In Jesus’ day, the title “Rabbi” merely signified that a person had a reputation as a wise … The itinerating rabbi-preacher loved haggadah as well. The institution of ‘the rabbinate’ did not exist in the first century. Fourtly if Jesus had a wife, she would picture in the scene at the cross where Jesus told His mother to behold her son. In Jesus' day, fathers took seriously the command to train up a child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6) and to talk of them constantly to your children. 1. A commoner… This means he was allowed to be human, and although he was special from the get-go, I do believe that he had to discover who he was around the time that he became the Rabbi, or began his public Ministry. In fact, any Jew can responsibly conduct an entire religious service. From such they subsisted, not wanting to be a burden to their host. Attractive design ideal for your home, office, church …. We recall the words of the man in Luke 9:61 who said to Jesus, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go say goodbye to my family.” The call to discipleship often meant leaving mother, father, wife, children, relatives, friends and traveling the country under adverse and austere conditions. So even though there was no official process at the time to be bestowed with the title Rabbi, the Jewish leaders doubted Jesus' qualifications for such a title. This Baraita is inserted in some printed editions of the Talmud after the tractate Berachot. Jesus would then comment on the incident in the form of instruction to His disciples. The word “rabbi” (pronounced ra-bee), means literally, “my master.” It was used as a form of address when speaking to a learned teacher, or sage. No, he would have been a freak and probably killed in infancy 3) what’s all this Adam shit? According to Professor Shmuel Safrai, Hebrew University Professor of Jewish History of the period of the Mishnah and Talmud, not only did the number of 1st century Galilean rabbis known from rabbinic literature exceed the number of Judean rabbis, but even the moral and ethical quality of their teaching excelled that of their Judean counterparts (private communication). As well, Mary Magdalene was his wife and recognized by the other twelve disciples as Jesus’s favorite. One teaching technique common among Rabbis which appears in the gospels is the question and answer. They called him a rabbi (teacher) because he: a) taught, spoke in the synagogues. In Jesus’ day, a rabbi’s disciples learned not only from what a rabbi said in times of teaching but also from what he did in everyday life. These rabbis did not hesitate to travel to the smallest of the villages or the most remote parts of the land. He was a Rabbi preaching in a Temple, as such he needed to be married as were the ways of the era. Mark 5:18-19 shows how Jesus even rejected some who wanted to follow Him! In the Jewish society, In the Temple Society, one could not be called a Rabbi, unless he was a married Man. Jesus Exposed Other Rabbis as Hypocrites “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. How Long In Prison? In this Sid Roth's It's Supernatural! We are protestant Christians and I am attempting to project an image of Jesus as a rabbi. Phone Toll Free: 877-966-7300 or 816-584-3077, [This article continues after a message from the authors], These Articles are Written by the Publishers of, © Amazing Bible Timeline with World History 2021. In Jesus’ day, the rabbi almost always had an occupation from which he derived his livelihood. Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute, but came from a significant family. Here are a few: In the above passages, note the diversity of those who recognize and address Jesus as Rabbi: private individuals, lawyers, the rich young ruler, the Pharisees, the Sadducees – a broad cross section of the people of His day. It abounds in parables, moral and ethical maxims, exhortations, words of comfort and reproof, etc. Even the Babylonian Talmud describes Jesus as a teacher who had students (Sanhedrin 43a). There ARE a few problems with this idea. The first thing that one must realize is that Jesus was a Jew. One passage in the Talmud, too lengthy to quote here, tells how even infants were taught to memorize the Hebrew alphabet (Shabbath 104x). The talmidim (rabbis’ disciples) chose their own teacher. Jesus – The Rabbi Jesus isn’t just a teacher, He is a Jewish Rabbi. Jesus was not only a rabbi but a high ranking rabbi who was given “authority” to deliver interpretations of the Torah. He teaches in homes or in the open air. Lessons took place on all the days of the week including the sabbath when they would, however, read no new material, but repeat earlier lessons. Certain mystical secrets could not be taught publicly or even in a private