rationalskepticism.org

RealityRules wrote:

RealityRules wrote:

"one could argue that the author of Mark’s story about Jesus crucified by Roman ruler Pontius Pilate (Mark 15) was a historicization of Paul’s account of Christ slain by ruling daimons (middling beings between humans and gods; 1 Cor. 2:8)."

Litwa, M. David (2019) How the Gospels Became History, Yale University Press (Synkrisis series).

Litwa was likely focusing on ruler, archontōn / ἀρχόντων, used in 1 Cor. 2:8 in the context of the preceding verses1, and Pilate being a ruler.

1 1 Cor 2:6, in context, -

1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I come proclaiming the mystery of God to you, not in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified ...

4 My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible Words of wisdom [logos sophia], but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

6 among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish

7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Daimon is a transliteration of ancient Greek: δαίμων (latinized to daemon). It's a synonym of demon, but daimon/ daemon is used today to distinguish from the Christian concept of demon being evil - daimons of ancient Greek mythology were of both good and bad character.

Daimon meant tutelary deity, as in a minor deity or spirit that watched over or guarded a place, person, group, or activity -

guardians or supporters, or even dispensers, perceived, as Litwa says, as 'middling beings between humans and gods'

They would have been perceived in ancient times as ruling the lower levels of heaven

"Nevertheless he has placed by every man a guardian,
every man's Daimon, to whom he has committed the care of the man,
a guardian who never sleeps, is never deceived.

For to what better and more careful guardian could He have entrusted each of us?
When, then, you have shut the doors and made darkness within,
remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not;
but God is within, and your Daimon is within, and what need
have they of light to see what you are doing?

To this God you ought to swear an oath just as the soldiers do to Caesar. .....

~ Epictetus

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.