Zoroastrianism in our Bible

[Stinker2]

I used to be conditioned to rebuff any ideas that our Bible may have been influenced by other ancient religions.

This year I decided to check and see if our Bible had indeed been influenced by this ancient religion called Zoroastrianism, and if it was, it may affect my current path to God...but not my faith in God.

Yes, it had. Starting with the Jewish captivity and Daniel. The Jews were not affected by their first captives (587 B.C.) Nebechednezer of Babylon, but by Persia, who defeated Babylon (539 B.C.) namely Cyrus the Great, who is mentioned in (Isaiah 44:28-45).

If it were not for the Persians, there would have been no 'hell' (actually pre- Zoroaster cleansing fire...not eternal punishment), nor resurrection, etc. for the New Testament characters to argue about. (Mt.22:23-28)

How many Christians know that when the Sadducees (who held to the original Jewish teaching of there being no such thing as a resurrection) were questioning Jesus about which of the 7 brothers the wife would be, that they were trying to trap Him like they did the Pharisees- (Persian word Parsees ) who believed this Zoroastrian doctine of the resurrection?

Even the writer who incorporated the magi in the 2nd chapter of (Mt.2:1:12) was showing that the Zoroastrian priests (magi) were following the ancient Zoroastrian doctrine of 1 of 3 Saoshyants (messiahs) arriving in the world via Virgin Births.

The most important teaching of the Zoroastrian faith for it's followers is to practice good thought, word, and deed. This does tie in to the New Testament: "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus," (Col.3:17)

Did the writer of Col.3:17 copy Zoroastrianism? Nah.

 

[Eric B]

"Parsees" and "Pharisees" come from two different sources. "Parsee" is "Persian", while Pharisee is probably Hebrew.

The only Zoroastrians in the Bible were the Persian Kings in Daniel, and the magi.

I believe that the truth found in the Bible that was also taught in Zorostrianism is universal truth that God probably had inspired to different people around the world. Apart from this knowledge, the Persians had been polytheistic Mithraists, which was basically the same thing as all the other Gentile pagan religions. Even if the Hebrews did get them from the Persians, still it was divine truth; else God would not have used it. Then, the followers of Zoroaster added their own system of ritual, and it became almost a worship of fire, though I don't think he originally intended it to be that.

 

[bmerr]

Stinker2,

bmerr here. Zoroastrianism began around 500 BC in Persia, and was the first pagan religion to employ concepts of good vs. evil, guilt, and atonement. Later, Mithraism grew out of it, and introduced the idea of a resurrection.

Moses had received and delivered the Law around 1500 BC, which puts actual Divine revelation predating Zoroaster by around 1000 years. During this 1000 years, the Jews were not kept in a cave, or hidden under a box. They were known by the nations around them, and the religion, and God of the Jews would also have been known of by the nations around them.

If anything, Zoraster borrowed his ideas from the Hebrews, and incorporated them into his pagan religion.

Additionally, with Christianity being born as a result of the completion, or end result of the Jewish religion, it would seem unlikely for Christianity to condemn pagan religions if it were a decendant of them, don't you think?

Don't let the fact that there are some similarities between Zoroastrianism and Christianity lure you away from the Bible as the only source of Divine truth. There are some similarities between Christianity and Islam, too, though their founders had little in common.

Basic morality is just that: basic morality. People have a sense of what is right, and what is not, no matter where they come from.

In Christ,

bmerr

 

[Revmitchell]

The word of God is God Breathed.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The Word of God shall endure without error.


Mt 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

The Word of God is still relevent today.


Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart

Let God be true and every one else be a liar. You provided no evidence that your godless assertions have any merit. I would be more careful to speak against what God has said.

 

[Revmitchell]

Matthew 7:15-20 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them


There are those on this board who claim to be of the fellowship and of certain denominations but only show evidence of the opposite. We must be discerning!