neilgodfrey wrote: ↑Tue Oct 26, 2021 11:15 amI would be very surprised if we one day confirmed that the evangelists were non-Jews. The gospels are surely very much in the genre of Jewish Scriptures; and their familiarity and close weaving of Jewish Scriptures into their narratives is what we would expect from Jewish authors.
That would lead to other Epistemological Issues, however.
Zakkai attempted to Construct a Judaism that was Non-Temple based. In the same manner as seen in the Solution to the "Day of Atonement" Issue, where there would not be two consecutive Fast Days, different forms of a New Judaism would be invoked. It appears that the "Understanding" was that the Yavneh Work would be for Jews who survived while Christianity would be for everyone else.
Acts 5: 34 - 39 (RSV):
[34] But a Pharisee in the council named Gama'li-el, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while.
[35] And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you do with these men.
[36] For before these days Theu'das arose, giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
[37] After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
[38] So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail;
[39] but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"
I have always been intrigued by this Passage. I believe it is detailing the birth of this New Form of Judaism. It is Reasoned, Logical. The New Christians are not to be tampered with.
Therefore, what happened after the Destruction of the Hasmonean Temple Worship was authored by the Romans with the help, perhaps, of Zakkai and a few of the Priestly Survivors. They were allowed to live - away from Jerusalem at Yavneh - but it was always with the idea that the old worship was to be displaced by a new worship that acknowledged Roman Hegemony. The New Judaism was inward looking and Non-Threatening. The Basis of the New Religion was taken from the Old Judaism as was detailed. It was provided to the Romans by the Learned Priestly Types in exchange for their Priestly lives.
CW