How The World Looked When Jesus Was Born, According to Roman Geographers
Approximately two thousand years ago, around the time when Jesus of Nazareth was born, the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem was still in use and still standing. The Great Pyramid of Giza had been standing for more than 2,500 years, yet the Library of Alexandria was still standing. The Colosseum had not yet been completed when I arrived in Rome. In some ways, it’s strange to think about the political geography of a time and place that’s also known throughout history as the backdrop for a timeless tale like the birth of Jesus Christ.
As a result, in some ways, the finest knowledge available about the rest of the world in the region where Jesus lived was complete and accurate.
Strabo is considered to be the most authoritative academic reference to the world into which Jesus was born today.
An example of his tremendous accomplishments was a 17-volume geography that detailed in full the topography, cities, and cultural traditions of the world as it was known to the experts of his time.
- The province in which he resided had just been acquired a few years previously.
- Strabo would have studied rhetoric, grammar, and philosophy, which were the most regularly taught disciplines at the time; he would have read Aristotle; and he would have acquired mathematics.
- He spent a few years in Egypt and then journeyed south to Ethiopia, west to Italy, and as far east as Armenia before returning to the United States.
- Strabo as shown by an artist during the Age of Exploration, whose work was well admired.
- This huge island, which was home to the majority of the world’s population, was restricted to a northern quarter of the planet and surrounded by oceans.
- It is often believed that Libya was located to the south of the Mediterranean Sea; Asia was located to the east; Europe was located to the north.
- In neither case does it appear to be a country that we now inhabit.) Britain was already well-known, and Mediterranean academics were aware of Scandinavia’s existence but were unaware of its full breadth.
In the year 2 A.D., a census of the Han dynasty revealed that its population was around 57.5 million people.
Apart from his personal trips, Strabo depended heavily on the reports of sailors, who sailed the seas by keeping coasts in sight; his information about India came from historians of Alexander the Great’s war, which had reached India around 300 years before Strabo’s time.
Despite the fact that this region was neither exceptionally wealthy or accomplished, it was considered strategically located in the Greek and Roman worldviews since it provided an overland access to Egypt.
‘An Egyptian priest named Moses’ led a group of followers who thought that God is “one thing that covers us all” to the location where the city of Jerusalem currently stands, according to the author.
This region was administered by King Herod the Great, who had been assigned by Rome as the ruler of all Jewish people not long before the birth of Jesus.
As a result of this, the order in this region of the globe had “degenerated,” according to Strabo.
(During Jesus’ lifetime, one of Herod’s sons was still in charge of the Galilee region, which included Nazareth.) The peace, on the other hand, would not continue for long.
In essence, Jesus of Nazareth lived in an unstable environment far away from any center of power–exactly the type of environment in which people may be particularly interested in a new religious vision for how to manage the volatility of the world.
The World at the Time of Jesus @ CenturyOne Bookstore
| Two Thousand Years Ago: The World at the Time of JesusCharles A. Frazee |
| Retail Price:$24.00 CenturyOne Price:$0.00Availability: Out-of-PrintFormat:Hardcover, 248pp.ISBN:9780802848055Publisher:Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.Pub. Date:November 2002Book Information:DescriptionReviewsReader’s IndexAbout the AuthorTable of ContentsCustomer ReviewsFind Similar BooksAverage Customer Review: | Out-Of-PrintA new copy is not available from CenturyOne at this time. A used copy may be available from our network of book dealers.Search Out-of-PrintItem No: 9780802848055 |
The following is an excerpt from the publisher: Although millions of people are familiar with the tale of Jesus, only a small number of them are able to situate the events of his life, as recounted in the New Testament, in the greater framework of global history. Two Thousand Years Ago, by Charles Frazee, is the first book to fill this void. It is an engrossing and remarkable study of peoples and events from all over the world during the time of Jesus. Even while events in the first century outside of Palestine are unlikely to have had a substantial impact in Jesus’ life, it is notable that he spent his whole life in a nation where a Hellenistic monarch reigned under the supervision of Roman emperors.
