I was looking through a christian catalogue the other day, and came across a new book called A Specator's Guide to Jesus by John Dickson. The cover of the book depicts a range of different looking Jesus'- To my surprise the blurb to this book had this to say;
A Spectator's Guide to Jesus. By John Dickson
How did a crucified Palestinian peasant end up winning the allegiance of 2 billion confessed Christians today? This introduction to Jesus' life and teaching portrays a radical man who challenges social and religious norms and demands compassion for the needy.
Silly me I thought that Jesus was a Jedaean Carpenter, there was no country or nation known as Palestine in Jesus' day. Even Matthew with his introduction in establishing Jesus' ancestry says this:
Mat 2:1 And when Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king…
Judea people – yes that's right J-U-D-E-A. Ok, if you don't trust the Bible, then perhaps you're in need of a little history lesson.
Modern historian, Bernard Lewis wrote of Hadrian's army who crushed a massive Jewish uprise in Judea (132-135 ad) led by Bar-Cochba:
"Hadrian made a determined attempt to stamp out the embers not only of the revolt but also of Jewish nationhood and statehood… obliterating its Jewish identity."
Hadrian wanted all Jewish identity to be obliterated and that is when he renamed "Judea" to "Syria Palaestina" – Palestine – after the Jews' historic enemies, the Philistines, a non-Semitic sea people from the eastern Mediterranean or Aegean area.
This did not happen until after 135 A.D. with the defeat of Simon Bar Kockba. And with the discovery of the dead sea scrolls all has been verified with letters found that were written by Simon Var Kockba and the coins to back it up.
So much for a Palestinian Jesus… I would say that this is a subtle form of historical rivisionism at work, whether or not the author had such intent I can not say. But notice in the blurb however, it states compassion for the needy, he is using a term that the palestinians can relate too, so they will see Jesus and identify with him as one of their own.
Now, I can understand that the palestinians have been used as pawns for a long time, but what they need is the truth. The truth being that Jesus was Yeshua Meshiach testified by the prophets of the Old Testament. If you start playing around with the historical Jesus, then you end up with one who is not who he said he was, or one who the prophets said he would be. How to recognise him then – that is the question. I recognise him by his Word, the Bible.
John 5:46 For if you were believing Moses, you would then believe Me; for that one wrote concerning Me.
John 5:47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My Words?
Luk 24:44 And He said to them, These are the Words which I spoke to you yet being with you, that all the things must be fulfilled having been written in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms, concerning Me.
Compassion for the needy he has, he died for us who are all in need. But he was Jewish, and came from Judea just as Matthew recorded in his introduction. He was not a palestinian. And as for Jesus being a peasant…well, a peasant is a farmer, the bible says he was a carpenter, I would like to know what sources John Dickson used to compile his book.
living journey 
my only prolbem is ok let’s assume that your right. no need to be a smart ass about it. with all due respect. doesnt say in the bible to be humble? I think your article right or wrong makes you appear a smart ass..
I think you need to gear it down a bit. the facts alway,, speak for themselves…
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Sincerely sorry about that 🙂
From memory as this post is very old, I wrote this after a certain Christian school was found to be using books that undermined history by using Historical Revisionist techniques.
That’s the context…
Thanks for commenting 🙂
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You’re a tool. Judea was the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. There has never been a piece of land called ‘Judea’.
Furthermore, where do you think the word ‘Palestine’ comes from? Perhaps is could be from the word ‘Philistine’?
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Mat 2:1-6 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'”
Luk 3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, [Latin inscription found in 1961 at Theater in Caesarea tells us that APontius Pilate, the prefect of Judea@ built a temple for Tiberius.]
http://www.shalomjerusalem.com/jerusalem/jerusalem18.html
Listen to this quote from Vol. II, Book V, The Works of Tacitus:
“Titus was appointed by his father to complete the subjugation of Judaea… he commanded three legions in Judaea itself… To these he added the twelfth from Syria and the third and twenty-second from Alexandria… amongst his allies were a band of Arabs, formidable in themselves and harboring towards the Jews the bitter animosity usually subsisting between neighboring nations.”
After the 1st Revolt (see also the contemporary accounts of the Roman-sponsored Jewish historian, Josephus, in his extensive Antiquities of the Jews and Wars of the Jews), Rome issued thousands of Judaea Capta coins which can be seen today in museums all over the world. Notice, please… Judaea Capta… not “Palaestina Capta.” Additionally, to celebrate this victory, the Arch of Titus was erected and stands tall in Rome to this very day.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/07/jesus_called_it_israel.html
What would Jesus say?
Often in published versions of the Bible, the words of Jesus are put in red font in the four Gospels and in other parts of the New Testament when his words are being quoted or he speaks in a vision that a follower may have. Many regard his specific words as extra-special. Here they are, in the following references. The two slashes indicate a parallel passage in Matthew, Mark, or Luke.
