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Periodic Random Thoughts
This page will change from time to time.
Recently, we wend down a a rabbit trail and discussed Creeds. Some of us remembered different
things. Let me throw a couple of things at you for fun:
Apostle's Creed:
This creed arose out of the early Western church and should be thought of
as a summary of the Apostles' teaching rather than directly
attributable to them. Originally it was essentially a baptismal
confession and had several variations. The form in use today dates
from the eighth century. Please note that the term "catholic" in
its usage is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church, but is a
reference to the universal (catholic) faith since that is how the
term was originally used.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and
earth,
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Nicene Creed
This creed was first formulated at the First Ecumenical Council, held at
Nicea, located in what is now Turkey, in 325, as a response to the
Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. It was revised at
the Second Ecumenical Council, held at Constantinople in 381 as a
response to the Macedonian or Pneumatomachian heresy, which denied
the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Again, the term "catholic" in its
usage is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church, but is a
reference to the universal (catholic) faith since that is how the
term was originally used. Also, Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra
(Located in Southern Turkey), who was later known as St. Nicholas is
believed by many to have attended the Council of Nicea. His
ministry is known for his defense of the doctrine of the divinity of
Christ as well as his charitable works.
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and
earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally
begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God
from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became
incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was
buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and
the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son he is
worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Joseph of Arimathea
We had a great discussion regarding the death of Jesus. We then asked a lot of questiona
about Joseph of Arimathea. Here is some additional information:
"Read the four accounts given, in the four Gospels, of Joseph of Arimathea. There is very
seldom anything mentioned by all four of the Evangelists. If Matthew and Mark refer to an event,
it is omitted by Luke and John; and, if it occur in the latter, it may not be contained in the
former." –Dwight L. Moody
The following is the sum total of all scriptural discussion regarding Joseph of Arimathea:
Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also
become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate
commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean
linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large
stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary,
sitting opposite the tomb.
Matthew 27:57-61
Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God,
coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that
He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time.
So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Then he bought fine linen,
took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of
the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother
of Joses observed where He was laid.
Mark 15:42-47
Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. He had not
consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was
also waiting for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then
he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no
one had ever lain before. That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.
And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how
His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the
Sabbath according to the commandment.
Luke 23:50-56
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews,
asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he
came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came,
bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus,
and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the
place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had
yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was
nearby.
John 19:38-42
As can be seen from the gospel texts, little detail is given regarding Joseph of Arimathea,
other than details of his involvement in the burial of Christ. No occupation is given (although
we are told that he was a "rich man"), nor is his age or personal description revealed (although
he is often depicted as an elderly man by the time of the crucifixion due to his position).
Many scholars identify Arimathea with the town of "Ramathaim", mentioned in 1 Sam 1:1. Other
scholars’ view that the modern city of Rentis (located about 20 miles northwest of Jerusalem)
is the ancient Arimathea. However, the reference to "Arimathea" remains obscure.
Through the ages, a theological debate has raged regarding whether Joseph of Arimathea was a
coward, or saint. On the coward side, critics point out that Joseph, while being a disciple of
Jesus, was afraid to announce so publicly "because he feared the Jews" (John 19:38).
While Joseph may not have revealed his discipleship of Jesus during the earthly ministry of the
Savior, two acts would seem to strongly consider him to be a "defender of the faith":
- Joseph appears to have been one of (or perhaps the sole) member of the Sanhedrin "who had not
consented to their decision and action" (Luke 23:51) regarding the trial of Jesus
- Joseph bravely went to Pilate, boldly requesting the body of Jesus, and (with Nicodemus),
buried the body according to Jewish burial customs. It should be remembered that during this time,
all of the apostles had fled (except, possibly, John), and Peter had denied he even knew Christ.
Isaiah 53:9 stated that Messiah would be buried “with the rich”. There is no indication whether
or not this was on Joseph’s mind when he went before Pilate.
Characteristics of Joseph of Arimathea:
- He was a rich man - Mat 27:57
- He was from Arimathea - Mat 27:57; Luke 23:51
- He was a disciple of Christ - Mat 27:57
- He was probably a fairly influential man and boldly asked Pilate for the body of Christ - Mat 27:58; Mark 15:43
- He was rich enough to own his own tomb - Mat 27:60
- Joseph was a prominent member of the Jewish Sanhedrin - Mark 15:43
- He was "waiting for the kingdom of God" (Whatever that means…lots of debate) - Mark 15:43
- He was a good and upright man" - Luke 23:50
- He had not agreed to the Sanhedrin actions regarding Jesus - Luke 23:51
- Joseph feared reprisals from the Jewish elders, so he was a secret disciple of Jesus - John 19:38
There are many references to him in the non-canonical gospels that I will not go into.
We do not consider them to be credible texts. You can see a lot of this information if you
Goggle Joseph of Aramathea and The Gospel of Nicodemus or The Narrative of Joseph or The Passing
of Mary.
Outside the canonical and non-canonical texts, he is a big time guy by legendary accounts -
most which date to the Middle Ages. In Medieval legend, Joseph is the founder of the first
Christian Church in England, the keeper of the Holy Grail, the uncle of Mary Mother of Jesus, and
the ancestor of King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Galahad.
Joseph of Aramathea is certainly an interesting character!
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