Part 2 — SECTION I.—ITS EVIDENCES UNRELIABLE. (continued 5)
Reading edition
We have thus examined, step by step, the alleged evidences of Christianity, both external and internal; we have found it impossible to rely on its external witnesses, while the internal testimony is fatal to its claims; it is, at once, unauthenticated without, and incredible within. After earnest study, and a careful balancing of proofs, we find ourselves forced to assert that THE EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY ARE UNRELIABLE.
APPROXIMATE DATES CLAIMED FOR THE CHIEF CHRISTIAN AND HERETICAL AUTHORITIES.
A.D. Between 92 and 125 Clement of Rome Very doubtful Between 90 and 138 Barnabas " " Said to be martyred 107 Ignatius " " Between 117 and 138 Quadratus " " Possibly 138 Hermas " " About 150-170 Papias " " About 135-145 Basilides and " " Valentinus About 140-160 Marcion Said to be martyred 166 Polycarp Very doubtful Said to be martyred 166 Justin Martyr After 166 Hegesippus About 177 Epistle of Lyons and Vienne Between 150 and 290 Clementines Real date quite unknown Between 166 and 176 Dionysius of Corinth About 176 Athenagoras Between 170 and 175 Tatian 177 to about 200 Irenæus About 193 Tertullian About 200 Celsus Very doubtful 205 Clement of Alexandria succeeded as head of School. About 205 Porphyry 205-249 Origen
THE SO-CALLED TEN PERSECUTIONS.
A.D. 61 under Nero 81 " Domitian 107 " Trajan 166 " Marcus Aurelius 193 " Severus 235 under Maximin 249 " Decius 254 " Valerian 272 " Aurelian 303 " Diocletian
DATES OF ROMAN EMPERORS AT ALLEGED BIRTH OF CHRIST.
Augustus Cæsar A.D. 14 Tiberius 33 Caligula 41 Claudius 54 Nero 68 Galba Otho 69 Vitellius 69 Vespasian 79 Titus 81 Domitian 96 Nerva 98 Trajan associated 117 Hadrian 138 Antoninus Pius 161 Marcus Aurelius 180 Commodus 192 Pertinax 193 Julian Severus 211 Caracalla and Geta 217 Macrinus 218 Heliogabalus 222 Alexander Severus 235 Maximin 237 The Gordians Maximus and Galbinus 238 Maximus, Galbinus, and Gordian 238 Gordian alone 244 Philip 249 Decius 251 Gallus 253 Valerian 260 Gallienus 268 Claudius 270 Aurelian 275 Tacitus 276 Florianus 276 Probus 282 Carus 283 Carinus and Numerian 285 Diocletian 286 Maximian associated 305 Galerius and Constantius 305 Severus and Maximin 306 Constantine Licinius Maxentius 324 Constantine alone