oldbadger
Skanky Old Mongrel!
No, they didn't. The churches started up quite slowly, and with a tiny % of the population.And yet it was birthed on the fact that he died and resurrected. I choose to believe that as did the people who lived in his time.
But I don't believe that he died, and his resurrection account got tagged on the end of Mark later on.
After studying the gospels for myself I have to say that Paul's teachings were in vain, for me and millions of Brits.Certainly Paul said, (paraphrased) - "if he didn't die and resurrect then all my preaching is in vain". - Since Paul was a contemporary of that time, I see it as a validation.
Paul never knew Jesus and never once did Paul bother to write a single story or anecdote about Jesus or his mission, apart from the last 36 hours.