To ponder how well Jesus’ message would have fit into other cultures of his day, or how important the literacy of the Mediterranean societies was to Jesus’ enduring legacy, or whether we would have known him had he lived in, say, Celtic, Pacific, or Native American societies is also thought-provoking.
With an emphasis on major world regions ranging from the Arctic to the Americas and everything in between, each chapter provides a brief history of that region as well as its status at the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
By providing readers with a bird’s-eye view of the world at this critical juncture in history, Frazee provides them with a fresh perspective on Jesus’ life in the Holy Land, allowing them to compare and contrast it with life in other parts of the world.
Frazee’s engaging, popularly written text is also enhanced by fascinating highlighted facts throughout, as well as numerous extracts from various source documents, including the Bible, the Daode Qing, the writings of great Greco-Roman historians, and others, as well as excerpts from myths and folktales from cultures that did not leave written records, such as the ancient Greeks and Romans.
- Reviews What would Jesus, a bright adolescent in Nazareth two millennia ago, have read in a newspaper with worldwide coverage if such a publication had been available there at the time?
- In these pages, Charles Frazee presents some fascinating responses to the questions posed.
- This book is a beautiful blend of thorough research and exquisite language.
- Paul L.
- He is a master storyteller.
- Publishers Weekly is a weekly publication that publishes a variety of different types of books.
- a little about the author Professor of church history at the Episcopal Theological School in Claremont, California, he previously taught global history at California State University, Fullerton, where he was a tenured professor for many years.
People and Places in World History, as well as World History: Original and Secondary Source Readings, are some of his other publications. The following is a table of contents:
| Introduction | vii | |
| 1. | Mediterranean Europe | 1 |
| 2. | North Africa and Egypt | 29 |
| 3. | Southwest Asia | 51 |
| 4. | Europe beyond the Alps | 81 |
| 5. | Africa South of the Sahara | 109 |
| 6. | China | 119 |
| 7. | Korea and Japan | 141 |
| 8. | Inner Asia | 147 |
| 9. | India | 159 |
| 10. | Southeast Asia | 179 |
| 11. | The Pacific Islands and Australia | 187 |
| 12. | The Arctic | 199 |
| 13. | North America | 209 |
| 14. | Central America | 225 |
| 15. | South America | 233 |
| Index | 239 |
|
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What Was Happening around the Globe When Jesus Was Alive?
To the east, the Han dynasty was in control in China, but I discovered that a failed insurrection took place at the period that Jesus was truly living and preaching. In 9 AD, Wang Mang seized the throne and sought to restore the “pre-imperial days,” for example, by vesting feudal powers in a new aristocracy. According to Time Maps, Wang Mang was executed. The coup failed miserably, and Wang Mang was successful in infuriating both the governing elites and the peasants with his actions. An uprising of peasants led to the fall of the capital, and Wang Mang was slain as a result.
- China expanded and prospered under the reign of the Han dynasty, which lasted around 220 years.
- According to World History.org, “the structure of government of the three kingdoms was essentially the same as it would be for the rest of ancient Korea’s history.” In Japan, things looked a lot like they did in the United States.
- As with Korea, World History.org explains that this period “established the foundations for what would later become known as medieval Japan.
- Men were able to advance up the social ladder through schooling and challenging tests.
- When the Han dynasty reigned, women were afforded little rights and were required to maintain a good look; archaeologists have discovered several boxes of makeup and cosmetics from this time period.
- God’s Purpose for the Peoples of Southeast Asia At the dawn of the twenty-first century, all three of these countries are in the process of coalescing into coherent, vibrant world powers.
