Who was the Roman soldier who impregnated Mary?
Asked by: Elise Kris V | Last update: January 28, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (67 votes)
There's no historical evidence that a Roman soldier impregnated Mary; the idea stems from ancient Jewish and pagan anti-Christian polemics, particularly a legend about a soldier named Pantera (or Panthera), used to discredit Jesus' virgin birth, appearing in sources like the 2nd-century philosopher Celsus and later rabbinic writings. While a Roman soldier's tombstone bearing the name Pantera exists, it dates from a different era and location, and the story likely originated as a slanderous tale rather than historical fact, according to this Bart Ehrman Blog article and this BBC article.
Who was Jesus fathered by a Roman soldier?
The idea that Jesus' true father was a Roman soldier named Pantera had re- markable currency in antiquity, especially in Jewish circles. The name 'ben Pantera,' is common in rabbinic literature and acts as an appellation for the Christian Jesus (e.g., t.
Who was Mary actually impregnated by?
The Christian and Islamic doctrine of the virgin birth claim God asexually impregnated the Virgin Mary with Jesus, Mary's impregnation was fully consensual (virgin consent), and God never acts immorally (divine goodness).
Who is Yeshua Ben Pantera?
Blavatsky writes that Jeshu ben Panthera was born in the ancient town of Lüd (Lod or Lydda) in Israel (CW IX:226). However details about this personage are very sparse unless one accepts the contention that he is identical with Jesus of Nazareth, in which case, of course, the Gospel stories apply.
What happened to the Roman soldier who speared Jesus?
The Roman soldier who pierced Jesus' side, traditionally named St. Longinus, left the military, converted to Christianity, and became a monk, but was later martyred for his faith, with legends saying his eyes were miraculously healed by Jesus' blood, making him a patron saint of the blind, though he was originally unnamed in the Bible.
Who Is Panthera, Soldier & Theorized Biological Father Of Jesus?
Which disciple was boiled alive?
The Apostle John the Apostle (also John the Evangelist), the "Beloved Disciple," was famously subjected to being thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil by Roman authorities under Emperor Domitian but miraculously survived, emerging unharmed, before being exiled to Patmos, according to early Christian tradition recorded by writers like Tertullian. He is the only apostle believed to have died a natural death, as an old man, after writing the Book of Revelation.
Did Pontius Pilate regret killing Jesus?
According to secular sources he died in 36 AD, and his letter to Herod mentions that he regrets crucifiying Jesus.
Who was Jesus' actual biological father?
The annunciation stories in Matthew and Luke claim that Jesus was conceived without a human father, but later in the Gospel of Luke, Joseph is listed as Jesus' parent and father (Luke 2:27, 33, 48; 4:22). Indeed, through Joseph's lineage, Jesus is shown to have descended from King David (Luke 3:23–38).
Why is Jesus called Jesus and not Yeshua?
We say "Jesus" instead of "Yeshua" because the name evolved through different languages: Yeshua (Hebrew/Aramaic) was transliterated into Greek as Iēsous, then Latinized to Iesus, and finally Anglicized to "Jesus" with shifts in pronunciation and spelling over centuries, primarily due to linguistic adaptation in the Greek and Roman worlds where Christianity spread,.
Who was the Roman soldier that saw Jesus?
Longinus, the soldier who converted under the cross.
How many wives did Joseph, the father of Jesus, have?
Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, had one wife, Mary, according to the canonical Bible, though some traditions (especially Orthodox) suggest he was an older widower with children from a prior marriage to explain Jesus' "brothers," a theory arising from apocryphal texts like the Protoevangelium of James to uphold Mary's perpetual virginity.
How old was Mary when God impregnated her?
Scholars believe Mary would have been somewhere between 12-16 years old when she had Jesus (Ibid.). Given the biblical account and the Jewish cultural practices in Mary's day, the most plausible age Mary would have been when she had Jesus was most likely 15 or 16 years old.
What happened to Mary Magdalene after Jesus died?
