Many times we have been told Jesus was a great moral teacher and performer of wonderful deeds, Celsus doesn’t buy this and this is so close to when the said events should have been known to everyone who cared to inquire. He asks
What beautiful or admirable thing have you said or done, though you were called upon in the temple to give some manifest sign that you were the son of god?
He then continues in the same manner and says
Let us grant that these things were performed by you; but they are common with the work of enchanters, who promise to effect more wonderful deeds than these, and all with those who have been taught by the Egyptians to perform in the middle of the forum for a few oboli; such as expelling demons from men, dissipating diseases by a puff, evocating the souls of heroes, exhibiting sumptuous suppers, and tables covered with food, which have no reality. These magicians also represent animals as moving, which are not in reality animals, but merely appear to the imagination to be such.
Is it fit, therefore, that we should believe these men to be the sons of god, because they worked this wonders? Or ought we not rather to say, that these are the arts of depraved and unhappy men?
From the arguments of Celsus against the Christians
Random thoughts 
What I find interesting is that there are no first-hand accounts of any of these so-called “miracles.” These tales weren’t written until decades or centuries later. Entirely too much time for such fables to be embellished and enhanced. An excellent selection to offer us, my friend! Thank you!
LikeLike
Whatever they call miracles wouldn’t be necessary if the person said to have performed them was a god. Why use magic tricks to awe man, to inspire belief? He should have been clearer.
As to eye-witnesses, I think these witnesses were not on the scene
LikeLike
Regarding this, allow me, if I may, to point you to a very insightful blog entry on this subject:
LikeLike
But I now see you’ve already been there —
LikeLike
I just read it a short while ago. Very insightful.
You read a lot my teacher
LikeLike
Certainly not as much as you, you don’t just read books, you devour libraries!
LikeLike
A wise man once said, “Each man is my teacher, in that I may learn from him.“
LikeLike
That was a wise man who said that.
LikeLike
Wise chap
LikeLike
No question about it
LikeLike
Didn’t I tell you, you’d like Celsus?
LikeLike
I agree with you, he is good, very good.
LikeLike
And the REALLY good part, is that he says what we want to hear! Our confirmation bias is complete!
LikeLike
No doubt, it is very complete!
LikeLike
Just trying to point out that we atheists, when it comes to confirmation bias, are just as guilty as the other camp. We all love to hear people say what we want to hear.
LikeLike
While I agree with you, the questions Celsus is asking are valid. Why would a god have to run away fearing murder, why would he be betrayed by his disciples who have walked with him something that is almost unheard of even among a bunch of robbers?
LikeLike
Actually, that begs an interesting question. When asked, and I have, why a god would place a tree full of candy in a garden occupied by two innocent kids, and say, “Don’t eat that!” theists always insist that this god gave mankind free will, and that the tree was a test of it. But did Judas have free will? What would have happened to the entire, carefully concocted plan, if, when Yeshua turned to Judas and said, “That which you go to do, do quickly,” Judas had said, “Nah, changed my mind – could I get seconds on the wine? Here, just stick your finger in this glass of water –“?
LikeLike
This type of question fall in the group I normally refer to as million dollar question
LikeLike
Speaking of “Original Sin,” according to which all humans were destined to die because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, is it not a contradiction, that we find in Deuteronomy:
LikeLike
Maybe at that point god had changed his mind or the divines have been lying all along.
And while still on the Deuteronomy story, it appears the authors of the story of David were not aware of this small part and have god killing the child they had with Uriah’s wife. Curious if you ask me!
LikeLike
It has been said that a giraffe is a horse, designed by committee – much as was the Bible.
LikeLike
hahahahaha! That is quite funny, really funny!
LikeLike
Living, as you are, in the land of giraffes, I thought you would like that.
LikeLike
Is Christianity reasonable? Celsus tells us.
LikeLike
Far from it.
LikeLike
Looks like Celsus is your soul mate. I can see similarity comparing his and your style.
LikeLike
Celsus was a bright chap. I think people should be exposed to such works from a young age. Maybe they will question a lot. Just maybe
LikeLike