- Religions such as Confucianism would begin to expand and take root in China in the following few decades following the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Although it would be a long time before Christianity reached Asia, God’s purpose for redemption is comprehensive. He saw their need for a Savior, and Jesus recognized that His mission was also for them. Photograph courtesy of Getty Images /IoanaCatalinaE
World History 1-100 AD
| 1 AD- Jesus Christ was born On Decemeber 25th |
| 6 ADHerod Deposed -Herod Archelaus was deposed by the Roman Emperor, Augustus because of Herod Archelaus’ brutal treatment of the Jews of Judea and Samaria. |
| 9 ADGerman Tribes Destroy 3 Roman Legions -Three Roman legions under the command of P Quinctilius Varnus were defeated by a German army led by Ariminus. The battle took place in the Teutoburg Forest, and resulted in Varnus committing suicide.The results of this battle ensured German independence from Rome. |
| 9 ADHsin Dynasty – Wang Mang founded the short-lived Hsin Dynasty. He instituted wide-ranging reforms that included breaking up large estates, and freeing of slaves. There was a great deal of opposition to his policies and he was eventually forced to tax slaveholding instead of releasing slaves. Wang Mang instituted a series of price controls on staples. His opponents fomented revolts against him and in 23 he was killed during one such revolt. |
| 14 ADTiberius Secedes Augustus- Augustus died on August 19th at Nola. While legally all of his powers ceased with his demise, Augustus had arranged for his family members to succeed him. Thus Tiberius, the son of Augustus’ wife Livia by her first marriage, became the new Emperor of Rome. |
| 25 ADHan Dynasty Founded- After the death of Wang Mang, Hou Han founded the Eastern Han Dynasty. During this dynasty, which lasted until 220, Buddhism was introduced into China. |
| 30 AD Jesus Christ was put to death by the Romans in Jerusalem on April 7th |
| 41 ADCaligula Assassinated – After the death of Tiberius, he was succeeded by Caligula. Caligula was considered by many to be insane. He was assassinated by Cassius Chaerea, a member of the Praetorian Guard on January 24th in the year 41 A.D. |
| 51 ADConquest Of Wales Completed By Romans – The Romans under Ostorius Scaopula defeated Carctacus of Wales. This eventually led to the complete subjugation of Wales to the Romans twenty years later. |
| 54 ADClaudius Murdered, Nero Emperor – According to legend, Claudius was assassinated by his wife Agrippina using poisoned mushrooms. Agrippina then arranged for her son, Nero, to become Emperor. Nero eventually had his mother killed. |
| 64 ADRome Burns – The city of Rome was nearly destroyed in a catastrophic fire. The fire is said to have been set by Nero. Legend has it that ‘Rome burned while Nero fiddled’. |
| 66 ADJudaea Rebels Against Rome – A rebellion broke out in Jerusalem against Roman rule. The Roman fortress of Antonia in Jerusalem was captured and the soldiers killed. The Romans dispatch an army from Syria to quell the revolt, but it was destroyed on the way to Jerusalem. |
| 68 ADYear of the Four Emperors – The year 69 A.D. is known as the year of the four emperors. Nero was assassinated and civil war erupted to determine who would succeed him. In the course of that tumultuous year, Nero was succeeded by Galba who was followed by Otho. Otho was defeated by Vitellius and Vespasian finally established a new dynasty. Vespasian himself was the son of a tax collector from Reate. He represented a complete break with the Augustinian dynasties that preceded him. |
| 70 ADJerusalem Falls – Rome sent an enormous army under the command of Vespasian, to retake Judea. The Roman army quickly subdued the Jewish forces in the Galilee and laid siege to Jerusalem. Vespasian was recalled to Rome and the siege continued by his son, Titus. Titus succeeded in capturing Jerusalem on the ninth day of Ab (according to the Jewish calendar). He burned Jerusalem, killing or selling into slavery tens of thousands of Jews. |
| 73 ADMasada Falls – The Fortress of Masada, occupied by Jewish zealots opposed to Rome, held out for three years. Masada was located in the Judean Desert near the shores of the Dead Sea. When it became clear that they could hold out no longer, the defenders of Masada committed mass suicide rather then become captives of the Romans. |
