Dr Schuler
I’ve always wondered why Jesus is called Rabbi by the disciples and others. I understand that the word means teacher or master but didn’t Jesus live during the time when Jewish authority was moving from the priestly class and wasn’t this the time when Rabbi as we know the word to mean in Jewish culture began. Was this a political statement to call Jesus Rabbi.? Thank you for your class Rabbi Schuler!!!
In the first century “rabbi” was a loose designation for a teacher. The use of “rabbi” as an official term for a recognized scholar comes from the period following the destruction of the temple in AD 70. In later rabbinic literature, leaders after the destruction are called “rabbi,” but those from before the destruction (such as Gamaliel and Hillel) are consistently not so named. Understandably, priestly authority disappears after the disaster of AD 70.
Dr Schuler
I’ve always wondered why Jesus is called Rabbi by the disciples and others. I understand that the word means teacher or master but didn’t Jesus live during the time when Jewish authority was moving from the priestly class and wasn’t this the time when Rabbi as we know the word to mean in Jewish culture began. Was this a political statement to call Jesus Rabbi.? Thank you for your class Rabbi Schuler!!!
In the first century “rabbi” was a loose designation for a teacher. The use of “rabbi” as an official term for a recognized scholar comes from the period following the destruction of the temple in AD 70. In later rabbinic literature, leaders after the destruction are called “rabbi,” but those from before the destruction (such as Gamaliel and Hillel) are consistently not so named. Understandably, priestly authority disappears after the disaster of AD 70.