Ben Wilson

rather than believing that the Messiah needed to be born of a virgin, and so inventing some story about his birth. So, you know, even if you're a non-Christian looking at this, it seems more likely that Jesus' mother did indeed become pregnant before she was married. Of course, if you're not Christian, you're going to explain that as an extramarital affair or something like that.

But the point is that, yes, you can glean things about Jesus' life from the Gospels, right? That is not to say that everything in the Bible is historically accurate.

But the point is that, yes, you can glean things about Jesus' life from the Gospels, right? That is not to say that everything in the Bible is historically accurate.

I'll talk about a couple of things that are questionable, but that was my long way of saying, I think the Jesus of the Bible does have some relationship to the historical figure, probably a very strong relationship, and he is worth studying. So my sources for this episode are the gospel accounts from the New Testament. That's Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I used the King James version.

I'll talk about a couple of things that are questionable, but that was my long way of saying, I think the Jesus of the Bible does have some relationship to the historical figure, probably a very strong relationship, and he is worth studying. So my sources for this episode are the gospel accounts from the New Testament. That's Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I used the King James version.

I also read Jesus, a biography from a believer by Paul Johnson and the New Testament in its world by N.T. Wright. I should mention that I was able to listen to the New Testament in my own voice, which is pretty cool. There's an old Jewish tradition that God speaks to you in your own voice.

I also read Jesus, a biography from a believer by Paul Johnson and the New Testament in its world by N.T. Wright. I should mention that I was able to listen to the New Testament in my own voice, which is pretty cool. There's an old Jewish tradition that God speaks to you in your own voice.

So if you've ever, for example, watched The Prince of Egypt, which is a cartoon depiction of the Moses story, Val Kilmer voices Moses, but he also voices God because, you know, Moses is supposed to be hearing God in his own voice. Well, I was able to listen to the New Testament using my own voice via Speechify.

So if you've ever, for example, watched The Prince of Egypt, which is a cartoon depiction of the Moses story, Val Kilmer voices Moses, but he also voices God because, you know, Moses is supposed to be hearing God in his own voice. Well, I was able to listen to the New Testament using my own voice via Speechify.

I use Speechify for 80% of my research because I find I get through material way faster if I listen to it and read it at the same time. I recommend that anyone try it. You won't believe how much faster it is than just reading. It's a superpower for learning quickly. So if you want to use it, go to Speechify.com slash Ben to get 15% off Speechify premium.

I use Speechify for 80% of my research because I find I get through material way faster if I listen to it and read it at the same time. I recommend that anyone try it. You won't believe how much faster it is than just reading. It's a superpower for learning quickly. So if you want to use it, go to Speechify.com slash Ben to get 15% off Speechify premium.

And you can use my AI voice if you would like to listen to whatever you want, including the New Testament in my voice. With that said, let's get into it. This is the life of Jesus. Okay, so let's talk about the context a little bit. At this time, and we're talking about the turn of the millennium, so, you know, about 0 AD, of course, the Jews were waiting for a messiah.

And you can use my AI voice if you would like to listen to whatever you want, including the New Testament in my voice. With that said, let's get into it. This is the life of Jesus. Okay, so let's talk about the context a little bit. At this time, and we're talking about the turn of the millennium, so, you know, about 0 AD, of course, the Jews were waiting for a messiah.

Why are they waiting for Messiah at this particular time? Essentially because of the Roman conquest. Under the great King David, Israel was established as an independent kingdom and a regional power. David's son Solomon had built a beautiful temple that becomes the center, the beating heart of Jewish worship.

Why are they waiting for Messiah at this particular time? Essentially because of the Roman conquest. Under the great King David, Israel was established as an independent kingdom and a regional power. David's son Solomon had built a beautiful temple that becomes the center, the beating heart of Jewish worship.

but then they are conquered by the Babylonians who destroy their temple and take the people into captivity. The Babylonians are overthrown by the Persians who allow them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. So the temple is rebuilt, but then the Jews get new rulers when the Persians are overthrown by Alexander the Great.

but then they are conquered by the Babylonians who destroy their temple and take the people into captivity. The Babylonians are overthrown by the Persians who allow them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. So the temple is rebuilt, but then the Jews get new rulers when the Persians are overthrown by Alexander the Great.

Efforts are made by some of Alexander's successors to Hellenize the Jews, kind of adopt them into Greek culture. And so the temple is taken and rededicated to Zeus, and pigs are sacrificed to Zeus in the temple, which was a normal sacrifice by Greek standards, but pigs were unclean to Jews, and this was highly offensive.

Efforts are made by some of Alexander's successors to Hellenize the Jews, kind of adopt them into Greek culture. And so the temple is taken and rededicated to Zeus, and pigs are sacrificed to Zeus in the temple, which was a normal sacrifice by Greek standards, but pigs were unclean to Jews, and this was highly offensive.

Eventually, the Jews revolt under the leadership of Mattathias Maccabee and his five sons, and they win independence from this Greek kingdom. but it's not very long-lasting independence because they are soon once again conquered, this time by the Romans. The Romans are not as repressive as the Babylonians, but neither are they hands-off as the Persians.