| 78 ADKushan Dynasty – The Kushan Dynasty was established by Kanishka. The Kushan Empire extended from Benares and Kabul to the Vindhayas. The Kushan capital was at Peshawar. The Kushans thrived on the Chinese-Roman trade that passed through their Empire. |
| 79 ADMount Vesuvius Explodes – In 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted. The eruption destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Most of the cities’ populations managed to flee, but 20,000 inhabitants were killed. |
| 80 ADColoseum Dedicated -Vespasian had ordered the Colosseum built, but it fell to his son Titus to dedicate it. It was used for gladiator games until 404 AD. |
| 89 ADDomitian’s Reign Of Terror – Domitian who succeeded Titus Vespasianus (his older brother), commenced a reign of terror after an abortive coup against him. Domitian levied heavy taxes on the provinces. Domitian was assassinated in 96 A.D. |
| 96 – 180 ADFive Good Emperors- Starting with Emperor Marcus Nerva, Rome was ruled by five individuals who became known as the “Good Emperors”. The Emperors maintained both domestic tranquility and relative peace on the borders. They were known for building roads and other large civil projects.The Five Emperors were:96-98 A.D. Marcus Nerva98-117 A.D. Marcus Traianus117-138 A.D. Publiius Hadrianus (Hadrian)138-161 A.D. Antoninus Pius161-180 A.D. Marcus Aurelius |
r/AskHistorians – What was going on throughout the world at the time of Jesus’ death?
Around the year 30 CE? During his semi-retirement to Capri, the Emperor Tiberius (r. 14-37 CE) delegated authority to his Praetorian Prefect Sejanus to oversee the administration of the city of Rome. During this time, Sejanus was having an affair with Tiberius’ niece, killing individuals who supported rival factions of the imperial family, and collecting power in preparation for an apparent coup to become Emperor himself, or at the very least to replace him. As a result, in 31 Tiberius roused himself sufficiently to send word to Rome ordering Sejanus and his associates murdered, ensuring that the plot would not succeed.
With a radical land redistribution policy that alienated the affluent and was unable to deal with invasions from neighboring “barbarian” areas, Wang Mang had hoped to achieve his goals.
I’m not knowledgeable enough with any other place to be able to provide precise information of what was going on in the late 20s/early 30s CE in that particular time period.
Any western civ college-level textbook will almost certainly include the rise and fall of Sejanus, if for no other reason, and more often than not if it’s Rome-specific, they’ll explore some of the more interesting aspects of his life.
THE WORLD OF JESUS’ TIME Life in Galilee
Jesus was born into a Jewish family in Palestine. He would have grown up hearing tales of conquest and persecution from his parents and grandparents. Many waves of foreign invasion attempted to subdue the Jewish people, and these stories recorded their experiences. The Roman conquest of Israel (63 BCE) was the culmination of a lengthy series of invasions that began with the Babylonians (539 BCE) and continued with the Persians and the Greeks until coming to an end with the Romans. The legends of the Patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—as well as the foundational myth of the Moses-led escape from the Egyptians at the Exodus—were also important in establishing Jewish identity.
When it comes to their struggle for national sovereignty, the Jewish people have been more frequently the victims than the victorious, as history has shown us.
It was stated in terms of Covenant theology, which held that Yahweh had selected them to play a special role in the history of the world, and that they were the chosen ones.
There were a variety of interpretations of the Messiah’s purpose and function, ranging from the establishing of a Jewish political kingdom on earth to the eschatological concept of a heavenly kingdom at the end of the world, and everything in between (which many Jewish people considered to be immanent).
- It was already a two-tiered political structure at the time of Jesus’ birth, with Roman overseers on the one hand and Jewish leaders on the other, who exerted rule in the name of Rome.
