Jesus the Jew--Where Does He Fit in the Ancient Jewish Landscape?

The historical figure, Jesus of Nazareth, was not a Christian, which did not even exist in his lifetime. He lives and died a Jew--affirming YHVH as the One God, reciting the Shema, and observing the commandments of the Torah and the various Jewish holy days. But what kind of a Jew was Jesus? Where does he fit in the ancient Jewish landscape, which was amazingly diverse, often characterized by scholars as "Judaisms" rather than a singular "Judaism." In this interview with KZbin host Derek Lambert @MythVisionPodcast , Dr. Tabor offers his analysis.

[@davidfolts5893]

Dr. Tabor is a scholar with a unique ability to explain the complexity of Biblical history in an understandable and fascinating way. Thank you very kindly, Dr. Tabor.

[@elizabeth_777]

Man o man would I love to take your classes….field studies must be amazing!!! I’ve read the Bible and Apocrypha and Enoch….Jasher…..Jubilees…🕎🎄Thank you so much, Dr. Tabor 😁🥰

[@themagicianandthefool1878]

Wonderful discussion as always Mr Tabor. We need to also consider the Jesus put forth by Morton Smith who makes some compelling arguments. What of the Jewish sects such as the Sethians. What is the Mandean connection to John, and Jesus. I believe these questions can get us even closer.

[@Revaiel_]

If you simply conceive of Jesus as the Essene Reformer who with the help of John the Baptist ended the old sectarian path and converted the majority of them to a new eschatological movement (which became Christianity), then all the pieces fall together. For instance, Martin Luther was not a Lutheran, he was a Roman Catholic. His differences from Catholicism do not negate his status as a Catholic.

[@louispeters152]

I think of Martin Luther as a Messianic Jew. I believe U.S.A. was the new Jerusalem till we turned back. He identified the Papacy as one of the beast.

[@anthonykaye9166]

Hyam Maccoby wrote several books about Jesus and the Pharisees - one called "Jesus the Pharisee", and a book about Saul of Tarsus being a Faux-Pharisee called "Paul and Hellenism", both really good books. Maccoby was a Jewish academic and scholar, and also the playwriter of "The Disputation", a play about the Disputation of Barcelona.

[@danlds17]

I would place Dr. Tabor almost in the camp of "Jesus words only" after watching several of his videos on Paul. Which is fine by me. But I'm concerned that he'll convince me to reexamine Christianity again for the hundredth time.

[@elizabeth_777]

Thank you Dr. Tabor 🥰🎄🕎♥️

[@Larry30102]

While I’m a huge fan of Dr Tabor, I have a question about his last statement that he thinks Jesus is from the linage of David. I would like to read or hear his thoughts on that. Assuming his linage is from his adopted father Joseph, it doesn’t add up.

[@scout2469]

Dr. Tabor does not believe in the virgin birth fable.

[@elainekahn7788]

I have read several of doctor Tabor's books and I find him to be an enthralling an erudite vessel of knowledge.. While he seems to have veered from the Christianity of his heritage (he seems to resonate more with Hebtaic tenets/teaching), and does not believe that J is DIVINE; I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED TO HEAR HIM SAY THAT HE BELIEVES THAT MOST OF THE ACCOUNTS FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.. I can only assume that he views J as one of the many Avatar prophet types who appeared during this time in biblical history feeling that they heard the call to usher in the Kingdom of G-D, which is what makes the most amount of sense to my belief system.. perhaps he will see your comment and will offer explanation of how his research led him to believing Jesus descended from David line

[@krbailess]

Mary, Jesus’ mother, was also descended from the House of David.

[@Larry30102]

@@krbailess Correct, but as you might know, linage is from the father

[@krbailess]

@@Larry30102 Not with Jews. Mary’s lineage is in the Bible. To Jews, if your Mother is Jewish, then you are Jewish.

[@tjwhite1963]

Dr. Tabor -- sincere 2-part question here: I'm very curious to hear your thoughts on Professor Eisenman's thesis that the four canonical Gospels have been heavily overwritten and Paulinized ("Mark" perhaps less so), and that the way we can discern this is how they increasingly "exonerate the Romans and vilify the Jews" vis-a-vis Jesus’s death. Part 2: if the four Gospels are indeed heavily Paulinized (and therefore polemical), and, given that some scholars increasingly see them as problematic and unreliable as 'history', to what extent do you think that it's safe to use them to "date" Jesus? (If you've already answered these questions in your blog or books, then I apologize for lacking the time to peruse your blog and books with the thoroughness I would prefer, since I'm a great fan of your work and approach.) Thanks in advance.

[@larryprimeau5885]

JAMES, one of your best talks.

[@jasonbailey1002]

Man, I wish I could go on a James Tabor to Israel…

[@Clockwork_Myr]

Whoa what is this awesome intro music!

[@josephposenecker9741]

I wish he brought up that in the Dead Sea’s scrolls it talks about the coming Messiah of David’s line. When he comes that he will lead the Dead Sea Sect/Essenes. Even if they had some different beliefs before Jesus, when John Baptizes him and recognizes him as the messiah he would have taken over leadership and rule making. It seems logical this is why the Gospels don’t mention Jesus having disagreements with them about being the messiah. How many Essenes were there at that time? They already had the church hierarchy of celibate bishops and priests. When Jesus was crucified and resurrected was there already a well established Church he had lead for years? If there was a large body of an organized church at the time of the resurrection, could that possibly move up the earliest probable dates of when some of the gospels or other scriptures could have been written? Would that structured established church give more credibility to traditions holding true the oral and sacramental teachings of Jesus. An experienced and extremely disciplined body of clergy and church members. More checks and balances to verify and correct how and what exactly he taught.

