My first visit to Colossae was with two friends and teaching colleagues at Florida College. I was concluding a Bible Land tour in Rome. Melvin Curry and Phil Roberts agreed to meet me in Athens, Greece. I arrived in Athens after they had already turned in for the night, but early the next morning we took a short flight to the island of Samos, and from there we boarded a ferry to Turkey. We visited the area of the Seven churches addressed in the book of Revelation as well as other sites in the general area.
Colossae is not one of the Seven churches mentioned in the Apocalypse but it is a short distance from Laodicea. Our photo was made with a view of the tell or huyuk of ancient Colossae. We went near the site on a dirt road. The road to get to the mound is now paved.
I am in the blue shirt. Melvin Curry is standing behind me, and Phil Roberts snapped the photo.
Because of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church many scholars hoped for an excavation. We all wanted to know more about the city that was home of the church we read about in Colossians. Timothy joins Paul in the address to the saints at Colossae.
The modern city known as Honaz stands in the shadow of Mount Cadmus. In this photo the town is hidden by the mound of Colossae.
Anarchaeological excavation of the site is now in progress under the direction of Dr. Barış Yener of nearby Pamukkale University. Good news.
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If we consider the Gospel of John a sort of “Day Planner” for Jesus, we have nearly complete activity recorded for two weeks of the earthly ministry of Jesus. The first is in John 1:19—2:11 where activity for six of the seven days is recorded. I think the omitted day is the sabbath.
The next nearly complete week is the last week, leading up to the resurrection. John gives more attention to the last week than any other Gospel. Even here we have activities for only six of eight days. This section begins in John 12:1 and continues into John 20. Here is the way I have reconstructed it. Where John does not record the activity I have omitted the scripture reference.
Sunday — The King enters Jerusalem — 12:12-19
Monday — Cleansing the Temple —
Tuesday — Visit of the Greeks — 12:20-36
Tuesday — Jewish rejection — 12:37-50
Wednesday — No events recorded in the Gospels
Thursday Evening — Passover Meal, including Washing Disciples Feet (only in John) — 13:1-38
Thur. Eve — Farewell discourses — 14—16
Thur. Eve — Prayer — 17
Thur. Eve — Annas (only in John) — 18:12-14
Thur. Eve — Caiaphas — 18:24-28
Friday — Pilate — 18:28—19:16
Friday — Crucifixion — 19:16-42
Sabbath —
First Day — Resurrection — 20
It should be noted that the appearance before Annas and Caiaphas were the Jewish (Religious) trials. The appearance before Pilate [and Herod Antipas] were the Roman (Civil) trials.
John does not record the pronouncement of woes on the religious leaders, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, and the account of the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
With this sparse attention given to two weeks, no wonder John says,
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (John 21:25 ESV)
There is a medieval wood carving of the last week of Jesus in Notre Dame (Paris). In this photo you see the representation of the last supper, the washing of the disciples’ feet, and the agony in Gethsemane. (Sorry, this was made more than a decade ago and I don’t have a hi-res photo.) I do not know if this was destroyed in the fire.
Wood carving of Last Week of Jesus in Notre Dame. I do not know if this was destroyed in the fire. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
A reader of the previous post (Click to read: https://wp.me/p1zOp-5FC ) wonders how we know Jerusalem was not destroyed later than A.D. 70.
It is a good question. The New Testament, including the records of the life and ministry of Christ, is rooted in history. Notice how Luke, a gentile physician, emphasizes the historicity of the work of John the Baptist and the beginning of the baptism and ministry of Jesus.
Luke 3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Lk. 3:1-3 ESV)
We don’t know what Josephus looked like, but older English versions of his works sometimes included a line drawing. David Padfield, at Padfield.com, had one of those old drawings enhanced by AI and shared the drawing with me. I suggest you visit Padfield.com for more good material.
