Origins of Christianity

In The Origins of Christianity, Thomas Whittaker presents an enlightening exploration of the groundbreaking ideas of Dutch theologian Willem Christiaan van Manen (1842-1905). This work, a rare English translation of van Manens radical critique of the New Testament, argues that none of the letters attributed to the Apostle Paul were genuinely penned by him. Whittaker takes van Manens theories further, suggesting that the entire New Testament was composed in the second century and that the roots of Christianity emerged only after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. While little is known about Paul himself, Whittaker speculates on the existence of an itinerant preacher by that name. Ultimately, he posits that Jesus of Nazareth may be a mythical figure, with the movement that evolved into Christianity arising from a Jewish-Messianic context. This thought-provoking book challenges established beliefs and invites readers to reconsider the foundations of Christian thought. (Summary by JoeD