2006-09-19 14:52:51 · 9 answers · asked by lex 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
Jesus was a first century Jew, and some of the statements he made require at least some knowledge of the culture of that time to correctly interpret them. For instance, when Jesus said that "It is easier for a rich man to get into heaven then for an camel to get through the eye of needle", most people today would think of trying to squeeze a camel through the little hole in a sewing needle.
But in New Testament times, each city would have huge gates that they opened during the day, and small one-person gates they open at night. Those little gates where called "the eye of a needle". It was possbile to get a camel through one, but it had to be unloaded and then made to crawl through on its knees because of its small size.
Same with a rich man, he can only get to get to heaven if he unloads all his stuff and comes on his knees.
When you know a little about the history and culture of the time, the saying has a much richer meaning.
2006-09-19 15:06:14 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A simple example: the fracas with the moneychangers.
Under Rome, the Jews were required to use Roman coins with the graven image of the emperor ("Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's"). The money changers would take Roman coins and provide blank coins for offerings, at a profit.
Who were the Pharisees and the scribes? It was obvious to those who wrote the Bible.
Without a knowledge of the history and the customs of the time, some passages of the Bible lose their full meaning.
2006-09-19 22:09:45 · answer #2 · answered by novangelis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Too many Christian theologists look at Jesus as the Starting point and then go off on a tangent to prove their own bias opinions. That can easily take things out of context and help create hundreds of denominations straying from what Jesus came for.
To better understand Jesus, born in the line of King David, Ruth, Judah, Noah, Seth ... you have to look at what God was trying to do originally in Eden.
That helps unlock secrets of why different prophets came at different times and places. After all, whenever God sends someone, we are meant to "believe in him who He has sent".
Jesus was a Rabbi, as another person answered. That also made him a distant cousin to Muhammad. Jews and Muslims are sons of Abraham (Isaac and Ishmael) ... and Christians are adopted sons. By looking at history, we can get the family of faith honouring our Heavenly Father a bit better.
2006-09-19 22:22:17 · answer #3 · answered by upf_geelong 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For one, to understand why Jesus said some of the things he did. He could tell a parable and you might not understand the significance if you dont know the culture or lifestyle of his time. Plus I love learning about Jesus and about the time He lived in.
2006-09-19 22:04:56 · answer #4 · answered by A* 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suspect there is no importance at all. The jews hijack everything and claim it as their own, and jewish (revisionist) history is no different. Zionist/jewish propaganda is exactly that, and should be treated as such.
2006-09-19 21:56:53 · answer #5 · answered by Kokopelli 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its history and its good to be educated about all aspects of it even if u dont believe with everything you learn.
2006-09-19 21:54:48 · answer #6 · answered by aly86 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So you can understand why the Jews hated Him so much.
2006-09-19 22:17:41 · answer #7 · answered by swiss 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well he was a rabbi...people often overlook that fact..
2006-09-19 22:01:01 · answer #8 · answered by KT 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to shape yourself...with education to face you day...
2006-09-19 21:55:58 · answer #9 · answered by fishcake 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