Is This Where Jesus Bathed?

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 10-22-2003 | Jonathan Cook

[r9etb]

I seem to recall that they recently found the pool described in John 5:2 (Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.)

Up until then, they didn't believe that, either.

As for the name "Nazareth," if this find is what they think it is -- I think it's fair to wonder whether the Romans called it something different. Seems to me the Roman name would be the one to look for.

[r9etb]

Here is a link to some archaeological information corresponding to locations mention in John's Gospel.

Many of the sites have in fact been confirmed, leading one to believe that John's Gospel is geographically accurate. He also mentions "Jesus of Nazareth" four times (leading one to believe it, too exists).

Adding to the idea of this article, Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." (John 1:46) It would make a lot of sense for "a true Israelite" (1:47) to be suspicious of a Romanized town, and those who came from it. (There is reason to believe that Nathanael is the same person as "Simon the Zealot," which makes this even more likely.)

[RightWhale]

Have you heard that John is a Gnostic Gospel? If it is, would that mean anything?

[Coleus]

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[r9etb]

Have you heard that John is a Gnostic Gospel? If it is, would that mean anything?

Not for purposes of this discussion, which is concerned only with the existence (or not) of Nazareth.

As for John's Gospel itself -- well, I have to admit it's my least favorite. It reminds me too much of Thucydides, who created speeches for people based on what they "would have said."

Jesus's speeches just don't read like they would have been spoken. I don't think John actually made anything up -- I think he worked awfully hard to write down Jesus' sayings as he remembered them from a long time earlier, and his personal writing style (and nascent theology, in all probability) got in the way.

[RightWhale]

write down Jesus' sayings as he remembered them

He probably never heard JC speak. Few did. The words are largely formulaic, as are the events. All the same, that is my fav Gospel, together with the writings of Paul, especially the genuine ones. That was the seedling of early Christianity in the great time before the Corporation took over.

[eastsider]

Have you heard that John is a Gnostic Gospel?

The allegation that the fourth gospel is a gnostic text dates as far back as the second century, yet it is part of the first known canon in the West -- the Muratorian fragment or canon, which dates from around the year 180 or 190 (author unknown).

The strongest evidence we have concerning the apostolic authority of the fourth gospel is the word of Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons (d. ca. 200), student of Polycarp, who in turn was a disciple of John.

[StarFan]

Thanks for the ping Coleus.

[Ditter]

WOW!

[gcruse]

The most powerful player in the Christian world, the Vatican, has so far refused to throw its weight behind the dig, possibly fearing that Shama's find threatens its own dominance

How typical.

[Darlin']

Thank you for posting this. Its very interesting.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[nmh]

Thanks for posting this. I hope if their are updates you post that too.

I don't believe we will ever know if this is a bathouse used in the time frame of Jesus or not since carbon dating is so flawed. I'm not convinced it will make a difference except to those seeking to profit from relics. Then their will be ill feelings. It's usually all about money ... .

What's more important than relics is to know what His teachings are.

[nmh]

Sorry about the typos. It's been a long day.

[hopespringseternal]

He probably never heard JC speak. Few did. The words are largely formulaic, as are the events.

That's just a lame thing to say.

Over and over again, academics have sniffed at the gospels and offered scenarios of their own manufacture only to be proven wrong.

Your attitude may make you feel sophisticated, but for anyone with more than a passing familiarity with the subject it is just ignorant.

[Ciexyz]

If this was a Roman bathhouse, would it have also been used by the local populace, or have been reserved exclusively for Roman soldiers?