Jesus Before Christianity
Albert Nolan
The historical Jesus
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Sources about Jesus
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4 gospels in Bible
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Not biographies, but faith statements
A few Roman references
The ongoing life of various Christian communities
What does “the historical Jesus” mean?
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Historical context
Historical basis for Christian beliefs
What do we know about Jesus?
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Born ca. 4 BCE; Crucified ca. 30 CE
Observant Jew from Galilee
Similar to and different from John the
Baptist
Gathered disciples and preached about the
Kingdom of God
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healed, exorcised demons
Invited many to eat with him
Gospels
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Purpose
Date: written 40-60 yrs after Jesus
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Preceded by oral tradition
Time of persecution, uprising against Romans
Time of Jewish crisis
Canonical vs. noncanonical
What was going on in Jesus’
lifetime?
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Roman occupation since 63 BCE
Competition among Jewish groups
Apocalypticism
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Catastrophic event, bringing judgment
End of world, beginning of new world
Honor and shame society
Jewish groups
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Zealots
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Pharisees
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Religious reformers
Used oral traditions (Torah) to revise and renew practice
Focus on religion; did not interfere politically
Sadducees
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Fought against Romans (66-70 CE)
Wanted political independence for Israel
Priests
Controlled Temple in Jerusalem
Conservative: rejected oral Torah, allied with Romans
Essenes
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Judaism in Jerusalem corrupt, beyond saving
Apocalyptic: end of world coming
Withdrew to desert
Focus on purity of “true” religion within this small group
Archaeological remains of Essene community, near Dead Sea, Israel
Qumran cave, Israel:
used for storage by Essenes
John the Baptist
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Jesus’ cousin, older by six months
Prophet
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Message of judgment on Israel from God
Denounce false religion, economic injustice
Destruction is coming on Israel: looming
showdown between Jews and Romans
Preach repentance
Icon of John
the Baptist
Greek on
scroll: Repent,
y’all
Symbols: axe,
severed head,
hairy coat
Overview: Nolan
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Method: know historical Jesus by looking
at his intentions and choices
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Choice 1: Baptized by John
Choice 2: identified with the poor and
oppressed
Principal suffering: shame and disgrace (29)
 compassion = suffering with
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Method: Start with Jesus’ actions (praxis),
go to his preaching, return to our praxis
Praxis
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Miracles
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Healing
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Meaning of “illness”
Exorcism
Table fellowship
Luke 4
When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he
went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom.
He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was
given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where
it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat
down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been
fulfilled in your hearing.’
Luke 6: Sermon on the Plain
Then Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
‘Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
‘Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile
you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day
and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what
their ancestors did to the prophets.
‘But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
‘Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
‘Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
‘Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to
the false prophets.