[@panaceatexas317]

The Essenes also had a Holy meal that was extremely import to them. The Master/leader, if present, or the highest ranked bishop or priest at the meal would give thanks and then bless bread and passed it around to all the church members at the meal that had made themselves ready to receive it. Then he blesses wine and passes it around. I wonder if just like how Jesus takes Baptism from John and elevates it to a Sacrament which graphs the Holy Spirit to a person’s spirit, making a strong direct connection between a person’s spirit and God. Then Jesus elevates this Holy meal to his Sacrament that keeps himself real and present in the material plane. How he mediates his presence on earth that he can remain present in the material plane for all time.

[@josephposenecker9741]

@@panaceatexas317 That’s interesting! Their communal Holy meal was one of, if not the most important part of their church. It would make sense that’s how God chose to remain present with them.

[@josephposenecker9741]

@@panaceatexas317 I just read more about their Holy meal. They did that daily. That’s straight out of the Lord’s Prayer. “Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses.” That’s exactly what early Christians did. If Jesus didn’t come out of the Essenes the evidence definitely points to him adopting most of their church traditions.

[@yosefrazin6455]

I thought Ben Sira was usually linked to the (proto-)Pharisees not Saducees, who links to the Saducees?

[@Robert_L_Peters]

It seems that Professor Eisenman's skepticism of Q and our ability to understand relationships between the gospels contributes to his position that Jesus was a kind of Zealot Essene, and therefore NOT nonviolent. He dismisses all the 'turn the other cheek' type material. He also questions the dating of the Dead Sea Scrolls. I just bring this up because Dr. Tabor often refers to him, but clearly they differ on these points.

[@PracticalBibleStudies]

I'm also somewhat skeptical of a Q source. Have you read "Why Four Gospels?" By David Allan Black?

[@Robert_L_Peters]

@@PracticalBibleStudies no. Should I?

[@PracticalBibleStudies]

@@Robert_L_Peters I recommend it. It's very short. He raises some interesting points on Q. It gave me more perspective on the topic.

[@Robert_L_Peters]

@@PracticalBibleStudies very good thank you

[@chasingourhistory6855]

What are your sources

[@kaygibbs8639]

Hello Dr Tabor, I would like to know if perhaps Jesus and James the Just studied at Leontopolis (in Egypt) with some of the Essenes/Therapeutaes that were there at that second Jewish temple. I never hear anyone discuss "that Jewish temple organization-sons of Sadoq" set up by Onias III at Leontopolis in the 160's BC-170's CE. Could Jesus and his brother James have returned there soon after their father Joseph had died (I assume in Nazareth). I think Joseph had "true Sadoq/Zadokite" priestly roots, connections (Boethus'/Simon the high priest) or maybe Josephs' extended family was at Leontopolis. I don't know anywhere which states how long (or where) the family lived in Egypt before returning to Nazareth. But Joseph & family and all those Jews (in Egypt) could have attended the Onias III Temple instead of Jerusalem annually as required (males) by the Torah. I hope you can do a timeline teaching on what was going on at Leontopolis Temple during Jesus' absent years (13-30), before his ministry began . I believe James the Just came back to the DS community at Qumran as an Essene after studying in Egypt. I also believe Joseph (father) joined the Qumran community after his kids were grown and he became a widower.

[@michaelsmith9453]

Yeshua's "father", Yosef/Joseph , was already presumably deceased before Yeshua's crucifixion as He had entrusted His mother, Miriam/Mary, to Yochanan/John while He was on the cross/stake. Therefore Yosef/Joseph was not an Essene!

[@Nexus-jg7ev]

That's some great analysis!

[@cynthiaterrell7290]

I was raised in a very strict religion. The COG So I can relate, a little, of course.

[@jpmvidal]

The Qumran community also punished disobedient members, a few were even expulsed from the community. So it seems that they were either inconsistent with their beliefs, or they believed that their water purification rites had limitations as to the forgiveness of sins, for otherwise, they wouldn't punish their members and instead have their sins forgiven through the water purification rites.

[@mylord9340]

Question. Dr. Tabor, thank you for all that you have done in this area of scholarship. Question. In this video and in your books, you pointed out how similar the Jesus movement was with the Essenes. Then you pointed out the differences between Jesus and the beliefs and teachings of the Essenes. Could it not be that Jesus was in fact an Essene, but that the Gospel writers, in their zeal to create Christianity as a distinct religion from Judaism, made those specific changes in the Gospels to pull Jesus out of the camp of the Essenes?

[@mickeydecurious]

That makes sense because Jesus's cousin John the Baptist was a Essense, and we know Paul who wrote most of the New testament painted the Jews as the villain in Jesus's crucifixion 😓

[@jamesboswellii2034]

@@mickeydecurious and @ James Tabor: The Lukan birth stories suggesting that Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins whose mothers were related and thus that John would have grown up knowing all about Jesus -- all that is pure legend, as are Matthew 3:14 and the Gospel of John 1:29-34 and 4:22-30, all of which suggest that John knew all about Jesus even before his ministry. That is fully contradicted by the older "Q" passage wherein John, imprisoned, sent to Jesus asking, "Are you the one who is yet to come, or must we wait for another?" [Luke 7:19//Matthew 11:3.]

