Ecce Deus: studies of primitive Christianity

384 Pages·1913·10.022 MB·English

by  Smith. William Benjamin

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http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029229535
ECCE DEUS
STUDIES OF PRIMITIVE
CHRISTIANITY

ECCE DEUS
STUDIES OF PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY
WILLIAM BENJAMIN SMITH
O YE whoe'er have UNDERSTANDINGS SOBER
Ponder the doctrine deep that lieth—hidden
Under the veil of verses enigmatic. dante
[issued for the rationalist press association, limited]
THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING COMPANY,
623-633 S. WABASH AVE., CHICAGO
^^
CONTENTS
PAGE
Preface ix
PART
I.
THE PROTO-CHRISTIAN PROPAGANDA
Orientation i
The Dilemma-
4
Argument from Personality - 9
Method of the Fourth Gospel 25
The Primitive Misunderstanding- 31
"Esoterism" IN the Gospel 34
Content of the Gospel 45
The Secret of Primitive Christianity 60
The Active Principle of Christianity - 67
PART
II.
TESTIMONY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
Preliminary 77
Witness of Acts 84
Witness of Revelation and Hebrews 89
Witness of the Gospels 95
Jew and Gentile ioi
Symbolic Interpretation Necessary 108
V
^' CONTENTS
PAGE
Examples of Symbolism iio
The Didactic Element 125
The Pauline Quadrilateral 132
Addenda : I. Jesus the Lord 135
II. Diffused Light of Symbolism 140
III. The So-called Pauline Testimony 146
IV. The Ektroma 157
V. The Gospel Portrait 160
PART
III.
THE PILLARS OF SCHMIEDEL
The Bulwarks of Historicism 177
Eminus - 182
Cominus 189
Conclusion 205
Addenda: I.- 208
II. Casting out Demons 210
III.- 226
PART IV.
THE SILENCE OF JOSEPHUS AND TACITUS
The Silence of Josephus - 230
The Silence of Tacitus 238
Other Pagans : Final Remarks - 251
Addenda
: I. 257
II.- 260