society of Biblical Literature](https://www.sbl-site.org/), [Biblical Archaeology Review](https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/), [Early Christian Writings](http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/) ## ✅ Action Items #### DevRel - Developer advocacy: Create educational content distinguishing historical evidence from tradition - Education: Develop workshops on source criticism and historical methodology - Developer experience: Improve documentation of scholarly consensus vs. popular belief - Developer marketing: Promote critical thinking resources and scholarly databases - Community management: Moderate discussions between apologetic and critical perspectives #### Community - Maintainers: Support projects documenting early Christian sources and their dating - Contributors: Encourage contributions to open-access biblical scholarship databases - Sponsors: Fund digitization of early manuscripts and apocryphal texts - Ecosystem: Foster collaboration between religious studies and digital humanities ## 🧪 Hypotheses - Most apostolic martyrdom traditions developed between 2nd-5th centuries CE as part of hagiographical literature - Popular apologetic arguments rely more on emotional appeal than historical evidence - Critical biblical scholarship can coexist with religious faith when properly understood - Late traditions about apostolic missions reflect later church expansion rather than 1st century history ### 📊 Methodology - Source criticism comparing earliest attestations with later elaborations - Dating analysis of apocryphal texts versus canonical sources - Cross-referencing martyrdom accounts with contemporary historical records ### ❓ Questions - How do we distinguish between historical core and legendary development in early Christian traditions? - What psychological factors drive acceptance of late traditions over earlier silence? - How might digital humanities tools help visualize the development of apostolic legends over time? ### 🔮 Future Research - Comprehensive database mapping the evolution of apostolic traditions across centuries - Psychological study of why late traditions become accepted as historical fact - Digital humanities project visualizing the geographic spread of apostolic legends ### 💡 Implications - Practice: Scholars must carefully distinguish between historical claims and religious tradition - Policy: Educational institutions should teach source criticism alongside religious texts - Security: Misinformation can spread in religious contexts just as in secular ones - Education: Critical thinking skills apply equally to ancient and modern claims - Funding: Support for open-access databases of early Christian literature needed ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment Reading level estimate: 12th grade #### 👀 Visual learners - Present: Video format with speaker addressing claims systematically - Improve: Timeline graphics showing when traditions first appear versus apostolic deaths #### 🔊 Aural learners - Present: Clear audio explanation with examples and evidence - Improve: Podcast version with chapter markers for each apostle #### 🗣️ Verbal learners - Present: Definitions of apocryphal texts, scholarly consensus, historical methods - Improve: Glossary of technical terms, analogies for source criticism concepts #### 🧩 Kinesthetic learners - Present: Step-by-step examination of each apostolic claim - Improve: Interactive timeline where users can explore source development #### 🧠 Logical learners - Present: Systematic analysis, dating evidence, logical fallacy identification - Improve: Decision trees for evaluating historical claims, evidence hierarchies #### 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social learners - Present: Response format engaging with community beliefs - Improve: Moderated discussion forums, collaborative source evaluation exercises #### 🧘‍♀️ Solitary learners - Present: Individual reflection prompts about critical thinking - Improve: Self-assessment quizzes on source criticism, journaling questions #### 🌿 Naturalistic learners - Present: Organic development of traditions over time - Improve: Ecological metaphors for how stories evolve and spread ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment #### Screen reader semantics - Present: Clear video narration with spoken content - Improve: Transcript with proper heading structure, image descriptions #### Keyboard navigation - Present: Standard YouTube controls accessible via keyboard - Improve: Chapter navigation, skip-to-content options #### Contrast and readability - Present: High contrast video with clear speech - Improve: Subtitles with high