badger3k

While listening to a Bible Geek podcast, I had a thought that may be just garbage, but I wanted some opinions.

In Galatians, (1:18), Paul said he was in Jerusalem studying for 3 years. I believe Jesus was also supposed to have taught for three years, although I can't figure out where this came from. I thought that this might have been based on the supposed birth date and the date of Pilate's removal, but I have vague memories of seeing it in one of the gospels or other books. I am unaware of any magical property or ritual/cultural significance of the number three in judaism or early christianity (other than the tri-partite family -father, mother, child - as seen in pagan beliefs, as well as the Trinity that developed later).

I also thought of other connections, such as the "three-days dead" trope from...psalms?...and the three people at the crucifixion (Jesus and the two others). Hmm...now that I think of it, didn't one gospel have three women...

Given that the gospels were written later than the epistles, generally (given pseudepigraphy - sp?), does anyone know of or think that the number three has any special relationship in the creation of the stories, or do you think this is all coincidence?

I probably can't get back here before the weekend, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone has any thoughts on this. I apologize in advance if this has been covered, as I'm trying to get this down before I go to bed (late night grading). Thanks in advance for any replies.

Ben C Smith

I do not think there is any single early text that gives 3 years as the span of his ministry; the commonly derived total of 3 is derived from correlating the gospel of John with the synoptics, which entails (among other things) counting the number of Passovers and other feasts in John and (perhaps over)interpreting the parable of the fig tree in Luke 13.6-9.

Other chronologies of the ministry of Jesus come up with only two years, give or take.

Some wish to find 3½ years of ministry, but most such folks are mainly interested in fulfilling some part of the seventy sevens in Daniel by making the ministry last half of one period of seven.

Ben.

JoeWallack

JW:
Toto, is it against the rules here to refer to someone as an Apologist?



Joseph

spamandham

Why do you dismiss the obvious "pagan" connection? Is there any reason to think Christianity was immune from such influence?

Amaleq13

IIRC, it depends on the context but use of the term here tends towards derogatory and, as such, should be avoided.

But what is apologetic about providing the basis for the time span of 3 years?

Toto

It is against the rules to call someone who posts here an apologist if they do not want to be called an apologist.

It has become such an emotionally charged word that you would do well to restrict its use to people who call themselves apologists, such as James Hannum or Layman.

Otherwise, just make your point.

mountainman

Dear badger3k,

It tells us that we may be able to conjecture that the author(s) could count beyond two, but nothing much more IMO. The subject matter and its treatment (in these stories) may not support this conjecture with any confidence however.

Best wishes,


Pete

Chili

I like the shape of the number 3. It kind of shows that it wants to be the number 8 but can't, at least not yet.

Toto

For the record, Paul studied in Arabia for three years after his conversion, then went to Jerusalem.

I have read speculation that this three year period was the initiation or training period for joining a messianic desert sect of some sort.

The number three is full of magical significance everywhere. In folklore, any story involving three is automatically taken as invoking that symbolism - three wishes, three fates, three tasks to complete. Peter denies Jesus three times. Dionysios changed three vats of water to wine; Jesus doubled that with 6.

But then every other number also seems to have some magical signficance.

mountainman

Dear Chili,

It only needs a mirror.

Best wishes,


Pete