- While only half-Jewish, the Herodian dynasty was despised by the Jewish people for its dictatorial rule and for its part in the sale of the Jewish legacy to a foreign power, despite their background being half-Jewish.
- Herodias, another of the sons, was responsible for the execution of John the Baptist, as did Herod Antipas.
- Galilee is a beautiful place to live.
- He spent the most of his life in Nazareth, which is located inside the region of Galilee.
- It was a Jewish enclave in Nazareth, as opposed to the other largely Gentile (non-Jewish) communities.
- In such an environment, there was a disproportionate quantity of sickness and disease.
Jesus was born into a family of artisans or carpenters, which shows that he had a fair socio-economic status at the time of his birth.
When Jesus was a child, he would have attended the village school (up to the age of twelve) and the local synagogue, where he would have learned about the Bible.
It was also common practice at the time for young folks to form a close bond with a local instructor or sage for guidance.
Indeed, by the time of his ‘public ministry,’ Jesus was well-versed in the Scriptures as well as the traditions of the Jewish people.
Jerusalem Jerusalem served as the focal point of the Jewish world.
As a result, given that Nazareth was a three or four-day travel away from Jerusalem (approximately a hundred miles), it seems doubtful that Jesus made the voyage frequently.
During his public life, he also made a trip to Jerusalem (once or three times depending on the Gospel).
It is quite likely that this deed of Jesus had something to do with his trial and final death.
Society and politics are intertwined.
In general, we may categorize movements, philosophies, and life-options into four broad categories.
The revolutionary path was chosen by the Zealot movement.
Nothing else, they reasoned, would be able to deliver the Jewish people to a complete and final emancipation.
One can think of the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka or the Irish Republican Army’s operations during the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland when one considers terrorism.
Furthermore, Jesus found himself in dispute with both the Jewish temple and the Roman government.
Few, on the other hand, would contend that Jesus was a violent revolutionary.
The Sadduccees were considered to be the greatest pragmatists of their day.
From a political standpoint, this was the most feasible choice available.
In many aspects, the Sadduccees may be classified as the least religious group on the planet, as proven by their non-belief in the resurrection of the dead and other such beliefs.
As a result of their reading of the Old Testament, they were convinced that they were of Jewish religion.
In the Gospels, it is clear that the Sadduccees are the principal opponents of Jesus at the time of his trial and subsequent execution.
In many respects, the Pharisees were the idealists of Jewish culture at the time.
Pharisees, despite their ‘bad press’ in the Gospels, generally aspired to live a life of spiritual purity by adhering to the Torah to a rigorous degree (Jewish law).
There is little question that their concentration on the law may lead to legalism, which could then serve as an excuse for hypocrisy.
Those who lived during this time believed in the resurrection of the dead.
Finally, there were the Essenes, who were able to resolve the issue of Jewish identity in a Roman-occupied Israel by retiring into a monastic setting.
The Qumran community, which lived an austere existence and awaited God’s cataclysmic involvement in human history, was the most noteworthy group during Jesus’ time.
It seems improbable that Jesus had any kind of interaction with this particular group of people.
Throughout his public ministry, Jesus exhibits his willingness to connect directly with individuals of his society as a whole.
It was a viewpoint that had some resemblance to that of his mentor, John the Baptist, despite the fact that there are considerable disparities between their teachings and ministries.
Both Jesus and Hillel had a deep reverence for the Jewish Torah, but they were also well-known for preaching compassion, forgiveness, and love in addition to the law of Moses.
Jesus, on the other hand, was more than a teacher.
Nonetheless, it is necessary to comprehend Jesus’ individuality in the context of his Jewish life and times. The religious and political aspects of life were connected in a far more intricate way than we are accustomed to seeing them today in our society.
