JESUS THE JEW BUT WHAT SORT OF JEW

THIS LECTURE BY PROFESSOR JOHN P MEIER

Professor of Theology  University of Notre Dame

4   enigmas

·         Relationship to the law

·         Parables of Jesus

·         References to self-riddles

·         Crucifixion

Halachic teachings   on divorce (strict patterned after house of Shammai

Oaths

The temple

Yet loyalty to Mosaic Torah a given

The presentiment of his Davidic descent and cleansing of the temple

Identified as being a Pharisee

Silent treatment in the gospels on his celibate standing—strange response from Jesus  in Mt 19  on some self-made eunuchs for sake of the Kgm of Heaven’s sake   strange saying where does it derive from and for what purpose is the addendum “for those who can accept it,

This saying never commented on again by the church fathers or other commentators

1.       ISSUE OF HIS CELIBACY    silence in the Gospels- historical and other contexts on this silence

2.       Qumran and Josephus’ description of Essenes , Philo’s description of the Therapeutae

3.       Minority tradition in Judaism on the question of celibacy

4.       Many women traveled with him during hi9s ministry

Spinner of Parables

Violent images

Drink my blood and eat my flesh

4   enigmas

·         Relationship to the law

·         Parables of Jesus

·         References to self-riddles

·         Crucifixion

Halachic teachings   on divorce (strict patterned after house of Shammai

Oaths

The temple

Yet loyalty to Mosaic Torah a given

The presentiment of his Davidic descent and cleansing of the temple

Identified as being a Pharisee

Silent treatment in the gospels on his celibate standing—strange response from Jesus  in Mt 19  on some self-made eunuchs for sake of the Kgm of Heaven’s sake   strange saying where does it derive from and for what purpose is the addendum “for those who can accept it,

This saying never commented on again by the church fathers or other commentators

1.       ISSUE OF HIS CELIBACY    silence in the Gospels- historical and other contexts on this silence

2.       Qumran and Josephus’ description of Essenes , Philo’s description of the Therapeutae

3.       Minority tradition in Judaism on the question of celibacy

4.       Many women traveled with him during hi9s ministry

Spinner of Parables

Violent images

Drink my blood and eat my flesh