From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 1997 11:24 PM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Re: We have no king but Caesar
From: Mark Woods
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Ceaser
John 19:15 But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him],
crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The
chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. "KJV"
this threw me back a step! so i had to research it a bit, cause their
reasoning made sense now...heres what i found.
the greek word that was translated as 'The chief priests' actually
refers to a singular priest. the high priest. seems like a simple
mistake, and it still wouldn't explain why the head honcho of Judaism
would say 'I possess no king except ceaser'(a more literal translation)
i thought, maybe he's just stating fact, as he sees it..like, 'hey, i
don't have a king or he would've kicked your butt out Israel. but i do
pay taxes to ceaser, so i guess he's it'
this mightv been the case, but when i read the lexicon for strong's 749
i got a clearer explanation..more likely a combo of both reasons
though..
it has this description of WHOM could hold the position of high
priest...during Jesus' trial the high priest was NOT chosen by the other
sanhedrin, but by the roman military. he also did not hold the office
until death, but could be yanked away by those same romans!
i can feel a more then a tad bit of conflict of interest here. this might
also explain why the entire Temple system was so messed up, with
cheating ppl for $$$ w/ moneychanging/inflated sacrificial animal costs.
so, heres a Priest of dubious heritage, chosen by Pilate/Herod, who
must toe the line to keep his job. he has seen Jesus perform miracles and
proclaim to be the Messiah, yet Jesus backed off and didn't overthrow the
government when he could have days earlier. i can quite understand how
he made the statement now. "I have no king except ceaser."
God bless,
mark
ps. heres the lexicon reference...
Lexicon Greek 749
749 archiereus {ar-khee-er-yuce'}
from 746 and 2409; TDNT - 3:265,349; n m
AV - chief priest 64, high priest 58, chief of the priest 1; 123
1) chief priest, high priest
He above all others was honoured with the title of priest, the chief
of priests. It was lawful for him to perform the common duties of
the priesthood; but his chief duty was, once a year on the day of
atonement, to enter into the Holy of Holies (from which the other
priests were excluded) and offer sacrifices for his own sins and the
sins of the people, and to preside over the Sanhedrin, or Supreme
Council, when convened for judicial deliberations. According to
Mosaic law, no one could aspire to the high priesthood unless he
were of the tribe of Aaron and descended from a high priestly
family; and he on whom the office was conferred held it till death.
But from the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, when the kings of
Seleucideae and afterwards the Herodian princes and the Romans
arrogated to themselves the power of appointing the high priests,
the office neither remained vested in the pontifical family nor was
conferred on any for life; but it became venal, and could be
transferred from one to another according to the will of civic or
military rulers. Hence it came to pass, that during the one hundred
and seven years intervening between Herod the Great and the
destruction of the holy city, twenty eight persons held the
pontifical dignity.
2) the high priests, these comprise in addition
to one holding the high priestly office, both those who had
previously discharged it and although disposed, continued to have
great power in the State, as well as the members of the families
from which high priest were created, provided that they had much
influence in public affairs.
3) Used of Christ because by
undergoing a bloody death he offered himself as an expiatory
sacrifice to God, and has entered into the heavenly sanctuary where
he continually intercedes on our behalf.
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