[@mickeydecurious]

@@jamesboswellii2034 There is confusion and contradiction within the gospels about the fact that one moment Mary and Elizabeth were cousins, and John knew of Jesus because of the baptismal, and yet the question about asking if Jesus was the Messiah to come come or not 🤷

[@jamesboswellii2034]

@@mickeydecurious I do not think John knew about Jesus at all. Jesus' experience at his baptism was purely subjective ("You are my Son") although Matthew changes the heavenly voice to make it say, "This is my Son" as if it was a proclamation to John and and everyone. The Gospel of Mark and the Q passage about "Are you one who is to come?" show that John was puzzled about what to think about Jesus. Historically, r Jesus' own closest family, his mother and brothers, did not know what to think of him (see Mark 3:21*). Even Jesus' disciples did not realize he was the Messiah until 8:29. That is completly contadicted by the Gospel of John where Jesus' disciples know who he is almost from the first moment they meet him (John 1:25-51) and so does the Baptizer in the first and fourth chapters. *Even the Gospel of John tells us his brothers did not believe in him.

[@mickeydecurious]

@@jamesboswellii2034 This is why I rather stick to the book of Mark; Matthew contradicts Luke a little, then you have Paul an admitted hypocrite. Paul who was to the Jews the juju, and to the gentiles he was like one of them hypocrisy, a bit dishonest like lying... Then there's John and Peter what am I supposed to make of all them 🤔💭 Technically past believing in the Lord Jesus the whole thing can make your head spin 😁

[@dynamic9016]

Thanks much for this video.

[@cynthiaterrell7290]

Please let me know when your next trip to Israel would be. I can’t think of anyone else I would prefer. You continue to prove these hidden truths and I want to be a part of it. I’ve felt these things in my spirit for as long as I remember. What a blessing to hear you confirm the very things I’ve been ridiculed for by fellow believers. You are a breath of fresh air in a world of unleavened bread Preach on Brother

[@Monkofmagnesia]

I took college courses in the Torah and in Judaic Studies, both taught by a Reformed rabbi. He told us of the day he was confronted by an orthodox Rabbi who yelled at him, saying, "You are not a real Jew!"

[@evropej]

From Pontius Pilate letters Alexander had arranged, as it happened, for Procula to make a halt at a farm-house towards the northern end of the lake, and as she went along - but you shall have the story in her own words as she has sent it me: ' We came suddenly on a croud of people who were hurrying along the road in front of us and over the slopes leading dawn to the sea and even along the beach. Others were joining them from the paths that came in from the hills. No one took any notice of us. They were Jews of all kinds - mostly hale and hearty people, but there were sick and cripples too, who were dragging themselves along or being carried by their friends. The crowd was excited, gesticulating, pointing to a boat that was following the coast line, and shouting to those on board. I thought at first that they were angry but Alexander said that they were calling to Jesus, who was on board, to come to shore and speak to them. They kept on shouting the same words over and over again. I could not make it out because it was all in Aramaic and when I asked Alexander he only shook his head and muttered something about it being a bad business. He would not tell me what they meant, though he told me later. When we stopped at the farm-house the crowd rushed on and presently I could see them leaving the high road and hurrying down to the shore. Alexander asked permission to go after them and I said he could provided that he took me with him. So we went, with an escort - you need not be afraid - and after half an hour we found them all in a great mass, down near the sea, with Jesus standing on a knoll in the field, addressing them. There were thousands upon thousands of them, and at the back, quite close to us, some groups of better dressed jews, who were standing aloof watching and listening. Alexander took a look at them and muttered again. " Spies from jerusalem, " he said and went off to talk to them. 'I saw the preacher clearly. He is a strange man, gaunt and rugged, as though he were burnt up by the fire of his passion. When you see his face and hear him speak, he is full of self-confidence, imperious, often fierce. The crawd was noisy at first because those at the back could not hear and there were interruptions. He put them down with a few words. He was like a general among the legions and they obeyed like common soldiers. He spoke always as though he thought no one could contradict him. He began quietly but then raised his voice and it became harsh and vehement. The jews from jerusalem were fidgeting and muttering to each other. Alexander said he was denouncing them and their friends. I have never heard anything that sounded so passionate and bitter. Then he became quieter again and went off in a rapt way as though he did not know the people were there. There was a murmuring and stirring all through the crowd then but not angrily, and they pressed forward to him. Alexander could not take his eyes off him. He would pay no attention to my questions. He kept on saying to himself "A better time coming!" and laughed in a queer, anxious sort of way. I thought he was quoting something that the preacher had been saying. He kept looking at the party from jerusalem and said he must get a report to you at once. 'Then a curious thing happened. Jesus suddenly raised his arm and cried out something sternly. They stopped pushing towards him and sat down on the grass in a great circle round him - except the jews from jerusalem, who made no movement but went on watching. I am sure I have seen some of them going to the Sanhedrim. Then Jesus called some men who were standing close to him and they brought him bread. He broke this into little pieces - so small that from where I stood you could scarcely see them at all. He gave these to the men and they went along the ranks distributing them to the crawd, who ate them while the preacher went on talking. I wish I could have understood. All I could get out of Alexander was that the preacher was enrolling them as his follawers but that it was not a military business at all but purely religious; the eating of the bread was a symbol that they enrolled themselves under him, to live as he lived and to do all the things that he had been telling them to do. Alexander added that it was dangerous, it might be misunderstood. ' The strangest thing was to follow. When the ceremony was finished everything was still for a few seconds and then the crowd began to stir and talk. Gradually they became more and more excited. Jesus said something to the men about him, and running down to the sea, they began to pull the boat close in so that he could embark again. When the crowd saw that he was going to leave them they broke all bounds. They ran forward, crying and shouting, and surrounded him. Some of them were brandishing sticks and clubs and knives. They were not threatening him; it was quite different. Others of them were weeping. Many of them fell down at his feet. All the time I could make out that they were shouting the same words that I had heard them using on the high-road when they were looking out to sea. I asked Alexander what they were saying. I had to shake him by the shoulder before I could get an answer out of him. He was impatient with me. " King!" he said, " that's what they are saying. King of Israel! King of the jews! And Messiah!" I am not sure what the last means, but you will know. 'I could see that Jesus was repelling them. He would not listen to them. He almost drove them back with words and gestures. I am sure he was telling them that they had made a great mistake. He was almost beside himself He made those who were kneeling rise and those who were brandishing weapons put them down. He was more stern and determined than he had been all the afternoon. At the same time he began to move down to the sea hurriedly as though he must escape. The crowd followed slowly in a dejected way. They seemed to be disappointed and bewildered. part 2 is reply

