Der gekreuzigte Sophist

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that the term »sophists« became a term of abuse against religious adversaries in the 2nd cent. CE, not only in polemics between christians and pagans, as one could assume, but also in polemics between christians and between pagans. Against this background one understands why Lucian named Jesus of Nazareth a »crucified sophist« (Peregr. 13).