Josephus, the Jewish historian, who was contemporaneous with these events, and an eye witness of many of them, tells us much about the movement of the Romans as they came near the city of Jerusalem. Vespasian had been leading the plans to attack Jerusalem. When he learned of the death of Emperor Nero (A.D. 68) he returned to Rome to become emperor. His son Titus became the leader of the effort. Josephus, a native of Yodfat, now in north western Israel, was an eye witness to many of the events of the Roman invasion of the country. Not only did he write the History of the Jews, but also the Wars of the Jews. He provides specific information about the movement of the Romans as they approached the city of Jerusalem. As the army began to be seen in plain view, Josephus records the events.
JOE Wars of the Jews 2:528: He then pitched his camp upon the elevation called Scopus [or watch tower], which was about a mile from the city; yet did not he assault them in three days’ time, out of expectation that those within might perhaps yield a little; and in the meantime he sent out a great many of his soldiers into neighboring villages, to seize their grain; and on the fourth day, which was the thirtieth of the month Hyperbereteus, [Tisri], when he had put his army in array, he brought it into the city. (Wars 2:528) This might be a reference to the temple which was in the city.
Accordingly, this place, on the north quarter of the city, and joining thereto, was a plain, and very properly named Scopus [the prospect]; 68 and was no more than a mile from the city And here it was that Titus ordered a camp to be fortified for two legions that were to be together; but ordered another camp to be fortified, six hundred yards behind them, for the fifth legion; for he thought that, by marching in the night, they might be tired, and might deserve to be covered from the enemy, and with less fear might fortify themselves; (Wars 5:67-68)
The photo below shows a view of the Old City of Jerusalem made from the slope of Mount Scopus. Notice the Dome of the Rock, the gold domed building with the sun shining on it. It is located approximately where Herod’s temple was stood from its completion until the destruction in A.D. 70. If you click on the image it should enlarge to allow you to see everything better.
(c)FerrelllJenkins2013______________
The images below show an example of the coins minted by Vespasian and Titus to commemorate the capture of Judea. The obverse [heads] shows a laureate head of image of Caesar Vespasian. The reverse[tails ] had the wording Judea Capta and shows a mourning Jewess under a palm tree. David Hendin, Guide to Biblical Coins, Fifth Edition, shows a variety of this coin minted by different emperors at various places.
Merrill C. Tenney, New Testament Times, includes a chart of the various Roman and Herodian rulers in connection with the events in Judea. Good Bible dictionaries and Encyclopedias will also provide this type of information.
During A.D. 68 and 69 three men, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, ruled. Vespasian was Emperor of Rome A.D. 69-79. Titus was emperor 79-81. The Arch of Titus on one end of the Roman forum commemorates this event. Carvings on the inside of the arch show the Roman soldiers taking away the ark of the covenant and the table of showbread from the Jerusalem temple.
The Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum commemorates the Roman victory of the Jews in A.D. 70. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.Arch of Titus relief showing Roman soldiers carrying the items taken from the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
Jews now celebrate a holiday called Tisha B’Av [The 9th of the Jewish month of Av] (roughly our August). Tjhis day commemorates the destruction of the first temple which was built by Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., and the destruction of the temple built by Herod the Great was destroyed by the Romans on Tisha B’av in A.D. 70.
Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70, or as the Jews would say 70 C.E..
After checking my financial account beginning about a week ago, I decided that the new slogan out of Washington must be “Make America Poor again”! I understand that neither of the guys who are doing this have ever been poor, but my situation was different.
I was born in cotton country in north Alabama. Families got by on what they could grow in their gardens and an occasional chicken or squirrel. My grandmother and my mother knew how to make biscuits and cornbread.
I remember my father taking the last Silver Dollar he had saved and buying some food from the Peddler who came down 16th Section Road about once a week.
My Grandfather was a sharecropper. He lived in the big house on the property. The two smaller houses were occupied by the families of two married daughters.. One daughter, my mother, lived in one of the houses with her family. One of her sisters lived in the other house with her family. I think you could say that we sharecropped with a sharecropper!
We lived about two miles from the two country stores and cotton gins that served the community. We had one Aladin lamp and a couple of coal oil lamps. My grandparents had a four-party telephone. There were no secrets on our road.
The closest doctor was 16 miles away in Huntsville, a little town of about 16,00 population at that time.
