A question for those who have read Jesus of Nazareth: Part Two by Pope Benedict XVI

  • Thread starter Thread starter kingsan
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
K

kingsan

Guest
Hi! I would like to ask those who have read Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s book Jesus of Nazareth Part Two if they noticed something wrong with the first paragraph of the book’s first chapter. He said that St John’s gospel contains three Passover accounts but the Synoptic gospels contain just one. To qoute:

“The Synoptics contain just one Passover feast - that of the Cross and Resurrection; indeed in Saint Luke’s Gospel, Jesus’ path is presented as a single pilgrim ascent from Galilee to Jerusalem.”

But St Luke records that when Jesus was 12 years old they went to Jerusalem for the Passover and it was the time when he remained behind in the temple. This is an obvious mistake on the part of Pope Benedict XVI and I can’t believe this was overlooked. Any thoughts from those who have read the book? Thank you!
 
kingsan said:
Hi! I would like to ask those who have read Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s book Jesus of Nazareth Part Two if they noticed something wrong with the first paragraph of the book’s first chapter. He said that St John’s gospel contains three Passover accounts but the Synoptic gospels contain just one.

… St Luke records that when Jesus was 12 years old they went to Jerusalem for the Passover and it was the time when he remained behind in the temple. This is an obvious mistake on the part of Pope Benedict XVI and I can’t believe this was overlooked.
Click to expand...
I would assert that Luke’s account of Jesus being found in the temple isn’t a “Passover account”, as you claim, but rather, an account of something that happens after the Passover. Moreover, Ratzinger’s claim refers to “Passover feasts celebrated by Jesus in the course of his public ministry.” (Emphasis mine.)

In John, there are three accounts of Jesus’ actions – in His ministry – during three distinct Passovers. That is, John states that Jesus is an adult and in active ministry in the course of three years’ Passover feasts. The synoptic Gospels, however, only show one Passover during Jesus’ ministry for which He goes to Jerusalem.

That’s what Ratzinger is referring to: Jesus, as an adult, goes to Jerusalem for the Passover and acts during that time. The Lukan account of the finding in the temple isn’t a ‘Passover’ account – or one during Jesus’ ministry – by that standard…
 
If I’m not mistaken Benedict was talking of passover during Christ’s public ministry, which didn’t start until after the arrest of John the Baptist.

Peace and all good!
 
Working off the Gospel of John, you can make a good case that JB was arrested after Jesus’ first Passover as a preacher- the one at which he challenged the moneychangers. After JB’s arrest and subsequent execution after being imprisoned for a few months, Jesus retreated to the Galilee and celebrated his second Passover there- some say in A.D. 35. His last Passover was in A.D. 36.

source Hagan “Year of the Passover”
 
Did Jesus ever go to Jerusalem as an adult before Palm Sunday?
 
He would have gone every year, except the years when His family was in Egypt. Going to Passover in Jerusalem for people close enough to the city – that was an obligation under the Law. Everybody in Nazareth would have gone, unless there were non-Jews living in Nazareth. (Which would be unlikely, in a little hole in the wall Jewish town.)
 
The Second Temple wanted everyone to come, but it wasn’t a law or anything. The yearly tithe was a half-shekel a year for all male Jews over 20 or something, and if you couldn’t go the Priests would be happy if someone from your village brought it for you. By the same token, people were required to dedicate the “first fruits” from the farms or livestock, and bring it to the Second Temple. Couldn’t go? Have a neighbor bring it.

But the Passover was a big holiday. The Jews didn’t go for plays and song-and-dance stuff or sports of any kind, so this nation-wide get-together served a lot of social purpose- i.e. arranging marriages. It also served as a market and goods from all over the empire were likely available to bought and sold.

But missing the Passover didn’t get you demerits or anything.

Most people wanted to go. It was fun, even though the Priests made money off them.

The outer courtyard of the Second Temple was open to everyone. A lot of tourists came for the Passover as well, especially after Herod rebuilt the Temple, and the Roman Empire got rid of most of the Mediterranean pirates. Travel was safe and rich people liked to travel.
 
thinkandmull said:
Did Jesus ever go to Jerusalem as an adult before Palm Sunday?
Click to expand...
John mentions Jesus being in Jerusalem for two Passovers (the first and the third Passover in his gospel) and in between that, for the feasts of Booths and the Dedication (September to December).

 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top