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Jesus the Jew. How a Jew, marginally important in his own time became the most famous person ever. וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ.
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Jesus the Jew How a Jew, marginally important in his own time became the most famous person ever.
וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ • Jesus is English for the Latin Iēsus from the Greek Ιησους from the Hebrew ישוע which is short for יהושע. Later, Hebrew transliterated back from the Latin to form ישו. • Christ is English for the Greek χριστός which means “anointed one.” This is the translation of משיח.
תלמוד בבלי סנהדרין דף מג עמוד א והתניא: בערב הפסח תלאוהו לישו הנוצרי, והכרוז יוצא לפניו ארבעים יום: ישו הנוצרי יוצא ליסקל על שכישף והסית והדיח את ישראל, כל מי שיודע לו זכות יבוא וילמד עליו. ולא מצאו לו זכות ותלאוהו בערב הפסח. - אמר עולא: ותסברא, ישו הנוצרי בר הפוכי זכות הוא? מסית הוא, ורחמנא אמר לא תחמל ולא תכסה עליו! אלא שאני ישו דקרוב למלכות הוה. תנו רבנן: חמשה תלמידים היו לו לישו הנוצרי, מתאי, נקאי נצר ובוני ותודה. אתיוה למתי, אמר להו: מתי יהרג? הכתיב מתי אבוא ואראה פני אלהים! - אמרו לו: אין, מתי יהרג דכתיב מתי ימות ואבד שמו. אתיוה לנקאי, אמר להו: נקאי יהרג? הכתיב ונקי וצדיק אל תהרג! - אמרו לו: אין, נקאי יהרג, דכתיב במסתרים יהרג נקי. אתיוה לנצר, אמר: נצר יהרג? הכתיב ונצר משרשיו יפרה! - אמרו לו: אין, נצר יהרג, דכתיב ואתה השלכת מקברך כנצר נתעב. אתיוה לבוני, אמר: בוני יהרג? הכתיב בני בכרי ישראל! - אמרו לו: אין, בוני יהרג, דכתיב הנה אנכי הורג את בנך בכרך. אתיוה לתודה, אמר: תודה יהרג? הכתיב מזמור לתודה! - אמרו לו: אין, תודה יהרג, דכתיב זבח תודה יכבדנני.
Life of Jesus • Born 4BCE • Childhood and early adult years in Nazareth in the Galilee • Baptized by John the Baptist • Calls disciples • Teaches in towns of Galilee preaching the “Kingdom of God” • 30CE goes to Jerusalem for Pesah • Creates a disturbance in the Temple area • Has a final meal with his disciples • Was arrested and interrogated by Jewish authorities, specifically the high priest • Was executed on the orders of the Roman prefect, Pontius Pilate
Testimony of Josephusthe standard text About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon an accusation brought by the principal men among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not cease. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life. For the prophets of God had prophesied these and myriads of other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still up to now, not disappeared.
Testimony of JosephusArabic version At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. His conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive; accordingly he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.
