The New York Times published a story “Ancient Tablet Ignites Debate On Messiah and Resurrection” by Ethan Bronner, July 6.
It is about an ancient stone tablet with Hebrew writing in ink. It dates to the first century B.C. and was found around the Dead Sea (Dead Sea Scrolls).
It is the first record ever found of the concept of a “suffering messiah” that died and then rose from the dead after three (3) days – sound familiar.
The fact that this tablet pre-dates Jesus and the Gospels is significant. The fact that it concerns the political issue of the times which was to free Israel from the Roman yoke is also significant in that the Messiah described here, died and rose again specifically to bring redemption to Israel; he did not shed his blood for the sins of the world.
I guess what scholars are getting at is that the very idea of a suffering Messiah who rose from the dead after three (3) days is not unique to the Jesus story but was around in general Jewish lore. The thinking now could point to Jesus and his followers adopting a popular motif found in Jewish writings.
In the past our view of a “Jewish Messiah” was as a triumphal, powerful, military type descendant of King David and never a Messiah that suffered and died. In fact, the tablet indicates that for the salvation of Israel, a Messiah will have to die and arise after three (3) days and only then will Israel be free.
You can see where it’s possible for Jesus to have seen himself as The Messiah, convinced his followers of that fact and went ahead and had himself tortured and killed for the salvation of Israel. Crazy St. Paul twisted the events to fit his own shtick which was that Jesus was the Messiah, died at the hands of the Romans and in fact did rise from the dead BUT not to free Israel but to wipe away the sins of the world – what a bizarre concept.
This may be the find that puts two and two together. I have always wondered why Jesus’ Apostles never bought into St. Paul’s teachings and continued to wait for Jesus to come indicating that he did not arise from the dead after three (3) days or ever in their own time as the Gospel story has it.
I have always thought that more evidence about that period in history is yet to be found and here it is. Actually, the stone tablet was found some time ago but the owner did not know what he had. Expect a lot of hubbub about this in the months to come and I will be following this very carefully and with subdued excitement!
It is about an ancient stone tablet with Hebrew writing in ink. It dates to the first century B.C. and was found around the Dead Sea (Dead Sea Scrolls).
It is the first record ever found of the concept of a “suffering messiah” that died and then rose from the dead after three (3) days – sound familiar.
The fact that this tablet pre-dates Jesus and the Gospels is significant. The fact that it concerns the political issue of the times which was to free Israel from the Roman yoke is also significant in that the Messiah described here, died and rose again specifically to bring redemption to Israel; he did not shed his blood for the sins of the world.
I guess what scholars are getting at is that the very idea of a suffering Messiah who rose from the dead after three (3) days is not unique to the Jesus story but was around in general Jewish lore. The thinking now could point to Jesus and his followers adopting a popular motif found in Jewish writings.
In the past our view of a “Jewish Messiah” was as a triumphal, powerful, military type descendant of King David and never a Messiah that suffered and died. In fact, the tablet indicates that for the salvation of Israel, a Messiah will have to die and arise after three (3) days and only then will Israel be free.
You can see where it’s possible for Jesus to have seen himself as The Messiah, convinced his followers of that fact and went ahead and had himself tortured and killed for the salvation of Israel. Crazy St. Paul twisted the events to fit his own shtick which was that Jesus was the Messiah, died at the hands of the Romans and in fact did rise from the dead BUT not to free Israel but to wipe away the sins of the world – what a bizarre concept.
This may be the find that puts two and two together. I have always wondered why Jesus’ Apostles never bought into St. Paul’s teachings and continued to wait for Jesus to come indicating that he did not arise from the dead after three (3) days or ever in their own time as the Gospel story has it.
I have always thought that more evidence about that period in history is yet to be found and here it is. Actually, the stone tablet was found some time ago but the owner did not know what he had. Expect a lot of hubbub about this in the months to come and I will be following this very carefully and with subdued excitement!
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