[@evropej]

"He is angry with them for calling him King of the jews, " I said to Alexander. "He has cause to be, " said Alexander. "He is a dead man from today. " ' There was another incident. Before Jesus could get on the boat, the jews from jerusalem, who had been watching every movement of the crowd, walked rapidly down the hill and spoke to him. They met each other as enemies; I could see that though I could not hear the words. The talk only lasted a few moments. They said something to him and he looked at them with a face of stone. Then he answered curtly and turned his back on them. Some of his followers helped him into the boat. I thought they were puzzled too, and perhaps afraid. He was not afraid himself. He spoke and acted as though he was ready to fight the whole world. 'Whatever it was that was said to the jews from jerusalem they were pleased about it. They came away whispering and smiling and, when I left, they were going about among the crowd, as busy as bees. I knew they were denouncing Jesus, because they kept on looking out to sea and pointing to the boat. Alexander is now engaged in writing you a report upon the whole affair. ' ' King of the jews!' my dear friend - you mark the words! Yes, 1 know, it is only in Galilee and, likely enough, I shall not myself be worried. Trust Antipas to look to it! Would you like to hear the report of the sage Alexander? He says: ' Galilee wauld rise at a word but he does not say the word. He puzzles the people even while he attracts them. He has performed strange cures, though every one has a different story of his own about them and it is impossible to say how much of it is truth. The gatherings that he addresses have been like clay between his hands. In controversy no one can stand against him. He is at daggers-drawn with the priests, the lawyers and the Law. He is terrible in his attacks upon them: most fierce and unsparing. He would overthrow the whole system which the priests have imposed upon the jewish nation, and the priests will never forgive him for it. At the first sign that the people are turning against him, the priests will make an end of him. ' There are signs that they are about to turn against him now. They have hailed him as the expected deliverer, the new king of the jews. He refuses the titles. This afternoon he beat the crowd off almost by force when they acclaimed him. You never saw such a hang-dog look as they had when they drifted away. In his own mind he is no king or Messiah. 1 believe he dreads lest they should insist on treating him as either one or the other. Above all else the popular ferment has been caused by the cures, and 1 have found, by careful inquiry, that on every occasion he has tried to conceal what he has done and so to prevent the people from hailing him as the deliverer. He seeks to avert the danger that he fears. The war which he wages is against the Sanhedrim and the Judaic Law. If he persists they will surely take his life. Their delegates were on the watch today and some of them are remaining in Galilee. But I doubt whether they will be under the necessity, or have the chance, of taking him. Unless he takes to immediate flight, Herod Antipas will seize him. 'Antipas can do nothing else after today. I hear that Jesus has already sailed for the other side of the lake to take refuge in the territory of Herod Philip. If he stays there Philip will lay hands on him. If he returns to Galilee he is lost. May 1 suggest that it would be interesting to have a report from the High Priest on his view of the case?' You see, then. Another popular hero rising to worry me and call himself King. No, you will say, he does not so; it is they who call him King. And what difference, pray, does that make to the Procurator? If Jesus values his life he will keep out of Judaea. If Antipas lets him slip through his fingers I will not. Only one thing grieves me. 'He is at daggers-drawn with the priests, the lawyers and the Law. ' 1 could like him for that. But a king in Judaea, even one who would not at present be a king, a man imperious, fierce, burnt up by his own passion, the type of man to whom this restless and insurgent people willingly gives heed - no, no, that will not do! When he is dead, then they can call him king.

[@evropej]