Eventually the Federal government decided to take advantage of the Tennessee River to help the people. Dams were built on the river to generate power. By the time I was 9 or 10 we had at least one electric bulb hanging in each of the four rooms. The Federal Government helped the citizens ln those days. To get water we had to walk quiet a distance to draw a gallon of water from the deep well and bring it back to the house. There was no running water. Baths were once a week using a pan and wash cloth. Everyone understood what it meant to “go out back.” Corn cobs and last year’s Sears Roebuck catalog came in handy.
Eventually we had one cow to provide milk, and a few chickens for eggs and occasional meat.
I had one aunt who went to Nashville to attend a business school. I was the first of my family to go to college. The little school that I attended at Harvest had eight grades in four rooms.
Even though alcoholism is a serious problem in our time I think most folks are more interested in the price of eggs and bread than in French wine.
Social Security. By the time I was 17 I was investing a small amount with the government in a program called Social Security. When my father died and I cleaned out the chifrobe I found a small piece of paper showing that my father had paid .13 cents of his weekly salary of about $12 into Old Age Benefits. He did better financially as the years passed, but he died of a heart attack after drawing only two checks from Social Security.
I have also invested in insurance from time to time. I trusted the government to take care of my Social Security money and see that it grew enough to help me when I was older and had only income from my savings. In 2021 the government owed me money due to overpayment. I have gone through all kind of hoops with the IRS to get my refund. I am still waiting. When I saw he headline that the department should be cut I wondered if I will ever receive what I am owed.
I have been blessed abundantly to live in this country and I dislike seeing it torn down. I have sought to serve God and to teach others to do so.
I appreciate men and women who seek to serve their country though public service but I don’t think very highly of political men or women who love their party more than their constituents.
“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.” (Prov. 28:6 ESV)
The man who says or acts as if he needs no one is truly a poor man!
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. 14:34 ESV)
With former students and other acquaintances attending the Florida College Homecoming and Bible lectureship this week, I thought it would be wise to make a list of my available books that you will be able to purchase from the Florida College Bookstore. while you are on campus.
Ask one of the workers where the books are located when you visit the store.
Better Things (Workbook on Hebrews)
Studies in the Book of Revelation
Between the Testaments (Linking Old and New)
The Early Church
The Finger of God (A Study of the Holy Spirit)
The Middle East Conflict and the Bible
Biblical Authority
God’s Eternal Purpose (Workbook on Ephesians)
The Old Testament in the Book of Revelation (new edition in preparation. Follow FerrellJenkins.blog for the announcement and for photographs you may use in your preaching and teaching.
Every time I think of working on tax preparation I think about this episode from the ministry of Jesus:
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” (Matthew 17:24-27 ESV).
Fishing is still important on the Sea of Galilee. Tour groups to Israel usually have at at least one meal of the famous St. Peter’s Fish when we are in the Galilee.
Mendel Nun spent more than 50 years fishing the Sea of Galilee. He became an expert in the history of fishing on the Sea. His article, “Cast Your Net Upon the Waters: Fish and fishermen in Jesus’ Time” (Biblical Archaeology Review, 19:06), includes information on this episode. Because this is a lengthy quotation I will leave it full width for easier reading.
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The musht is the only large fish in the lake that moves in shoals, which of course is a key to the identification of the fish in the story in Luke, although not the only one.
The flat shape of the musht makes it especially suitable for frying. The skeleton consists of an easily detachable backbone and relatively few small bones, and thus it is easy to eat. It has long been known as St. Peter’s fish. Recently, it has even been exported under this name. But, alas, the name is a misnomer.
Presumably the fish got its name because of an incident recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 17:24–27). In this episode, the tax collectors come to Capernaum to collect the half-shekel Temple tax that each Jew was required to pay annually. Jesus tells Peter, “Go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and yourself.”
The musht was probably given the name St. Peter’s fish because of this miracle. However, this cannot have been the fish Peter caught with a hook and line. The reason is simple: Musht feeds on plankton and is not attracted by other food. It is therefore caught with nets, and not with hook and line. The fishermen on the lake have, since time immemorial, used a hook baited with sardine to fish for barbels, which are predators and bottom feeders. Peter almost surely caught a barbel. There can be only one explanation for the confusing change of name. It was good for tourism! The Sea of Galilee has always attracted pilgrims; musht (today raised mostly in ponds) is part of the unique local cuisine. It is delicious, especially when freshly fried. In ancient times, just as today, the fishing boats delivered their catch to the eating places on shore. Indeed, the proverbial metaphor for speed in the Talmud is “as from the sea into the frying pan.” This expression was part of daily speech in Tiberias and clearly refers to musht and not barbels; the latter are best when boiled.