Greek Version About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon an accusation brought by the principal men among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not cease. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life. For the prophets of God had prophesied these and myriads of other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still up to now, not disappeared. Arabic Version At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. His conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. 5. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive; accordingly he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders. Two Versions of Josephus
The Egyptian Messiah (almost) • Moreover, there came out of Egypt about this time to Jerusalem one that said he was a prophet, and advised the multitude of the common people to go along with him to the Mount of Olives, as it was called, which lay over against the city, and at the distance of five furlongs. He said further, that he would show them from hence how, at his command, the walls of Jerusalem would fall down; and he promised them that he would procure them an entrance into the city through those walls, when they were fallen down. Now when Felix (procurator 52-60) was informed of these things, he ordered his soldiers to take their weapons, and came against them with a great number of horsemen and footmen from Jerusalem, and attacked the Egyptian and the people that were with him. He also slew four hundred of them, and took two hundred alive. But the Egyptian himself escaped out of the fight, but did not appear any more. And again the robbers stirred up the people to make war with the Romans, and said they ought not to obey them at all; and when any persons would not comply with them, they set fire to their villages, and plundered them. • Antiquities 20.8.6
Theudas the Messiah (almost) • NOW it came to pass, while Fadus was procurator of Judea, that a certain magician, whose name was Theudas, persuaded a great part of the people to take their effects with them, and follow him to the river Jordan; for he told them he was a prophet, and that he would, by his own command, divide the river, and afford them an easy passage over it; and many were deluded by his words. However, Fadus did not permit them to make any advantage of his wild attempt, but sent a troop of horsemen out against them; who, falling upon them unexpectedly, slew many of them, and took many of them alive. They also took Theudas alive, and cut off his head, and carried it to Jerusalem. This was what befell the Jews in the time of Cuspius Fadus's government. • Antiquities 20.5.1
Josephus about Pontius Pilate • At another time he used the sacred treasure of the temple, called corban (qorban), to pay for bringing water into Jerusalem by an aqueduct. A crowd came together and clamored against him; but he had caused soldiers dressed as civilians to mingle with the multitude, and at a given signal they fell upon the rioters and beat them so severely with staves that the riot was quelled. • Josephus, War 2.175-177, Antiq 18.60-62
Why Mel Gibson Would Fail This Class The “Blood Guilt” Line Cannot be historical because: • It only appears in one of the Gospels • It makes sense for the early Christians to make Pontius Pilate look good for their Roman audience • In fact Pontius was quite ruthless • Roman Prefects regularly executed pretend Messias
This is how it was, sort of • “OK I am the Messiah” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krb2OdQksMc&feature=related • Pontius Pilate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrH-Fcz8Eno
The Essene Roots of Christianity John the Baptist and Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls
Luke 1:80 • And the child (John) grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.
Mark 1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight'" (Is 40:3). 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Manual of Discipline 8:12-14 ובהיות אלה ^ליחד^ בישראל ^בתכונים האלה^ יבדלו מתוך מושב הנשי העול ללכת למדבר לפנות שם את דרכ הואהא כאשר כתוב במדבר פנו דרך יייי ישרו בערבה מסלה לאלוהינו When such men as these come to be in Israel, conforming to these doctrines, they shall separate from the session of perverse men to go to the wilderness, there to prepare the way of truth, as it is written, "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God" (Isaiah 40:3).
John the Baptist • Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. • Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God's displeasure to him. Antiquities 18.5.2
Manual of Discipline 3:4-9 • לוא יזכה בכפורים ולוא יטהר במי נדה ולוא יתקדש בימים • ונהרות ולוא יטהר בכול מי רחץ. טמא טמא יהיה כול יומי מואסו במשפטי • אל לבלתי התיסר ביחד עצתו. כיא ברוח עצת אמת אל דרכי איש יכופרו כול • עוונותו להביט באור החיים. וברוח קדושה ליחד באמתו יטהר מכול • עוונותו וברוח יושר וענוה תכופר חטתו. ובענות נפשו לכול חוקי אל יטהר • בשרו להזות במי נדה ולהתקדש במי דוכי. • Ceremonies of atonement cannot restore his innocence, neither cultic waters his purity. He cannot be sanctified by baptism in oceans • and rivers, nor purified by mere ritual bathing. Unclean, unclean shall he be all the days that he rejects the laws • of God, refusing to be disciplined in the Yahad of His society. For only through the spirit pervading God's true society can there be atonement for a man's ways, all • of his iniquities; thus only can he gaze upon the light of life and so be joined to His truth by His holy spirit, purified from all • iniquity. Through an upright and humble attitude his sin may be covered, and by humbling himself before all God's laws his flesh • can be made clean. Only thus can he really receive the purifying waters and be purged by the cleansing flow.
Herodian Family Ruler in Judea until 6CE Herodias’ first husband Herodias’ second husband and the one who killed John the Baptist Had a daughter Salome who danced…
Salome, daughter of Herodias and stepdaughter of Herod Antipas holding head of John the Baptist
The Teacher of Righteousness and John the Baptist both: • Are priests • Practice ascetic lifestyle • Teach the imminent coming of Messiah • Lived in wilderness near the Dead Sea • Dunked a lot • Conflict with the Jerusalem hierarchy On the other hand, John is never called an Essene by Josephus, more politically involved than Essenes. Still, likely that John grew up as an Essene and then began his own independent career.
Luke 1:32–35 • “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David . . . he will be called Son of God.”
