ABSTRACT
The author proposes to examine, by means of an outline study of the Greek word, the use made of myths, first by Gentiles, then by Jews, in the period in which the New Testament and primitive Christianity were evolving. Criticism of the myths is practised with complete freedom by Plato. From the time of Plato onwards there was a strong and growing tendency to look upon the ancient traditional stories about the gods and their relations with men in this way. A specific reference to the Transfiguration follows, and this event was no doubt chiefly in mind; but it is clear that what the author intends to do here is to claim that the stories of the gospel tradition were not artificially created myths but were historically veracious and trustworthy, and depended upon the recollections of eye-witnesses. The Pastoral Epistles, show us a situation in which Christian speculation is beginning to develop, and to develop in a mythological direction.