The first Christians were local people and were therefore familiar with the various fish. They of course knew that the fish Peter caught could only have been a barbel and not a musht. However, as pilgrims began to come from distant regions, it no doubt seemed good for business to give the name “St. Peter’s fish” to the musht being served by the early lakeside eating houses. The most popular and easily prepared fish acquired the most marketable name! But even if Peter did not catch a musht, he deserves to have his name associated with the best fish in the lake.
Returning to the miracle of the fish caught in Luke (5:1–7), additional clues that the fish were musht are the kind of net referred to and the place and the time of the event. Several kinds of nets were used in the Sea of Galilee. The most important were the seine, the cast net and the trammel net.
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For some time the most searched for article on this blog has been Fish of the Sea of Galilee. If you have not read the article and enjoy the photos I urge you to do so now.
Here is one of the photos from that post.
A fisherman unloading his catch early in the morning at a dock at Tiberias, Israel.
Use this shortlink to go to the article with more information about the fish of the Sea of Galilee: https://wp.me/p1zOp-42k
If you use our SEARCH box and insert the word fish you will locate many articles about fish and fishing on the Sea. If you search for Mendel Nun you will find several more helpful articles about fishing and the harbors of the Sea of Galilee.
Corinth is located about two miles south of the narrow isthmus which forms the land bridge, and controlled access, between the main land mass of Greece and the Peloponnesus. Corinth seemed to have flourished from the 8th to the 5th centuries B.C., and there are signs of habitation much earlier. In 146 B.C. the Greek history of Corinth was terminated when the Roman consul Mummius destroyed it. All that remains today of the old Greek city are the seven columns of the Temple of Apollo. Julius Caesar rebuilt Corinth in about 46 /4 4 B.C. as a Roman colony and settled many Roman soldiers there. Corinth became the capital of the Roman province of Achaia and had direct communications with Rome. There were enough Jews in the city to account for a synagogue (Acts 18). Perhaps the two most noticeable sites at Corinth today are the ruins of the temple of Apollo and the Acrocorinth (the mountain or high point of Corinth). The temple of Apollo was built in the 6th century B.C., but only seven of the original 38 Doric monolith columns are standing. There were numerous other pagan temples in the city including one dedicated to Asklepios, the god of healing.
The ruins of the Temple of Apollo at Corinth with the Acro Corinth in the background.
The judgment-seat (Greek, bema) was a speaker’s platform on which the judge sat or stood for the trial of one against whom an accusation had been made. In the excavations a t Corinth which have been conducted since 1896 the bema has been exposed in the agora. It is likely that Paul stood before Gallio at this place (Acts 1 8:12). The bema is dated to A.D. 44, but could be as early as the time of Augustus. The gospel was successful in this pagan city. Paul preached “Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2; 15:1-4). Paul was fearful but the Lord told him, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this ci ty” (Acts 18:9-10 ). Paul remained in Corinth for a year and six months.
A portion of the Erastus inscription at Corinth.
Inscribed in a limestone pavement near the theater at Corinth is a phrase which reads in Latin: ERASTVS PRO AEDILITATE S P STRAVIT. The translation goes something like this: Erastus , in return for the aedileship, laid the pavement at his own expense. It is possible, but not certain, that this Erastus was the friend of Paul (Rom. 16:2-3; 2 Tim 4:20). If so, then Erastus may have been one of the few (contrast, not many) of the socially elite at Corinth who accepted the gospel (1 Cor 1:26).
In the gospels one may find several references or allusions to events of the wilderness wandering. This indicates the significance of the event and suggests that it should be studied carefully by Christians as well as Jews.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt [tented, tabernacled] among us…” (Jn. 1:14). The Lord made His presence known to the Israelites in the “tent of meeting” (the tabernacle; Ex. 29:45-46).
