Caesarea Philippi, Bet She’an, and the Decapolis

The Decapolis, Bet She’an, and Caesarea Philippi : : 

The Decapolis, Bet She’an, and Caesarea Philippi : The “Far Country” and Romanized Culture

Hellenized Culture : 

Hellenized Culture Alexander the Great wanted the whole world to be under the influence of Greek culture in religion, language, philosophy, political structure, and values. He died before he could make his dream a reality, but his successors accomplished his goal to a large degree. Greek cultural institutions were established in many cities, including Jerusalem. Theaters became common and popular. The rabbis of Israel forbade attendance at these theaters because their dramas portrayed the myths of Greek and Roman gods, contained erotic themes common to Hellenism, and were performed in connection with pagan religious festivals, which included sacrifices to the gods. (www.followtherabbi.com)

Slide 3: 

Gymnasiums, or Greek educational institutions, appeared in many cities, including Jerusalem, not far from the Temple. In the gymnasium, the Greek ideal of training people's bodies and minds was put into practice. Students studied the philosophy of classical Greece, received athletic training, and competed naked in athletic events. (www.followtherabbi.com)

Culture Wars : 

Culture Wars The Greek educational system was remarkably effective, instilling Greek ideals into entire generations of young Jewish people. Busts of Greek gods and heroes celebrated the ultimate ideal: the human form. Young Jews read Homer, Euripides, and Plato to absorb their values. Pharisees, devoted to keeping God's people faithful to Torah, constantly admonished young Jews intrigued by Greek culture. (www.followtherabbi.com)

Slide 5: 

Beautiful architecture made the Hellenized cities of the Decapolis seem very attractive and modern. People from the small villages of Galilee must have been awed by the marble streets, mosaic floors, running water, and fountains. The Greek language became the common tongue of the economic world. Few people did more to bring these Hellenistic ideas to the Jews than Herod the Great and his sons, Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip. (www.followtherabbi.com)

Hellenism/Humanism : 

Hellenism/Humanism “At its core, Hellenism was humanism. It glorified human beings above all other creatures and portrayed the human body as the ultimate in physical beauty. Truth could be known only through the human mind, and pleasure was a crucial goal in life. Hellenism's values permeated the gymnasium and its excellent system of education, the theater, and the games in the arena.” (www.followtherabbi.com)

The Decapolis : 

The Decapolis A group of ten cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire in Judea and Syria Grouped together because of their language, culture, location, and political status Centers of Greek and Roman culture in a region that was otherwise Semitic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Creative_Commons

Romanized Culture : 

Romanized Culture The Roman government wanted Roman culture to flourish so they encouraged the growth of these ten cities, allowing them to function as city-states with some level of self-governance. Romans left their cultural stamp on all of the cities. Each one was eventually rebuilt with a Roman-style grid of streets based around a central cardo and/or decumanus. The Romans sponsored and built many temples and other public buildings. The imperial cult, the worship of the Roman emperor, was a very common practice throughout the Decapolis and was one of the features that linked the different cities.

Slide 9: 

Although for much of its history the Decapolis actually comprised more than 10 cities, it retained its designation as the "10 cities." Many of the cities are familiar to the New Testament reader: Damascus, Philadelphia (modern Amman, Jordan), Scythopolis (Bet She’an), Gadara (Gadarenes), Pella, and Gerasa (Geresenes). (www.followtherabbi.com)

The “Distant Country” : 

The “Distant Country” It is possible that the “distant country” Jesus referred to in his parable of the prodigal son was the Decapolis. Certainly, it was distant in its values and beliefs. It was definitely a place for "wild living," and it had plenty of pigs that needed to be fed. For the son, it would be only a short walk from the Decapolis back home to his forgiving father. No one knows whether this is the country Jesus had in mind in the parable, but certainly the lifestyle of the Decapolis fits the parable's description. (www.followtherabbi.com)

The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32 NIV) : 

The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32 NIV) 11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.  17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.       "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Slide 12: 

21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'  22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.  25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'  28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'  31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

One example of a city of the Decapolis : 

One example of a city of the Decapolis Scythopolis/Bet She’an  Sits at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley, essentially controlling access from the interior to the coast, as well as from Jerusalem to the Galilee.

Tell Bet She’an : 

Tell Bet She’an 20 layers of settlement have been uncovered on this tell, from 5000 B. C. through medieval times. On the city wall at the base of this tell, the decapitated bodies of King Saul and his son Jonathan were put on display by the Philistines who defeated them in battle at nearby Mt. Gilboa.

Slide 15: 

During the Hellenistic period, this city was called Scythopolis  Greek mythology has the city founded by Dionysus and his nursemaid  Nysa buried there; thus it was known as Nysa-Scythopolis. City was destroyed by the Hasmoneans In 64 BC it was taken by the Romans, rebuilt, and made the capital of the Decapolis Romans built up the city, evidenced by its high-level of urban planning and extensive construction including the best preserved Roman theater of ancient Samaria as well as a hippodrome, cardo, and other trademarks of the Roman influence. Our group climbing to the top of the tell at Bet She’an

Slide 16: 

View of the recently excavated Roman/Byzantine era city from the top of the tell. Major excavations began in 1986. Evidence of the major earthquake in 749 A.D. that destroyed the city is everywhere.

View of the valley from top of Tell. : 

View of the valley from top of Tell.

The Roman Cardo : 

The Roman Cardo Known as Palladius Street, the 150 meter long colonnaded street crossed the city from the slopes of the Tel to the theater. Originally built during the Roman period, and renovated at the beginning of the Byzantine period. There were shops all along the street.

View of Palladius Street toward the Tell. : 

View of Palladius Street toward the Tell.

View of Silvanus Street : 

View of Silvanus Street Originally a Roman road flanked on one side by a monumental colonnade. A marble-edged pool was built parallel to the road. There were stores all along this street also.

The Roman Theater: the best preserved one in Israel : 

The Roman Theater: the best preserved one in Israel

Slide 22: 

Built in the first century A. D., the 7000 seat theater seen today is the product of renovations carried out at the end of the 2nd century. It had three tiers of seating, of which only the lowermost was preserved intact (Nili Graicer, Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority, 1999).

Slide 24: 

Rising behind the stage was an elaborate backdrop wall, comprising a row of imported granite and marble columns adorned by ornate capitals, a richly decorated entablature and statues (Nili Graicer, Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority, 1999).

Bath house complex model : 

Bath house complex model

Remains of the caldarium (hot tub) : 

Remains of the caldarium (hot tub)

More of the excavated bath house complex: : 

More of the excavated bath house complex:

Sigma : 

Sigma A semicircular concourse of the Byzantine period, called the Sigma in an inscription found at the site, surrounded by rooms opening onto it, paved with colored mosaics with geometric, plant and animal motifs and Greek inscriptions.

Public lavatories: : 

Public lavatories:

Temple to Dionysus : 

Temple to Dionysus Greek god of wine (Roman Bacchus) , madness, and ecstasy. Statue depicting Dionysus Toppled capitals in front of the Roman temple to Dionysus at Bet She’an

View of remains of the front steps of the Roman temple, from top of the tell. : 

View of remains of the front steps of the Roman temple, from top of the tell.

Slide 39: 

The semicircular temple, built in 2nd century A.D. and destroyed during Byzantine period, was in the classical style. Its façade had four columns surmounted by capitals, supporting an ornamented gabled roof to a height of about 15 meters. Two collapsed columns were found in the ruins left by the earthquake of 749.

View standing on the steps of the temple, looking back toward Silvanus Street. : 

View standing on the steps of the temple, looking back toward Silvanus Street.

Slide 47: 

During the later days of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, He and his disciples were constantly on the move, seeking a place away from the crowds so that He could teach them the important lessons they had to learn before His time with them would end. He left the area of Capernaum and traveled to Gaulinitis, in the tetrarchy of Herod Philip, to the region of Caesarea Philippi. A very vivid object lesson was available to Him, there.

Region of Caesarea Philippi : 

Region of Caesarea Philippi Situated 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and at the base of Mt. Hermon, Caesarea Philippi is the location of one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River.   This abundant water supply has made the area very fertile and attractive for religious worship.  Numerous pagan temples were built at this city in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. (bibleplaces.com)

Slide 49: 

Herod the Great built a temple there dedicated to Emperor Augustus, who had given him the town. After his father’s death in 4 B. C., Herod Philip took over Gaulanitis (the Golan), east of the Jordan River and north of the Sea of Galilee. Following the example of his father, Philip built the first city at Panias, naming it Caesarea Philippi to honor the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus and himself, and to distinguish it from Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean coast. (http://www.ancientsandals.com)

Slide 50: 

Caesarea Philippi became a center of Greek-Roman culture, a city known for its pagan worship, its prestigious status as the capital city of Herod Philip’s domain, and its significant Gentile population. References to "the district of Caesarea Philippi" (Matt 16:13) and "the villages of Caesarea Philippi" (Mark 8:27) reflect the city’s status as the power center of Philip’s territory  (www.ancientsandals.com). There is no record of Jesus actually entering the city, but Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ, and the transfiguration both occurred in the vicinity of the city. worshipexcellence.org

Grotto of Pan: the “Gates of Hell” : 

Grotto of Pan: the “Gates of Hell” The spring near this city emerged from a large cave which became the center of the pagan worship of Pan, the half-man half-goat god Greek mythological god who is often depicted playing the flute.  Sacrifices were cast into the cave as offerings during the period of Greek control following the conquest by Alexander the Great.    Once called Panias, the name of Caesarea Philippi is today a version of that, Banias. (bible places.com) This cave was known colloquially as the entrance to the underworld or the “gates of Hades”.

Slide 52: 

www.bibleplaces.com

Peter's Confession of Christ : 

Peter's Confession of Christ 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."  15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"  16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:13-20 NIV)

Slide 54: 

It was Jesus’ practice to teach in metaphors and parables that related to the physical context in which He was ministering. If Jesus were standing with His disciples in front of this sheer cliff, it would explain His use of the metaphor "rock" used in His conversation with Peter. The word He used was petra, a term that would be used to describe such a bluff. (http://www.ancientsandals.com) www.bibleplaces.com

Jesus Predicts His Death : 

Jesus Predicts His Death 21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"  23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.“ (Matt. 16:21-23 NIV)

Jesus Defines Discipleship : 

Jesus Defines Discipleship 24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”(Matt. 16:24-25)

Jesus made four historic predictions at Caesarea Philippi : 

Jesus made four historic predictions at Caesarea Philippi The Church: (Matt 16:18) For the first time, Jesus announced His purpose to build an ekklesia (Church), a called out community to be His Body on earth, to witness to Him while He was absent. The Keys of the Kingdom: (Matt 16:19) The keys refer to authority in the ekklesia. This power would also be shared by the other apostles (Matt 18:18; John 20:20-23). This authority was given to the apostles to enable them to lead the first generation of believers after Pentecost until the epistles were written, that revealed Jesus’ standards and provisions for His ekklesia. His coming death and resurrection: (Matt 16:21-23) His call to discipleship: (Matt 16:24-27). http://www.ancientsandals.com

Mt. Hermon : 

Mt. Hermon “Following the announcement of His imminent death, Jesus taught the disciples for six days. At this time, He took Peter, James and John, separately, up on a mountain near Caesarea Philippi. . .” (Dr. Charles Page, Jesus and the Land, 104). Bibleplaces.com

The Transfiguration : 

The Transfiguration 1After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.2There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."  5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!“ (Matthew 17: 1-5 NIV) Mt. Hermon, one likely site for the Transfiguration

Slide 60: 

6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.  9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."  10The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"  11Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.12But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." 13Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:6-13 NIV) Transfiguration by Lodovico Carracci, 1594, depicting Elijah, Jesus, and Moses with the three apostles.

Some closing thoughts as we move toward Jerusalem-- : 

Some closing thoughts as we move toward Jerusalem-- “Many visitors to Galilee are amazed at how close Jesus' area of ministry was to the pagan Decapolis. Jesus did not avoid the people living in darkness. He went to them and pierced the darkness of their sinful lifestyle with the light of God's message of salvation and love. “Jesus wants us to follow his example in confronting the darkness in our own world. The power of Satan and his demons seems overwhelming. It would be easy for us to isolate ourselves in safe, rule-bound communities and just let the outside world destroy itself. But even though rules can be good and community is necessary for Christian living, Jesus used neither as an escape. He modeled another way for us as his followers. He left the familiarity of his community and confronted evil on its own turf. “Such a display of God's power still can and does happen today, when we confront the darkness in our society with the message of what God, through Jesus, has done for us.” (Ray Vander Laan, That the World May Know. wwwfollowtherabbi.com. Web. 5 Oct. 2010)

Slide 62: 

“When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” Luke 9:51 Soon after Jesus’ teachings near Caesarea Philippi and the Transfiguration, Jesus and the disciples went to Jerusalem for what would be the last week of Jesus’ earthly life. Next week we will begin our look at Jerusalem, and the events that led up to the crucifixion.