Who is the son of God? • דברים פרק יד (א) בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַיקֹוָק אֱלֹהֵיכֶם לֹא תִתְגֹּדְדוּ וְלֹא תָשִׂימוּ קָרְחָה בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶם לָמֵת: • תהלים פרק ב (ז) אֲסַפְּרָה אֶל חֹק יְקֹוָק אָמַר אֵלַי בְּנִי אַתָּה אֲנִי הַיּוֹם יְלִדְתִּיךָ: (ח) שְׁאַל מִמֶּנִּי וְאֶתְּנָה גוֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶךָ וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ אַפְסֵי אָרֶץ: • שמואל ב פרק ז (יד) אֲנִי אֶהְיֶה לּוֹ לְאָב וְהוּא יִהְיֶה לִּי לְבֵן אֲשֶׁר בְּהַעֲוֹתוֹ וְהֹכַחְתִּיו בְּשֵׁבֶט אֲנָשִׁים וּבְנִגְעֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם:
Communal Property • “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common” • “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (Acts 4:32, 2:44-45)
Light vs. Darkness • What fellowhip is there between light and darkenss? (2 Corinthians 6:14) • I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)
Divorce – Mathew 19 1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" 4"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." 7"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" 8Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." 10The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry." 11Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."
Messianic MealRule of the Congregation • When God engenders the Messiah…they shall gather for the common table to eat and to drink new wine…let no man extend his hand over the firstfruits of bread and wine before the Priest; for it is he who shall bless the firstfruits of bread and wine…Thereafter the Messiah of Israel shall extend his hand over the bread and all the congregation of the Community shall utter a blessing each man in the order of his dignity. • It is according to this statute that they shall proceed at every meat at which at least ten men are gathered together.
Differences • Messiah is coming or has come • Love vs. Hate • Authority of Commandments • Isolationist or Inclusive • One Messiah or Two Messiahs
Christianity Splits Off • An early form of the Blessing against Heretics in the Shmoneh Esreh “For the apostates may there be no hope unless they return to Your Torah. As for the nozerim and the minim, may they perish immediately. Speedily may they be erased from the Book of Life and may they not be registered among the righteous. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who subdues the wicked.”
Early Christian Debates • Yeruahslmi Berakhot 9:1 (12d-13a) Rabbi Simlai said: “In every instance that the minim have asked a question (based on a verse) the answer is right next to it.” The minim asked him: What is this that is written, “El Elokim YHVH, He knows (Josh 22:22)?” He said to them: It is not written, “They know” but “He knows.” His students said to him: Rabbi you deflected them with a straw but how will you answer us? He said to them: “These are three titles for a single Being, just as a person says basileus (Greek for king), Ceasar, and Augustus.
Romans recognize Christians • The emperor Nerva (96-98CE) freed the Christians from paying the Jewish capital tax (a punishment for the revolt of 70CE) • This show that they now saw the Christians (including Jewish Christians) as a separate group. • Christians was declared illegal and its members were persecuted for over two centuries, especially under Diocletian (Emperor 303-311). • Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in 324CE.
רמב"ם הלכות מלכים פרק יא הלכה ד וכל הדברים האלו של ישוע הנצרי ושל זה הישמעאלי שעמד אחריו אינן אלא לישר דרך למלך המשיח ולתקן את העולם כולו לעבוד את ה' ביחד. שנ' כי אז אהפוך אל עמים שפה ברורה לקרוא כולם בשם ה' ולעבדו שכם אחד. כיצד. כבר נתמלא העולם כולו מדברי המשיח ומדברי התורה ומדברי המצוות ופשטו דברים אלו באיים רחוקים ובעמים רבים ערלי לב והם נושאים ונותנים בדברים אלו ובמצוות התורה אלו אומרים מצוות אלו אמת היו וכבר בטלו בזמן הזה ולא היו נוהגות לדורות ואלו אומרים דברים נסתרות יש בהם ואינן כפשוטן וכבר בא משיח וגלה נסתריהם. וכשיעמוד המלך המשיח באמת ויצליח וירום וינשא מיד הם כולן חוזרין ויודעים ששקר נחלו אבותיהם ושנביאיהם ואבותיהם הטעום.
