Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Mara Bar-Serapion
I just read the letter of
Mara Bar-Serapion. Too bad there are so few references online to
the letter (most of them refer to New
Testament Documents by Bruce). I was not able to find good info on
the status of the letter (when was it found? where? textual info? on
which grounds can it be dated?).
The passage of the letter that normally gets quoted in an early Church context is this:
Maybe Mara was not a Christian; otherwise, he would have dealt with the figure of Jesus in a more detailed way, perhaps mentioning resurrection, or other details. Also, his attitude against persecution is not exactly the one of, say, Ignatius of Antioch and of some of the Christian martyrs: Mara would definitely seek the opportunity of making a defence.
He is by his own admission a learned man, one that walked the path of learning and Greek philosophy. He was also likely of high standing, if we are to believe that his son is being educated by "a master and guardian". But with all his learning, something happened someday to his life, as all his knowledge suffered shipwreck when the birth of life took place. This may well be a reference to a new belief of his, but if this belief is Christianity it is not clear why it is not made more explicit in the letter. Generally speaking, the letter seems a piece of wisdom literature, where we find some common themes:
Back to the point of Christian/Jews relations: if Mara thinks that the "Wise King" is Jesus, it seems that:
Categories: Church_History
The passage of the letter that normally gets quoted in an early Church context is this:
What are we to say, when the wise are dragged by force by the hands of tyrants, and their wisdom is deprived of its freedom by slander, and they are plundered for their superior intelligence, without the opportunity of making a defence? They are not wholly to be pitied. For what benefit did the Athenians obtain by putting Socrates to death, seeing that they received as retribution for it famine and pestilence? Or the people of Samos by the burning of Pythagoras, seeing that in one hour the. whole of their country was covered with sand? Or the Jews by the murder of their Wise King, seeing that from that very time their kingdom was driven away from them? For with justice did God grant a recompense to the wisdom of all three of them. For the Athenians died by famine; and the people of Samos were covered by the sea without remedy; and the Jews, brought to desolation and expelled from their kingdom, are driven away into Every land. Nay, Socrates did "not" die, because of Plato; nor yet Pythagoras, because of the statue of Hera; nor yet the Wise King, because of the new laws which he enacted.The point that interests me here is not so much whether this document gives us a hint to the existence of an historical Jesus; it is rather to understand, assuming that Mara is really referring to Jesus, what the attitude toward Judaism was at his time (and here we have the big problem of dating Mara's letter). And, what use if any was ever done of this letter in antiquity?
Maybe Mara was not a Christian; otherwise, he would have dealt with the figure of Jesus in a more detailed way, perhaps mentioning resurrection, or other details. Also, his attitude against persecution is not exactly the one of, say, Ignatius of Antioch and of some of the Christian martyrs: Mara would definitely seek the opportunity of making a defence.
He is by his own admission a learned man, one that walked the path of learning and Greek philosophy. He was also likely of high standing, if we are to believe that his son is being educated by "a master and guardian". But with all his learning, something happened someday to his life, as all his knowledge suffered shipwreck when the birth of life took place. This may well be a reference to a new belief of his, but if this belief is Christianity it is not clear why it is not made more explicit in the letter. Generally speaking, the letter seems a piece of wisdom literature, where we find some common themes:
- seek learning, but be prepared to accept that learning brings about suffering.
- delusion, that has taken up its abobe in the world,
is an important concept. This delusion is associated to the fact that
men rely on worldly goods, like riches, fortresses, greatness,
children, etc. All these things will pass.
- understanding and quest of truth is the solution. This
understanding is gnostic, but also practical (understand the things to do).
Back to the point of Christian/Jews relations: if Mara thinks that the "Wise King" is Jesus, it seems that:
- His authority as a wise man is recognized.
- The Jews are condemned for having put a wise man to death; this would say something about how the relation between Judaism and Christianity was perceived by an "external observer".
- He "did not die" because of
the new laws which he enacted. Which laws is he talking about
here? They are paralleled to the writings of Plato, or to the statue of
Hera: he must be referring here to a tangible and durable sign of his
wisdom. Note that the new laws
of the Wise King are considered clearly different from the worldy laws
that, he says, will pass away.
Moreover I, my son, have attentively observed mankind, in what a dismal state of ruin they are. And I have been amazed that they are not utterly prostrated by the calamities which surround them, and that even their wars are not enough for them, nor the pains they endure, nor the diseases, nor the death, nor the poverty; but that, like savage beasts, they must needs rush upon one another in their enmity, trying which of them shall inflict the greater mischief on his fellow. For they have broken away from the bounds of truth, and transgress all honest laws, because they are bent on fulfilling their selfish desires; for, whensoever a man is eagerly set on obtaining that which he desires, how is it possible that he should fitly do that which it behoves him to do? and they acknowledge no restraint, and but seldom stretch out their hands towards truth and goodness, but in their manner of life behave like the deaf and the blind. Moreover, the wicked rejoice, and the righteous are disquieted. He that has, denies that he has; and he that has not, struggles to acquire. The poor seek help, and the rich hide their wealth, and every man laughs at his fellow. Those that are drunken are stupefied, and those that have recovered themselves are ashamed. Some weep, and some sing; and some laugh, and others are a prey to care. They rejoice in things evil, and a man that speaks the truth they despise.
Categories: Church_History
