Morris Inch

Jesus of Nazareth



Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009

by Morris Inch

Jesus was a common name, alluding to God as Savior. There were at least five High Priests that shared that name. Moreover, the Jewish historian Josephus notes about twenty persons named Jesus, ten of whom were contemporary with Jesus of Nazareth.

Coming from Nazareth was not calculated to commend him as an important personage. It was thought for a place to be of significance, it had to be mentioned in the Old Testament text. Nazareth failed this critical test.

Nor would coming from Galilee contribute to his reputation as a rabbi/teacher. In this regard, it was said that if one wanted to become rich, he ought to go north---to Galilee, but if wise---then south to Judea. The Lower Galilee, where Jesus was raised, was fertile and heavily populated at the time. Conversely, rabbinic study flourished in Jerusalem.

Then, too, Galilee was a much more open area than Judea, resulting in Hellenistic influences. This did not supply the kind of isolation condusive to study, but fostered a sort of practical piety.

The speech of the Galileans was also thought lacking sophistication by those of their southern counterpart. One reads complaints concerning their crude way of expressing themselves. Born at another time, they be be referred to as red-necks.

All things considered, the opinions of the Galileans were often discounted. This, in turn, recalls the observation of a Jewish mother to her precocious son: "When I want your opinion, I'll tell you what it is." The religious elite must at times have felt that way when hearing Jesus expound on divine revelation.

Galileans also had a reputation for activism. While this gave rise to the Zealot's rebellion against Roman authority, it could also lend itself to social engagement of other sorts. In general terms, the Galileans would concur with the opinion that we learn not simply to know, but in order to do.

Now all this needs to be considered along with Jesus' unique claims concerning himself, as a means of more fully appreciating the biblical text. Whether in this connection or some other, we are left with the conclusion that the more we know, the more we realise we do not know.

Morris A. Inch is a Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. He is also a past president of the Institute of Holy Land Studies (renamed Jerusalem University College), Jerusalem, Israel. He was awarded an A.B. from Houghton College, M.Div. from Gordon Divinity School and Ph.D. from Boston University. He has authorded about forty books. See his publication website at http:www.ourchurch.com/member/p/publications

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