I titled this with Raphael Lataster having been (quote unquote) “interview” with Phil Robinson on historical Jesus because it was not so much an interview as it was Phil Robinson giving Raphael Lataster a platform from which to make various and sundry assertions in an utterly un-critical, un-skeptical, un-challenged manner. In fact, Phil Robinson seems all but unconversant with historical Jesus issues and particularly unaware of the key biblical contents, concept and contexts related to historical Jesus issues. I guess as much as due to his inability or unwillingness to ask Lataster for quotations and citations for his claims. He simply allows Lataster to paraphrase and generically reference for example, Paul’s entire corpus and has nothing to say in reply but laughter and agreement at every turn.
Now, let us get to the bottom line: you can hear the key portions of the “interview” on this video:
Raphael Lataster states that Paul “says virtually nothing about a historical Jesus” and when Phil Robinson parrots Lataster’s book thusly, “Paul doesn’t talk about an Earthly Jesus,” Lataster replies:
You pretty much hit the nail on the head there…Paul not seeming to say much about the historical Jesus is absolutely correct. Whenever Paul talks about Jesus he’s talking about a heavenly character…Paul does not talk about a historical Jesus, he talks about a heavenly Jesus…it doesn’t seem entirely clear that he’s talking about a person that was on Earth…it is not at all obvious that Paul is talking about a genuine historical character, he does seem to be talking about a spiritual and thus, mythical character…he doesn’t give us any historical details about Jesus such as where He lived or when He lived…There are many cases in Paul’s epistles and related epistles that also seem to indicate that Jesus is indeed a heavenly character.
Actually, Paul’s view is that Jesus was a real historical person who came to live on Earth, being born to Mary (thus incarnated) through a Jewish genealogy. He was crucified after being on trial before Pontius Pilate (giving us a timeline, the “where He lived or when He lived”), died for our sins (on Earth), resurrected (on Earth), will return after having been, as He presently is, at God’s right hand (contextually, this is the only so called “heavenly” or “celestial” Jesus).
See Galatians 1:1, 3:1; 4:4; 1 Corinthians 1:13, 18, 23, 2:2, 8, 8:11, 10:16-17, 11:23, 15:3; 2 Corinthians 4:10, 5:14; Romans 1:3, 4:25, 5:6, 8-10, 6:4-5, 9-10, 8:3, 32; Colossians 3:1; Ephesians 1:7, 20, 2:13, 16; Philippians 3:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:16-17, 5:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:15, 2:6, 3:16, 6:13; 2 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews (if written by Paul) 1:6, 2:9, 14, 16, 9:15, 10:10. Acts (written by Luke who accompanied Paul and wrote accounts of his doings and words) 20:28, 22:8, 26:8-9.
You can consult my article Raphael Lataster on no historical but a celestial Jesus in Paul’s writings wherein I provide the quotations for each of these citations.
Robinson asks how Lataster came to the conclusion that “Paul was describing a celestial Jesus.” Within the context of this specific question, Lataster notes Paul’s (one time) rebuking Peter (for issues unrelated to Jesus, the historical Jesus, etc.) and exaggerates this concept in general finally specifically stating that Paul “doesn’t seem to get along with people that we normally associate with Jesus.” Actually, he gets along with them just fine: Galatians 1:17-19 Paul spent some time in Arabia and Damascus and then “went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.” Moreover, he spent time with “James the Lord’s brother.” Galatians 2:1, 9 Paul notes “I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And when James, Cephas [Peter], and John…gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship.” Acts 9:19 Luke relates that “Then was Saul [Paul] certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.”
Acts 21:16 Luke notes “There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.”
Raphael Lataster asserts:
Whenever he [Paul] says that he knows something about Jesus he basically says it comes straight from God. Now, this is obviously quite shocking to the historian who would rather Paul say that he’s got it straight from Jesus’ mouth because he knew Him all his life or that he’s got it straight from eye witnesses. Rather, than that we see Paul saying that he gets it because of his direct link to the divine.
Well, what Lataster claims historians would prefer is not the issue. As noted above, Paul interacted with eye witnesses and so Lataster is factually wrong yet again and wrong based on simple quotations and citation of which he should be aware—as should Phil, by the way who never challenged him on anything nor asks for quotations or citations of anything.
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