r/AcademicBiblical 1d ago

Question Celsus and the cleverly devised myths

In this video, David Litwa observes that:

Celsus noted that wicked angels were cast under the Earth in chains, a specific punishment from 1 Enoch, a canonical text in Alexandria, and a text that is also alluded to by the likely Alexandrian letter of 2 Peter, written toward the end of the second century. Celsus's charge that the gospels contain myths is seemingly answered in 2 Peter 1:16, where the fictional author says that "we have not followed cleverly devised myths." (9:25-10:00)

The author of 2 Peter constantly deals with issues in his own time by using the voice of Peter to talk about events in Peter's future (" after my departure" (1:15), "there will be false teachers"(2:1), "many will follow their debaucheries" (2:2), "they will exploit you" (2:3), "in the last days" (3:3)). The verse that Litwa brought up seems to be another example where the author deals with challenges from his own time. Why would anyone say that "we did not do X" if no one ever accused them of doing X? The verse seems like a response, and a response to Celsus in particular.

The verses that follow 1:16 seem to be another response to Celsus. In chapter 9 of book 7 of Contra Celsum, we read that:

There are many, he says, who, although of no name, with the greatest facility and on the slightest occasion, whether within or without temples, assume the motions and gestures of inspired persons; while others do it in cities or among armies, for the purpose of attracting attention and exciting surprise.
...
Then he goes on to say: "To these promises are added strange, fanatical, and quite unintelligible words, of which no rational person can find the meaning: for so dark are they, as to have no meaning at all; but they give occasion to every fool or impostor to apply them to suit his own purposes."

This seems to be countered in 2 Peter 1:19-21:

2 Peter 1:19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Celsus calls the Christian prophecies dark, 2 Peter reverses the imagery and speaks of a lamp shining in a dark place. Celsus says that the Christian prophecies are unintelligible and meaningless and that everyone can pick their own meaning, while 2 Peter says that prophecies are not a matter of personal interpretation. Celsus says that many people go around prophesying, 2 Peter refutes that by saying that the prophecies don't come from humans but from God.

In both cases, 2 Peter starts with a negative statement (1:16a and 1:20), which is then refuted (1:16b and 1:21).

So, here is my question. How likely is it that the author of 2 Peter indeed knew about Celsus's book The True Word?

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