P
Padraig_77
Guest
I was reading (Book IV, ch. 14)An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith by St. John of Damascus in which he mentions in his genealogy of Mary a certain “Panther” as well as “Barpanther” (presumably meaning 'son of Panther).
This name reminded me of the Rabbinical Jewish references to Christ as “Yeshu Ben Pandera”. For those of you who don’t know this legend, the Rabbinical Jewish tradition is that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier named Pantera and Mary.
After researching this I found on Google books a book called Christianity and the Roman Empire by Ralph Martin Novak. In it, it states: “Epiphanius [in *Panarion 78.7.5] attempted to explain away the story by claiming that “panther” was the surname of Joseph’s father.”
I’m not sure what to make of this.
I know that Origen, in Contra Celsus, mentioned this legend and said it was a falsehood made-up by Jews.
But, it doesn’t make sense to me why St. John of Damascus and St. Epiphanius, who lived long after Origen wrote Contra Celsus, would claim that Jesus was descended on His Mother’s side from “Panther” and “Barpanther”. I would assume that if this genealogy was true, Origen would have made mention of it in Contra Celsus, in response to exact claim made by Celsus.
Is the Genealogy of Mary given by St. John of Damascus in An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith definitely accurate? or might it be incorrect?
Have any other Church Fathers, Popes or even Tradition ever said or accepted that this is the real genealogy of Mary? or did most not believe it?
Are “Panther” and “Barpanther” mentioned in any other Christian texts or are these names confined to An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith?
Thanks in advance.
This name reminded me of the Rabbinical Jewish references to Christ as “Yeshu Ben Pandera”. For those of you who don’t know this legend, the Rabbinical Jewish tradition is that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier named Pantera and Mary.
After researching this I found on Google books a book called Christianity and the Roman Empire by Ralph Martin Novak. In it, it states: “Epiphanius [in *Panarion 78.7.5] attempted to explain away the story by claiming that “panther” was the surname of Joseph’s father.”
I’m not sure what to make of this.
I know that Origen, in Contra Celsus, mentioned this legend and said it was a falsehood made-up by Jews.But, it doesn’t make sense to me why St. John of Damascus and St. Epiphanius, who lived long after Origen wrote Contra Celsus, would claim that Jesus was descended on His Mother’s side from “Panther” and “Barpanther”. I would assume that if this genealogy was true, Origen would have made mention of it in Contra Celsus, in response to exact claim made by Celsus.
Is the Genealogy of Mary given by St. John of Damascus in An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith definitely accurate? or might it be incorrect?
Have any other Church Fathers, Popes or even Tradition ever said or accepted that this is the real genealogy of Mary? or did most not believe it?
Are “Panther” and “Barpanther” mentioned in any other Christian texts or are these names confined to An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith?
Thanks in advance.