SBu
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(Posted here vice religious discussion forum because it sounds quite restrictive)
Something that I've been interested in for a while. Who was he?
We actually know very little about Jesus. Born Bethlehem sometime around 2010 +/- 10yrs ago, the circumstances around which are vague, a mention or two of his early years, then suddenly the narrative skips the extremely important formative years of his youth from around 12 yrs to 30 yrs, then re-emerges as a follower of John the Baptist (one of the first references to a historical time and place), goes on to minister for a few years, is crucified by Romans for subversion, and after three days emerges from death to continue his ministry reborn. (or some general version thereof)
Interesting things we don't know:
Name: Jesus...really? Actually a form of Joshua roughly meaning salvation in Hebrew.
No historical record for Jesus during his ministry
No historical record for Jesus during his absence of 18 years between the temple and baptism by John
How accurate is any of the information offered in the gospels about Jesus' years before adulthood and the first mentions of his ministry?
No written accounts from Jesus himself which is surprising because the Bible suggests he could read and write, and if not, surely in the movement inspired by him, someone would have written something down directly attributed to Jesus during the time he lived. Everything written is from decades or centuries following his death.
No idea how he developed his unique ideas (Essenes? Traveling? ) It's difficult to imagine he would have developed advanced religious philosophy to the point of evangelism if he had been a simple carpenter in a small village during his formative years.
The details of his final days and death are fairly concise with a few variations in the accepted gospels of the Bible. However, it is quite clear that there were many different views of his divinity and the meaning of his message. The disciples and followers dispersed and espoused essentially their own versions of what Jesus was and what his message meant throughout the Roman empire and region.
It's fair to say that the early Christian world was chaotic in its interpretations and stories about Jesus. That is until Emperor Constantine began to really push for a more coherent ideology among the different views which eventually led to canonization of the 4 gospels that we identify with the Bible today and other general issues agreed upon by various bishops etc. It is clear, after finding many old texts and noting that not all of the sects were represented, that these were not the only versions and therefore calls the official version of who Jesus was, what he said, and what he meant into question.
I find myself wondering if any of us understand what Jesus' message actually was, who he actually was beyond what has been organized by men over hundreds of years following his ministry for political, power, or consolidation purposes. I find myself thinking that we've missed something very important, that this telephone game of pass down and power has distorted some central ideas that have been lost to time.
Something that I've been interested in for a while. Who was he?
We actually know very little about Jesus. Born Bethlehem sometime around 2010 +/- 10yrs ago, the circumstances around which are vague, a mention or two of his early years, then suddenly the narrative skips the extremely important formative years of his youth from around 12 yrs to 30 yrs, then re-emerges as a follower of John the Baptist (one of the first references to a historical time and place), goes on to minister for a few years, is crucified by Romans for subversion, and after three days emerges from death to continue his ministry reborn. (or some general version thereof)
Interesting things we don't know:
Name: Jesus...really? Actually a form of Joshua roughly meaning salvation in Hebrew.
No historical record for Jesus during his ministry
No historical record for Jesus during his absence of 18 years between the temple and baptism by John
How accurate is any of the information offered in the gospels about Jesus' years before adulthood and the first mentions of his ministry?
No written accounts from Jesus himself which is surprising because the Bible suggests he could read and write, and if not, surely in the movement inspired by him, someone would have written something down directly attributed to Jesus during the time he lived. Everything written is from decades or centuries following his death.
No idea how he developed his unique ideas (Essenes? Traveling? ) It's difficult to imagine he would have developed advanced religious philosophy to the point of evangelism if he had been a simple carpenter in a small village during his formative years.
The details of his final days and death are fairly concise with a few variations in the accepted gospels of the Bible. However, it is quite clear that there were many different views of his divinity and the meaning of his message. The disciples and followers dispersed and espoused essentially their own versions of what Jesus was and what his message meant throughout the Roman empire and region.
It's fair to say that the early Christian world was chaotic in its interpretations and stories about Jesus. That is until Emperor Constantine began to really push for a more coherent ideology among the different views which eventually led to canonization of the 4 gospels that we identify with the Bible today and other general issues agreed upon by various bishops etc. It is clear, after finding many old texts and noting that not all of the sects were represented, that these were not the only versions and therefore calls the official version of who Jesus was, what he said, and what he meant into question.
I find myself wondering if any of us understand what Jesus' message actually was, who he actually was beyond what has been organized by men over hundreds of years following his ministry for political, power, or consolidation purposes. I find myself thinking that we've missed something very important, that this telephone game of pass down and power has distorted some central ideas that have been lost to time.