Matthew: 8:10 //; 10:6, 23; 15:24; 19:28
Mark: 12:29
Luke: 4:25, 27; 7:9 //; 22:30
John: 1:47 (Jesus calls Nathanael an Israelite)
In all these “red-letter” passages – the actual words of Jesus – he calls his country only Israel.
What would others say in the Gospels?
In these verses people other than Jesus are speaking or writing. Narrator means the authors of the Gospels.
Matthew: 2:6 (prophecy from Micah); 2:20 (an angel); 2:21 (narrator); 9:33 (appreciative crowd); 15:31 (narrator); 27:9 (prophecy from Zechariah and Jeremiah); 27:42 // (mocking crowd)
Mark: 15:32 // (mocking crowd)
Luke: 1:16 (angel); 1:54 (Mary’s Magnificat); 1:68 (Zechariah, father of John the Baptist); 1:80 (narrator); 2:25 (narrator); 2:32, 34 (Simeon); 24:21 (an anonymous disciple and Clopas, probably Joseph’s brother, so Jesus’ uncle)
John: 1:31 (John the Baptist); 1:49 (Nathanael); 12:13 (the crowds during Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem)
All of these people matter-of-factly call their nation and Jesus’ nation by the name Israel, and nothing else.
What about the rest of the New Testament?
What do the New Testament authors other than Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John call the nation where Jesus ministered and his movement was born? Here are all the references:
Acts: 1:6; 2:22, 36; 3:12; 4:10, 27; 5:21, 31, 35; 7:23, 26, 37; 9:15 (Jesus’ words in a vision); 10:36; 13:16, 17, 23, 24; 21:28; 28:20
Romans: 9:4, 6, 27, 31; 10:1, 19, 21; 11:1, 2, 7, 25, 26
1 Corinthians: 10:18
2 Corinthians: 3:7, 13; 11:22
Galatians: 6:16
Ephesians: 2:12
Philippians: 3:5
Hebrews: 8:8, 10; 11:22
Revelation: 2:14; 7:4; 21:12
All of the passages refer only to the name Israel. Some call the citizens of Israel Israelites, and no other name.
Does the New Testament refer to the name Palestine?
There are no references to this name anywhere in the New Testament.
Could Jesus have called Israel by any other name?
In their writings that cover many subjects and historical periods, these historians and travelers occasionally use the name Palestine, usually in the context of Syria and its southern environs: Herodotus (c. 485-420? BC); Josephus (c. 37 to post-100 AD), a Jewish historian; Suetonius (69/75 to post-135 AD); Arrian (c. 90-180? AD) (search here); Appian (c. 95 to post-163 AD); Pausanias (second century AD).
Referencing these historians and travelers is not to say that Jesus (or the New Testament authors) read them, particularly the ones who lived after Jesus and the authors! Rather, these historians and travelers imply a wide time span and regions and historical periods in which the name Palestine could circulate and become part of the common linguistic coinage.
Therefore, Jesus had the choice of the name Palestine or Israel. But he chose to remain within the Biblical tradition, calling his country Israel. The New Testament authors also chose the Biblical tradition, exclusively.
Search the sources
Was Jesus a Palestinian?
As noted in the Introduction to this article, the Palestinian media think so. However, in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38, his genealogy is presented. No rationalist has to believe it to understand that Matthew and Luke were keen on placing Jesus firmly in the Biblical tradition. Bible Gateway
Clearly, the best records we have demonstrate that Jesus was thoroughly Jewish – historically, culturally, and ethnically.
What about today?
This article is intended only to get our history straight. Jesus first ministered in Israel (Matthew 10:5-42; 15:24). And then he told his disciples to go into all nations and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). So the kingdom of God as Jesus lived and preached it breaks down barriers. Palestinian Christians should know that they are not alone while they are under attack or being forced to submit to dhimmitude (Islamic second-class citizenship for Christians or Jews). Christians have almost entirely left Bethlehem. Any person, particularly the defenseless and innocent, of any religion, who is caught in a crossfire of bullets and bloodshed, should receive help. That’s the essence of the ministry of Jesus, who identifies with all people everywhere, in the bigger picture, regardless of ethnic origins or nationalities.
Conclusion
To return to the main thesis and purpose of this article, what do the Scriptural facts say about names and origins? This article lists all of the references in the New Testament to Israel or Israelite. There are no references to Palestine in the Bible. That name was never part of the vocabulary of Jesus or the New Testament authors, even though they had the choice to call it such. Jesus would not recognize the label Palestinian for himself.
Today, some extra-political readers may not like this conclusion, but at least they will no longer be confused. And at least they will no longer be able to confuse others with misinformed and shrill rhetoric.
Clarity and historical accuracy are the goal of this article.
From these basic, incontrovertible Scriptures, readers may draw their own conclusions about politics today, if at all.
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