setting unless the teacher did so one-on-one with his disciple. In some instances, classes would be conducted in someone’s home. To understand the full significance of Jesus being addressed “teacher,” one must know what a Jewish teacher of the first century was and how he functioned in society. He explained that Jesus did not impress into a Rabbi to become a disciple at the age of becoming a man. That is how He addressed those who would ultimately become His disciples before they approached Him about being a disciple. If the boy had not impressed upon any of the Rabbis then he would carry on to live a life as a tradesman of the trade of his father. View Dr. Blizzard's new YouTube: "Science and the Bible". If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Christ therefore to be called the Second adam, meant that he had to follow in the footsteps of the first adam and to have a wife. Those titles were not used lightly. It is reserved for rabbis to PASS ON our religion through their teachings. He had had a thorough education, and when he appears on the scene, He appeared as a rabbi, recognized as such by his peers. Join us in studying "Jesus, My Rabbi". The title "rabbi" was first used in the first century CE. This can be seen when Jesus … Even now, a Rabbi can have a non-Rabbinic job. Being a disciple is far more than that! But if a student did excel, this was the time he would apply to a well-known rabbi in hopes of becoming one of his disciples. And yet, before we can even begin to understand the magnificent and thrilling words of Jesus, that is exactly what we must do. This spirit left Jesus' body during the crucifixion, but was rejoined to him when he was raised from the dead. Several things in the Scriptures demonstrate this. This was a long yet fulfilling process. As surprising as it may seem, we have a record of more of the sayings and the deeds of Jesus than any other 1st century rabbi. Discipleship is the art of imitation!! The term rabbi in the time of Jesus did not necessarily refer to a specific office or occupation. It could mean a number of things most likely to do with the hope someone stands up and defends him before death. this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “ Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”. Even then, the sage passing on the secret mysteries whispered his teachings to his pupil lest others overhear. The title rabbi or rabboni came into use among the Pharisees, and it means “teacher” or “master.” Jesus was called a rabbi by many people, including a … We can see this reflected over and over again in the Gospels. Matthew 23:7-8. In Jesus’ day, the stress was still upon haggadah rather than halachah. My main question is, is it true that a Rabbi … It is interesting to speculate whether Gamaliel, his father Simeon and/or his grandfather Hillel were among the rabbis that reasoned in the Temple with the 12-year-old Jesus in c. 6-7 AD: Apparently, Jesus chose them without previous contact with them and without them having demonstrated any knowledge or wisdom or skill. He was, rather, an itinerant or peripatetic preacher functioning in much the same way as the prophet of the Old Testament. They occupied Jerusalem, the city of David. Yes again. It is important to emphasize that this was exactly what most of the other children of His day were doing. Our goal They would often conduct their classes in the village square or out under a tree (Safrai, ibid, 965). Significantly though, in spite of the fundamental importance of the Son of God, there is no mention whatsoever of grand-children of God. Halachah is from the Hebrew root halach, meaning “to walk,” or “to go.” In other words, halachah is that path or way in which one is to walk. A Brief History of Rabbinic Ordination (Semicha) By Yehuda Shurpin. Just Getting Started in Biblical Studies? And beyond that you'll find this true, this fact really awakening, do you know that according to research the first historical document, written document, that we have of anybody being called rabbi is in the New Testament. When the disciple was fully trained, he became the teacher himself. What is the meaning of AD, BC, BCE and CE? He explained that Jesus did not impress into a Rabbi to become a disciple at the age of becoming a man. So the question becomes what this term meant. This is a Jewish title for teacher given to Christ. He acquired His disciples in a far different manner than the other rabbis. It wasn't until Hillel's son or grandson that the label of Rabbi existed. and if a young man was not married by the time he became 20 years of ages, he was there upon forbidden to step foot within the Temple mount, until he could prove that he was a married man. In John 1:38, the author tells us that "Rabbi" means "Teacher." Well - no. However, there is one fact that is of the utmost importance for our understanding of the subject at hand, and that is: although scrolls, or books for reading and study, were used, and although the practice of writing was highly developed, writing materials were costly and scarce, and all manuscripts had to be written by hand by scribes trained in this profession. Professor Shmuel Safrai, in his article, “Education and the Study of the Torah,” 945-970 in Volume Two of The Jewish People of the First Century, relates: In the eyes of the rabbis, repetition was the key to learning. The basic form of the rabbi developed in the Pharisaic and Talmudic era, when learned teachers assembled to codify Judaism's written and oral laws. It is only when we understand this that we can understand the peculiar way in which the rabbis of Jesus’ day taught. During the first century AD, the word rabbi was used in a more informal sense than today. The days of the kings of Israel and Judah were long gone, with the last monarch of Judah blinded and carted off by Babylonian conquerors in 586 BC. I like to learn these such things, however I also like to search things out. A rabbi is first and foremost a TEACHER. These discoveries have far reaching implications for better understanding the method and style of the haggadic preacher of the 1st century. Jesus seems to be a type of rabbi believed to have s'mikhah or authority to make new interpretations. 1 decade ago. The implication of receiving Yeshua as a rabbi … How Jesus Became a Rabbi Jesus earned the title of Rabbi. Being discipled by Jesus was not a quick, fill-in-the-blank Bible study. Today, becoming a Rabbi requires attending four to five years of rabbinical training which encompasses academic programs, internships, and life experience, including spending one year in Israel before being officially ordained. In fact this whole Greek notion of biblical principles was alien to the world of the rabbis. They would often conduct their classes in the village square or out under a tree (Safrai, ibid, 965). There is a general consensus in Christian circles that Jesus was unlearned or unschooled. His knowledge was divine and God-given. (I Kings 12: 23), From this, we can safely conclude that not only was Christ a Jew but so were all the apostles. Its fundamental purpose is to reach out and touch the heart of man that he might “know the Creator of the world and adhere to His ways” (Sifre, Deuteronomy 49). But he was considered a leader by his followers, so they called him ‘my master'. The Oral Law is divided into two catagories: halachah and haggadah. The word ‘rabbi’ means ‘my master’. While Jesus was never part of the official temple leadership, He was still considered a rabbi because of His ministry of teaching. The rabbis of that day transmitted mystical teachings as a secret, esoteric tradition. In Judaism, even to this day the bet-midrash is given more prominence and is considered more sacred than the synagogue. Jesus is called The Rabbi many times in the New Testament. In other words, "Are you the Messiah?” John alludes to “The Coming One” of Malachi 3:1 and Zachariah 9:9. That would be true only after the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed (A.D. 70 ). How Jewish the Brit Chadashah, the New Testament is? But, why is it important to understand that Jesus was a rabbi? Jesus was probably married, but that is not as important as what he taught, and that is to love. And, not just any ordinary Jew. Jesus chose His own disciples (John 15:16; Luke 9:57-62). We wonder what kind of dynamic organism the Church might have been throughout the ages had she clung more closely to her Hebraic roots rather than embracing and becoming amalgamated with the pagan Hellenistic oriental philosophy that persists in the Church even to this day. That this is so difficult for large segments of the Christian community to see, only illustrates how dim is the recollection of their Jewish origins and to what extent they have assimilated into the pagan culture that surrounds us. In more recent centuries, the duties of a rabbi became … Apparently, Jesus chose them without previous contact with them and without them having demonstrated any knowledge or wisdom or skill. Required fields are marked *, Bible Charts and Maps, PO Box 171053, Austin, TX 78717 He quotes Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy to help explain the intent of the phrase “I am the way the truth and the life. … The “Gentile” Church must become more Jewish, and purge itself of the pagan influences of the last 19 centuries. Remember, Christ told his mother Mary, know ye not that I must be about My Father’s Business ? Matthew 4:19 And He said to them, “ Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “ Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. – I wish to point out something that has never been talked about .. Despite being called a rabbi, Jesus actually denounced the use of the title, stating “’Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters” (Matthew 23:8, NLT). It would therefore be misleading to think of Jesus as being a rabbi in the traditional Jewish sense of the word. Remez, or hinting, is a very rabbinic way of making a statement or declaration about something or someone by alluding to an Old Testament verse or passage of Scripture. What were they teaching? Is it possible that both Paul and Jesus could have remained single and still be considered respected enough to be rabbi, especially Jesus? The sermons for the common people were mainly haggadah. Main “He was taken from and from judgement: AND WHO SHALL DECLARE HIS GENERATION? In Rabbinic literature there are many passages which call on the people to show hospitality to the sages. Join or start a Club. I find it unfortunate that the majority of Christians that I know do not seem to care about this important aspect of Jesus’ life. To understand the full significance of Jesus being addressed “teacher,” one must know what a Jewish teacher of the first century was and how he functioned in society. This misunderstanding is due in part to a statement made in reference to His home, Nazareth: Can there be anything good from Nazareth? The oscillation between describing the role of Jesus as Rabbi and attributing to him a new and unique authority made additional titles necessary. If one wanted to learn from a rabbi, one had to “follow after him.”. In Jesus’ day, a rabbi’s disciples learned not only from what a rabbi said in times of teaching but also from what he did in everyday life. (John 1:46) and to certain statements made about Jesus’ disciples: From the above passages the idea has arisen that Jesus, like His disciples, was basically ignorant and uneducated because He was from Galilee. According to Professor Safrai, the itinerating rabbi was the norm, rather than the exception. He depends upon the hospitality of the people. The implication of receiving Yeshua as a rabbi … The only clue that we have that he was a married Man was the fact that he was called a Rabbi. Look at the times Jesus met with His father: early morning, during the day, evening, the 4th watch of the night (3-6am). How did the rabbis in the time of Jesus teach? I believe we spend so much time rebuking each other that we do not get the truth, because God infused his wisdom into all living things, therefore we have to string the truths together, to find the whole. Just as Elisha learned from Elijah, so a disciple’s task was to become as much like the rabbi as possible. In 10 AD Simeon’s son Gamaliel (c. 20 BC-c. 52 AD) took office and became the most respected rabbi in the Sanhedrin during all the years of Jesus’ life and the rise of the Early Church. This is summed up in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make talmidim of all the nations (gentiles), immersing them in the Name of the Father, Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” He tells us two important tasks to do when making … Christ came to live as a man among us, thus, It only stands to reason, that he would also be a married man, just as the First Adam was a married man with a wife. For some, this call to be Jesus’ disciple was too demanding, the price too high to pay, as exemplified by the rich young man, and as demonstrated in the parable of Jesus recorded in Luke 14:16-24. He was studying, committing vast quantities of material to memory – Scripture, Mishnah (the Oral Law), midrash (commentary on Scripture). The term “rabbi” is derived from the Hebrew word rav, which in biblical Hebrew means “great.” The word rav is not a title in biblical Hebrew. This fact should be obvious; however, it is surprising how many Christians are shocked to learn that Jesus was a Jew. Studying to become a rabbi does not mean one gets to be one in the practical sense. The tribe of Judah had remained loyal to Solomon’s son Rehoboam when the nation split after Solomon’s death. Yes. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Well - no. Often these classes were small. and if a young man was not married by the time he became 20 years of ages, he was there upon forbidden to step foot within the Temple mount, until he could prove that he was a married man. As I stated earlier, Jesus was and is the greatest teacher “rabbi” that ever lived and is absolutely our Master “Rabbi” , but was he a traditional rabbi. The common man loved haggadah. Why is Yeshua called “Rabbi?” Christians know Jesus as God, as Christ, as King of the Jews. As I stated earlier, Jesus was and is the greatest teacher “rabbi” that ever lived and is absolutely our Master “Rabbi” , but was he a traditional rabbi. It’s a stretch to say it’s about not having kids 2) with his penis. Jesus was called rabbi … It includes the 613 written commandments of the Torah and all of the legal rulings and decisions of the rabbis found in the Oral Law. Although Jesus fulfilled some of these roles, He does not fit the mold of a traditional Jewish rabbi, nor would He endorse some of the manmade traditions of Judaism that, in His words, make the Word of God void (see Mark 7:8-9). Rabbis are experts in the Bible, specifically the Torah. In some … Therefore, learning usually meant memorization by constant repetition. Pointedly, Isaiah 53:8, ‘… and who shall declare his generation?’ This statement can mean many things, but in context to his being the Son of God, it would very likely have been intended to mean “… and who shall declare me the Son of God?” Every follower of Christ shall declare him to be the Son of God! The haggadah is not written as a legal textbook, nor a digest of legal precedents. An outside-the-box, modern rabbi from Portland, Oregon explains the Jewish messages of Jesus. Some Gnostics, however, were docetics, believed that Jesus did not have a physical body, but only appeared to possess one. They are still God’s chosen people, and He will redeem them. He could teach the Temple Court, unless he was known to be a Married Rabbi .. Thus, the even greater importance of the Gospels as a witness to rabbinic, haggadic style in the 1st century. Another important point is seen in this story when it is related that Mary was…sitting at the feet of Jesus: This rabbinic expression is a technical term for becoming a disciple. If He had a wife, how come not a single child? Mark 5:18-19 shows how Jesus even rejected some who wanted to follow Him! Meaning, he was to become a Rabbi. Just as Joseph was a carpenter, so Jesus became one. The moment the “hint” was given, the whole passage hinted at immediately burst into the mind of each listener. « Mishnah and the Words of Jesus, by Dr. Roy B. Blizzard, insight into the teachings of Jesus | That would be true only after the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed (A.D. 70 ). Just as Elisha learned from Elijah, so a disciple’s task was to become as much like the rabbi as possible. John the Baptist, Yohanan, the Immerser and Yeshua the Messiah. 2 The talmidim chose a rabbi based on his knowledge of the Torah (the Old Testament Scriptures) because the law was the center of Judaism. It is moral and ethical instruction about personal faith and the ways of God. My main question is, is it true that a Rabbi … Was Christ a rabbi? One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi, following a course of study of Jewish texts such as the Talmud. One who repeats his lesson a hundred times is not like him who repeats it a hundred and one times (Chaggigah 9b). (I Kings 12:20)  Other verses suggest that Benjamin also remained. In fact, we have not only the Bible (both the New and Old Testament) but Christianity itself thanks to the Jewish people who wrote and preserved these records and were the original members of Christ’s church. What were their methods of teaching? A rabbi is a religious leader of Jewish people. Each is declaring that he understands these Scriptures to be messianic Scriptures, references to the promised Messiah. Remember the story of Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. These rabbis did not hesitate to travel to the smallest of the villages or the most remote parts of the land. Rabbinic ordination is known as semichah . It is the picture of a 1st century rabbi. Some returned under an edict of King Cyrus of Persia in 538 BC that allowed them to rebuild Jerusalem, but Israel would remain under the rule of Persia, then Greece, then the Seleucids, with a brief period of relative freedom under the Maccabees … It is correct to state that the focus of all the rabbis teaching was the Law. This is because each Jewish community makes its own decision about who to hire. Why Did Christ Ride a Donkey on His Triumphant Entry? But this fact has never been brought forth. The rabbis of that day transmitted mystical teachings as a secret, esoteric tradition. Answer: A Jewish rabbi, in the most basic of terms, is a teacher. so the word married doesn’t always mean what you think in todays standers. One teaching technique common among Rabbis which appears in the gospels is the question and answer. The talmidim (rabbis’ disciples) chose their own teacher. I too, believe that Jesus was married, as that was the stipulated requirement to being a rabbi, as was the directive to produce children. It was not yet a formal title. It should be carefully noted that Jesus was often called "Rabbi" which "is to say, being interpreted, Master" (John 1:38).