I must complete the letter which I began this morning. Immediately after dispatching Krito, I confirmed with Marcius the military arrangements for the Passover, which begins tomorrow. I heard reports from joseph, who thinks that acts of violence against individuals amongst the ruling Sadducees will grow. In his opinion it does not much matter whether the province is as quiet as I contrive to keep it or whether there is constant friction between us and the jews; his feeling is that the extreme men are tired of peace. Aftenwards I tried and condemned the prisoner Jesus. He was crucified at once along with some other prisoners who were awaiting execution. It is not a bad thing to have an object lesson of this kind on the eve of the Passover because, in such a nondescript gathering as we have here, there must always be dangerous characters who have exceptional opportunities for their special qualities. By this time Jesus is buried. It is their custom to bury an executed offender the same day and, besides, the Sabbath begins at sunset - has, indeed, already begun. The Sanhedrim asked permission to bury the body this afternoon. It suits them, having got Jesus out of their way, to dispose of the whole matter before the Passover begins and so to dampen down any discussion which might arise, especially after the inscription that I ordered to be attached to the prisoner, about which more presently. The trial was short but in due form and order. Jesus was accused of disturbing the peace, stirring up disaffection and claiming to be King of the Jews. There was evidence both from our side and from that of the Jews, both from Galilee and from this city. Caiaphas, Annas and the leading Sadducees were prominent and so were some but not all of the chief Pharisees; some of the Pharisees would lend no assistance in convicting a rebel against Caesar however much they desired his death as a rebel against themselves. However, that did not help him. The priests had much to say of his attacks on their religion, but I cut them short on that. They cannot have it both ways. If we are not allowed to interfere in their religion, they cannot appeal to us when their observances are attacked; as soon as the offence becomes political, directly or indirectly, then we take note of it. They may squabble about Yahweh, like the Egyptians about Isis, till they burst, but when a man brawls in the Temple he tends to provoke a general explosion and that concerns us closely. The charge against Jesus of disturbing the peace was proved to the hilt and he could not deny it. I inquired of the prisoner, through Alexander, whether he admitted the more serious accusations. The Jews alleged that he regarded himself as the destined deliverer of the nation, which involves the end of both their authority and ours. This would constitute a much more direct offence than that for which Antipas put john to death. They cited both the public utterances in which Jesus had spoken of a new kingdom as being imminent and also certain admissions about himself which they said he had made to his own followers. This was, I suppose, the special evidence which Annas said that they intended to produce. I put the question to him. I asked him whether he considered himself to be the deliverer. ' So THEY say, ' he answered, indicating the High Priest and his neighbors, with a curt gesture of contempt.

[@evropej]

I pointed out to him that he was accused also of representing himself as King of the jews. I asked him whether he considered himself to be that. He made the same answer - ' So YOU say, ' meaning, I suppose, that in neither case was there anything in his own conduct or motives to support the accusation, but that he knew well enough that we meant in any case to fix the charge upon him. He realized that he was trapped, and that there was no way of escape, but he was bold and resolute, defiant, almost insolent. They are all alike, these jews, bitter and unyielding, whether to us or to each other. Standing alone he might be, forsaken and with enemies on every side who meant his death, with his own countrymen delivering him to the Roman executioner, but he was cool and determined, like the men who engineered an attempt on the life of the great Herod and suffered the extremes of torture sooner than yield an inch. A dangerous breed! I condemned him to death. I could, of course, do nothing less. All roads lead to that conclusion. Alexander, who has a cool and detached way of regarding his countrymen, insists that this man, so far from posing as Messiah, or King, like most of the mischief-makers during the last thirty years, did all that he could to prevent the stupid people from fastening that part on him. Alexander thinks that there was nothing that Jesus sought to avoid so much as this, knowing that if such a conception of him spread abroad, it would deliver him into our hands and be fatal to his campaign - a hopeless campaign in any case - against the priesthood and its system. Alexander has talked to some of his followers and says that the preacher had unquestionably warned them often and in the severest terms that they were not to regard him or speak of him as the Deliverer whom all these jews expect, and that it was only when he thought that the old conception of him had died away in Galilee that he decided to come up to jerusalem. It may be. But I am sure that if he was not a dangerous rebel yesterday, he would have been tomorrow. For either he would have succeeded in his assault on the priesthood or he would not. If he had not, how long would a man of his temperament, so passionate, headstrong and bold, have abstained from making that appeal to the patriotic feelings of these Jews which always - always - meets with a quick response, even when made by men of much less powerful character than his? You remember Procula's and Alexander's description of the scene in Galilee? And supposing that he had conceivably made headway against the priests and all the mummery of the Temple ritual, how long would it have been before he turned upon Caesar and the sacrifices to Caesar and to Rome? Would he have respected the cult of Divus Augustus, do you suppose ? But long before we had to consider that eventuality we should have had to intervene with force between their contending factions. Why, as it is, they are almost in a state of suppressed civil war, ready to fly at each other's throats. Give them a bad governor - a governor even half as bad as they say that I am and the feud between those who tolerate us and those who despise the tolerators will break into open war. This is an unfruitful soil in all respects but one. The seeds of disorder will grow if you only scratch the soil.

[@evropej]

My policy is to destroy them the moment that they sprout. But I had forgotten: allow me one word about the inscription announcing the offence of Jesus. It was ' King of the Jews, ' set up aver the cross. The Pharisees were indignant. They themselves want a King of the Jews. It would give them the greatest pleasure to see Caesar overthrown tomorrow and a Jewish King installed - not a half-Jew like Herod - who would rule the country through them and suppress their Sadducean rivals. But it angered them to see the precious title, ' King of the Jews, ' held up to ridicule; it was too plain a reminder of their servitude. Besides, they thought it an insult that a crucified criminal, a presumptuous countryman who had defied them, should be labelled ' King. ' I took a short way with them. 'What I have written I have written, ' said I, and bade them begone. I know the breed. From the moment that this Jesus set up his individual judgement against theirs they meant to have his life. Scratch a priest and find an autocrat. All the world over, if a man says that he will use his own intelligence about things divine, the priests prick up their ears and feel their knives. If he goes further and tells his fellow-men that they also are entitled to use their own intelligence - off with his head and there's an end of it! I run on so, my dear Seneca. The subject carries me away. I must apologize to you again; I am afraid that even you will find the subject tedious. For, after all, what does it matter? What does it matter - one Jew more or less? I wish I could find a substitute for Aduatucus.

[@jabbrewoki]

I've never heard of Pilates letters. Source or link of any kind?

[@E23Dav]

Good stuff

[@knobbykabushka]

I believe Jesus believed in certain ritual beliefs of essenes and religious beliefs of Hillel… and probably some of his own thinking on things…

[@DJS11811]

Sound is eally lousy and unbalanced.

