Religious and political authorities (conflict in John) Flashcards
Who was the high priest and who did he serve under?
Joseph Caiaphas, he served under two Roman governors. He was appointed for his willingness to collaborate with the Romans, rather than for his faith
What did Caiaphas aim to do as high priest?
Appease the Romans by preventing religiously motivated outbursts of violence and persuade the Romans to be reasonable towards the Jews in return
Why was it inevitable that Caiaphas would want to arrest a troublemaker like Jesus?
He wouldn’t want the Romans to think he had lost his grip
Why was Caiaphas so reliant on protection from the Romans?
- Zealots tried to assassinate high priests
- As a sadducee, he could not expect the support of the Pharisees
How did Caiaphas legitimise his actions?
By creating a parliament of Jewish leaders called the Sanhedrin
Why would the Sadducees of disapproved of Jesus?
- Because he was developing new teachings that challenged the authority of Moses and the Torah
- They also wished to protect the temple from threats, since it was the source of their wealth, status and religion
Why would the Pharisees have felt threatened by Jesus?
Because he told people they didn’t need to follow their laws
What was the name of the Pharisee who opposed Jesus’ crucifixion?
Nicodemus
Who were the two governors appointed by the Romans to govern Palestine?
Herod Antipas and Herod Philip, both sons of Herod the Great
Why did Herod Antipas kill John the Baptist?
Some think it is because JTB criticised his sex life, but it was most probably because JTB’s following had grown so large that he feared a rebellion
Why did Herod Antipas probably see Jesus as a threat?
Because, several of JTB’s followers were part of his movement, and Jesus himself had been baptised by JTB
What were the two things that the Romans demanded from provinces like Judea?
– Peaceful law and order
- The payment of taxes
Who was the Roman governor at the time of Jesus’ death?
Pontius Pilate, a man who had little sympathy towards the jewish faith
What is the key difference between John and the synoptics in their account of Jesus’ death
John has Jesus being executed on the day of the passover feast where as the synoptics have this occur the day after
What would happen in the temple at the Passover?
The High Priest would sacrifice the unblemished paschal lamb
Why is Jesus executed at the same time as the paschal lamb in John?
This reinforces John’s idea of replacement theology; Jesus is the true lamb of God, sacrificed on behalf of all mankind
Why do the Synoptics have Jesus’ death a day later than the Passover?
They want Jesus to have the Passover meal to underline the idea that Christianity is a continuation of Judaism
What does John miss out when Jesus in in the Garden of Gethsemane?
The idea that he is in agony or fearful of what is ahead. In Luke’s gospel Jesus is in agony until he is comforted by the angels
How do the trials work in the Synoptics?
A full meeting of the sanhedrin is called and witnesses accuse Jesus of boasting that he will destroy the temple. The final straw comes when Jesus agrees that he is the Son of God, as this is seen as blasphemy
Who happens to Jesus on the Passover Eve in John?
He is put on trial before Pilate
How is Pilate described as sentencing Jesus to death?
Reluctantly
Why do the gospels describe Pilate as being reluctant to crucify Jesus?
Due to the criterion of embarrassment; it would have been embarrassing for Jesus to have died at the hands of the Romans, as this would have made Christianity look like a dangerous movement. The evangelists therefore look to downplay the political aspect of the crimes and make it seem as though it was for the religious charge of blasphemy
What does Reimarus say argue about Jesus’ crucifixion?
That he really was a political rebel and the Romans were right to execute him - with the evangelists trying to hide this
What does Schweitzer say argue about Jesus’ crucifixion?
That Jesus was innocent of rebellion but wanted the Romans to execute him because he mistakenly believed that the death of God’s innocent servant would bring about the apocalypse; meaning he did not deny the charges
