Uribe Carrillo 1

Julian David Uribe Carrillo

Prof. James Jervis

Myth2

Feb. 28, 2024

Paper Plan

Subjects of Comparison:

The idea of Jesus of Nazareth’s death and resurrection is one of the pillars of the Christian belief

system. However, across many different cultures, we find similar accounts of mythological

figures or deities that share a similar story. Among the most famous, we find Osiris in the

Egyptian mythology, Baldr in Norse mythology and Izanami in Japanese mythology. Analyzing

the differences and similarities between these stories, we start to wonder if Christianity may have

been influenced by older myth around the globe.

Argument:

This paper will argue that the idea of a dying-and rising god in the figure of Jesus, pillar of

Christian belief, although not unique to the religion, is fundamentally different from older myths

present across different cultures.

Book:

Mettinger, Tryggve N. D. The Riddle of Resurrection: "Dying and Rising Gods" in the Ancient

Near East. Coniectanea Biblica / Old Testament Series, 2001.

 Uribe Carrillo 2

Quote from the book:

“There is, as far as I am aware, no prima facie evidence that the death and resurrection of Jesus is

a mythological construct, drawing on the myths and rites of the dying and rising gods of the

surrounding world” (Mettinger 221).

Article:
Perrin, Nicholas. “On Raising Osiris in I Corinthians 15.” Tyndale Bulletin, vol. 58, no. 1,2007,

pp. 117-128. Tyndalehouse, https://doi.org/10.53751/001c.29231

Quote from the article:

“Finally, Paul understands Christ to be a corporate personality who embodies and represents

redeemed humanity and that the same role and functions appear to be predicated of Osiris”

(Perrin 118).