Biblical Relevance

In the early centuries of the Church, Asclepius was contrasted with Jesus in debates between Christians and pagans such as Origen’s Against Celsus (Origen, Against Celsus 3.24). Christians’ singular belief in Jesus was challenged by Celsus, who portrayed Asclepius as a similar figure, a god who had once been a man with healing powers. Origen’s response is that Asclepius might be a demon who possessed the power of healing.