Towards an understanding of local autonomy in Judaea between 6 and 66 CE (Roman Empire).

Description

It is generally taken for granted that the authority of Judaean leaders was limited by the Romans from 6--66 CE to the extent that Jewish officials required Roman permission before carrying out such important functions as capital punishment and convening for official judicial purposes. This thesis examines the three critical pieces of literary evidence on which such a determination rests. An analysis of Josephus' Antiquities 20.202 leads to the conclusion that no restriction on the freedom of a high priest to convene a court in capital cases applied prior to 62 CE. An examination of John 18:31 within the context of the Gospel determines that the author introduced his assertion regarding a restriction on the use of capital punishment by Judaean leaders only in order to explain why it was necessary for Pilate to be involved in Jesus' death. Finally, explicit descriptions within the Gospels of official Judaean involvement in the arrest and death of Jesus can be adequately explained as both theologically necessary and strategically advantageous for the survival of the messianic sect. As a result, it makes sense to believe that the Judaean leaders were able to function autonomously in carrying out all the provisions of Jewish law from 6--66 CE, with no limitation on the freedom to assemble officially or carry out capital punishment before 62 CE.

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