1.5.5.
In my opinion, the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles do not have their origin in a mythical era and do not include

any myths. Mythological narratives about gods, devils, visions etc. are in fact contemporary literary devices that require interpretation using the tools provided by classical philology. When Jesus says to Peter in Matt. 16:23: “Get behind me Satan”, that is not a myth, it is polemics.

If someone in Rome wanted to criticise the emperor, for example, they never did so directly, because that could have had serious consequences. Instead one told an unsavoury myth about Zeus, father of the gods, and everyone knew that this referred to the emperor.