Jesus – Jewish Palestine at the time of Jesus
Palestinein Jesus’ time period was a part of the Roman Empire, which exerted power over its many provinces in a variety of different methods. Kingdoms in the East (easternAsia Minor, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt) were either ruled by monarchs who were “friends and allies of Rome” (sometimes termed “client” kings or, more derogatorily, “puppet” kings) or by governors who had the backing of the Roman army. All of Jewish Palestine—as well as parts of the neighboring Gentile areas—was under the dominion of Rome’s capable “friend and ally,” Herod the Great, at the time of Jesus’ birth.
- While Rome possessed legions in both nations, they did not have any in Palestine.
- It was possible to fulfill this goal for a long period of time by enabling Herod to continue as king of Judaea (37–4 BCE) and giving him complete autonomy in managing his kingdom, so long as the prerequisites of stability and loyalty were maintained.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
- His empire was split into five divisions after Herod died shortly after the birth of Jesus, according to the Bible.
- (In the New Testament, Antipas is often referred to as Herod, as in Luke 23:6–12; it appears that the sons of Herod adopted his name, in the same way that the successors of Julius Caesar were widely referred to as Caesar.
- Only Samaria was given to Herod’s third son, Philip, while the others were either given to Herod’s sister Salome or given to the Syrian province of Syria.
- As a result, he appointed a prefect to administer this area.
The troops, on the other hand, were not from Italy, but rather from adjacent Gentile cities, particularly Caesarea and Sebaste; the officers, on the other hand, were almost certainly from Italy.
Despite being officially in charge of Judaea, Samaria, and Idumaea, the prefect did not have actual control over his territory.
In Caesarea, on the Mediterranean coast, roughly two days’ march from Jerusalem, the prefect and his small army were based.
Only during the pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Weeks (Shabuoth), and Booths (Sukkoth) did they come to Jerusalem, when vast numbers and nationalistic themes occasionally combined to cause turmoil or riots.
In conjunction with a council, he was given the onerous responsibility of mediating between the faraway Roman prefect and the local community, which was hostile toward pagans and desired to be free of foreign intrusion.
His political responsibilities included keeping the peace and ensuring that tribute was properly paid.
Because he and Pilate were in power together for ten years, it is reasonable to assume that they coordinated well.
Despite the fact that Judaea (including Jerusalem) was theoretically under the authority of Pilate, Caiaphas and his council were in charge of the day-to-day administration of the city.
Relations between Jewish areas and nearby Gentile areas
Galilee and Judaea, the two most important Jewish settlements in Palestine, were bordered by Gentile territory on all sides (i.e., Caesarea, Dora, and Ptolemais on the Mediterranean coast; Caesarea Philippi north of Galilee; and Hippus and Gadara east of Galilee). There were also two inland Gentile cities on the west bank of the Jordan River, near Galilee, which were mentioned in the New Testament (Scythopolis and Sebaste). In addition to trade, the proximity of Gentile and Jewish areas meant that there was some interaction between them.
There was also some population exchange: some Jews resided in Gentile cities, such as Scythopolis, and some Gentiles lived in at least one of the Jewish cities, Tiberias, and vice versa.
However, the Jews resisted pagan influences and barred temples dedicated to the worship of Greek and Roman gods from their cities, as well as the Greek educational institutions, such as theephebeia and gymnasiasion, gladiatorial contests, and other structures or institutions typical of Gentile areas.
- Only Herod the Great’s reign was an exception to this pattern, and even he distinguished between the Jewish and Gentile sections of his empire, encouraging the development of Greek and Roman culture in Gentile areas while importing only small elements of it into Jewish areas.
- Following a succession of decrees by Julius Caesar, Augustus, the Roman Senate, and other city councils, Jews were entitled to maintain their own traditions, even though they were in opposition to Greco-Roman culture of the time.
- Rome did not settle Jewish Palestine, and neither did the Ottoman Empire.
- Individual Gentiles from other countries would have been unlikely to be drawn to settle in Jewish communities since they would have been cut off from their traditional places of worship and cultural activities.
