Please Help Us Keep These Thousands of Blog Posts Growing and Free for All

$5.00

Introduction

Apollonius of Tyana, a first-century figure, has occasionally been invoked by critics of Christianity as a parallel to Jesus Christ. The most comprehensive account of his life comes from Philostratus’s Life of Apollonius, written in the early third century C.E. Critics argue that Apollonius’s reputed miracles and moral teachings rival those of Christ, undermining the uniqueness of Jesus’ claims. This article will evaluate these assertions, comparing the historical, textual, and theological evidence for Apollonius and Jesus.

A medallion from the Palmyrene Empire depicting Apollonius, 2nd century CE

Historical Context of Apollonius

Apollonius of Tyana (ca. 15 C.E.–ca. 98 C.E.) was a philosopher associated with the Neo-Pythagorean tradition. His life is largely known through the work of Philostratus, written approximately 120 years after Apollonius’s death. According to Philostratus, Apollonius traveled extensively, taught ascetic practices, and performed miracles. However, the historical reliability of this account is questionable due to its late composition, lack of corroboration, and reliance on dubious sources, such as the alleged writings of Damis, a purported disciple of Apollonius.

The Unreliable Nature of Philostratus’s Biography

Philostratus’s work is widely regarded by scholars as a piece of historical romance, rather than a factual biography. It was commissioned by Julia Domna, the wife of Emperor Septimius Severus, possibly as an effort to counter the growing influence of Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Literary Style and Genre
Philostratus employed the literary style of “romance fiction,” which featured elaborate descriptions, fantastical elements, and contrived dialogues. This genre prioritizes entertainment over historical accuracy.
Chronological Inaccuracies
The account contains glaring chronological errors. For instance, it places Nineveh, destroyed in 612 B.C.E., as an existing city during Apollonius’s time. Additionally, it erroneously identifies the Caucasus Mountains as a geographical boundary between Babylon and India.
The Role of Damis
Philostratus claims to rely on the writings of Damis, a supposed companion of Apollonius. However, Damis is likely a fictional character invented to lend credibility to the narrative. Historical records do not confirm his existence, and the inaccuracies in Philostratus’s account suggest that Damis’s writings, if they existed, were unreliable.

Apollonius of Tyana on a book cover or a frontispice, before 1800.

Comparing the Sources for Apollonius and Jesus

The primary difference between Apollonius and Jesus lies in the quality and quantity of the sources. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, written within decades of Jesus’ life, are corroborated by multiple independent manuscripts and external references. By contrast, Life of Apollonius stands as the sole source for Apollonius’s life, written over a century after his death.

Eyewitness Testimony
The New Testament Gospels were authored by individuals who were either eyewitnesses or contemporaries of the events they describe (Luke 1:1–4; John 20:30–31). Apollonius’s biography, on the other hand, was composed long after his death, with no firsthand testimony.
Historical Corroboration
The Gospels include detailed references to historical figures and events, such as Herod the Great (Matthew 2:1), Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1–3), and the census under Quirinius (Luke 2:1–2). These details are verifiable through external historical sources. In contrast, Philostratus’s account contains numerous geographical and historical errors, undermining its credibility.
Manuscript Evidence
The New Testament is supported by over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, with the earliest fragments dating to within a century of Jesus’ life. The textual reliability of the Gospels far surpasses that of Life of Apollonius, which exists in only a few copies with no early manuscripts.

Evaluating the Miracle Claims

Philostratus attributes various miracles to Apollonius, including healings, exorcisms, and even resurrection. However, these accounts lack the historical and textual grounding found in the Gospel narratives.

Timing of Accounts
The miracles of Jesus were recorded within decades of his life, allowing for verification by living witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:3–6). In contrast, the miracles attributed to Apollonius were recorded over a century later, making verification impossible.
Nature of the Miracles
Jesus performed miracles to demonstrate his divine authority (John 10:37–38), often in public settings witnessed by large crowds. Apollonius’s miracles, as described by Philostratus, often occur in private or fantastical contexts, lacking the same evidentiary weight.
Resurrection Claims
The resurrection of Jesus is central to Christian faith, supported by multiple independent accounts and the testimony of the apostles (Matthew 28:1–10; Luke 24:36–43; John 20:19–29). By contrast, Philostratus offers conflicting accounts of Apollonius’s death and alleged post-death appearances, which are described as dreams or visions rather than physical resurrections.

Theological Distinctions Between Apollonius and Jesus

The theological claims about Apollonius and Jesus differ significantly. Apollonius was a philosopher and ascetic whose teachings align with Hellenistic polytheism. Jesus, by contrast, claimed to be the Son of God, embodying the monotheistic theology of Judaism and fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.

Divinity
Apollonius’s alleged deification is an example of apotheosis, the elevation of a human to divine status within a polytheistic framework. Jesus, however, is presented in the Gospels as God incarnate, preexistent and eternal (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:15–20).
Purpose and Mission
Apollonius’s teachings focus on personal asceticism and philosophical wisdom. Jesus’ mission was to provide salvation through his death and resurrection, offering forgiveness of sins and eternal life (John 3:16; Matthew 20:28).
Impact of the Resurrection
Jesus’ resurrection serves as the cornerstone of Christianity, confirming his divine nature and victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:20–22). Apollonius’s post-death stories lack this transformative significance and historical credibility.

Conclusion

The comparison between Apollonius of Tyana and Jesus Christ reveals the unparalleled nature of Jesus’ claims, life, and resurrection. While Apollonius’s story is a product of late, unreliable sources steeped in fictionalized elements, the Gospels provide historically grounded accounts supported by extensive manuscript evidence and external corroboration. Jesus’ miracles, teachings, and resurrection remain unmatched in their historical reliability and theological significance.

You May Also Enjoy

What Distinguishes Jesus Christ from Ancient Claims of Apotheosis?

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).