A Lesson from the Fig Tree ?

Blog at WordPress.com 'The Resurrection on One of the Sabbaths' ^ | May 26 2010 | Pmary65

[Pmary65]

A Lesson from the Fig Tree ?

In the traditional belief, scholars are divided between a Passover Nisan 14 crucifixion occurring on a Friday full moon of April 7, 30 A.D. or a Friday full moon of April 3, of 33 A.D. Some believe as well in a crucifixion occurring on a Wednesday full moon of March 24, 34 A.D..

In Matthew 21:18 and Mark 11:13 we read about a hungry Jesus condemning a tree being non-existant in figs at a fruit bearing time.

In Matthew 24:32, Mark 13:28 and Luke 21:30 we read about the observation of fig shoots resembling a time near summer. All these biblical accounts were of a time, leading up to Jesus’ last Passover.

Were these the indications of a late Passover cycle likely due to an intercalary month (Adar II) being added on to the preceding Hebrew sacred calendar year before the first month of Nisan (Abib)?

On the contrary, did Jesus condemn a fig tree too early where the natural cycle to bear fruit had not been advanced?

The likeliness of an added intercalary month would necessitate some further growing time as an essential requirement for the ripening of nature in these scriptural passages. There an intercalary month Adar II would have been added where Nisan 14 (full moon) would have been pushed further along onto Thursday April 22nd 34 A.D.

See an online calander;

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=34&country=34

* Note bottom legend for moon phases.

If the pre-final Passover cursing of the fig tree event occurred on the day of procurement (Nisan 10th) thus might have been either; Monday April 3rd 30 A.D., Monday March 30th 33 A.D., Saturday March 20th 34 A.D., or feasibly later on Sunday April 18th in 34 A.D..

Likewise, another scriptural account in Luke 6:1 shows a resonable time near the beginning of Jesus’ 3 year ministry on an earlier Passover (31 A.D.) where ‘corn’ was ripe enough to eat when the growing season had matured. There as well, an intercalary month would have pushed Passover Nisan 14th (full moon) onto Wednesday April 25th 31 A.D. where the growing season matured long enough when corn was ripe enough to eat. If that moment happened on the ‘first sabbath after the second day (Nisan 16th) that date could have been on Nisan 17th, Saturday April 28th 31 A.D. If the KJV authors (LUK 6:1) were correct in saying ‘the second sabbath after the first (sabbath), the date Jesus picked the corn may have been on Nisan 24, Saturday May 5th 31 A.D..

The Koine Greek words ‘ ενσαββατω δευτεροπρωτω’ in reference to the Sabbath at Luke 6:1 is shown as the ‘second chief ‘ (1207) in the Interlinear Bible (Sovereign Grace Publishers) inconjunction with the Strong’s (numbered) Greek Concordance. There Jesus picked corn on the second chief Sabbath.

At a much later time we see the Apostles (Acts 20:7) breaking bread on ‘μια των σαββατων = one of the sabbaths’ (CLT). This occassion occurring on a sabbath after the days of unleavened bread (Acts 20:6), and before Pentecost (Acts 20:16). Thus being on ‘one of the seven integral sabbaths’ (LEV 23:15) between Passover and Pentecost.

Best Regards – Pmary65

[Pmary65]

But then again you could place the crucifixion on a Nisan 14th Passover (full moon) of Thursday April 22nd 34 A.D. and have our Lord resurrect on a first day of the week (Sunday) morning of April 25th. This alone might meet the requirement of 3 days and 3 nights or after 3 days. However to do so, you will be disregarding the passion testimonies from the Gospel of Peter where the disciples were in bereavement on the last day of Passover feast or the Gospel of Nicodemus where Joseph was with the resurrected Lord at the tomb on the late evening of the sabbath.

Best Regards – Pmary65

[Uri’el-2012]

But then again you could place the crucifixion on a Nisan 14th Passover (full moon) of Thursday April 22nd 34 A.D. and have our Lord resurrect on a first day of the week (Sunday) morning of April 25th.

My Jewish Calendar says Nissan 14 is Erev Pesach.

I.e. Pesach beginning at sundown on the 22nd of April Monday of 34 CE.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[Diego1618]

“Mia ton sabbaton” is not “first of the sabbaths.”

Yup.....you're right! But.....the Greek of [Matthew 28:1][Mark 16:2][Luke 24:1] and [John 20:1] all say......"MIA TWN SABBATWN"......plural....and this means "First of the Sabbaths! The Greek does not say, "MIA TON SABBATON".

Outside of eight texts in the NT (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19; Acts 20:7, and 1Cor. 16:2)1, where we find μια των σαββατων translated as "first day of the week", there is no example of σαββατων having the meaning of "week" in any Greek literature before ca. AD 100, and then only in "Church" Greek after that. The first attested use in this sense in Didache 8.1. This sense is entirely wanting in Secular Greek, the LXX, Josephus, Philo, or any other Greek literature of Jewish provenance before the destruction of the Second Temple except for these eight texts. That sense is also entirely lacking in classical and Koine Greek except for its alleged use in these eight texts. Furthermore, these eight texts are not just ordinary examples where nothing is at stake. What is at stake here is the original separation of Christianity from its Jewish roots, and the justifications supplied for this schism. Therefore, we may rightly suspect that the alleged sense of "first day of the week" is due to opportunistic revisionism based on sectarian religious and political motivations.