[@chuckperschbacher2983]

We don't have any scripturalist or Qaraite/Karaite graves until the 2nd century or about 300 AD/CE, but if you consider Moshe or Moses as the original Karaite or scripturalist, then the idea of Yeshua/Jesus sounding like "the readers of the sefer" or Karaite; seems to be significant. It's interesting that everyone seems to want Yeshua in their camp, but Karaism seems to fit in the area of the "narrow path that few shall find" vs. the wide path or derek that many will follow... The Orthodox or Pharisee's seem to say that the Karaites didn't exist until the 900's, but historically this in not accurate...

[@chuckperschbacher2983]

There are two different sadducees one would be understood to be the true sons of Tzaddik's (Kohen's) or sons of Ah'aron and then there are also these followers of Saddoc (also known or written about as Saddockim) and friend of Bathos who both didn't believe in the resurrection... The Pharisee's and Tzaddokim's or righteous one's both believed in the ressurection... food for thought...

[@tugatgalut]

How many parables Jesus gave us? 50-60? He was bigger than Jesus. Shlomi the Messiah from Israel gave us more than 200 parables. My favorite is called 'The poor farmer and the precious wine'

[@retepelyod]

The Lamb in the well, in the pit, in the belly of the earth, raised on the sabbath. This is the message that Jesus was pointing to. The Lord of the sabbath. The resurrection account in Matthew confirms this, you just need to read the accurate translations.

[@pjh3066]

End you described of not getting married or hope the women are not with child had to do with the destruction of The Temple in 70 AD when Roman attacks Jerusalem.

[@3r2w1c]

Jesus didn't have to follow the Torah after touching the leper because he wasn't a leper anymore. The lepers testimony was to get it in the leaders faces and let them verify it. The strict rules of the Essenes reflects the righteousness by faith we all receive when we were created in Jesus before the foundations or catabol, overthrow. It is incorruptible and spiritual, and in us, and is transforming those who sanctify themselves.

[@elizabeth_777]

Essenes

[@evropej]

From Pontius Pilate letters This is a wretched city. Except for the great Herod's works there is scarcely a single building worth a glance. Whatever pride and taste they possess they have put into their Temple. The streets are narrow and ill-paved. Their drains and water-supply are disgraceful even for Asia; it is no wonder that they suffer from all kinds of disease. I shall have to see about this. No, because by those roads the materials come up for my Jerusalem aqueduct. I shall be proud of the aqueduct, I can assure you. I shall rely on it to perpetuate my name in history. I have spent more time in the hills south of Jerusalem during the last few weeks than I have spent in Caesarea. There are twenty-four miles of the roughest country imaginable to be subdued and I ride from point to point watching the men cutting through the hills, breaking up rocks, bridging ravines, laying the foundations for my reservoirs. I have drawn laborers from all the surrounding regions, from Galilee and Samaria, Trans-Jordan, Idumaea, and even from Syria, but comparatively few from Jerusalem, the place which is to benefit. The people of Jerusalem will have nothing to do with us even when we seek to help them. They have nothing but scorn for Samaritans and Galileans who take our part to bring them a good supply of water. They would sooner go without water, or have it foul, than take a Roman wage. The Sanhedrim are obstinate. I have told them that they must find ways and means within three months of paying for the aqueduct and roads. I have had endless conferences with their chief men. I repeat until I am weary - 'For the first time in its history Jerusalem will have good drinking-water. It is essential for the health of your great city. ' They remain unmoved. One of them said loftily - ' Water for drinking is not of real importance. That is only an affair of the unclean body. What matters is provision for the soul - water for the ablutions that are ordained by our Law. ' They are always at their ceremonial washings; I have never been able to understand how people who wash so much can look so dirty. This argument gave me a chance. ' Precisely,' I retorted, 'you require great quantities of water for your ablutions and for the temple sacrifices.' They have, you must know, a huge bowl of water in the Temple for swilling away the blood from sacrifices. ' The aqueduct is therefore a matter of religion as much as of health and decency and I should expect you to be prepared both to support me and to pay for the service which I am doing you.' Then a brilliant idea came into my head. ' Since, ' I added, ' the aqueduct, on your own showing, will be a great assistance to your religious exercises, why not pay for it with the Temple-money?' You would hardly believe with what fury they received this reasonable suggestion. ' Robbery' and ' sacrilege' were the weakest words they used. I protested to them that they might regard it as a loan and by imposing a levy on the population of Jerusalem and spreading it over twelve months or longer if they chose repay the Temple funds. They were almost beside themselves, but I stood firm and ordered them to bring the proposal before a formal meeting of the full Sanhedrim. The more I think over it, the more agreeable does this project look to me. It solves the difficulties with such simplicity. One of the Rabbis who was suspected of looking with favor on my aqueduct was murdered yesterday as he left his house for the Sanhedrim.