The Law was given through Moses [in the wilderness] (Jn. 1:17).
The serpent in the wilderness (Jn. 3:14ff.; cf. 8:28; 12:32).
The manna (Jn. 6:31ff.; notice the “grumbling” over the bread, vs. 41).
The water (Jn. 7:37-38).
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil. (Mt. 4:1-11).
Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights (cf. Israel’s 40 years).
Jesus was tempted but did not succumb.
In response to the temptations of the devil Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy (Mt. 4:4;
Dt. 8:3; Mt. 4:7; Dt. 6:16; Mt. 4:10; Dt. 6:13).
Stephen made several references to the events of the wilderness in his sermon (Acts
7:30-44).
Paul calls attention to the exodus and events of the wilderness wandering (Acts 13:18; Gal. 4:21-31). Notice his use of the phrase, “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Cor. 5:13; cf. Dt. 13:5, the false prophet; 17:7, the one who served other gods; 17:12, one who acts presumptuously; 21:21, the rebellious son; 22:21, a girl not found a virgin).
Israel was baptized, ate spiritual food and drank spiritual drink, but practiced idolatry and immorality and fell (1 Cor. 10:1-13). Compare the situation at Corinth: Christians who had been baptized, ate and drank the Lord’s supper, were tempted by the idolatry (meat sacrificed to idols) and immorality of their city.
The Writer of Hebrews speaks of events of the wilderness wandering.
The events at Mount Sinai (Heb. 12:18-29). The word spoken through angels (2:2; cf. Gal. 3:19).
The unfaithfulness of Israel in the wilderness (Heb. 3–4).
In the book of Revelation.
“See…that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain” (Heb. 8:5; Ex. 25:40, the building of the tabernacle).
The woman who gave birth to the man child fled into the wilderness where she was nourished (Rev. 12:6). This symbol makes the wilderness a place of protection and nourishing. The figure seems to be based on the experience of the nation of Israel and of Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-18) as they were cared for by the Lord.
Some of the trumpets of chapters 8-10 are drawn from the plagues of Egypt. The one like a son of man came on a white cloud (cf. Isa. 19:1, judgment of Egypt) and judged the enemy (Rev. 14:14-20). The saints sing the song of Moses and the Lamb beside the sea (Rev. 15; cf. Ex. 14:31; 15:1-19).
According to the biblical records, Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem (John 19:20), probably not far from a gate (Hebrews 13:12), near a road (Mark 15:29; Matthew 27:39), and near a garden with a new tomb in it (John 19:41).
This photo of the Second Temple model, now located at the Israel Museum, shows the location of Calvary in the center of the image.
Second Temple model showing location of Calvary. Photo by F. Jenkins.
Nothing about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre reminds one of the actual setting where Christ was crucified and buried. One must remember, however, that Jerusalem has been continuously inhabited for many centuries. Strong evidence suggests that the site now occupied by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was outside the wall of Jerusalem at the time of Christ.
Charlesworth points out that “there are no competing places for Calvary or Golgotha prior to the last century.” He has reference to Gordon’s Calvary and Garden Tomb which is located about a block north of Damascus Gate.
Some columns in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre date from the fourth century church built by Constantine. Through the centuries many additions and changes have been made. It reminds one of a building that needs to be remodeled.
Five religious groups compete for time and space in the Church today. From time to time we hear of a brawl breaking out among the competing groups for certain rights. This link leads to a video of the latest scuffle.
Elizabeth and I were in the Church one afternoon in September at the time of one of the services.
Entrance to the tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Photo by FJ.
Numerous disputes have arisen through the centuries, and some have not yet been resolved. In photos of the entrance you will see a ladder on the ledge above the blocked door. It has been there since the middle of the 19th century because the sects cannot agree who should remove it.
Entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
These things are shameful. I have often remarked that many non-Christians of Palestine known nothing of New Testament Christianity except what they have learned from Church History (read: the Crusades) and the Shrines. If one wishes to learn about Christ and the Early Church let him/her read the New Testament.
We know what the Lord desires of those who believe in Him:
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:20-21 NAS)
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