Course

The Jewish Roots of Christianity

Presentation

  • This course is based on two pillars:
  • A comprehensive analysis of the New Testament as Jewish literature
  • An in-depth analysis of figures such as John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles as members of different groups in Jewish society during the Second Temple period.
  • Scientific aspects will be emphasized in an effort to understand the complexity and diversity of Jewish society in the Second Temple period. We will reconstruct ancient realities through scientific disciplines such as archaeology, geography, biblical criticism, epigraphy, and history, understanding the motivations of the various groups and individuals that lived in this Land. The methodology applied is based on three pillars:
  • Prior reading of study material
  • Classes at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Study tours in the field with recognized archaeologists

Objectives:

  • To introduce a few of the basic topics related to the religion of ancient Israel: Bible, Temple, Prophecy and Messianism.
  • To understand the historical, social, and religious framework in which Christianity originated.
  • To distinguish between the historical Jesus and the Jesus of faith.

For more information about our programs contact your Travel Agency or leave your details below and we´ll return shortly:

AGENDA​

Arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport and transportation to the hotel in Jerusalem

  • Welcome and opening

* Overnight in Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Topic: The Jewish roots of Christianity

Israel Museum

  • The Shrine of the Book:
    • Sects in the Second Temple period
    • The Dead Sea Scrolls and the origins of Christianity

 

  • Second Temple period Jerusalem model:
    • Jerusalem in the time of Jesus
    • Jerusalem in the time of the Great Revolt

 

  • Biblical Archaeology Wing:
    • Focus on the main archaeological artifacts related to the Second Temple period and the New Testament

 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

  • Guided tour at the Mount Scopus campus.

 

  • Lecture: “The Jewish Roots of Christianity: What was the  Judaism of the first Christians?”
    • Shabbat
    • The Synagogue
    • Ritual baths and purification
    • Kosher customs
    • The Temple

 

  • Lecture: John the Baptist and eschatological prophecy
    • The historical traditions about John the Baptist
    • The religion of John the Baptist in light of Jewish eschatology
    • John the Baptist and the Essene tradition
    • John the Baptist according to history and archaeology

* Overnight in Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Topic: Jesus and the Temple

The Temple Mount:

  • Herod’s Temple

 

Mount of Olives:

  • Mount of Olives in Judaism and early Christianity – eschatological prophecies and traditions
  • Jesus and the Mount of Olives

 

Dominus Flevit:

  • The prophecy of Jesus, an historical fact?

 

The Pool of Siloam: What was Jesus doing there?

  • Purification in Second Temple Judaism
  • Mikvaot (ritual baths) around the Temple

 

The Davidson Center and The Archaeological Park of Jerusalem:

  • The Temple of Jerusalem in the vision of Jesus
  • The cleansing of the Temple

* Overnight in Jerusalem

Judean mountains and Judean Desert

Topic: John the Baptist and Jesus

  • The Church of St. John the Baptist at Ein Karem
    • The birthplace of John the Baptist?

 

  • Kibbutz Tzuba: “The cave of John the Baptist”.
    • John the Baptist in light of archaeology
    • The image of John the Baptist in the Byzantine period

 

  • Qasser Al Yahud – The Baptismal of Jesus in the Jordan River
    • The traditions related to the site
    • The Jordan River as a purifying location
    • The meaning of baptism in the vision of John the Baptist
    • The baptism of Jesus

 

  • Qumran
    • The Essenes and the Yahad Community
    • John the Baptist and the Qumran community: possible influences

* Overnight in Dead Sea

Judean Desert and Beit Shean

Topic: The social structure in the Land of Israel in the Second Temple period

Jericho:

  • The story of Zacchaeus: A sociological analysis
  • The biblical curse of Jericho and the presence of Jesus in the city: a contradiction?

 

Beit Shean:

  • What were the Decapolis?
  • Why does Jesus mention the Decapolis?

* Overnight in Tiberias

Galilee

Topic: In the footsteps of Jesus, Part 1

Sailing on the Sea of Galilee

  • The Sea of Galilee in Judaism and Christianity

 

Museum of the ancient boat from the 1st century:

  • The history of the discovery
  • Is this boat related to Jesus?

 

Mount of Beatitudes

  • The Sermon of the Mountain and it’s Jewish sources
  • Jesus as the “Second Moses”

 

Caesarea Philippi (Banias)

  • Jesus is recognized as the Messiah
  • Did Jesus establish a church?
  • What did Jesus look for in a pagan city?

 

Kursi

  • The story of the Gerasene demoniac
  • The theological symbolism of the story
  • Jesus in a strange land

* Overnight in Tiberias

Galilee

Topic: In the footsteps of Jesus, Part 2

Bethsaida

  • “Town of Fishermen”, what does it mean?
  • The controversy around the geographical identification of Bethsaida
  • Jesus in Bethsaida
  • The curse of Bethsaida

 

Capernaum – “The Town of Jesus”

  • Why did Jesus choose Capernaum?
  • Jesus in the Synagogue of Capernaum
  • The archaeological evidence
  • The curse of Capernaum

 

Magdala

  • Jesus and Mary Magdalene
  • The Synagogues of Magdala
  • Did Jesus visit Magdala?

 

Chorazin

  • The curse of Jesus, why Chorazin?
  • The meaning of the expression: “the Chair of Moses” (Matthew 23:2)

* Overnight in Tiberias

Galilee

Topic: Jesus of Nazareth

Cana in the Galilee:

  • The miracle of wine: the importance of wine in a Jewish wedding
  • “Could any good thing come out of Nazareth?”, what does this expression mean?

 

Sepphoris:

  • Sepphoris in Second Temple Period
  • Traditions related to Mary, the mother of Jesus
  • Could Jesus have visited Sepphoris during his childhood?

 

Nazareth:

  • Nazareth Village
    • Daily life in Nazareth and the Galilee in the time of Jesus
  • Basilica of the Annunciation
    • Where was Jesus born?
    • The archaeological evidence
    • The controversy between Bethlehem and Nazareth

* Overnight in Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Topic: The last moments of Jesus

Gethsemane:

  • The meaning of the name
  • The concept of “Techum Shabbat” (the boundary of Shabbat)

 

Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu:

  • The house of Caiaphas?
  • The Jewish Sanhedrin – its role and function in the Second Temple period
  • The historicity of the story of Jesus in the house of Caiaphas
  • The archaeological evidence

 

Cenacle:

  • The “Seder of Pesach”
  • “Qorban Pesach” in the Second Temple period
  • The location of the Upper Room: from an archaeological and theological approach

 

Tower of David Museum:

  • Herod’s palace and the site of Jesus’ trial
  • The alternative Via Dolorosa

 

Pools of Bethesda:

  • The archaeological evidence
  • The function of the pools – tradition of healing
  • Jesus and the Shabbat

 

The Holy Sepulcher:

  • Burial customs in Second Temple period Judaism
  • A historical analysis of the burial place of Jesus

 

The Garden Tomb:

  • Burial practices in Second Temple period Judaism
  • A historical analysis of the burial place of Jesus

* Overnight in Jerusalem

Transport to Ben Gurion airport

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