Did You Think That This Was a Trick Question?
Answer: Mithra
"Even with the comparatively slight knowledge we have of Mithraism and its liturgy, it is clear that many of Paul's phrases savor much more of the terminology of the Persian cult than that of the Gospels." (E. Wynn-Tyson, Mithras)
Mithraism "postulated an apocalypse, a day of judgment, a resurrection of the flesh, and a second coming of Mithras himself, who would finally defeat the principle of evil. Mithras was said to have been born in a cave or grotto, where shepherds attended him and regaled him with gifts." (Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln, The Messianic Legacy)
"Like Christians, the Mithraists [a millennium and a half earlier] believed that their savior had descended from heaven to earth; had shared a last supper with 12 followers; had redeemed mankind from sin by shedding blood; and had risen from the dead. They even baptized their converts to wash away past sins." (Quest for the Past)
"He who will not eat of my body, nor drink of my blood so that he may be one with me and I with him, shall not be saved." -- Mithraic Communion (M. J. Vermaseren, Mithras, The Secret God)
"And as they were eating, Jesus, having taken bread, when he had blessed, broke [it], and gave [it] to them, and said, Take [this]: this is my body. And having taken [the] cup, when he had given thanks, he gave [it] to them, and they all drank out of it. And he said to them, This is my blood, that of the [new] covenant, that shed for many." -- Mark 14:22-26 (English-Darby)
Matthew "included Mark's last supper that equated Jesus with Mithra, and also a repudiation of the Mithraic custom of calling priests 'Father' and the chief priest 'Father of Fathers.'" (William Harwood, Mythologies Last Gods: Yahweh and Jesus)
"But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ." -- Matthew 23:8-10
"The Mithraic Holy father wore a red cap and garment and a ring, and carried a shepherd's staff. The Head Christian adopted the same title and outfitted himself in the same manner. Christian priests, like Mithraic priests, became 'Father', despite Jesus' specific proscription of the acceptance of such a title (Matthew 23:9). That Jesus had been repudiating, not the Mithraists with whom he was unfamiliar, but the Sanhedrin, whose President was styled Father, is hardly relevant. "Mithra's bishops wore a mithra, or miter, as their badge of office. Christian bishops also adopted miters. Mithraists commemorated the sun-god's ascension by eating a mizd, a sun-shaped bun embossed with the sword (cross) of Mithra. The hot cross bun and the mass were likewise adapted to Christianity. The Roman Catholic mizd/mass wafer continues to retain its sun-shape, although its Episcopal counterpart does not. "All Roman Emperors from Julius Caesar to Gratian had been pontifex maximus, high priest of the Roman gods. When Theodosius refused the title as incompatible with his status as a Christian, the Christian bishop of Rome picked it up. Magi, priests of Zarathustra, wore robes that featured the sword of Mithra. Identical robes are worn by Christian priests to this day." (William Harwood, Mythologies Last Gods: Yahweh and Jesus)
Illuminations and is used with permission.)
[Note: The Illuminations site is currently inactive. I'll post a new link once I find its location.]
Sources
Illuminations
The Messianic Legacy
by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, Henry Lincoln
The Story of Civilization: Part III, Caesar and Christ
by Will Durant
Return to Uranus for more Universal Myths.
Voyage to the Observatory for the Main Index.
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