Religious and political authorities (conflict in John)

Question 1

Who was the high priest and who did he serve under?

Answer 1

Joseph Caiaphas, he served under two Roman governors. He was appointed for his willingness to collaborate with the Romans, rather than for his faith

Question 2

What did Caiaphas aim to do as high priest?

Answer 2

Appease the Romans by preventing religiously motivated outbursts of violence and persuade the Romans to be reasonable towards the Jews in return

Question 3

Why was it inevitable that Caiaphas would want to arrest a troublemaker like Jesus?

Answer 3

He wouldn’t want the Romans to think he had lost his grip

Question 4

Why was Caiaphas so reliant on protection from the Romans?

Answer 4

• Zealots tried to assassinate high priests
• As a sadducee, he could not expect the support of the Pharisees

Question 5

How did Caiaphas legitimise his actions?

Answer 5

By creating a parliament of Jewish leaders called the Sanhedrin

Question 6

Why would the Sadducees of disapproved of Jesus?

Answer 6

• Because he was developing new teachings that challenged the authority of Moses and the Torah
• They also wished to protect the temple from threats, since it was the source of their wealth, status and religion

Question 7

Why would the Pharisees have felt threatened by Jesus?

Answer 7

Because he told people they didn’t need to follow their laws

Question 8

What was the name of the Pharisee who opposed Jesus’ crucifixion?

Answer 8

Nicodemus

Question 9

Who were the two governors appointed by the Romans to govern Palestine?

Answer 9

Herod Antipas and Herod Philip, both sons of Herod the Great

Question 10

Why did Herod Antipas kill John the Baptist?

Answer 10

Some think it is because JTB criticised his sex life, but it was most probably because JTB’s following had grown so large that he feared a rebellion

Question 11

Why did Herod Antipas probably see Jesus as a threat?

Answer 11

Because, several of JTB’s followers were part of his movement, and Jesus himself had been baptised by JTB

Question 12

What were the two things that the Romans demanded from provinces like Judea?

Answer 12

– Peaceful law and order
- The payment of taxes

Question 13

Who was the Roman governor at the time of Jesus’ death?

Answer 13

Pontius Pilate, a man who had little sympathy towards the jewish faith

Question 14

What is the key difference between John and the synoptics in their account of Jesus’ death

Answer 14

John has Jesus being executed on the day of the passover feast where as the synoptics have this occur the day after

Question 15

What would happen in the temple at the Passover?

Answer 15

The High Priest would sacrifice the unblemished paschal lamb

Question 16

Why is Jesus executed at the same time as the paschal lamb in John?

Answer 16

This reinforces John’s idea of replacement theology; Jesus is the true lamb of God, sacrificed on behalf of all mankind

Question 17

Why do the Synoptics have Jesus’ death a day later than the Passover?

Answer 17

They want Jesus to have the Passover meal to underline the idea that Christianity is a continuation of Judaism

Question 18

What does John miss out when Jesus in in the Garden of Gethsemane?

Answer 18

The idea that he is in agony or fearful of what is ahead. In Luke’s gospel Jesus is in agony until he is comforted by the angels

Question 19

How do the trials work in the Synoptics?

Answer 19

A full meeting of the sanhedrin is called and witnesses accuse Jesus of boasting that he will destroy the temple. The final straw comes when Jesus agrees that he is the Son of God, as this is seen as blasphemy

Question 20

Who happens to Jesus on the Passover Eve in John?

Answer 20

He is put on trial before Pilate

Question 21

How is Pilate described as sentencing Jesus to death?

Answer 21

Reluctantly

Question 22

Why do the gospels describe Pilate as being reluctant to crucify Jesus?

Answer 22

Due to the criterion of embarrassment; it would have been embarrassing for Jesus to have died at the hands of the Romans, as this would have made Christianity look like a dangerous movement. The evangelists therefore look to downplay the political aspect of the crimes and make it seem as though it was for the religious charge of blasphemy

Question 23

What does Reimarus say argue about Jesus’ crucifixion?

Answer 23

That he really was a political rebel and the Romans were right to execute him - with the evangelists trying to hide this

Question 24

What does Schweitzer say argue about Jesus’ crucifixion?

Answer 24

That Jesus was innocent of rebellion but wanted the Romans to execute him because he mistakenly believed that the death of God’s innocent servant would bring about the apocalypse; meaning he did not deny the charges