contrast, adjustable text size #### Text resizing and reflow - Present: YouTube's built-in accessibility features - Improve: Responsive transcript layout, scalable fonts #### Media and captions - Present: Audio content with natural speech patterns - Improve: Professional captions, downloadable transcript #### Forms and interactions - Present: Standard YouTube comment system - Improve: Accessible comment threading, keyboard shortcuts #### Standards reference - Video meets basic WCAG 2.2 AA for media content ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment #### Cultural breadth - Present: Western Christian traditions primarily examined - Improve: Compare with Eastern Orthodox traditions, non-Western early Christianity #### Inclusive language - Present: Academic terminology with explanations - Improve: Define technical terms, avoid insider jargon #### Neurodiversity support - Present: Structured presentation with clear sections - Improve: Visual aids for complex concepts, multiple processing modes #### Representation - Present: Male-focused historical content (reflecting source material) - Improve: Acknowledge women's roles in early Christianity where evidence exists #### Psychological safety - Present: Respectful challenge to popular beliefs - Improve: Clearer framing of scholarship vs. faith, validation of sincere belief ### ✅ Logical Validity #### Strong reasoning - Deductive strength: Strong logical structure from source analysis to conclusions - Inductive strength: Good pattern recognition across multiple apostolic traditions - Causal reasoning: Clear connection between late sources and unreliable traditions - Analogical strength: Effective comparison to other religious martyrdom traditions #### Fallacies - Straw man identification: Correctly identifies misrepresentation of scholarly positions - False dichotomy critique: Strong analysis of "lie vs. truth" oversimplification #### Tone of voice - Overall tone: Academic but accessible, respectfully challenging, evidence-focused ### 🛡️ DARVO Analysis - Deny: No significant denial patterns observed - Attack: McClellan critiques arguments, not people; focuses on methodology - Reverse victim/offender: No victim/offender reversal present - Emotional cues and rhetoric: Uses measured academic tone, appeals to evidence over emotion ## 🎯 Conclusion - McClellan demonstrates that popular apostolic martyrdom traditions lack early historical support and derive from late apocryphal sources - Critical examination of religious claims requires distinguishing between historical evidence and later tradition - The complexity of human motivation for self-sacrifice extends far beyond simple truth/falsehood dichotomies, requiring more nuanced analysis of belief, tradition, and historical development ## 🧱 Refactor Appendix ### 📚 Literature Split Pad Purpose: Stage CEE units that become Literature notes. Split level: H3 ### [H1] Apocryphal texts provide unreliable historical evidence > [!quote] Where did the 12 apostles go? by Dan McClellan via YouTube. Published 2024. Accessed 2024 --- ## Full Transcript [00:00] Where did the twel apostles go? [00:01] >> Huh? Let's see. [00:03] >> All right, let's see it. [00:04] >> After Jesus's resurrection, the twel [00:07] apostles scattered across the ancient [00:09] world to spread his message. Peter went [00:12] to Antioch, then Rome, crucified upside [00:15] down. [00:16] >> The tradition of Peter being crucified [00:18] upside down comes from a late 2n century [00:21] apocryphal text called the Acts of [00:22] Peter, which is otherwise entirely [00:25] rejected by most Christians. Now we do [00:28] have other late 2nd century traditions [00:31] about Peter being martyed. Uh but the [00:34] earliest references we have to Peter's [00:36] death don't explicitly mention [00:38] martyrdom. For instance, in 1 Clement 5, [00:41] there is a reference to Peter having [00:43] gone through many labors or sufferings [00:46] and thus having testified, he went to [00:49] his appointed place of glory, which many [00:52] have interpreted as martyrdom, which is [00:54] certainly well within the realm of [00:56] plausibility, but it's not exactly [00:58] clear. But the notion that Peter was [01:01] crucified upside down comes from well [01:03] over a century after he would have died [01:06] and comes from a text whose historicity [01:08] is otherwise entirely rejected by most [01:10] Christians. [01:12] >> Andrew traveled to Cyia and Greece [01:14] crucified in Patras. [01:16] >> The tradition of Andrew being crucified [01:19] also comes from a late 2nd or early 3rd [01:22] century apocryphal text called the acts [01:24] of Andrew. Again the