After Jesus's death, Mary Magdalene's life is shrouded in tradition, but the most prominent legend says she traveled to France (Gaul) with Lazarus and others, becoming a missionary, living as a hermit in a cave at Sainte-Baume for 30 years, and eventually dying there after receiving communion. Other traditions place her in Ephesus with the Virgin Mary or suggest she remained in Jerusalem for a time before fleeing persecution.
How is Joseph of Arimathea related to Mary?
Yes, according to later Christian traditions, Joseph of Arimathea was related to Mary, often described as her uncle (and Jesus' great-uncle), a significant connection that explained why he claimed Jesus' body; however, the canonical Gospels don't specify this relationship, leaving it as legendary lore rather than biblical fact.
Who was the Roman man who crucified Jesus?
It's a straightforward part of the Easter story: The Roman governor Pontius Pilate had Jesus of Nazareth killed by his soldiers. He imposed a sentence that Roman judges often inflicted on social subversives – crucifixion.
Where is Longinus now?
Longinus was being beheaded, because his blood came in contact with the governors' eyes. St. Longinus' relics are now in the church of St Augustine, in Rome. His Lance is contained in one of the four pillars over the altar in the Basilica of St Peter's in Rome.
Why do Jews reject Yeshua?
Jesus is rejected in Judaism as a failed Jewish messiah claimant and a false prophet by all mainstream Jewish denominations.
What do Jews say instead of Jesus?
Jews typically refer to Jesus by his Hebrew name, Yeshua, sometimes adding haNotzri (the Nazarene), or use the acronym Yeshu, often as a derogatory "may his name and memory be blotted out," though many secular Israelis use it neutrally; they don't use "Jesus Christ," which is a Christian title, but might use the Hebrew Mashiach (Messiah) in some contexts, though often with different theological understandings.
What was Jesus' name in heaven?
In Psalm 51:12 of the New International Version Version, the Hebrew word for Jesus, Yeshua, reminds us that Christ alone is our salvation. There is no other name under heaven that saves wretched sinners and gives us life in return.
What happened to Joseph, husband of Mary?
And so, it is not unreasonable to conclude he died a number of years before Mary. It seems certain that by the time of Jesus' ministry, Joseph was no longer alive. John notes how at the time of His crucifixion Jesus made sure His mother would be provided for after His death (John 19:26-27).
How many children did Mary have apart from Jesus?
The Bible mentions Jesus' "brothers" (James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas) and sisters, but interpretations differ on whether they were biological children of Mary and Joseph or close relatives like cousins, with Catholic/Orthodox traditions favoring the latter (perpetual virginity of Mary), while some Protestants believe they were other children of Mary and Joseph after Jesus' birth.
How much older was Joseph than Mary?
The Bible doesn't state Joseph's age, but traditions and historical context suggest he was older, possibly a young man in his 20s or 30s if he was close to Mary's age (around 16), or much older, even 90, in some apocryphal texts that explained his virginity by assuming he had children from a previous marriage, though most historians find the older age unlikely and favor a smaller age gap based on typical marriage customs.
What happened to Pontius Pilate's wife after Jesus was crucified?
After Jesus died, Pilate's wife, Claudia Procula, became a significant figure in Christian tradition, with legends suggesting she converted to Christianity, became a saint, and faced persecution, possibly dying as a martyr alongside Pilate, though historical certainty is lacking. Early Christian writings, like the apocryphal Acts of Pilate, depict her as a "god-fearer" deeply affected by Jesus's trial, leading to her eventual Christian faith and martyrdom.
What does 40 lashes minus one mean?
"Forty lashes minus one" means 39 lashes, a Jewish disciplinary punishment derived from Deuteronomy 25:3, where a maximum of 40 stripes were allowed; to avoid accidentally exceeding the limit and disobeying the law, Jewish tradition settled on 39 as the standard maximum, a practice Paul the Apostle referenced in 2 Corinthians 11:24 to describe his severe suffering for the Gospel.
What is gall mixed with vinegar?
The drink offered to our Lord was vinegar (made of light wine rendered acid, the common drink of Roman soldiers) "mingled with gall," or, according to Mark 15:23, "mingled with myrrh"; both expressions meaning the same thing, namely, that the vinegar was made bitter by the infusion of wormwood or some other bitter ...