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Wednesday, September 4, 2019

El means Power.

In the apocryphal Gospel of Peter, Jesus's words from the cross are strangely, "my power, my power, why have you abandoned me?" This phrasing, instead of "my God, my God," has puzzled commentators and lead some to speculate on the mystic or Gnostic nature of the exclamation.
Justin Martyr refers to El meaning Power.
Epiphanius accepts that El means "power" in discussing a heretical Judaic sect called the Ossaeans (Panarion 2.19.2.1)
The Ossaeans also had a doctrine of Christ as a giant (Panarion 2.19.4.1).

Also the Gospel of Peter presents the crucified Jesus as feeling no pain, which led it to be condemned. The Odes of Solomon also attest to a tradition that Jesus felt no pain on the cross. They also attest to the tradition that Mary felt no pain in labor. Epiphanius also agrees with this in responding to the Ebionite sect that considered Jesus a mere man (Panarion 2.30.19.4).

August 11 2021: Note in Acts, Simon Magus is hailed as "the great power of God," or perhaps, "the Great Power, being God." Possibly "the Great Power" here was the word El--perhaps reflecting colloquial usage? I really don't know. Justin Martyr came from Samaria. Maybe that connection means something; maybe it means nothing. 

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