As a Christian, I have heard and read the story of Jesus many times in my life. No doubt all of us are familiar with the basics of the life of Jesus Christ, whether or not we are believers.
But what we know or learned in our religious studies is not always based on fact. Instead, it is based on assumption and even fiction which has been created by organized religion over the centuries since this great man walked among humanity. Here are nine supposed “facts” which we have since learned–through archaeological digs and artifacts, ancient texts, art, linguistic patterns, and even forensic science–which point to some new understandings about Jesus which I personally believe do nothing to mute the true message of the man, which was love.
1. He Didn’t Have Long Hair
Jewish men in the time of Christ did not wear their hair long, as has been depicted in artist’s conceptions. In the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he says of male hair length:
Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is degrading to him? (1 Corinthians 11:14 NRSV).
2. He Was Probably Married
This is one that many Christians have a difficult time accepting, but Jews have no tradition of celibacy among religious leaders. That distinction belongs to the Catholic Church, which formulated many of the “facts” about Jesus that we now accept as truth. Some scholars believe Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene of whom Phillip wrote:
[Jesus] loved her more than all the disciples, and used to kiss her often.”
3. He Was Probably Hung on a Pole, Not a Cross, When Crucified
We have been told that Jesus was crucified upon a cross, but the Greek word “stauros” can also be translated as pole or tree. The Romans did not have a uniform method of crucifying prisoners, and Josephus writes that during the siege of Jerusalem soldiers nailed or tied their victims in a variety of positions.
4. He Was Probably Short, Not Tall
The typical height for Jewish men in the time of Jesus was five foot. He is typically depicted as taller and this probably comes from the mental challenge people often experience when attempting to distinguish physical stature from other kinds of stature.
5. He Was Probably Born in a House, Not an Inn or a Stable
The idea that Jesus was born in a stable was added to the Christmas story later in history. But in reality, Joseph and Mary probably would have stayed with relatives, and the child would have been born indoors.
6. He Was Named Joshua, Not Jesus
The name Joshua (in Hebrew Yhoshu a meaning deliverance or salvation), was very common among Jews in the Near East, just as it is today. Joshua and Jesus are the same name, but they are translated differently in our modern Bible in order to distinguish Jesus from the Joshua of the Old Testament, who leads the Hebrew people to the Promised Land.
7. The Number of Apostles (12) Comes From Astrology, Not History
The Gospels often echo the story of Joshua, and the 12 apostles most most closely mirror the 12 tribes of Israel. But the number 12 was considered auspicious one by ancient people, including the Israelites, and this 12 may well come from the same pre-historical roots which give us the 12 signs of the zodiac and 12 months in a year.
8. Prophecies Recalled, Not Foretold
Old Testament prophecies were well known to 1st century Jews, and a messianic figure who wished fulfill some of them could easily have done so. For example, in the book of Matthew, Jesus seeks a donkey to ride into Jerusalem that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet? (Matthew 21:4) Jesus also said he had come to fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament.
9. Some Quotes Attributed to Jesus May Not Have Come From Him
Which words were actually spoken by Jesus during his life? This has been a subject of great debate for centuries. The fact remains that the New Testament Gospels were written many years after Jesus died, and no technology then existed with which to record his teachings in real time, unless he had written them down himself, which he didn’t.
If you want to know even more about the historical record and the life of Jesus, the links below will be incredibly helpful:
h/t Raw Story
