Gospel Voices

Alexander M. Jacobs

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781666717457, 9781666717464
• eBook ISBN: 9781666717471
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Biography

Why are we so fascinated with the person of Jesus of Nazareth? What made him so intriguing and attractive? Why then was he executed as a heretic and rebel? This brief book seeks to imagine what might have happened in those years when Jesus lived in Israel: how did his family react to him? How did his friends and enemies respond to his teachings and actions? How are we like them in our own encounter with the person of Jesus? The Jesus that emerges in these pages is deeply spiritual and political, human and humorous, both surprising and authentic. Prepare to be surprised.

Glossary

Adonai

A Hebrew word generally translated as “Lord.” Since, in Jewish practice, the four-letter name of “God” was not to be spoken, when it appeared in a text of Hebrew Scriptures, the reader substituted “Adonai,” The title “Lord” was also one of the earliest divine titles given to Jesus (cf. 1 Cor. 12:3; John 20:18, 28.)

Annas

Appointed by Quirinius, the Roman legate to Syria, in 6 CE, he became the first High Priest in the newly formed Roman province of Judaea. He served with his son, Caiaphas, for several decades. He was part of Jesus’ trial (John 18:19–24) and also of Peter and John (Acts 4:1–22).

Anathoth

A small village about 3 miles north of Jerusalem, belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. It was the home of Jeremiah the prophet and was one of the cities of refuge (Joshua 21:18).

Beelzebul

The name of a major demon, derived from a Philistine deity, Ba’al.

Bethany

A village one mile southeast of Jerusalem, close to the Mount of Olives; the home of Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Simon the Leper.

Bethphage

A village next to Bethany on the Mount of Olives.

Boanerges

An Aramaic term usually translated “Sons of Thunder;” the nickname of James and John.

Caesarea

Sometimes referred to as Caesarea Maritima, it was a port city south of Haifa, built by Herod the Great in 27 BCE and dedicated to the Roman Emperor. It served as an administrative center for the province of Judaea and was probably home to Pilate when he was Governor.

Caesarea Philippi

Located just below Mt. Hermon in the Golan Heights, built on the site of an ancient shrine to the Canaanite god Ba’al, later dedicated to the Roman god Pan, the city was then rebuilt by Herod the Great and dedicated to Caesar. The name Philippi was added when Herod’s son, Phillip, became tetrarch of the area east of Galilee, now southern Syria.

Caiaphas

His full name is Joseph son of Caiaphas. He was the son-in-law of Annas and served as High Priest from 18 to 36 CE. He figures prominently in the trial of Jesus and is mentioned extensively by 1st Century Jewish historian Josephus.

Capernaum

A village on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It figured as the focal point of Jesus’ ministry and was the home of several disciples.

Court of the Gentiles

The Temple in Jerusalem was greatly reconstructed by Herod the Great (37 BCE–4 CE). Surrounding the actual Temple and the Court of the Women, the Court of the Gentiles was a large open space for all the residents and visitors to Jerusalem.

Decapolis

Literally “Ten Cities,” a loose federation of cities, including Damascus (in Syria) and Philadelphia (modern day Amman, capital of Jordan). They were an important coalition of Greek and Roman centers of trade and culture.

Essenes

A Jewish sect generally associated with the site of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls. While the New Testament does not mention them, Josephus, the 1st Century Jewish historian, describes the Essenes as a group dedicated to ritual purity and an ascetic life of separation. They flourished from 200 BCE to 100 CE. Some scholars speculate that John the Baptist might have been a member of this sect.

Frankincense

A hardened, gum-like resin from the Boswellia Sacra tree that is used as incense and perfume, as well as in medicines. Because it is so rare, it remains very expensive.

Gennesaret

One of several names for the Sea of Galilee.

Herod

The Roman appointed king of Judaea 37 BCE–4 CE, frequently surnamed “the Great.” Although of Arab origin from southern Palestine, he was a practicing Jew. He is best known as a builder of aqueducts, fortresses, and the Second Temple. His personal life was filled with suspicion, mistrust, and violence: he had 8–10 wives and 14 children, many of whom he had murdered.

Herod Antipas

Son of Herod the Great, 20 BCE–39 CE, he ruled as tetrarch of the regions of Galilee and Perea, respectively in the north and in the south of Palestine, across the Jordan River, east of the Dead Sea. In the New Testament, he was responsible for the death of John the Baptist.

Joppa

An ancient seaport on the Mediterranean, established 2500 BCE as a Canaanite city, later called Jaffa and now surrounded...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Introduction
• Joseph
• Mary
• Herod
• Eliud of Bethlehem
• Melchior of Persia
• Leah of Nazareth
• Hassan of Gaza
• Mary and Joseph
• Naomi of Nazareth
• Mary and Joseph
• Eleazar the Scribe of Jerusalem
• Joseph
• Hassan of Gaza
• Leah of Nazareth
• Joseph
• Ruth of Nazareth
• Ben Sirach of Capernaum
• Mary
• Binyamin of Capernaum
• Simon of Capernaum
• Binyamin of Capernaum
• John the Baptizer
• Jabal the Nabatean
• Binyamin of Capernaum
• Simon of Capernaum
• Ruth of Nazareth
• Mary
• Andrew of Capernaum
• James of Capernaum
• Jannai the Lame
• Aaron of Tiberias: A Scribe
• Hannah of Capernaum
• Simon the Canaanite
• Sarah of Capernaum
• Mathathias the Leper
• Tamar of Judah
• Judas Iscariot
• Rufus of Gerasa
• Simeon of Anathoth
• Mary of Magdala
• Bartholomew of Cana
• Elishat of Tyre
• Thaddeus of Nain
• Simon of Capernaum
• Samuel of Capernaum
• Thomas of Sepphoris
• Izaac Ben Eliezar of Jerusalem
• Shalomie of Nazareth
• Hannah of Jericho
• Josiah of Bethphage
• Eleazar Scribe of Jerusalem
• Annas the Priest of Jerusalem
• Rahab of Jerusalem
• Shalomie of Nazareth
• Josiah of Bethphage
• Caiaphas of Jerusalem
• Simon of Capernaum
• Zilpah of Joppa
• Marcus Pontius Pilate of Caesarea
• Aristobulus, Roman Centurion of Ephesus
• Simon of Kerioth, Father of Judas
• Simon of Capernaum
• Andrew of Capernaum
• Mary, Mother of James
• James of Capernaum
• Philip of Bethsaida
• Bartholomew of Cana
• Mary of Magdala
• John of Capernaum
• Matthew of Tiberias
• Shalomie of Nazareth
• Thomas of Sepphoris
• James Ben Alpheus
• Thaddeus of Nain
• Simon the Canaanite
• Mary of Nazareth
• Barabbas
• Joel the Gardener
• Thomas of Sepphoris
• Anna—A Servant in Emmaus
• Mary of Nazareth
• Glossary