Miracles and Religion of Apollonius of Tyana (modern Turkey)

1. Everything was subject to his miraculous power.

2. He performed many miraculous cures.

3. He restored sight to the blind.

4. He cast out devils, which sometimes “cut up” like those of Christ.

5. He enabled the lame to walk.

6. He re-animated the dead.

7. He could read the thoughts of bystanders.

8. Sometimes disappeared in a miraculous manner.

9. Caused a tree to bloom, while Christ made another tree to wither away.

10. The laws of nature obeyed him.

11. Could speak in many languages he had never learned.

12. Was at one time transfigured, like Christ.

13. His birth was miraculously foretold by an angel.

14. Was born of a spotless virgin.

15. There were demonstrations of joy and singing at his birth.

16. Exhibited proofs in infancy of being a God.

17. Manifested extraordinary wisdom in childhood.

18. He was called “the Son of God.”

19. Also “the image of the Eternal Father manifested in the flesh.”

20. He was also styled “a prophet.””

21. Like Christ, he retired into mystic silence.

22. His religion was one of exalted spirituality.

23. He taught the doctrine of “the Inner Life.”

24. He possessed exalted views of purity and holiness.

25. Like Christ, he was a religious ascetic.

26. His religion, as in the case of Christ, forbade him to marry.

27. He ate no animal food, and would wear no woolen garments.

28. Gave his substance to the poor.

29. Eschewed love for wine and women.

30. Refrained from artificial ornaments and sumptuous living.

31. He was a high-toned moral reformer.

32. He condemned external sacrifices.

33. Also condemned gladiatorial shows.

32. He religiously opposed dancing and sexual pleasures.

33. He recommended the pursuit of wisdom.

34. Was of a serene temper, and never got angry.

35. Was a true prophet, foresaw and foretold many future events.

36. Foresaw a plague, and stopped it after it had commenced.

37. Crowds were attracted by his great miracles and his wisdom.

38. He disputed with and vanquished the wise men of Greece and Asia, as Christ did the learned doctors in the temple.

40. When imprisoned by Domitian and loaded with chains, he disenthralled himself by divine power.

41. He was followed by crowds when entering Alexandria, like Christ when entering Jerusalem.

42. Was crucified amidst a display of divine power.

43. He rose from the dead.

44. Appeared to his disciples after his resurrection.

45. Like Christ, he convinced a Tommy Didymus by getting him to feel the print of the nails in his hands and feet.

46. Was seen by many witnesses after his resurrection, and was hailed by them as the “God Incarnate,” “the Lord from Heaven.”

47. He finally ascended back to heaven, and now “sits at the right hand of the Father,” pleading for a sinful world.

48. When he entered the temple of Diana, “a voice from above was head saying, ‘come to heaven.’”

49. Accordingly he was seen no more on earth only as a spirit.

50. Accordingly he was seen no more on earth only as a spirit.

The reader will observe that the foregoing list of analogies, drawn from the history of Apollonius, as furnished us by his disciple Damos and his biographer Philostratus, are found also, in almost every particular, in the history of Jesus Christ. And the list might have been extended. It is declared, “A beauty shone in his countenance, and the words he uttered were divine,” which reminds us of Christ’s transfiguration. And his “staying a plague at Ephesus” revives the case of Christ stilling the tempest on the waters. Now, the question very naturally arises here, How came the histories of Apollonius and Christ to be so strikingly alike? Was one plagiarized from the other? As for the miraculous history of Apollonius being reconstructed from that of Jesus Christ, as some Christians have assumed, there is not the slightest foundation for such a conclusion, as the following facts will show, viz.:—

1. The Cappadocian Savior (Apollonius) was born several years anterior to the advent of the Christian Savior, and appeared at an earlier date upon the stage of active life, and thus got the start of Christ in the promulgations of his doctrines and the exhibition of his miracles. Christ’s active life, Christians concede and the bible proves, did not commence till about his twenty-eighth or thirtieth year, which was long after Apollonius had inaugurated his religion, and long after he had commenced the promulgation of his doctrines, and attested them by wonderful miracles, according to his biographer Philostratus.

2. The New American Cyclopedia tells us, “Apollonius labored for the purity of Paganism, and to sustain its tottering edifice against the assaults of the Christians.” So that, being placed in a hostile attitude toward the

representatives of the Christian faith, it is not likely he would condescend to borrow their doctrines and the miraculous history of their incarnate God, to invest his own life with. He was probably one of the “anti-Christs” spoken of in the New Testament; but this circumstance reflects nothing dishonorable upon his character; for some of those distinguished personages denounced as “anti-Christ,” by Christ’s gospel biographers, were, according to impartial history, noble, honest, and righteous men. Their only offense consisted in robbing Christ of his divine laurels, by claiming similar titles, and claiming to perform the same kind of miracles; and there is as much proof that they did achieve these prodigies as that Christ did.

3. The early Christian writers conceded that Apollonius and the other oriental Gods did perform the miracles which are ascribed to them by their respective disciples, but accounted for it by the childish expedient of obsession. Christ was assumed to perform miracles, by divine power, they by the power of the devil—a childish and senseless distinction truly, and one which can have no logical force in this enlightened age.

MIRACLES OF THE ROMAN GODS QUIRINUS AND PROMETHEUS.

1. Prometheus was honored with a miraculous birth.

2. Quirinus was miraculously preserved in infancy, when threatened with destruction by the tyrant ruler Amulius.

3. He performed the miracles, according to Seneca and Hesiod, of curing the sick, restoring the blind, raising the dead, and casting out devils.

4. Both these Gods were crucified amid signs, and wonders, and miracles.

5. All nature was convulsed, and the saints arose when they were crucified.

6. The sun was also darkened, and refused to shine.

7. Both descended to hell, and rose from it by divine power.

8. And Prometheus was seen to ascend to heaven.

These points are cited as miraculous events as if they are real facts, not because it is believed they were such, but as possessing the same degree of credibility as those events described as occurring of Jesus Christ.

MIRACLES PERFORMED BY PYTHAGORAS AND other Gods of Greece

1. Pythagoras was a spirit in heaven before he was born on earth.

2. His birth was miraculously foretold.

3· His mother conceived him by a specter (the Holy Ghost).

4· His mother (Pytheas) was a holy virgin of great moral purity.

5· Plato’s mother, Paretonia (says Olympiodorus), conceived him by the God Apollo.

6. Pythagoras in his youth astonishes the doctors by his wisdom.

7. Was worshiped as the “Son of God,” “Paraclete,” “Child of Divinity,” etc.

8. Could see events many ages in the future (says Richardson, his biographer).

9. Could bring down the eagle from his lofty height by command.

10. Could approach and subdue the wild, ferocious Daunian bear.

11. Could, like Christ, appear at two places at once.

12. Could walk on the water and travel on the air.

13. Could discern and read the thoughts of his disciples.

14. Could handle poisonous reptiles with impunity.

15. Cured all manner of diseases.

16. Restored sight to the blind.

17. He “cast out devils.”

18. Jamblicus says he could allay storms on the sea.

19. Raised several persons from the dead.

20. And, finally, “a thousand other wonderful things are

told of him,” says Jamblicus.

>With respect to his character, it is said that “for humility, and practical goodness, and the wisdom of his moral precepts, he stood without a rival.” He discarded bloody sacrifices, discouraged wars, forbade the use of wine and other intoxicating drinks, enjoined the forgiveness of enemies and their kind treatment, and also respect to parents. He was a special friend to the poor, and taught that they were the favorites of God. “Blessed are ye poor.” He practiced and recommended the silent worship of God. He retired from the world, and often fasted, and was a great enemy to riches (like Jesus Christ). He considered poverty a virtue, and, despised the pomp of the world. He recommended (like Christ) the abandonment of parents, relations, and friends, houses and lands, &c., for religion’s sake. His disciples, like those of Christ, had a common treasury and a general community of goods, to which all had free access,

so that there was no poverty or suffering amongst them while the supply lasted. All shared alike. In fact, with respect to the spirit of his precepts, his moral lessons, and nearly his whole practical life, he bore a striking resemblance to Jesus Christ, and presented the same kind of evidence, and equally convincing evidence, of being a God. And as he was born into the world five hundred and fifty-four years before Christ, the latter probably obtained the materials of his moral system from that Grecian teacher, or in the same school of the Essenian Buddhists, in which both Pythagoras and Christ appear to have taken lessons.

Miracle Locations

Ancient Egyptian Pyramids

THE MIRACLES RECORDED OF ALCIDES, OSIRIS, AND OTHER GODS OF EGYPT.

1. We have the miraculous birth by a virgin in the case of Alcides.

2. Osiris, while a sucking infant in his cradle, killed two serpents which came to destroy him.

3. Alcides performed many miraculous cures.

4. According to Ovid he cured by a miracle the daughter of Archiades.

5· Also the wife of Theogenes, after the doctors had given her up.

6. And both these Gods converted water into wine.

7. Both of them frequently cast out devils.

8. Julius declares Alcides raised Tyndarus and Hippolitus from the dead.

9. When Zulis was crucified, the sun became dark and the moon refused to shine.

10. Both he and Osiris were resurrected by a miracle.

12. Both ascend to heaven in sight of many witnesses.

13. And finally we are told that from Alexandria the whole empire became filled with the fame of these miracle workers, who restored the blind to sight, cured the paralytic, caused the dumb to speak, the lame to walk, &c.

All these miracles were as credibly related of these Gods as similar miracles of Jesus Christ.

Essenes

There was an ancient system known as Essenism – a religion whose origin has never been discovered, though it is known that the Essenes existed in the days of Jonathan Maccabeus, B.C.E. 1, and that they were of Jewish origin, and constituted one of the three Jewish sects (the other two being Pharisees and Sadducees). We have but fragments of their history as furnished by Philo, Josephus, Pliny, and their copyists, Eusebius, Dr. Ginsburg, and others, on whose authority show that Alexandrian and Judean Essenism was identically the same system in spirit and essence as its successor Judean Christianity; in other words, Judean Christianity teaches the same doctrines and moral precepts which had been previously inculcated by the disciples of the Essenian religion .

60 PARALLEL EXHIBITIONS OF THE PRECEPTS AND PRACTICAL LIVES OF CHRIST AND THE ESSENES.

From the writings of Philo, Josephus, and other authors.

1. Philo says, “It is our first duty to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness;” so the Essenes believed and taught.

Scripture parallel.   “Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all else shall be added (Matt. 6:33: Luke 12:31.)

2. Philo says, “They abjured all amusements, all elegancies, and all pleasures of the senses.”

Scripture parallel.   “Forsake the world and the things thereof.”

3. The Essenes say, “Lay up nothing on earth, but fix your mind solely on heaven.”

Scripture parallel.   “Lay not up treasures on earth,” &c.

4. “The Essenes, having laid aside all the anxieties of life,” says Philo, “and leaving society, they make their residence in solitary wilds and in gardens.”

Scripture parallel.   “They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens, and in Caves of the earth.” (Heb. 11:38.)

5. Josephus says, “They neither buy nor sell among themselves, but give of what they have to him that wanteth.”

Scripture parallel.   “And parted them (their goods) to all men as every man had need.” (Acts 2:45.)

6. Eusebius says, “Even as it is related in the Acts of the Apostles, all (the Essenes) … were wont to sell their possessions and their substance, and divide among all according as any one had need, so that there was not one among them in want.”

Scripture parallel.   “Neither was there any among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the price of the things  that were sold, &c. (Acts 4:34.)

7· Eusebius says, “For whoever, of Christ’s disciples, were owners of estates or houses, sold them, and brought the price thereof, and laid them at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made as every one had need. So Philo relates things exactly similar of the Essenes.”

Scripture parallel.   (The text above quoted.)

8. “Philo tells us (says Eusebius) that the Essenes forsook father, mother, brothers and sisters, houses and lands, for their religion.”

Scripture parallel.   “Whosoever forsaketh not father and mother, houses and lands, &c. cannot be my disciples.’’

9· “Their being sometimes called monks was owing to their abstraction from the world,” says Eusebius.

Scripture parallel.   “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16.)

10. “And the name Ascetics was applied to them on account of their rigid discipline, their prayers, fasting, self mortification. &c., as they made themselves eunuchs.”

Scripture parallel.   “There be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.”

11. “They maintained a perfect community of goods, and an equality of external rank.” (Mich. vol. iv. p. 83.)

Scripture parallel.   “Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” (Matt. 20:27.)

