Latest news with #martyr
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Sacred text banned from Bible 'reveals who REALLY dealt final death blow to Jesus'
An ancient text claims to reveal the name of the soldier who pierced Jesus with a spearing, delivinger the final death blow as he hung on the cross. The Gospel of Nicodemus, also known as the Acts of Pilate, was not accepted into the traditional Bible due to debates on the authorship, date and theological consistency. But tucked away in its pages is the name 'Longinus,' noted as the soldier who took a spear, pierced Jesus side where blood and water spilled from. This mirrors the account in John 19:34: 'But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.' Though Longinus is never named in the canonical scriptures, Christian legend has long associated him with the soldier at the crucifixion who witnessed the supernatural events and converted to Christianity. Stories about Longinus were passed down through generations, narrating how he went on to preach the gospel and was killed because of his faith during a time when Christianity was outlawed. There is no historical evidence confirming Longinus was a real person, but there is a striking statue of him that stands beneath the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. The story of Longinus was recently discussed on the Sunday Cool podcast, where hosts retold the legend of the Roman soldier turned martyr. While the author of the omitted text is mystery, many scholars speculate it was written by Nicodemus, a Pharisee mentioned in the Gospel of John, who assisted in Jesus's burial. However, other experts contend that it was written later, in the 4th century, by an unknown individual. The story of Longinus, while not in traditional Holy Scripture, is one of redemption. Legend has it that he was a Roman centurion under Pontius Pilate, the governor who condemned Jesus to death. Longinus was tasked with standing at the foot of the cross and stabbing Jesus in the side after his legs were broken by other Roman soldiers. According to Eastern Orthodox tradition, Longinus was the one who said, 'Truly this was the Son of God' (Matthew 27:54) following the earthquake that occurred after Jesus' death. The stories have also claimed that the soldiers was nearly blind, but when blood and water rushed from Jesus' side, it feel on his face and restored his sight. According to Christian tradition, Longinus was also believed to be among the soldiers assigned to guard Christ's tomb to stop anyone from stealing the body. When Jesus rose from the dead, the guards were astonished and fled, according to the traditional Bible. But the legend of Longius says Jewish authorities attempted to bribe the soldiers into claiming that the body had been stolen, but he refused. Longius is believed that have returned to his homeland in Turkey, where he continued to spread the message of Christ's resurrection. According to early Christian tradition, Longinus was arrested for his newfound faith and brutally tortured. Accounts state his teeth were pulled and his tongue cut out, but he miraculously continued to speak clearly. Longinus was later executed by beheading. There are many sacred books that have been omitted from the Bible, one being the Book of Jubilee that talks about giants roaming the earth in the time of Noah. The Book of Genesis says the flood happened because humanity had become wicked, while the omitted text states it was due to 'the Watchers,' or fallen angels, taking human wives and having giant offspring who devoured everything. The Book of Jubilees describes the violence and corruption the giants and their descendants brought, such as cannibalization and sinning, leading to widespread evil on Earth. 'And the Lord destroyed everything from off the face of the earth; because of the wickedness of their deeds, and because of the blood which they had shed in the midst of the earth He destroyed everything,' reads Chapter 10:25. The Book of Jubilee was discovered in caves along the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, about 15 miles east of Jerusalem. While the chapters retell the books of Genesis and Exodus, it was not considered canonical by the Jewish and Christian communities because of supernatural elements and lack of spiritual content and apostolic authorship.
Wall Street Journal
12-05-2025
- Wall Street Journal
An American Pope in the Era of Trump
As John Fisher, the great English martyr who tussled with Henry VIII over the king's demand for a divorce and a terminal break with Rome, languished in the Tower of London on charges of treason in 1535, Pope Paul III sent word that he was making the elderly bishop a cardinal. The hope was that while Henry might happily eliminate more junior prelates or dissident laymen, he wouldn't dare execute a prince of the church. The king's response—referring to the galero, broad, tasselled red headgear that was then the symbol of the Catholic cardinalate—was laconic: 'The pope may send him a hat, but I'll make sure he doesn't have a head to wear it on.' The cardinal, who centuries later would be canonized as St. John Fisher, was beheaded a few weeks afterward.