You can find that here:

http://www.torahtimes.org/Open%20Directory/Sabbaton_Week_Sabbaths.html

[Gamecock]

The fig tree was the symbol of Israel.

Israel, like the tree was not producing fruit, so in a very real sense Jesus was dispensing covenant curses on Israel.

[Pmary65]

Where do you find your source of calendar imformation? I am referencing the dates according to the sites;

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/moonphases.html?year=34&n=110

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=34&country=34

The Passover Nisan 14th full moon being on Thursday April 22nd 34 A.D. also derived in the year 345 from pg. 46 in the book, 'Babylonian Chronology' by Richard A. Parker and Waldo H Dubberstein, Brown University Press, 1956 or republished by Wipf and Stock Publishers 2007.

Best Regards - Pmary65

[HarleyD]

The fig tree was the symbol of Israel. Israel, like the tree was not producing fruit, so in a very real sense Jesus was dispensing covenant curses on Israel.

I was wondering just the other day about the fig tree. I was more interested in why would Jesus curse the fig tree rather then when He did so. One would have thought that our Lord Jesus would have blessed the tree to produce fruit, since He was hungry. Instead He cursed the tree and it died; just the exact opposite.

Your explaination makes much sense and now I can go to church and impress them with your knowledge. ;O)

[Uri’el-2012]

Your data seems to be derived from Gentile
sources and as such is extremely suspect.

I use a calendar based on algorithms by
N. Dershowitz and E.M. Reingold.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[Uri’el-2012]

Were these the indications of a late Passover cycle likely due to an intercalary month (Adar II) being added on to the preceding Hebrew sacred calendar year before the first month of Nisan (Abib)?

You seem unaware of why Nissan is also called Abib.

Abib is the ripening of the Barley as this is what
drives the beginning of the Sacred Year.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[Pmary65]

Are you a Messianic Jew?

- Pmary

[Alex Murphy]

One would have thought that our Lord Jesus would have blessed the tree to produce fruit, since He was hungry. Instead He cursed the tree and it died; just the exact opposite.

"For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."."
-- Mark 4:25

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Amen.

All according to His plan ordained from before the foundation of the world.

[Pmary65]

RE: "Your data seems to be derived from Gentile sources and as such is extremely suspect. I use a calendar based on algorithms by N. Dershowitz and E.M. Reingold."

* Perhaps your algorithem book could tell us what calendar days Passover Nisan 14th landed on in the year 30 A.D. ?

most curious - Pmary

[Pmary65]

Re; Are you a Messianic Jew?

What is your faith and denomination?

"The Evil One always tells one to be reverent. The Evil One always tells the sweetest lies. These holidays are not found in the Holy Word of G-d. They blind you to YHvH's commanded Feast Days which are found in His Holy Word. I am a follower of the Jewish Messiah as were Peter and Paul. The Roman "church" was created in 325 CE at Nicea by Constantine. Seek the face of YHvH and His salvation in His Holy Word." shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

* Thanks... I knew it all along!

Blessings - Pmary

P.S. I'm still curious to know about 30 A.D. - shalom!

[Uri’el-2012]

* Perhaps your algorithem book could tell us what calendar days Passover Nisan 14th landed on in the year 30 A.D. ?

most curious - Pmary

The 14th of Nissan(Erev Pesach)
in the year 30 CE(3790)
would be 3rd April.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[dangus]

>> there is no example of σαββατων having the meaning of "week" in any Greek literature before ca. AD 100, and then only in "Church" Greek after that. << Meaningless. Sabbaton isn't a Greek word; it's a transliteration from Hebrew. It's never used at all outside of "Church Greek," until their were anti-Church apologists... around AD 100.

[dangus]

Oh, and by the way:
Omega means, “Big O.” Not “W”. And that’s an omega in “Sabbaton,” (Yes, it’s fine to use a “w” to distinguish it from an omicron (Small “O”), but it’s quite fine to transliterate omega to o.)

ALSO,

Sabbaton/ Sabbatwn is a unique case, so we can just have our dueling translaters. But “on” or “wn” is simply not a plural ending in Greek.

[Jewbacca]

Please don’t ping me on obscure Christian theology threads.

Thank you.

[Pmary65]

Re: "The 14th of Nissan(Erev Pesach) in the year 30 CE(3790) would be 3rd April."

* Most interesting... I would have to see the actual book regarding the Author's definition for dating with accuracy before placing my personal opinion. It appears to be a matter of 'one of a kind', and compares quite differently from most other Asronomer's calculations that I had ever seen.

'Teacher's own'... I suspect. If you know of any other calendar sources that states the same Passover dates as equally, please feel free to enlighten me furtherer!

Best Regards - Pmary65

[Uri’el-2012]

See:
http://wwwx.uwm.edu/cgi-bin/corre/calendar

or

http://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/calendar/

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[Uri’el-2012]

Or http://www.drissman.com/avi/mac/JewishCalendar/

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach