Hi Theo

 >> Cohort,n the tenth part of a Roman legion, a body of about 600 men.

 >  NP> Correct. see below

 >  Don't tell Bob, he likes to argue a bit more.

He should get a wife and then we could get some peace :-)

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 >  NP> and for the most part these additions appear to have been added for
 >  NP> political reasons of the time of writing.

 > Hmm, That would weaken the position of the writer somewhat.
 > The question is what could John gain by stating Jesus was arrested
 > by
 > a cohort, bit of Roman bashing?

See the Five Gospels referred to in the previous message.

 > What happened to all his supporters?

Pissed off when they looked like getting what he got ???


 >  NP> So you have backing on the cohort definition, but the use of cohort
 >  NP> appears in only one gospel which is the most politicised of them.
 >  NP> Many have argued for many years, but I suspect the _real_ happenings
 >  NP> will never be known in this life at least.
 >  NP> Maybe you just ask him yourself, if you are going in his direction
 >  NP> some time :-)

 > Unfortunately I consider myself a pagan right now and he probably
 > won't talk to me.

According to the Christians, that makes you prime material for him.
  " He came to save the sinners" ......etc


 >  NP> I do agree though, that as an accurate historical document the Bible
 >  NP> is a dismal failure.

 > I'm halfheartedly trying to get some info on the alternate and
 > supplementary bits.

I've got the Apochrypha on disk.  (Copyrighted of course)
These were the books they left out of the bible.


 > The catholics have some additional books, the Jews a few more still
 > and
 > the dead sea scrolls release a bit more.

I've been waitin on the Dead Sea material!!!


 > Then there are the copts and greek collections, these seem to be the
 > most accurate ones as in the least messed about with.

 :-)

 > For some reason our libraries have very little info on anything but
 > the
 > regular versions, leaving the door open for some more speculative
 > material:-)

Unfortunately.
Why speculate when there is so much archeological fact to peruse.

Cheers
Niels Petersen

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