[@evropej]

I have come up to Jerusalem to settle my quarrel with the Sanhedrim and this time I mean business. They formally refuse to make any contribution from the Temple-tribute, even for a few months. They have sent me a tiresome screed tedious writing arguing that an aqueduct is an Imperial affair and that Caesar's treasury should pay for it. At the most they will only admit that it should be paid for out of the ordinary taxation of the province, and that, they say, is already heavier than the province can bear. They are insolent enough to assert that the supply of water for the ceremonial ablutions demanded by their Law has always been sufficient and that their other needs do not justify so lavish an expenditure. I have informed them that the money must be found without delay and that I shall, if necessary, take steps to find it for them. I have no patience with their precious Law, which hedges them and us at every tum with minute regulations. Some of it comes from their Sacred books but the most tedious part, so far as I can learn, is of their own creation. Their learned men have spent their lives for generations in devising the most elaborate and ridiculous religious rules. Can you believe that they have whole volumes written about their rules for washing and that there is a tome or two devoted solely to the subject of washing before meals? Have you ever heard of the Rabbi who died of thirst? He was shut up in a besieged town and had a few spoonfuls of water assigned to him each day. He used it all for ceremonial washings and died in agonies of thirst. I would like to put old Annas to that test. Or do you know the story of the pious mule? It belonged to a priest who would touch no food on which, at purchase, tithe had not been paid to the Temple. For days the mule refused its feed. Was it sick? Was it lame? Was it merely mulish? No, my dear Seneca, believe me they discovered that when its food was bought tithe had not been paid to the Temple. It would not break the Law. They are all mules in Jerusalem.

[@cjbest9787]

Micah2 1 3 and it’s still runing till this day!

[@michaelsmith9453]

Yeshua of the Gospel's, not of Christianity, was a Torah-observant Torah-teaching Rabbi! He was upholding WRITTEN Torah while at times ignoring the ORAL Torah of the Pharisee's (This is what Paul was referring to when he talked about "rightly dividing the word of truth." II Tim.2:15). I would go as far to suggest that it was His finger that literally etched the Commandments into the tablets of stone (Ex.31:18)!

[@Avigdor1655]

Foreigner is the Roman word for the proto Etruscan word Alienus meaning slave.

[@cynthiaterrell7290]

My ancestors

[@henrynoel4223]

The other sects know how to obey the Law, but Jesus knows why to obey the Law.

[@ivaniruthayaraj4631]

Believe in the Catholic Church it's all about Christ & HIS Christianity ✝️

[@cynthiaterrell7290]

Two extreme’s. One on each side Hyper religious, and hyper idolatry.

[@perrycomeau2627]

Jesus is Jewish and I abide with him. My spiritual leader is 21st century.

[@imankhandaker6103]

As a criminal dangerous enough to be singled out for crucifixion. It is in the movie & the book.

[@Kennylaggins]

1.75 speed….engage.

[@JamesTaborVideos]

Calm down and maybe listen...take deep breaths, enjoy...and think along the way...Ha! I am not a chipmunk.

[@Kennylaggins]

@@JamesTaborVideos I definitely listen a couple of times. 🧡 Thank you for all the content, I appreciate all of the book suggestions as well.

[@bdyt]

Ultimately, trying to figure out god incarnate no? Was Jesus always god while here, trying to tell his people how to be or did the spirit come and go? Are his teachings strictly those of the Torah since those are supposedly the teachings he gave to his chosen people? Trying to get to the source, quelle, of his teachings while putting aside Paul's or anyone else's beliefs would seem to be paramount and the rest frivolous. Did god come here to tweek his word from what was given so long ago and Christianity is the product or has god's/jesus' teachings been lost and supplanted by Paul? Or is it by using the name Jesus we forget who he really was? Did god say he came here to die for it sins or is that Pauline? Why did god actually come here or did he? Is Jesus completely fictional, was there a person named Jesus who like others was able to do magical things and he became the character chosen from which to build from? Is everything, OT NT, fable, myth, storytelling told to teach life lessons as well as introducing rules, law to further civilize society? Will one ever know while still here or will speculation go on and on? I think the real study lies in the origins of these stories, the origins of religion for man and not is this or that true about a person named Jesus.

[@inregionecaecorum]

Could Jesus have been an Essene dissident or apostate, who had tasted their wine, found it to be toxic and spent the rest of his life preaching the opposite?

[@cjbest9787]

What brotha Tabor should do is hook up with he’s Otha brothas and If they got pride putt it to tha side Isaiah 1 18 We R New Jerusalén so let’s get it krakin And cypher! as tha spirit creeps .to come to an understanding Robert Eisenman , simcha jacobovici , Ross k nichols , kipp, mythvision , history valley and tha rest of tha gang Let’s get it O yea if ahmed deedat would be alive him to (why? Cuz Ishmael) that’s why! But even doe Thru tyme this will become secret… cuz satan hears and watches.I won’t be surprise he o her among ya circles ( channels) tha mtf knows how to play it off

[@davidbensamuel4144]

WHEN did he ever become king ? Maybe king of his 10 followers.

[@maxki8340]

The next six verses explain the bible completely, I guarantee you'll understand it. Because they did teach the bible became a mystery and a secret teachings, those who corrupted the Bible won't be corrected be we are in Methaphors teachings very easy once you understand this. 1. Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more 2.Matthew 16:12 In the bible bread means teachings Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 3.Matthew 13:33 The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour (teachings), till it was all leavened.” 4.Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna (teachings) to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. 5.Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat (teachings) for a penny (name), and three measures of barley (teachings) for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 6.Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. [2] And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny (name) a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

[@tongakhan230]

Jesus was culturally a Jew. He told the Samaritan woman. (John 4:22) You worship what you do not know; WE worship what we know, because salvation begins with the Jews. The WE included Jesus. Christianity is the legacy Jesus left his disciples. It logically couldn't exist before Jesus.

[@tazz6328]

Is it not odd that Isaiah 7 the northern conspiracy to set up ther own king in the south and Hashem said it would not stand,And here jesus from the north conspires to set himself as king that too was denied interesting.

[@garyp.5151]

Keep it simple: Nazarene.

[@christopherwright2622]

Say more about your reference, please. I subscribe to the idea that there was a splinter group of Essenes, a new branch of the righteous.