historicity of [01:27] which is entirely rejected by the [01:29] overwhelming majority of Christians [01:31] apart from the tradition about the [01:33] nature of his death which again comes [01:36] from well over a century after his [01:38] actual death and does not actually [01:41] firmly establish anything about his [01:44] death. So, as with the majority of the [01:47] examples we're going to see, these [01:49] traditions about how these folks were [01:51] martyed come from long after their [01:53] deaths and are overwhelmingly parts of [01:57] non-historical apocryphal narratives. [02:01] >> James the Greater preached in Spain, [02:03] martyed by sword in Jerusalem. [02:05] >> Traditions about James the Greater [02:06] preaching in Spain don't come from [02:09] anywhere near the Bible. They actually [02:10] originate in traditions from 6th and 7th [02:13] century CE Spain. And according to the [02:16] New Testament, specifically the book of [02:18] Acts 12, James was executed by Herod [02:21] agria likely in the early 40s CE. So [02:24] there wouldn't really have been time for [02:26] him to travel to Spain to preach. [02:29] >> John stayed in Ephesus, exiled to [02:32] Patmos, died naturally. This account [02:34] relies on the identification of the [02:37] beloved disciple John with John the [02:40] author of revelation which is pretty [02:42] widely rejected by scholars today and is [02:45] based on nothing more than tradition [02:47] that originates in the mid 2nd century [02:49] CE and conflicts with all the data we [02:52] have related to the Greek of revelation [02:55] compared to the Greek of the gospel of [02:57] John. They were definitely not written [02:59] by the same author. And also the Gospel [03:02] of John was not written by someone named [03:04] John. That is also a post-biblical [03:06] tradition. [03:07] >> Okay. [03:08] >> Philip went to Friia in Asia Minor, [03:10] crucified upside down. [03:12] >> Much like some of the other figures on [03:14] this list, traditions about Philip's [03:16] crucifixion originate in apocryphal [03:20] texts that are widely rejected by the [03:22] overwhelming majority of Christians. [03:23] Apart from these traditions about how [03:26] the apostles died, our earliest [03:28] discussion about the death of Philip [03:30] comes from a writer named Pelicrates of [03:33] Ephesus writing toward the end of the [03:35] 2nd century CE. And all he says is that [03:38] Philip died and was buried in a certain [03:40] location. [03:42] >> Bartholomew reached Armenia and India [03:44] flayed and beheaded. [03:45] >> Our earliest references to a tradition [03:47] of Bartholomew being martyed come from a [03:50] late fourth or early fifth century CE. [03:53] apocryphal text called the acts of [03:55] Bartholomew and it is widely rejected as [03:57] ahistorical by the overwhelming majority [04:00] of Christians again apart from the [04:03] tradition about his martyrdom according [04:05] to Ucius there was a late second century [04:07] author who discusses Bartholomew going [04:09] to India so that is also a late [04:12] tradition but much earlier attested than [04:14] the tradition of Bartholomew's martyrdom [04:17] >> Thomas preached in Persia and India [04:19] pierced by spears [04:21] >> the tradition of Thomas's martyrdom [04:23] comes from the early 3rd century [04:26] apocryphal acts of Thomas. Again, it is [04:29] rejected as a historical by the [04:31] overwhelming majority of Christians, [04:33] apart from the tradition about his [04:35] martyrdom. [04:36] >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, [04:38] stabbed to death. [04:40] >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and [04:42] martyrdom are also inconsistent and [04:45] late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, [04:48] others in Persia. But the 3rd century [04:51] apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we [04:54] get the tradition of his martyrdom. [04:57] >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem [04:59] thrown from the temple. [05:00] >> Now here there is the issue of the fact [05:02] that later Christians conflated James [05:05] the less the son of Alphus with James [05:08] the brother of Jesus. James the brother [05:10] of Jesus has probably the best [05:13] historical argument for martyrdom. uh [05:16] his death is actually mentioned in [05:18] Josephus. But James the less as James [05:21] the son of Alfus doesn't have any [05:23] martyrdom traditions until starting in [05:25] the fourth and fifth centuries CE. [05:28] >> Thaddius Jude traveled to Syria and [05:31] Mesopotamia martyed in Beirut. [05:33] >> Traditions about