Body: | First Century Synagogue Top Plans: Capernaum 30 AD
Archeological Excavations of Oldest Synagogues in the world
Capernaum 30 AD
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Introduction:
1. Capernaum is one of the most important first century
cities and Jesus preached in the synagogue His great messianic sermon:
Jesus is Manna that came out of heaven: John 6:24-71
a. Peter's mother in law lived there.
b. Matthew the tax collector lived there and was called to be an
Apostle of Jesus.
c. Jesus lived in a ceramic tile roofed house in Capernaum.
d. Detailed outline: JESUS' HOUSE IN CAPERNAUM
e. Master builder Stonemason Jesus: "Upon this Rock I will
build My church"
2. The first century black basalt stone foundation of the
Synagogue Jesus preached in.
a. The original foundation is out of square and it's out of
level.
b. To suggest that the later renovators in the 3-4th century
would use such a very shoddy foundation on which to build such a beautiful
synagogue is unreasonable.
c. They reused the original unlevel, unsquare foundation from
the original synagogue because of its historic importance.
d. The basalt foundation, therefore was saved as a memorial to
the ancient first century synagogue.
e. "Two structures from Capernaum are of particular interest to
students of biblical archaeology. The first one is the synagogue referred
to in Luke 7.1-10. The remains of the synagogue now standing are from the
fourth century, but the clearly visible basalt foundation certainly
pertains to the synagogue of Jesus' day. It was at this site that he
first publicly revealed himself as the Messiah (see Luke 4). The second
structure of importance is the likely site of Peter's house where at
least two miracles occurred. Archaeology has confirmed that the house
functioned as an early house church. In later centuries different church
building structures were built over it. The last one known as the octagonal
church is now visible to visitors. The site is now protected from the
elements by a modern superstructure." (The Trowel and the Truth, Scott
Stripling, p 101, 2017 AD)
3. Building on another's foundation:
a. "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a
wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But
each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a
foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if
any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it
because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the
quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it
remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he
will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do
you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells
in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for
the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (1 Corinthians
3:10-17)
b. "And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was
already named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation;"
(Romans 15:20)
4. Ark of the Scrolls:
a. See: Niches & Ark of The Scrolls: Prototype of Church Apse
b. A decorative synagogue lintel is on display with a stone
carving of the Ark of the Scrolls on a wooden wagon.
5. Heart-Shaped columns
a. See: Heart-Shaped Columns
b. See: Freestanding Columns: Antitype of Christians
c. These heart shaped pillars are also known as "double
columns" can be still seen today in the synagogue:
6. The two front columns from the Byzantine synagogue:
a. See also: Freestanding Columns: Antitype of Christians
A. Earliest Synagogue Occupation Date (SOD) = 30 AD
1. Excavation date: first century
2. Inscriptional date: none
3. Literary date: New Testament 30 AD
4. SOD computation system details: Excavation date +
Inscriptional date + Literary date = SOD.
B. Synagogue Compass Orientation:
1. Orientation East or towards Jerusalem: No and Yes
a. The first century basalt foundation is not oriented towards
Jerusalem or easterly.
b. However, if you look at the top plan, you will notice that to
new additional structure to the east of the synagogue has a trapezoid
eastern wall that is directly oriented towards Jerusalem.
c. This proves the basalt foundation is first century.
d.
2. Compass headings: synagogue
a. Compass heading towards Jerusalem: 195 Degrees
b. Distance to Jerusalem: 128 Kilometers
3. When an archeologist begins excavating a newly discovered
synagogue, the first thing he does to determine if it is a first temple,
pre-70 AD installation is determine the orientation.
a. If the synagogue points east it is not pre-70 AD but built
after 200 AD.
b. If the synagogue is oriented towards Jerusalem it is not
pre-70 AD but built after 200 AD.
4. See Orientation: Early Synagogues did not Point to Jerusalem
C. Bible and other Literary references:
1. Jesus' house: Lk 5:19; Mt 4:13; Mk 2:1; 9:33
2. Unclean spirit cast out of Man: Mk 1:21-28; Lk 4:31-38
(Notice news of healing spread throughout the Galilee region)
3. Healing of Centurion's paralyzed servant: Mt 8:5-13;
Lk 7:1-10 (notice He had "built our synagogue" and the Jews interceded)
4. Inside Synagogue: Jesus is Manna that came out of
heaven: John 6:24-71
5. Paralytic healed at Jesus' house: Mk 2:1-13
6. Call of Matthew, dinner in Matthew's house: 2:14-22
7. Disciples discuss who is the greatest: Mark 9:33
8. Jesus walks on water and "beam me up Scotty" ends up
on the shore of Capernaum: John 6:17
9. Peter's mother-in-law healed in his house: Matt
8:14-16: Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41
D. Excavation details:
1. "The excavations date this early synagogue (I) to the
first century CE, based on the pottery found under and in the cobbled
basalt pavement. Thus, the excavations prove that the synagogue (II) of the
fourth-fifth centuries CE at Capernaum was erected above an earlier
first-century basalt synagogue, somewhat similar in plan to both the later
Capernaum synagogue and the other Second Temple period synagogues. Corbo
(1982:Photos 1, 2, 5, 8, 10) maintains that the basalt wall belonged to the
first-century synagogue, whereas Loffreda ascribes it to a level between
the first-century pavement and the Late Roman synagogue (Loffreda
1992:826). While Corbo believes that all the basalt remains were part of a
single structure, Loffreda (1993:49; 1997:239) proposes a two-phase
development for the earlier synagogue, including a renovation sometime
between the 2nd and 4th centuries, before it was replaced by the limestone
edifice in the 5th century CE. " (Ancient Synagogues - Archaeology and
Art: New Discoveries and Current Research, Rachel Hachlili, p23, 2013 AD)
2. "Runesson (2007:255) contends further that Capernaum
Synagogue I was a public edifice utilized for local legal, administrative,
and religious meetings, and that it was the synagogue attended by Jesus; he
asserts that Room 1 in insula 1 served Jesus and his movement and was the
house of Peter and Andrew. This structure is possibly a Second Temple
period synagogue and, if so, the only early synagogue found buried under a
later one., 2013 AD)
Conclusion:
1. The Capernaum synagogue is a special and
uniquely important historical place where many Bible events took place.
