{"id":121442,"date":"2026-09-23T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/?p=121442"},"modified":"2026-09-23T13:12:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:12:29","slug":"virgin-mary-roman-soldier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/virgin-mary-roman-soldier\/","title":{"rendered":"Forbidden Love? The Story of the Virgin Mary and a Roman Soldier"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:55.416666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:56.296296296296%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-5::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-5{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-6::before{padding-top:56.333333333333%; }img#mv-trellis-img-6{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-7::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-7{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-8::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-8{display:block;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I recently came upon an ancient gossip that&rsquo;s nothing short of blasphemous: Mary, mother of Jesus, wasn&rsquo;t pregnant by the Holy Spirit, but by a very real Roman man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Typically, when the <strong>miraculous birth <\/strong>\u306f <strong>denied<\/strong>, skeptics only question the probability of such a thing; they rarely provide us with a name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this case, Celsus, one of the oldest and harshest critics of Christianity, gave us a name in his text, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earlychristianwritings.com\/text\/celsus3.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The True Word<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The name was <strong>Pantera<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. How Skeptics View the Virgin Birth<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-121502\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-170x96.jpg 170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20576'%3E%3Crect%20width='1024'%20height='576'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121502 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pregnant_virgin_mary-1-170x96.jpg 170w\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/\">&copy; Angelynum<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many people remain skeptical of the idea that Mary became pregnant with the Holy Spirit, and not only because it was miraculous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main reason is that <strong>only two<\/strong> of the four <strong>Gospels<\/strong> even mention it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark, John, and even Paul&rsquo;s letters, which were written earlier than any Gospel, say nothing of the divine conception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&rsquo;d think that something like that would be the first thing they&rsquo;d all want to bring up. To historians, this is a serious gap.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Skeptics also point to a <strong>translation issue<\/strong> in the Old Testament prophecy that Matthew leaned on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The original Hebrew word <em>almah<\/em> simply means <em>young woman<\/em>, but in Greek, it was translated as <em>parthenos<\/em>, meaning <em>virgin<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That single word could have influenced the entire belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Besides, <strong>virgin births<\/strong> weren&rsquo;t at all uncommon in old <strong>pagan<\/strong> myths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Demigods and heroes were constantly said to have been born of virgins, simply because this quality made them stand out among mortals even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This could mean that the virgin birth was simply a popular storytelling formula rather than an actual phenomenon.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Virgin Births Before Christ<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-115295\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"665\" src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-115295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-1024x568.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-768x426.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-960x532.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-1080x599.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-170x94.jpg 170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"665\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201200%20665'%3E%3Crect%20width='1200'%20height='665'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-115295 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-2\" data-src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-1024x568.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-768x426.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-960x532.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-1080x599.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/origin-roman-myth-4-170x94.jpg 170w\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/\">&copy; Angelynum<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ancient mythology is filled with miraculous conceptions that predate Mary and Jesus by centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Perseus<\/strong> was supposedly conceived when Zeus visited Dana&euml; as a shower of golden light. Isis magically conceived Horus after her husband Osiris died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Buddhist tradition claims that Queen Maya dreamt of a white elephant and conceived the <strong>Buddha<\/strong> miraculously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Persian tradition also speaks of <strong>Zoroaster<\/strong> this way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even Rome&rsquo;s own founding myth claims that <strong>Romulus and Remus<\/strong> were born of a virgin priestess and Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Alexander the Great<\/strong>&lsquo;s mother reportedly said that Zeus had visited her in the form of a serpent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All of these beliefs make it clear that a virgin birth was a common way to elevate someone into a legend, not a literal truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Joseph&rsquo;s Dilemma<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-121504\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-170x96.jpg 170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20576'%3E%3Crect%20width='1024'%20height='576'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121504 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-3\" data-src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sacred_annunciation_scene-170x96.jpg 170w\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/\">&copy; Angelynum<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the Gospel account, Joseph came home to find Mary visibly pregnant, and he knew for a fact that the child wasn&rsquo;t his.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the small community and the time they lived in, this was the biggest scandal anyone could imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joseph reportedly considered quietly ending the engagement since he didn&rsquo;t want to publicly shame her.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, an <strong>angel appeared to him<\/strong> in a dream and explained everything: not only was his wife faithful, but she was such a pure soul that God chose her as the mother of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joseph was convinced and comforted by this, so he married Mary and raised the child as his own.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&rsquo;s a beautiful story of faith and trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But skeptics have a different take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They focus on the fact that the situation would have been shameful for both Joseph and Mary, so it was expected of them to <strong>construct a story<\/strong> to save face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Who Was Pantera?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-99359\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6.jpeg 1080w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-18x10.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-728x410.jpeg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-480x270.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-960x540.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-170x96.jpeg 170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201080%20608'%3E%3Crect%20width='1080'%20height='608'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99359 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6.jpeg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-4\" data-src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6.jpeg 1080w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-18x10.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-728x410.jpeg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-480x270.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-960x540.