the martyrdom of [05:35] Thaddius or Jude originate in 3rd and [05:37] 4th century CE apocryphal texts. [05:41] >> Simon the Zealot preached in North [05:43] Africa killed in Persia. Again, the [05:45] earliest references to Simon the Zealot [05:47] being martyed come from apocryphal texts [05:50] that were written in the 3rd, fourth, [05:51] and fifth centuries CE and then get [05:54] elaborated on in later medieval [05:56] tradition. [05:57] >> Matias, who replaced Judas, went to the [06:00] Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. [06:03] >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom [06:05] for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew [06:08] and Matias, an apocryphal text composed [06:11] in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the [06:15] historicity of that text is widely [06:17] rejected by Christians apart from this [06:20] tradition about this martyrdom. [06:22] >> Wow. [06:22] >> Their message reshaped the world and [06:24] their paths still echo through history. [06:27] >> Here's the overwhelming reality. [06:29] Friends, [06:29] >> let's be clear. The majority of what we [06:32] heard was overwhelmingly not reality, [06:35] but much later traditions that were [06:37] created by people writing apocryphal [06:41] texts that the majority of Christians [06:44] entirely reject anyway. Nobody [06:48] lays down their life like that, all [06:50] those different ways to die for a lie [06:54] that they made up. Now listen, I know a [06:57] lot of people have laid down their life [06:59] for something that they've believed in [07:01] the past because we can believe [07:03] something after the fact and believe it [07:05] so much that we would lay our life down [07:06] for it. But nobody, they themselves make [07:10] up a lie and then give their life like [07:14] that. I don't know anybody who is [07:16] suggesting that Jesus's 12 apostles made [07:20] up the lie of his resurrection. And as [07:24] we've already seen, we don't really have [07:27] any good evidence that the majority of [07:29] these men died by martyrdom. So the [07:33] notion that they all went to their [07:35] deaths proclaiming the resurrection of [07:37] Jesus is a tradition that is not [07:40] supported by good data. The notion that [07:43] it was a lie that they made up is also [07:47] not something that I know people are [07:49] asserting. Certainly there are people [07:51] out there who have asserted that. But as [07:53] far as the scholars who are actually [07:56] challenging the historicity of the [07:57] resurrection and challenging the [07:59] historicity of these traditions are not [08:01] saying, "Oh yeah, they just made up a [08:03] lie." They are saying they probably [08:06] sincerely believed that Jesus was [08:09] resurrected. But there is an enormous [08:12] difference between sincerely believing [08:14] something that's not true and making up [08:18] a lie. [08:20] Either way, however, there are many [08:22] examples of people going to their [08:25] deaths. Again, we don't have good data [08:29] indicating that the majority of these [08:30] men actually were martyed for their [08:32] beliefs. But we do have examples [08:34] throughout history and down to today of [08:37] people who were willing to go to their [08:39] deaths for things that they believed [08:41] that were not true. and sometimes even [08:44] for things that they imagine to be true [08:47] or fabricated as true because they [08:52] valued that claim and the benefits of [08:56] that claim more than they valued their [08:59] safety. And while people might say, [09:02] "Well, that doesn't make any sense. [09:03] That's not human nature." It's exactly [09:06] human nature. People frequently will [09:09] sacrifice their lives for something that [09:11] they believe is greater than them. [09:13] Whether it's family or a loved one or [09:16] community or their identity, their [09:19] nation, their ethnicity, whatever. There [09:21] are a lot of different things that [09:22] people can perceive to be of greater [09:25] importance than themselves [09:27] that they will sacrifice their own lives [09:30] to protect or to advance. Sometimes it's [09:33] even just their legacy, their memory [09:36] within a community or the contribution [09:38] that it might make to their loved ones [09:41] around them for them to give up their [09:42] lives. There are a lot of different [09:44] reasons that people risk and sacrifice [09:47] their lives and to try to reduce it all [09:50] down to this notion that, oh well, [09:52] you're claiming they made up a lie and [09:55] then went to their deaths for that lie. [09:58] That's