Body: | Ancient Synagogue Inscription from Cyrene (Berenice) Libya: 55 AD
Synagogue Inscriptions from the Oldest Synagogues in the world
Cyrene (Berenice) Libya, December 3, 55 AD
A. Synagogue Inscription:
1. Inscription text:
a. Title text: "In the second year of the emperor Nero
Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus, on the 6th of Choiach. It was resolved
by the congregation1 [synagogue] [synagoge] of the Jews in Berenice2 and
its vicinity that the names of those who donated to the repairs of the
synagogue1 [synagogue] be inscribed on a stele of Parian stone."
b. Column 1: "Zenion, son of Zoilos, ruler [archon], 10
drachmae Isidoros, son of Dositheos, ruler [archon], 10 drachmae Dositheos,
son of Ammonius, ruler [archon], 10 drachmae Pratis, son of Jonathan, ruler
[archon], 10 drachmae Carnedas, son of Cornelius, ruler [archon], 10
drachmae Heracleides, son of Heracleides, ruler [archon], 10 drachmae
Thaliarchos, son of Dositheos, ruler [archon], 10 drachmae Sosibios, son of
Jason, ruler [archon], 10 drachmae Pratomedes, son of Socrates, ruler
[archon], 10 drachmae Antigonos, son of Straton, ruler [archon], 10
drachmae Cartisthenes, son of Archias, priest, 10 drachmae Lysanias, son of
Lysanias, 25 drachmae Zenodoros, son of Theuphilos, 28 drachmae Marion (?),
[son of ?], 25 drachmae [Stone broken]"
c. Column 2: "Alexander, son of Euphranor, 5 drachmae
Isidora, daughter of Serapion, 5 drachmae Zosime, daughter of Terpolius, 5
drachmae Polon, son of Dositheos, 5 drachmae."
2. Glyptic Artifact: Greek Synagogue inscription on marble
3. Provenance: Cyrene (Berenice) Libya, 1957 AD
4. Current location: Unknown current location.
5. Synagogue Occupation Date (SOD) = Excavation date +
Inscriptional date + Literary date = 33 AD
a. SOD computation system details
b. Excavation date: none
c. Inscriptional date: 55 AD
d. Literary date: New Testament 33 AD
6. Contemporary Rulers: Nero Claudius Caesar (54-68 AD)
Revelation 13:18 "666"
7. References:
a. Excavations at Sidi Khrebish Benghazi, Vol I,
Inscriptions, Reynolds, p233-54, 1977 AD
b. CJZ: Corpus jüdischer Zeugnisse aus der Cyrenaika, Gert
Lüderitz, 72, p155, 1983 AD
8. Bible references to Cyrene that show there must have
been an active synagogue in the town in 33 AD:
a. "They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the
country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His
cross." (Mark 15:21)
b. "When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of
Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry
behind Jesus." (Luke 23:26)
c. "Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of
Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,"
(Acts 2:10)
d. "But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene,
who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the
Lord Jesus." (Acts 11:20)
e. "Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was
there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger,
and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the
tetrarch, and Saul." (Acts 13:1)
9. Related Literary references:
a. "Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding
calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his
number is six hundred and sixty-six." (Rev 13:18) Nero name adds up to
666.
b. Acts 16:13
c. Philo, Embassy 132-134
d. Josephus, Life 277
10. Further documentation and comments:
a. "This fragment is preserved from the upper part of a
stele whose top was inscribed with a leaf and plant-tendril motif. Although
its Jewish provenance is uncertain, Applebaum notes that the form of the
stele resembles the two earlier inscriptions from Berenice (cuz 70-71; Nos.
131 and 132). More compelling in this regard, however, is the presence of
the partially restored term synagoge, which may have referenced a local
Jewish congregation or its civic center, as in the previous example from
Berenice. Nevertheless, the highly fragmentary condition of the monument
prevents the drawing of any firm conclusions. (The Ancient Synagogue from
its Origins to 200 AD, Anders Runesson, p170, 2008 AD)
b. Another partial six line inscription from Cyrene dating
from 25 BC uses the word "synagogue": "... and Decimus Sa- ... of
Sosandros ... of Teimarchos ... and Leonides, ... Ti- ... (the) synagogue
(or congregation) [synagoge] ..."
B. Inscription footnotes:
1. In Egypt/Africa the usual word is proseuche = "house of
prayer". But in the New Testament this is the standard word.
2. Berenice is alternate name for Cyrene: Acts 2:10; 11:20;
13:1
By Steve Rudd 2017: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections
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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
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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!
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