2. Detailed outline: JESUS' HOUSE IN CAPERNAUM
3. The New Testament says there was a fully
functioning synagogue at Capernaum that Jesus preached in.
a. God said it. I BELIEVE IT. THAT SETTLES IT.
4. See also: First Century Jewish Messianic
Expectation: As witnessed in the Dead Sea scrolls.
By Steve Rudd 2017: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections
Quick links
Ancient Synagogues
Go to: Main Start Page
By Steve Rudd 2017: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections
Quick links:
Master introduction: Summary overview is the place to start to tie it all together.
Providence: God's eternal plan: The providential transition from Temple to Synagogue to Church
Origin: Synagogues originated at Alexandria Egypt in 280 BC spawned by the Septuagint
Jesus the Messiah of the Tanakh:
1. First Century Jewish Messianic Expectation: As witnessed in the Dead Sea scrolls.
2. Looking for the wrong thing: Mistaken Jewish ideas of the Messiah in 30 AD.
3. Jesus fulfilled Prophecy: Master list of fulfilled messianic prophecies
4. Jesus fulfilled Prophecy: "He shall be called a Nazarene (branch)" Matthew 2:23
5. Jesus fulfilled Prophecy: "Jesus would rise the third day" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Synagogue Architectural Prototypes in the Church:
1. Standard architectural synagogue typology: Introduction, Master Chart
2. Mikveh for Ritual Purity: The Christian Maker
3. Ritual purity stone Vessels: Stoneware cups and wash basins
4. Freestanding Columns: Antitype of Christians
5. Artwork: Heart-Shaped Columns
6. The bema: Prototype of the Church Pulpit
7. Synagogue Benches: Metaphor of Equality in Christ
8. Women Seating in Synagogues: Not segregated from men
9. The Moses' Seat: Metaphor of Pride
10. Niches & Ark of The Scrolls: Prototype of Church Apse
11. Table of the Scrolls: Prototype of Communion Table
12. Byzantine Church Architecture: Octagonal and Basilica
13. Orientation: Early Synagogues did not Point to Jerusalem
14. The Church replaced the Temple: Replacement theology is pure Christianity
Synagogue Worship Prototypes in the Church:
15. Worship prototypes: Introduction and Master Summary Chart
16. Collective Names of Synagogues: House of Prayer, Temple, Church
17. Organization of Synagogues: Elders, officials, attendants, Independent, autonomous
18. Attendance: Weekly Sabbath Assemblies in Synagogues absent from Tanakh
19. Public Bible readings: Preaching and Teaching In Synagogues
20. Greek Septuagint: The Standard Tanakh of every ancient synagogue
21. Greek Septuagint scroll of the Twelve Minor Prophets written in 50 BC
22. Prayer in Synagogues: "House of prayer" Proseuche
23. Food: Sacred Passover Meals, No Common Meals In Synagogues
24. Sermon Topics in Synagogues: How Christians used the Tanakh to convert Jews
25. Singing in Synagogues: Non-Instrumental Acapella Responsive Singing
26. Benevolence Money: Freewill Weekly First fruits Collections for poor in Synagogues
27. Education: Schools and Literacy of Jews In Synagogues
28. Role of Women in Synagogues: Never leaders, preachers but never segregated
29. Sanctuary Status: Refugees seeking Asylum in Synagogues
30. Appendages: Hostels, Housing and Food Banks in Synagogues
31. Civil Court: Judgements, beatings and scourging in Synagogues
32. Civic Meetings: Political Town Hall assemblies in Synagogues
33. Christians replaced Jews: Replacement theology is pure Christianity
Synagogue Occupation Date (SOD)= Excavation date + Inscriptional date + Literary date
Allusions: Synagogue worship allusions and imagery in the New Testament
Master builder Stonemason Jesus: "Upon this Rock I will build My church"
Everyday life: Archeology of Everyday Life and Homes at the time of Jesus
Master List: Master list of First Temple Period, Pre-70 AD Synagogues
Attend a church you can read about in the Bible: Click here to find a church near you.
By Steve Rudd 2017: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections
Go to:
Master Synagogue List
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Jewish Messianic Expectations in DSS
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Map of Synagogue Sites
Excavations
Inscriptions
Literature
Go to:
Synagogue Excavations
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Synagogue Inscriptions
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Synagogue Literary Sources
Jesus Master Builder of the Church/Temple
Archeology of First Century Houses
By Steve Rudd 2017: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections
Jesus your messiah is waiting for you to come home!
Why not worship with a first century New Testament church near you, that has the same look and feel as the Jewish Synagogue in your own home town. As a Jew, you will find the transition as easy today as it was for the tens of thousands of your forefathers living in Jerusalem 2000 years ago when they believed in Jesus the Nazarene (the branch) as their messiah. It's time to come home!
Click here to find a church near you.
By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.
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