Name: Geronimo
Comments: The fact that a tablet that counteracts the uniquesness of Jesus of Nazareth has been found is indication of the possibility of a prior messiah. Consequently, one must conclude that Jesus must have known of Simon's prior existence. This knowledge disrupts the very foundation of Christianity, posing questions that may shake its truthfulness. Perhaps Jesus was emulating Simon, and if so, perhaps he was exercising his ability of persuasion. I have always suspected that Jesus was performing for the masses for his own recognition.
Name: Lawrence
Comments: I think the Jeselshon stone is a fraud. A very clever forger of antiquities is currently in prison for the James ossuary, the scepter head from Solomon's temple, and a number of other forgeries which fooled a large number of those unwilling to ask enough questions of spectacular unprovenanced finds in the 90s. This smells as they smelled. The fact something is too good to be true makes some people more willing to accept it on the grounds 'who would fake something like that'? It makes some of us more suspicious.
Further, should this dubious 'antiquity' be true the actual reading is not certain (the forger was clever in his inscriptions) and the proposed reading which makes it resemble Christian understanding of Jesus might reflect the translators' information on Jesus rather than the text.
This unprovenanced 'find' should not alter anyone's opinion of anything.
Lawrence, PhD in early Christian history from Brown University.
Name: Logical
Country:
Comments: Has it escaped anyone's knowledge that Jesus was a Jew? At the time of his birth many Jews were waiting for it. It was common knowledge as foretold in the book of Daniel. Herod's men were able to figure out the time and that is why he had Jesus killed. Also many years earlier Jonah was in the belly of the fish for parts of 3 days. This symbolically pictured Jesus as did many other accounts.Jesus alone fulfilled hundreds of prophesies. He also foretold there would be many false prophets and those claiming to be the Messiah. If there was such men earlier it only fulfilled what Jesus prophesied. Also none of those so called earlier prophets fulfilled everything.
Whether this stone is accurate or not I can not say. But why are people so eager to believe it and discredit Jesus. If the finder claimed it proved Jesus was the messiah than people would be all up in arms claiming it was a hoax. I say dig a little deeper.