Jesus the Jew

1
Jesus the Jew

• The marginal historical person and how he became
  famous.

2
?????? ???????? ???????? ??? ???????????

• Jesus is English for the Latin Iesus from the
  Greek ??s??? from the Hebrew ???? which is short
  for ?????. Later, Hebrew transliterated back from
  the Latin to form ???.
• Christ is English for the Greek ???st?? which
  means anointed one. This is the translation of
  ????.

3
????? ???? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ?

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  ??? ???? ??????, ??? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ????
  ???? ???, ?????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ????! ???
  ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???. ??? ???? ???? ???????
  ??? ?? ???? ??????, ????, ???? ??? ????? ?????.
  ????? ????, ??? ??? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????
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  ??? ???? ???? ???. ????? ?????, ??? ??? ????
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  ????? ????? ?????! - ???? ?? ???, ???? ????,
  ????? ??? ???? ???????.

4
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

5
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.

6
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.

7
Two Versions of Josephus

• 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.

8
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
9
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

10

• Salome, daughter of Herodias and stepdaughter of
  Herod Antipas holding head of John the Baptist

11
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

12
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

13
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

14
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

15
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.

16
Early Christian Debates

• Yeruahslmi Berakhot 91 (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 2222)?
• 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.

17
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.

18
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  ??????? ????????? ???????? ?????.

19
Homework

• For next time, read Schiffman, From Text to
  Traditions, pp. 57-171.

20
This is how it was, sort of

• OK I am the Messiah
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vkrb2OdQksMcfeature
  related
• Pontius Pilate
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vUrH-Fcz8Eno

21

• Herod
• Christianity
• Revolt
• Bar Kokhba
• Yavneh, decrees
• Sanhedrin, Yeshivot
• Composition of Mishnah Talmud