In Tiberias and other Jewish communities, most of the Gentiles who resided there were most likely citizens of surrounding Gentile cities, with many of them being Syrians who were likely able to communicate in both Aramaic and Greek.
Economic conditions
The majority of individuals in the ancient world were farmers or artisans who produced food, clothes, or both, and could afford only the most basic of comforts. While most Palestinian Jewish farmers and ranchers earned enough to sustain their families and pay their taxes, they also made sacrifices during one or more yearly festivals and allowed their property to lay fallow during the sabbatical years, when cultivation was forbidden. Galilee in particular was particularly rich because the terrain and climate allowed for good crops and the sustaining of a large number of flocks.
Naturally, there were a huge number of landless individuals in the kingdom, but the Herodiandynasty took care to construct massive public works projects that employed thousands of men.
At the opposite end of the economic scale, few if any Palestinian Jews had amassed the large fortunes that successful merchants in port towns might amass over the course of a lifetime.
Although the disparity between rich and poor in Palestine was visible and painful to the poor, it was not particularly great when compared to the rest of the globe.
The Royal Bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene
Written by Donald V. Watkins, who has copyright protection, and published on January 3, 2020. “The Gospels” are a collection of texts that make up what we know as the “Bible,” as we know it today. None of the Gospels contained in the New Testament were written during the lifetime of Jesus. All of them are based on second- and third-hand information obtained through hearsay. The Gospels, taken as a whole, depict man’s interpretation of God’s word and Jesus’ teachings, as generously filtered, edited, updated, glossed, and rewritten by human hands at various points in history.
- But it reflects the religious beliefs and personal prejudices of the guy who composed it as well as the men who approved it, and this is not a good thing.
- The Bible might very possibly have a much greater number of books and texts than it does in fact contain.
- According to Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria, in A.D.
- His list was reaffirmed by the all-male Church Council of Hippo in A.D.
- 395.
- Since then, the Bible has been subjected to extensive editing, censoring, and rewriting, some of which are rather extreme.
- The books of the Bible were written to meet the requirements of specific vested religious interests who had a significant stake in the outcome of the debate.
Modern academics are unified in their belief that the Gospels of the New Testament did not originate during the lifetime of Jesus.
The Gospel of Luke was written somewhere around the year 80 A.D.
85 and is known as the Matthew Gospel.
by an unidentified author.
These four Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ life, from his conception to his death, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Father.
The Marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene (also known as the Wedding of the Lamb) Following the publication of “Mary Magdalene: Was She Jesus’ Wife?” on November 10, 2019, some readers were quick to dismiss the possibility of this marriage on the grounds that it is not explicitly stated in the Bible.
- There is no unambiguous declaration in Bishop Athanasius’ interpretation of the Bible that Jesus was or was not married.
- Unlike Catholic priests, Jesus did not preach celibacy, and there is no evidence that he practiced it.
- According to the Judaic custom during his time, it was mandatory that an adult Jewish man be married.
- It would have been considered freakish for Jesus to be unmarried and celibate at the time.
- Jewish Mishnaic law commanded it.
- John 2:3-10.
- The wedding was attended by hundreds of wealthy and influential people like Joseph of Arimathea.
This was his first public miracle.
150 that were excluded from the Bible – Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene.
The Nag Hammadi scrolls, some of which predate the Gospels in the New Testament, rest upon first-hand knowledge and/or eyewitness sources – oral accounts by Jews fleeing the Holy Land.
They were written for an Egyptian audience, not a Romanized audience.
Near the end of this Gospel appears this statement: ” There is the Son of man and there is the son of the Son of man.
The Book of Matthew 1:1-17 describes Jesus’ bloodline, which spans 42 generations.
Jesus experienced marriage and produced offspring with Mary Magdalene.
After Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, Mary Magdalene, along with at least one of Jesus’ children, was smuggled out of Jerusalem and into Gaul in the southern part of France where there was an established Jewish community already existing.