a straw man fallacy. And it also [10:01] wildly misunderstands human nature and [10:04] the nature of martyrdom and the nature [10:06] of self-sacrifice and so many other [10:09] things about human nature and human [10:11] cognition. Here's the reality. No, this [10:14] is not the reality. This is a claim that [10:18] is not supported by any data being [10:21] propped up by the accumulation of a [10:23] number of other claims that are not [10:25] supported by any data. [10:27] >> Jesus rose from the grave. All of these [10:30] guys minus two, Judas who took his own [10:32] life and John who died on Patmos. The [10:35] other 10 and many more have literally [10:37] laid their life down for the message of [10:40] this risen savior. And throughout [10:42] history, countless people have laid [10:44] their lives down for the messages of [10:47] Islam and of Mormonism and of Buddhism [10:51] and even of nationalism [10:55] on the parts of explicitly secular and [10:58] even atheist groups. [11:01] People give their lives for a lot of [11:03] different reasons. And the notion that [11:06] the giving of one's life indicates that [11:09] they must have known something to be [11:12] incontrovertibly true and therefore [11:14] their death constitutes evidence of the [11:18] truthfulness of those claims is is just [11:21] nonsense. That's not logic. That's just [11:26] rhetoric. Let me tell you friend, there [11:28] has been nobody like this in history. [11:30] Nobody upon which the entire calendar of [11:33] the entire world revolves around but [11:35] Jesus. He is more than a man. He's God [11:38] in the flesh. He stepped out of heaven [11:41] to reconcile humanity to himself. They [11:44] believed it because they saw him with [11:46] their own eyes. They felt him. They [11:48] heard from him. They were convinced that [11:50] he had risen from the grave proving who [11:53] he was. So my question for you today [11:55] after seeing this video that maybe you [11:57] didn't just stumble across on social [11:59] media but maybe God wanted you to see is [12:02] the most important question that ever [12:04] could be asked. Who do you say that [12:06] Jesus is? I believe that he's the savior [12:09] of the world. What do you think? I think [12:12] you should learn to think more [12:13] critically about the claims that you [12:14] come across rather than just excitedly [12:17] and uncritically repeating them to the [12:20] internet for no other reason than that [12:22] they set off the tuning fork in the [12:24] loins of your own dogmatism. And the fit [12:27] for this video has been Get Low by my [12:30] Monades nuts.  ## Highlights - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 14, 2026 at 11:24 PM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 15, 2026 at 12:24 AM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 15, 2026 at 1:25 AM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 15, 2026 at 2:24 AM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 15, 2026 at 3:24 AM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 15, 2026 at 4:24 AM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 15, 2026 at 5:24 AM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 15, 2026 at 6:24 AM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 15, 2026 at 7:24 AM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 15, 2026 at 8:24 AM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted ## New highlights added February 15, 2026 at 12:03 PM - overwhelming majority of Christians, apart from the tradition about his martyrdom. >> Matthew spread the gospel in Ethiopia, stabbed to death. >> Traditions about Matthew's preaching and martyrdom are also inconsistent and late. Some placing him in Ethiopia, others in Persia. But the 3rd century apocryphal acts of Matthew is where we get the tradition of his martyrdom. >> James the less stayed in Jerusalem thrown from the temple. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqagydhy747dnvjsb0aq)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - Caspian region, stoned and beheaded. >> The earliest reference to a martyrdom for Matias comes from the acts of Andrew and Matias, an apocryphal text composed in the 3rd or 4th centuries CE. And the historicity of that text is widely rejected by Christians apart from this tradition about this martyrdom. >> Wow. >> Their message reshaped the world and their paths still echo through history. >> Here's the overwhelming reality. Friends, >> let's be clear. The majority of what we ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01khfjfqb399y1g6xj5zrnnjcd)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted