Nazareth

[ConqueredbyLove]

Joh 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Does anyone know why Nathanael asked that question? Was there something about Nazareth in those days that caused him to make that seemingly contempteous remark?

 

[Tangible]

I have some vague recollection of hearing somebody like Charles Stanley or Chuck Swindoll on the radio going into a detailed explanation from a historical point of view just what a nasty place Nazareth was.

Apparently it was a small town at the crossroads of some pretty important Roman roads, and was like a dirty truck stop only with pagan temples, sleazy bars and prostitutes. It had a really bad reputation that seems to have been well-deserved.

Caveat - This is all just hear-say, from something I heard on the radio more than a year ago.

 

[ebia]

That doesn't fit with anything I've read at all.

If we knew a bit more about Nathaniel we might be able to answer more clearly. For instance, if he were a fairly strict Jew anywhere in Galillee would be suspect. If he were from a neighbouring village it could be no more than local rivalry. Or there is some thought that Nazareth was an unusual outpost of Judeans in Gallilee in an attempt to re-Judaize Galillee - in which case Galileans may have viewed it with distrust.

 

[wayseer]

Joh 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Does anyone know why Nathanael asked that question? Was there something about Nazareth in those days that caused him to make that seemingly contempteous remark?

Nazareth was in the area of Galilee - some 70 miles norther of Jerusalem. It was a hilly area and know for being a hot bed of Jewish rebellion again the Romans.

Located further north it was influence by Greek culture, both language and writing, and the Galileans had little time for the political conspiracies going on in Jerusalem between the Jewish leaders and the Romans.

Galilee was also part of the previous 'Northern Kingdom' which was constantly bought to their attention by those of the 'Southern Kingdom' which centred on Jerusalem.

Nathanael was just referring to local tradition - nothing good comes from being born on the wrong side of the tracks.