What is your opinion of the discovery of a cup/bowl with “Jesus The Magician” engraved on it?

It doesn't mean much to me since Jesus never used the term "Christ" in the manner in which this "cup" presents it. Christ simply means "the Anointed One" more of a title than a name. Therefore one would not expect to see the "name" Christ used in this manner. Also, since it is Greek, one must first work through the Greek texts (non-Biblical) to see if the word appears as a name. Then, you have to somehow prove that the cup dates to the time frame of Jesus and that other extra-Biblical text show Jesus also used "Christ" as His name. Finally, can there be a chance of someone who was a magician that went by the name of "Christ the Magician" as a condemnation of Christianity?

One last thing; whoever wrote on the cup was a poor speller. Christ does have the iota in it, but it is missing from the cup. (Χριστός (Christós)

The name JESUS is much more popular and common that we realize ,In hebrew it is joshua which means Yahweh (is) salvation - In JESUS CHRISTs earthly ministry there were many who were named jesus one off the top of my head is barjesus a false prophet found in the company of the Proconsul Sergius Paulus by St. Paul and Barnabas during their stay at Paphos in Cyprus (Acts 8:6-12). Because of his opposition to the Proconsul's conversion to Christianity, Barjesus was struck blind by St. Paul. He was also called Elymos (Arabic, 'alim, i.e. "wise"), which St. Luke translated by "magician." (Acts 13:8).

So as you see this is not a new incident nor does it have any connection with JESUS CHRIST son of the living GOD who payed the penalty for our sin upon the cross and gave us back the ability to commune with and be heard by a holy GOD .

Joshua in the old testament is a "prefigure" of the incarnate CHRIST , his life is a reflection of the suffering and eventual triumph of the living CHRIST and gives us an understanding of JESUS the son of GOD .

hope this helps.

After looking at your question again i see your question was if this is proof that CHRISTianity and paganisim entertwined at times - yes in fact search in your browser for CHRISTIAN COPTS and you will find a rather diffrent understanding of CHRISTianity than is normally preached , if i remember correctly it is a combination of CHRISTianity and anchient egyptian belifes in its inital form anyway- really sorry i got off on a tangent there and missed the meaning of your question.

This find like so many others only proves that the potter had the ability to follow a design or instructions, with no further significance to anything other than the potters ability.

"then the discovery may provide evidence that Christianity and paganism at times intertwined in the ancient world"

Heh.. surprise? Of course it did, so many Christian customs have pagan roots, that shouldn't come as a shock to anyone who knows history.

I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No different for the person who engraved that writing. He was entitled to his as well ! Doesn't mean he knew what he was talking about or that he was right....just that he had his own opinion.

People will go to extreme lengths to get written about.

Look up project blubeam it talks about how things are getting discovered to frame religions that they are wrong when they are really right.