[@stevecarson4875]

A universalist ?

[@TheLookingOne]

The Jesus Christ of christianity is clearly a fictional character. The writers of the Jesus stories pulled from other stories: Greek translations of Torah stories, stories chronicled by Josephus, and classic Greek stories. How likely is it that the historical Galilean Jew known as Yeshu the Egyptian was associated with the Jesus Christ character?

[@kaygibbs8639]

Hi, do you have a source for your last sentence? Yeshu the Egyptian? I'm in a "rabbit hole" @ Leontopolis, Egypt digging up same questions. Thanks

[@TheLookingOne]

@@kaygibbs8639 The Swedish researcher Lena Einhorn has probably written the most lately about the connection.

[@pmaitrasm]

Jesus was not a Jew. Jesus was a Sabian from the moment he was baptized in the water of River Jordan by the Sabian Monk John, now known as John the Baptist. Jesus continued the Ministry of the Sabian Monk John the Baptist. It is to be noted that Sabians followed John and left Jerusalem to settle in and around Galilee. They did so for a reason. Also, the Sabians followed traditions, some of which were peculiar to them, such as their ministers moving from place to place to reach out to devotees as opposed to devotees congregating at one place, as would happen in Jerusalem, and praying towards the East as opposed to praying in the direction of the Temple. Some traditions were same as that of those in Jerusalem, while others were incorporated from the various faiths (Hellenism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism) that had penetrated that region thanks to the Roman conquest and the trade via Silk Route. The teachings of Jesus are compatible with the teachings of Buddha. The teachings of Jesus are contradictory to the conduct of Moses. In any case, this is an opinion, as is the content of this video.

[@donnakeizer1468]

Jesus was a Nazarene read Matthew 2,23. MARYs,I Eagle Luke 3. Her father was HELi..... Adam.... Adam means ruddy completed, showsblood in the face. White, go to Wikipedia on description of Jesus Christ from Lentulus the Governor Of the Jerusalemites, to the Roman Senate to the people,😊

[@pmaitrasm]

@@donnakeizer1468, And Ezekiel ate a scroll. I wonder how he digested papyrus. We have agency to believe what we want.

[@donnakeizer1468]

@@pmaitrasm papyrus was the very original manuscripts....

[@perrycomeau2627]

the money is no good, just get a grip on yourself.

[@markballantyne393]

Jesus was a jew he taught Judaism his apostles and following were jewish he was a rabbi,and astonished the synagogue with his understanding of scripture, jesus was jewish through and through, for profit and power the church fathers destroyed jesus teaching and love of Judaism.

[@dmaxwell167]

Jesus wasn’t religious (Pharisees, Sadducees). He is Melchizedek in the flesh, (Hebrew 7:1-10, Psalm 110:4). Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14), both Priest and King. Amazing!

[@taterhater2393]

He was never a king nor a priest not to mentioned he did meet one requirement to be the messianic age messiah. The Messiah must be descended from the tribe of Judah ​​(Gen 49:10) (2) ​The Messiah must be descended from King David ​(1 Chr 17:11; Psa 89:29-38; Jer 33:17; 2 Sam 7:12-16) (3) ​The Messiah must be descended from King Solomon ​(1 Chr 22:10; 2 Chr 7:18) (4) ​The Messiah must gather The Jewish people from exile and return them to Israel ​​(Isa 27:12-13; Isa 11:12) (5) ​The Messiah must rebuild The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem ​​(Mic 4:1) (6) ​The Messiah must bring world peace ​(Isa 2:4; Isa 11:6; Mic 4:3) (7) ​The Messiah must influence the entire world to acknowledge and serve one God ​​(Isa 11:9; Isa 40:5; Zeph 3:9) * ​The qualifications/criteria for The Messiah is listed in Ezekiel 37:24-28 ​​ “And My servant David shall be king over them, and they all shall have one shepherd; they shall also walk in Mine ordinances, and observe My statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children's children, for ever; and David My servant shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them - it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will establish them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for ever. My dwelling-place also shall be over them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD that sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for ever.” (Ezk 37:24-28)

[@dmaxwell167]

@@taterhater2393 Hater, kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4jMaHqAlLaNaqc

[@chuckperschbacher2983]

Having women in the mix is very Qaraite in nature...

[@donnakeizer1468]

JESUS was a Nazarene, Read Matthew 2,23. MARYs Lineage Eagle Luke 3 her father was HELi.......l. Adam, Adams means ruddy completed, shows blood in the face, WHITE, go to Wikipedia on the description of Jesus Christ for. LENTULUS Governor I the Jerusalemites tothe Roman Senate and the people, WHITe

[@ThisIsJamesL]

Christians know Jesus is not ethnically jewish.

[@ryansinger-zk1ek]

Jesus was a fully observant jew in every way. He is rumored to have a roman biological father. The Roman's were populated by genetically diverse people from all regions of the Roman empire. There is no empirical evidence at all regarding Jesus' actual ethnic identity.

[@ThisIsJamesL]

@@ryansinger-zk1ek Christians know He is the Son of God, the product of a virgin birth

[@jetpack5]

Jesus was not a Jew. His mother was Jewish. He was raised in Galallee, a land of only Gentiles. He was sent to the Jews. Jesus denounced Judaism. Jesus was the son of God, who has tried many times to break man from religion. It is a tradition of man, not of God.

[@danieljohndombek]

Not on this planet.

[@jetpack5]

@@danieljohndombek have you read it?

[@danieljohndombek]

@@jetpack5 Read what?

[@adamkornau7956]

What? 😂