Why Capernaum? Because the Demonic Gerasene (Paul) was there to witness Jesus first

Discussion about the New Testament, apocrypha, gnostics, church fathers, Christian origins, historical Jesus or otherwise, etc.
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Giuseppe
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Why Capernaum? Because the Demonic Gerasene (Paul) was there to witness Jesus first

Post by Giuseppe »

In the Gospel of Barnabas the scene of the Swine episode happens... in Capernaum:



21. 1. Jesus went up to Capernaum, and as he drew near to the city behold there came out of the tombs one that was possessed of a devil, and in such wise that no chain could hold him, and he did great harm to the man. The demons cried out through his mouth, saying: “O holy one of God, why are you come before the time to trouble us?” And they prayed him that he would not cast them forth.

2. Jesus asked them how many they were. They answered: “Six thousand six hundred and sixty-six.” When the disciples heard this they were affrighted, and prayed Jesus that he would depart. Then Jesus said: “Where is your faith? It is necessary that the demon should depart, and not I.” The demons therefore cried: “We will come out, but permit us to enter into those swine.” There were feeding there, near to the sea, about ten thousand swine belonging to the Canaanites.

3. Thereupon Jesus said: “Depart, and enter into the swine.” With a roar the demons entered into the swine, and cast them headlong into the sea. Then fled into the city they that fed the swine, and recounted all that had been brought to pass by Jesus. Accordingly the men of the city came forth and found Jesus and the man that was healed. The men were filled with fear and prayed Jesus that he would depart out of their borders. Jesus accordingly departed from them and went up into the parts of Tyre and Sidon.

Giuseppe
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Location: Italy

Re: Why Capernaum? Because the Demonic Gerasene (Paul) was there to witness Jesus first

Post by Giuseppe »

Luke is saying the same story, when he talks about the Jews wanting to throw Jesus from the top of a mountain.

They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

(Luke 4:29-30)

Jesus being without body, the Jews fell, presumably, in the lake (the same fate of the swine).
  • Only that Luke changed the place: from Capernaum to Nazareth.
  • Just as Mark changed the place: from Capernaum to Gadara/Gerasa.
Jesus, if he existed, did his first 'historical' appearance in Capernaum, in a bloody battle against the Romans.

And a Paul saw him there. Hence the importance of Capernaum for the radical paulines who were the Marcionites.
Giuseppe
Posts: 13732
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:37 am
Location: Italy

Re: Why Capernaum? Because the Demonic Gerasene (Paul) was there to witness Jesus first

Post by Giuseppe »

if the descent of Jesus to Capernaum happened in the year 15 of Tiberius, then 67 - 15 = 52.

Precisely in the year 52, Claudius Felix started his procuratorship of Judea.

In 67 CE there was the battle of Taricheae, i.e. the historical nucleus of the swine episode.
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