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Tertullian (died ca. 235)

(1) But keeping this prescriptive rule inviolate, still some opportunity must be given for reviewing (the statements of heretics), with a view to the instruction and protection of divers persons; were it only that it may not seem that each perversion of the truth is condemned without examination, and simply prejudged; especially in the case of this heresy, which supposes itself to possess the pure truth, in thinking that one cannot believe in One Only God in any ...

Over the years I have debated many topics. The one topic, however, that I have addressed most often I believe is the deity of Christ. Much of the time this subject revolves around Constantine I (born A.D. 272, ruled A.D. 306 - 337) and the council of Nicaea (A.D. 325). Many people think that Constantine I and the council of Nicaea decided or proclaimed that Jesus was in fact God or that the belief in the trinity started at that time. Many think that up to that time no one thought Jesus was God. ...

INTRODCTION

One must always keep in mind the cultural and linguistic context of a passage. For example, Abraham was married to his half-sister. In Abraham's cultural and historical context this was not strange at all. We, however, wonder how could anyone marry their half-sister. While that might be an important question to us, it in no way relevant to the context of a passage. The context tell us what it means and not the other way around. It is important that we do not force our social norms ...

When speaking of Judaism there is a great need to define what is meant. If by Judaism we mean the religion practiced by Jewish follows of the O.T., then that needs to be delineated from the practices of the Pharisees and Sadducees as found in the N.T. and those not found. The reason I say this is while they were followers of Judaism, as defined above, their version of Judaism (i.e. beliefs) were not identical with each other.

The book of Acts 23:8 makes at least some distinctions ...

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (ca. A.D. 69/75 – ca. A.D. 130) was a Roman historian from the equestrian order. Suetonius wrote several biographies of notable and important figures. He is perhaps best know for The Twelve Caesars (De Vita Caesarum).

While Suetonius does refer to Christians, there is only one place were it is possbile that he refers to Christ.

Latin Text
"Iudaeos impulsore Chresto assidue tumultuantis Roma expulit" C. Suetonius Tranquillus, Divus Claudius, chapter 25, section 4 ...