12. “The Essenes had all things in common, and appointed one of their number to manage the common bag.” (Dr. Ginsburg.)

Scripture parallel.   “And had all things in common.” (Acts 2:44; see also Acts 4:32.)

13. “All ornamental dress they (Essenes) detested.” (Mich. vol. iv. p. 83.)

Scripture parallel.   “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, and putting on of apparel.” ( 1 Peter 3:3)

14. “They would call no man master.” (Mich.)

Scripture parallel.   “Be not called Rabbi, for one is your Master.” (Matt. 23:8.)

15. “They said the Creator made all mankind equal.” (Mich.)

Scripture parallel.   “God hath made of one blood all them that dwell upon the earth.”

16. “They renounced oaths, saying, He who cannot be believed without swearing is condemned already.” (Mich.)

Scripture parallel.   “Swear not at all.”

17. “They would not eat anything which had blood in it, or meat which had been offered to idols. Their food was hyssop, and bread., and salt ; and water their only drink.” (Mich.)

Scripture parallel.   “That ye abstain from meat offered to idols, and from blood.” (Acts 15:29.)

18. “Take nothing with them, neither meat or drink, nor anything necessary for the wants of the body.”

Scripture parallel.   “Take nothing for your journey; neither staves nor script; neither bread, neither money, neither have two coats apiece.”

19. “They expounded the literal sense of the Holy Scriptures by allegory.” .

Scripture parallel.   “Which things are an allegory.” (Gal. 4:24.)

20. “They abjured the pleasures of the body, not desiring mortal offspring, and they renounced marriage, believing it to be detrimental to a holy life.” (Mich.)

Scripture parallel.   It will be recollected that neither Jesus nor Paul ever married, and that they discouraged the marriage relation.

Christ says, “They that shall be counted worthy of that world and the resurrection neither marry nor are given in marriage.” And Paul says, “The unmarried careth for the things of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 7:32.)

21. “They strove to disengage their minds entirely from the world.”

Scripture parallel.   “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

22. “Devoting themselves to the Lord, they provide not for future subsistence.”

Scripture parallel.   “Take no thought for the morrow what ye shalt eat and drink,” &c.

23. “Regarding the body as a prison, they were ashamed to give it sustenance.” (c. ii. 71.)

Scripture parallel.   “Who shall change our vile bodies?” (Phil. 3:21.)

24. ‘’They spent nearly all their time in silent meditation and inward prayer.” (c. ii. 71.)

Scripture parallel.   “Men ought always to pray.” (Luke 18:1.) “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17.)

25. “Believing the poor were the Lord’s favorites they vowed perpetual chastity and poverty.” (c. ii. 71.)

Scripture parallel.   “Blessed be ye poor.” (Luke 6:20.) “Hath not God chosen the poor?” (James 2:5)

26. “They devoted themselves entirely to contemplation in divine things.” (c. ii. 71.)

Scripture parallel.   “Mediate upon these (divine) things; give thyself wholly to them.” (I Tim. 4:15)

27. ‘’They fasted often, sometimes tasting food but once in three or even six days.”

Scripture parallel.   Christ’s disciples were “in fastings often.” (2 Cor. 11:27; see also 5:34)

28. “They offered no sacrifices, believing that a serious and devout soul was most acceptable.” (c. ii. 71.)

Scripture parallel.   “There is no more offering for sin.” (Heb. 10:18)

29. “They believed in and practiced baptizing the dead.” (c. ii. 7 1.)

Scripture parallel.   “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead.” (I Cor. 15:29)

30. “They gave a mystical sense to the Scriptures, disregarding the letter:”

Scripture parallel.   “The letter killeth, but the spirit maketh alive.” (1 Cor. 3:6.).

31. “They taught by metaphors, symbols, and parables.”

Scripture parallel.   “Without a parable spake be not unto them.” (Matt. 13:34.)

32. “They had many mysteries in their religion which they were sworn to keep secret.”

Scripture parallel.   “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom; to them it is not given.” (Matt. 13:11.) “Great is the mystery of godliness.”

33. “They had in their churches, bishops, elders, deacons, and priests.’;

Scripture parallel.   “Ordained elders in every church.” (Acts 14:23.) For ”deacons,” see 1 Tim. 3:1.

34. “When assembled together they would often sing psalms.”

