100 Reasons to Believe New Testament History
19. Joseph of Arimathea and the Jews
According to the Gospels, Joseph was a “good guy”, “a disciple of Jesus” (Matthew 27:57) who gave Jesus a proper burial in his own tomb. Joseph was also “a prominent council member” (Mark 15:43).
To suggest that Joseph was a fictitious character written into the narrative in the second or third centuries appears absurd. At this point the rift between Judaism and Christianity was already deep and wide. H.L. Ellison, lecturer and writer on the Old Testament, Dawlish, Devon, England, states:
“At first Christians were regarded as a Jewish sect by both Jews and Gentiles. This led to opposition and persecution of the church by the Jewish authorities, who objected to its doctrines and the admission of Gentiles without their accepting the Law. After the Jewish revolts against Rome (AD 66-73, AD 132-35) most Christians disassociated themselves from the Jews. The Christians’ refusal to support the revolts caused them to be regarded as national enemies. From this time few Jews were converted to Christianity.
Increasingly Christians came to regard Jews as deliberate haters of the good. When the church became recognized by Constantine legal discrimination against Jews increased and they were gradually deprived of all rights.” “The Christian Church and the Jews”, in “The Eerdman’s Handbook to the History of Christianity”, 1987, p. 50
It’s hard to imagine that Christians writing in the second or third century would invent a character like Joseph, a prominent Jewish council member, in such a favourable light. Further, it’s seems very unlikely that Joseph’s character is entirely fictional as his claimed prominence as a council member would have been easily refuted if it were not so.
There are other passages that are equally inexplicable if we accept a late date for the Gospels’ composition:
Luke 7:37 – Jesus eats with the Pharisees.
Luke 13:31 – The Pharisees warn Jesus about Herod’s plot to have Him killed.
John 9:16 – notes division among the Pharisees over whether Jesus was from God.
John 3:2 – Nicodemus’ (a ruler of the Jews) confession to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that
You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” A
19. Joseph of Arimathea and the Jews - Notes and References
A. “It is worth noting that the Jewish official in charge of the supply of water to the temple at the time of Christ was called Nakdimon ben Gurion. This man may actually have been the Nicodemus (“a ruler of the Jews”) who is mentioned in the fourth gospel.” A.C. Bouquet, “Everyday life in New Testament Times”, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1953, p. 40