Re: Jesus or Barabbas

From: Michael Roberts (michael.andrea.r@ukonline.co.uk)
Date: Tue May 06 2003 - 12:14:47 EDT

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    Gary
    I think it is one of those questions which is answerable as there is no evidence whether they were candidates for popular release or not. The possibilities are endless but it is not important.

    Remember that the bible always gives such compressed accounts that it leaves a tremendous amount out.

    I haven't a clue about Bulgakov's ideas.

    Michael
      ----- Original Message -----
      From: Gary Collins
      To: asa@lists.calvin.edu
      Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2003 2:32 PM
      Subject: Jesus or Barabbas

      Michael Roberts wrote:

      ....
      I would point out that I do have a degree in theology and have taught up to
      M.A. level. I am pretty familiar with biblical commentators from the early
      church until today.
      ....

      Hi Michael,
      It sounds as though you are just the person who might be able to answer a
      (not vastly significant) question I have. In all four gospels (I think) Pilate offers
      the people the choice of which prisoner to free - Jesus Christ or Barabbas. All
      four gospels record that two others were crucified with Jesus. What is intriguing
      me is why these two others were not also put forward as candidates for possible
      release.
      Mikhail Bulgakov, in 'The Master and Margarita' makes the suggestion that
      Jesus and Barabbas had been brought to trial by the Sanhedrin, but the other
      two by the authority of Rome. This is only a novel; but since Bulgakov undoubtedly
      used some historic material in composing it, it might be possible that his answer
      is correct. OTOH it may simply be his own fabrication.
      I would like to know if this does come from some early tradition, or from the writings
      of the church 'fathers', etc. My commentaries don't seem to make any comment
      on this.
      Hope you can help, trivial though the question is!
      /Gary

      "By tying up the weak case for a young earth in the same package as the strong case for creation, recent-creationists are almost asking to be defeated."
      -- Alan Hayward, "Creation and Evolution: The Facts and Fallacies," p.81

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