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/longinus-roman-soldier-6-170x96.jpeg 170w\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/\">&copy; Angelynum<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, where does a Roman soldier fit into any of this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u306e\u4e2d\u3067 <strong>2nd century<\/strong>, the Greek philosopher, Celsus, wrote <em>The True Word<\/em>, in which he claimed that Mary had been thrown out by Joseph for <strong>adultery<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He cited a Jewish source and claimed that her lover was a Roman soldier named Pantera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The True Word<\/em> has been lost, but we know all of this because it was included in the rebuttal <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/origenagainstcel00orig\/page\/n7\/mode\/2up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Against Celsus<\/a>, by a Christian scholar named Origen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Origen quoted specific paragraphs from <em>The True Word<\/em> so he could argue against them, and funnily enough, the slander against the Virgin Mary survived thanks to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around the same time, <strong>rabbinic literature<\/strong> made similar claims. They sometimes called Jesus <strong>Yeshu ben Pantera<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Archaeology Proved He Existed<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-121503\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-170x96.jpg 170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20576'%3E%3Crect%20width='1024'%20height='576'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121503 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-5\" data-src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/roman_tombstone_excavation-170x96.jpg 170w\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/\">&copy; Angelynum<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where the story stops being just a hateful rumor and gets more believable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1859, railway workers were digging near Bingerbr&uuml;ck, Germany, when they found a set of Roman tombstones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One belonged to a soldier named <strong>Tiberius Julius Abdes Pantera<\/strong>, born around 22 BC in today&rsquo;s Lebanon.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His tombstone reveals that he served for forty years as an archer in a Roman military unit that used to be located in Judea. Later, it moved through Dalmatia and up to the Rhine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even more strangely, the <strong>timeline fits<\/strong> really well with Mary&rsquo;s pregnancy and the birth of Jesus.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&rsquo;s very rare for an ancient rumor to have any concrete evidence to back it up, so Pantera&rsquo;s tombstone produced many more skeptics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Why Some Believe He Was Jesus&rsquo;s Biological Father<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-121505\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-960x541.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-1080x608.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-170x96.jpg 170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"676\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201200%20676'%3E%3Crect%20width='1200'%20height='676'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121505 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-6\" data-src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-960x541.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-1080x608.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/stolen_glances_golden_hour-170x96.jpg 170w\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/\">&copy; Angelynum<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Put all these pieces together, and you can see why some people find it easy to believe the rumor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Roman military unit was stationed in Judea at the right time. And both <strong>Jewish and Greek sources<\/strong> connect the man named Pantera to Mary and Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The theory was important enough for an ancient Christian scholar to devote an entire text to arguing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And despite <strong>censorship<\/strong> attempts, it has stuck around for nearly two thousand years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most rumors eventually fade away, so why didn&rsquo;t this one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Historians Push Back on This Slander of Mary<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-121501\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child.jpg\" alt=\"virgin mary\" class=\"wp-image-121501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-170x96.jpg 170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20576'%3E%3Crect%20width='1024'%20height='576'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"virgin mary\" class=\"wp-image-121501 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_mother_child-170x96.jpg 170w\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/\">&copy; Angelynum<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, mainstream historians mainly reject this theory as nothing but a rumor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For one, Pantera was a <strong>common name<\/strong> among Roman soldiers, and it was found on several tombstones.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&rsquo;s also suspected that <em>Yeshu ben Pandera<\/em> might not have even been a reference to Jesus Christ because it&rsquo;s often dated centuries after He lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most historians agree that Celsus included the rumor in his text because it was essentially <strong>anti-Christian<\/strong> propaganda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&rsquo;s also a linguistic wordplay that suggests Pantera might have been a jab aimed at Mary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It could be a twist on the word <strong>parthenon<\/strong> (virgin), so instead of Jesus being <em>the son of virgin<\/em>, he&rsquo;s called <em>the son of Pantera<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">None of this means that all historians believe in the miraculous conception; they simply reject the idea that a Roman soldier Pantera was Jesus&rsquo;s real father.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Between Myth, Slander, and Faith<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-121500\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-170x96.jpg 170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20576'%3E%3Crect%20width='1024'%20height='576'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121500 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 728px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-8\" data-src=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/angelynum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/divine_heavenly_landscape-170x96.jpg 170w\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/\">&copy; Angelynum<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, where does this leave us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure, historians don&rsquo;t believe that Pantera was necessarily the one who fathered Jesus Christ, but honestly, there&rsquo;s no proof that he didn&rsquo;t, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The truth is, <strong>we don&rsquo;t know<\/strong>. Maybe Pantera was a real man, and maybe he even had a connection with Mary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe his name was just a result of a pun someone made to offend Mary in Greek.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or, it could all just be a simple rumor that circled the small community faced with the claims of a divine conception.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For believers, this doesn&rsquo;t affect the spiritual meaning of the virgin birth. And for skeptics, it&rsquo;s just another proof of how human and messy those early stories about Jesus were.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever really happened two thousand years ago, this <strong>\u30df\u30b9\u30c6\u30ea\u30fc<\/strong> is too <strong>fascinating<\/strong> to be forgotten anytime soon.&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I recently came upon an ancient gossip that&rsquo;s nothing short of blasphemous: Mary, mother of Jesus, wasn&rsquo;t pregnant by the Holy Spirit, but by a &hellip;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":121505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"syndication_tool_enabled":true,"syndication_tool_title":"","syndication_tool_excerpt":"","syndication_tool_featured_image":0,"syndication_tool_publish_date":"","syndication_tool_schema_types":["article"],"syndication_tool_backlink_enable":false,"syndication_tool_ai_disclosure_enable":false,"disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"Article","disable-critical-css":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[208],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-121442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121442"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":124189,"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121442\/revisions\/124189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/angelynum.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}