Did the Jews really kill Jesus?

[DesertBerean]

Benjamin was one of the two surviving 12 tribes, Judah and Benjamin. Collectively they were referred to as "Jews"

Yep. Another reason to wonder what Biblical background Hypatia had.

[mikewhitney]

Just a question, what do you know about first century Judaism and the socio-political situation in first century Judaea?

No first hand knowledge

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

No first hand knowledge

Ha ha. My question was with reference to what reading you had done on the region in that period and what you have read about Roman provincial administration in the early years of the empire.

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

Benjamin was one of the two surviving 12 tribes, Judah and Benjamin. Collectively they were referred to as "Jews"

""

That was an opening remark made by William Dever at a symposium in 1991 on the Rise of Ancient Israel. In my opinion it still holds.

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

Yep. Another reason to wonder what Biblical background Hypatia had.

What on earth do you mean by a "Biblical background"?

[DesertBerean]

What on earth do you mean by a "Biblical background"?

Precisely that. What disciplines did you study, as I asked before?

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

Precisely that. What disciplines did you study, as I asked before?

I am a social historian. My secondary interest is the study of comparative religions within the ancient near east.

[DesertBerean]

I am a social historian. My secondary interest is the study of comparative religions within the ancient near east.

And did you learn the source languages? Study the church fathers?

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

And did you learn the source languages? Study the church fathers?

Which Church Fathers do you have in mind?

[DesertBerean]

All the ones you know.

[DesertBerean]

You know what? Never mind. You are delaying your response so I got my answer.

I know from what you said about Paul's Jewishness that Bart Erhman(sp?) would not agree with your conclusions. And HE certainly knows the source documents and the Biblical background and history.

[Sparko]

""

That was an opening remark made by William Dever at a symposium in 1991 on the Rise of Ancient Israel. In my opinion it still holds.

Well it's wrong. The bible is one of the best historical documents we have of the time period. Actually one of the ONLY historical documents we have. Archeology has supported the bible time and time again.

But you are welcome to your own opinions and beliefs. But you seem to be trying to use the bible when it suits you and then deny it when it doesn't. Choose one. If the latter, then you really have no leg to stand on when debating biblical threads. Because all you have is "nuh-uh"

And even assuming it was "revisionist" history, that doesn't mean that isn't internally consistent and that Paul was referring to him self as belonging to one of the remaining tribes of the kingdom of Judah (Benjamin) and therefore was calling himself a "Jew."

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

All the ones you know.

Well to take a line from another contributor I have no first hand experience.

We have never been formally introduced!

[Cow Poke]

Ha ha. My question was with reference to what reading you had done on the region in that period and what you have read about Roman provincial administration in the early years of the empire.

So, why is it fair for you to ask about the background and training of others, but you're not so willing to be forthright? Just curious.

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

You know what? Never mind. You are delaying your response so I got my answer.

I know from what you said about Paul's Jewishness that Bart Erhman(sp?) would not agree with your conclusions. And HE certainly knows the source documents and the Biblical background and history.

That is entirely Ehrman's prerogative. There is no definitive position on these issues because the sources are very limited. All any historian can do is assess the evidence available and from it come to their own conclusions. Robert Eisenman would disagree with Ehrman on some issues and he is equally as well qualified as Ehrman [if you want to play the "my side is better than yours" game]. Likewise the late Hyam Maccoby held very pronounced opinions on Paul/Saul.