Scripture parallel.   .. Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms.” (Col. 3:16.)

35. “They healed and cured the minds and bodies of those who joined them.”

Scripture parallel.   “Healing· all manner of sickness,” &c. (Matt. 4:23.)

36. “They practiced certain ceremonial purifications by water.”

Scripture parallel.   “The accompishment of the days of purification.” (Acts 21:26.)

37· “They assembled at the Sabbath festivals clothed in white garments.”

Scripture parallel.    “ Shall ‘be clothed in white garments.” (Rev. 3:4.)

38. “They disbelieved in the resurrection of the external body.”

Scripture parallel.   “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” (I Cor. 15:44.)

39. Pliny says,·” They were the only sort of men who lived without money and without women.”

Scripture parallel.   “ The love of money is the root of all evil.” ( 1 Tim. 6:10.)  Christ’s disciples .travelled without money and without scrip, and “eschew the lusts of the flesh.”

40. “They practiced the extremest charity to the poor.” (c. ii. 71,)

Scripture parallel.   “Bestow all thy goods to feed the poor.” · (1 Cor. 13:3)

41. “They were skillful’ in interpreting dreams, and in foretelling future events.”

Scripture parallel.   “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17.)

42. cc They believed in a paradise, … and in a place of never-ending lamentations.”

Scripture parallel.   “Life everlasting.” (Gal. 8:8.) “Weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 8:42.)

43. “They affirmed,” says . Josephus, “that God fore· ordained all the events of human life.”

Scripture parallel.   “Foreordained before the foundation of the world.” (1 Peter.)

44. They believed in Mediators between God and the souls of men.”

Scripture parallel.   “ One Mediator between God and men.” (1 Tim. 2:5.)

45. “They practiced the pantomimic representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of God “- Christ the Spirit.

Scripture parallel.   With respect to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, see 1 Cor. 15:4·

46. “They inculcated the forgiveness of injuries.”

Scripture parallel.   “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34.)

47· “They totally disapproved of all war.”

Scripture parallel.   “ If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight.” (John 18:36.)

48. “ They inculcated obedience to magistrates, and to the civil authorities.”

Scripture parallel.   “Obey them which have the rule over you.” (Heb. 8:17; 26:65.)

49. ”They retired within themselves to receive interior revelations of divine truth.” (c. ii. 71.)

Scripture parallel.    “Every one of you hath a revelation.” (1 Cor. 14:26.)

50. “They were scrupulous in speaking the truth.”

Scripture parallel.   “Speaking all things in truth.” (2 Cor. 7: 14.)

51. “They perform many wonderful miracles.”

Scripture parallel.   Many texts teach us that Christ and his apostles did the same.

52. “Essenism put all its members upon the same level, forbidding the exercise of authority of one over another.” (Dr. Ginsburg.)

Scripture parallel.    Christ did the same. For proof, see Matt. 20:2s; Mark 9:35·

53. “ Essenism laid the greatest stress on being meek and lowly in spirit.” (Dr. Ginsburg.)

Scripture parallel.    See Matt. 5:5; 9:28.

54. “The Essenes commended the poor in spirit,· those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, and the merciful, and the pure in heart.” (Dr Ginsburg.)

Scripture parallel.    For proof that Christ did the same, see Matt.

55· 11 The Essenes commended the peacemakers.” (Dr. Ginsburg.)

Scripture parallel.    “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

56. “The Essenes declared their disciples must cast out evil spirits, and perform miraculous cures, as signs and proof of their faith.” (Dr. Ginsburg.)

Scripture parallel.    Christ’s disciples were to cast out devils, heal the sick, and raise the dead, &c., as signs and proof of their faith. (Mark 16:17.)

57. “They sacrificed the lusts of the flesh to gain spiritual happiness.”

Scripture parallel.    “You abstain from fleshly lusts.” (1 Peter 2:11.)

58. “The breaking of bread was a veritable ordinance among the Essenes.”

Scripture parallel.    “He (Jesus) took bread, .and gave thanks, and brake it.” (Luke 22:19.)

59. 11 The Essenes enjoined the loving of enemies.’’ (Philo.)

Scripture parallel.    So did Christ say, “Love your enemies,” &c.

60. The Essenes enjoined, “Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Scripture parallel.    So did Christ say,