📖 Passage
“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” — 2 Peter 1:16
🧠 Context & Background
Some skeptics claim that Christianity borrowed its core beliefs — like the virgin birth, resurrection, or sacrificial Savior — from older myths like Horus, Mithras, or Osiris. But serious historical scholarship rejects this claim for several reasons:
- The stories of pagan gods are vague, inconsistent, and symbolic, not rooted in real history.
- Most supposed similarities are exaggerated or fabricated by modern skeptics.
- The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are historically attested, uniquely Jewish, and fulfill centuries of prophecy.
“Unlike mythological religions of the ancient world, Christianity is grounded in actual events that took place in verifiable locations and within living memory of eyewitnesses.” — Andreas J. Köstenberger
Jesus is not just another dying-and-rising god. He is the promised Messiah, eternal Son of God, and the fulfillment of redemptive history.
🌿 Key Claims & Historical Responses
Horus (Egyptian myth): It’s often claimed that Horus was born of a virgin, baptized, had twelve disciples, was crucified, and rose again. In reality:
- Horus was the son of Isis and Osiris, and his conception involved Isis reassembling the dead body of Osiris—not a virgin birth.
- There is no ancient source documenting Horus being baptized, crucified, or resurrected.
- The idea of twelve disciples is also not found in Egyptian mythology about Horus.
Mithras (Persian/Roman cult): Some argue Mithras was born of a virgin, celebrated on December 25th, and rose from the dead.
- Mithras was said to be born from a rock, not a virgin.
- The December 25th date was associated with Sol Invictus, not Mithras directly.
- No evidence exists that Mithras died and rose again—Mithraic texts are lacking in resurrection claims.
Osiris (Egyptian god): Osiris is said to have died and resurrected, paralleling Jesus.
- Osiris was killed and dismembered by Set; Isis reassembled him.
- He became ruler of the underworld, not someone who rose to bodily life.
- Osiris' "resurrection" is symbolic of agricultural cycles, not historical bodily resurrection like Christ’s.
Apologists like Wes Huff and scholars like Edwin Yamauchi and Mike Licona point out that these supposed parallels collapse under scrutiny. The Gospel accounts are rooted in first-century Jewish monotheism, eyewitness testimony, and fulfilled prophecy, not recycled mythology.
🌿 Key Themes
- Myth vs. history: Pagan myths are often timeless and symbolic. Christianity is rooted in time, place, and eyewitnesses.
- Fulfilled prophecy: Jesus fulfills specific prophecies written centuries earlier (cf. Isaiah 53, Micah 5:2, Psalm 22).
- The Gospel is unique: No other belief system teaches a God who dies for sinners and rises again, offering salvation by grace.
- Historical documents: The New Testament is far more reliable than any pagan myth source, with early, well-attested manuscripts.
- Moral transformation: Christianity produces a new birth and holiness, unlike mythical religions focused on ritual or secret knowledge.
📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
2 Peter 1:16 – Not a Myth, but Eyewitness Testimony
“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths…”
- Peter contrasts invented stories with firsthand witness of Jesus’ transfiguration and resurrection.
- The Greek word for “myth” (muthos) refers to fictional tales — Peter is emphatic: this is not one of them.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 – Christ Died and Rose as Promised
“…Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day…”
- Paul is quoting an early Christian creed dating to within a few years of Jesus’ death.
- The resurrection is historical, public, and predicted in Scripture — not mythic speculation.
Isaiah 53:3,5 – The Suffering Servant Foretold
“He was despised and rejected by men… pierced for our transgressions…”
- Written over 700 years before Christ, this prophecy describes Jesus’ rejection, suffering, and atonement in astonishing detail.
- No pagan myth anticipates this kind of voluntary, substitutionary suffering with such accuracy.
Genesis 3:15 – The First Gospel Promise
“He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
- This is the protoevangelium — the first Gospel — declaring a future victor over Satan.
- The storyline of redemption begins in Genesis, not Greece or Egypt.
🧩 Review Questions
- What are some major differences between pagan myths and the story of Jesus?
- Why is eyewitness testimony important in distinguishing Christianity from mythology?
- How does fulfilled prophecy strengthen the claim that Jesus is unique?
- What do 2 Peter 1:16 and 1 Corinthians 15 reveal about the Gospel’s historical roots?
- How would you answer someone who compares Jesus to Horus or Mithras?
🔍 Definitions
- Myth: A traditional story explaining natural or social phenomena, often involving gods or heroes — typically not historical.
- Fulfilled prophecy: A prediction made in Scripture that comes true later in history, demonstrating divine authorship.
- Eyewitness: Someone who personally saw and experienced an event — a key part of Gospel reliability.
- Protoevangelium: The first announcement of the Gospel, found in Genesis 3:15.
🙋 Application Questions
- Have you encountered claims that Christianity borrowed from myths?
- How can you help others see the historical reality and uniqueness of Jesus?
- What fulfilled prophecies have helped you trust the Bible more?
🔤 Greek Keywords (with Simple Explanations)
- Muthos (μῦθος) – “Myth”; used to describe fabricated stories, not historical truth (2 Peter 1:16).
- Martus (μάρτυς) – “Witness”; someone who testifies to what they saw firsthand (Acts 1:8).
📚 Cross References
Luke 1:1–4 – Luke carefully investigated everything to write an “orderly account” of historical events.
Acts 26:25–26 – Paul insists that the resurrection was not done in a corner, but public and verifiable.
John 1:1–14 – The eternal Word became flesh — unlike myths, God entered history.
Colossians 2:8 – Paul warns against “philosophy and empty deceit… according to human tradition.”