Respected historians and scholars in Europe have documented the fact that the Jesus-Mary Magdalene Royal Bloodline perpetuated itself, intact and incognito, in Europe for the next four hundred years.
Despite all efforts to eradicate it, the Jesus-Mary Magdalene Royal Bloodline – the Merovingian bloodline – survived.
Peter’s Cathedral, Vatican City.
Finally, there are at least a dozen families in Europe today – with numerous collateral branches – who are of direct Merovingian lineage and who are members of the Jesus-Mary Magdalene Royal Bloodline.
The names and history of these families will be the subject of an upcoming article. PHOTO: Mary Magdalene with Jesus All articles are shared on Facebook and Twitter. If you would like to follow Donald Watkins, please click on these links and hit the follow button:
The Life & Times of Jesus of Nazareth: Did You Know?
Image courtesy of Trevor Hurlbut on Flickr. Sign up for Christianity Today and you’ll gain instant access to back issues of Christian History! In Jesus’ day, the population of Palestine ranged from roughly 500,000 to 600,000 people (about that of Vermont, Boston, or Jerusalem today). Approximately 18,000 of these inhabitants were clerics, priests, and Levites, according to census data. Jerusalem was a metropolis of around 55,000 people, but at big feasts, the population may grow to as many as 180,000.
- Archaeologists have discovered whistles, rattles, toy creatures on wheels, hoops, and spinning tops, among other things.
- The game of checkers was very popular at the time.
- Carpenters put wood chips behind their ears, tailors had needles tucked into their tunics, and dyers used brightly colored rags to protect their skin from the sun.
- Because “graven images” were prohibited by the second commandment, there are few Jewish pictures depicting women in period clothing.
- The masonry and carpentry of the time appear to be purely functional.
- Bread was the primary dietary item at each of the two daily meals.
- A more substantial dinner consisted of vegetable (lentil) stew, bread (made from either barley, or wheat, depending on one’s socioeconomic status), fruit, eggs, and/or cheese.
- Locusts were considered a delicacy and were said to taste similar to shrimp.
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Jesus and Politics
In the tale of Jesus, politics is at the heart of the narrative. His historical existence came to an end as a result of a political execution. The crucifixion was employed by the Romans to punish anyone who consistently defied imperial authority, such as chronically disobedient slaves and subversives who had gained a following. In Jesus’ era, a cross was always a Roman cross, no matter where you went. The crux of his message, like the rest of it, was political in nature: it was about the arrival of “the kingdom of God.” These are the first words said by Jesus in Mark, the earliest Gospel, and they serve as a synopsis of what the Gospel and the story of Jesus are all about before they ever begin (Mark 1:14-15).
His zeal for the kingdom of God manifested itself in his teaching and activities, which he shared with others.
Other kingdoms were known to Jesus’ audience members, including the kingdom of Herod and the kingdom of Rome (as Rome referred to itself in eastern parts of theempire).
The kingdom of God is for the people of the world.
Rather than focusing on how to improve our world, it is concerned with what life would be like on earth if God were the king and not the lords of dominance systems.
It would be a world of economic fairness, in which everyone has access to the bare necessities of life on a daily basis.
Economic justice and peace are “the dream of God,” or God’s longing for a better world, when they come together.
His public involvement began with the imprisonment of his instructor, John the Baptizer, by the Roman-appointed governor of Galilee, which marked the beginning of his career (Mark 1:14).
Jesus also employed political tactics, most notably in two public political demonstrations, to achieve his goals.
First and foremost, he publicly denounced the temple as “a nest of robbers,” claiming that it had become a focal point of collaboration with Roman imperial control, including taxes (Matt 21:13,Mark 11:17,Luke 19:46).
This is the political significance of the holiday of Good Friday.
Easter also has a political significance: it signified God’s affirmation of Jesus’ yearning for a reformed world while rejecting the powers of dominance that sought to eliminate him. Of course, Good Friday and Easter are about more than just politics—but they are also about more than just politics.