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Poor Apostles

Were the apostles poor?

We addressed this question in an article about Jesus."Was Jesus rich?"

But what about the apostles?

Peter, along with Andrew, John and James, were fishermen.

Fishing was a major occupation for Galileans but a poor fisherman would only have a net. That does not seem to be the case with the apostles. They had a large boat and nets that required several men to manage. They seem to have more than one boat. [1]. Peter also had a large house and he had a family.[2] These would make him upper middle class at that time.

Tax collectors were well off. They needed to have considerable education and specific training and needed to be trustworthy from an honorable family. Matthew was a tax collector.[3]

Luke was an educated healer or what we might call a doctor.[4] Luke 8:3

What the apostles were unregistered or what might be called idiotes.



Joseph of Arimathea

Who was Joseph of Arimathea?[5]

Joseph of Arimathæa[6] was identified as having taken charge of the body of Jesus in order to give Him decent burial.

Besides being a disciple of Jesus[7] and providing a tomb for the body of Jesus[8] Joseph is mentioned in all four gospels not only as a righteous man but also as a member of the Council (Sanhedrin) and a secret supporter of Jesus.

According to the Talmud, Joseph of Arimathea "[9] was the younger brother of Joachim the father of Mary and therefore Jesus' Great uncle.[10]

Joseph of Arimathea, son of Matthat (Mathat) ben Levi of Arimathea, was also the "Nobilis Decurio" (Minister of Mines) of the Roman Empire, among other titles, as stated by Jerome and earlier sources. This would have meant he was charged with overseeing the mining operations of the Roman Empire which were extensive and profitable.

Romans recognized talent and Joseph was talented, learning by 16 what many men might take a lifetime to master. His parentage, positions, and holdings would have been one of the richest men in the known world. The Patriarch of Constantinople wrote that Joseph was one of the Seventy Apostles appointed in Luke 10. So he was a member of the original Sanhedrin appointed by Jesus as the king and high priest for all who followed His way.

Joseph of Arimathea was also the "Nobilis Decurio" (Minister of Mines) of the Roman Empire, among other titles, as stated by Jerome and earlier sources. This would have meant he was charged with overseeing the mining operations of the Roman Empire and would have been one of the richest men in the known world.

Joseph as one of the richest men in the Roman Empire, he supported Jesus as the Christ. He was bold in his support of Jesus. [11] And he believed the kingdom at hand message.[12]

That kingdom of God was expected by the Essenes who were familiar with the prophet Menahem the Essene.


Nicodemus

While Joseph of Arimathea appears in all the Gospels Nicodemus only appears in John.[13]

Some say Simon the Leper and Simon the Pharisee was identical to the Talmudical Nicodemus ben Gorion who was reported to have miraculous powers and two daughters Mary[14] and Martha[15]. This is also said to be the same Nicodemus in John and had access to very expensive oil which would have almost been a kings ransom in value at a hundred Roman pounds.

Simon the Leper does not appear in John or Luke although their is a Simon who is also a pharisee in Luke.

We know there is an event of a woman at the feet of Jesus anointing him at the house of Mary[14] and Martha,[15] and Lazarus[16].

There is no mention of the head of the house as Simon in John. So the gospel of John seems to make no mention of either Simon the Leper and Simon the Pharisee but is the only Gospel that mentions this Nicodemus.

Are all these people the same?

Early Nicodemus

"Nicodemus" was not a normal Jewish name and its popularity varied over time. There had been a man years before who called himself Nicodemus but was one of the ambassadors sent by Aristobulus to request help from Pompey to oppose Hyrcanus and brought Rome to Judea.[17] With the coming of Rome there was the coming of the ideas of Rome at that time. Rome at that time was already degenerating from a free Republic into an indirect democracy and eventually the Imperial Cult of Rome.

Nakedimon

"The Talmud mentions a Nakedimon, so called from a miracle performed by him, who was the son of Gorion, and whose real name was Bonai.[18] It also gives the name Bonai as one of the disciples of Jesus. He was one of the three richest Jews when Titus besieged Jerusalem, but his family was reduced to the most abject poverty. So far the Talmud. The inference is that this change of fortune is connected with his becoming a Christian and with the persecution which followed, and he is himself identified with the Nicodemus of the Gospel. We can only say this may be so. The reader who cares for more on the subject will find full references in Lampe, and the extracts from the Talmud translated in Lightfoot. Others may be content to accept this latter writer’s conclusion. “It is not worth while to take great pains in a question which is very involved, if we may not also call it useless.”" Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

Traditions and the Talmud suggests that Nicodemus and his family, including a Mary and a Martha were arrested because of their involvement with a false Messiah. They were exiled to Gaul a few years after the crucifixion but Nicodemus had to remain because of his wealth. While the Pharisees wanted to murder him and confiscated his wealth the Romans seemed to show him favor.

Nick name

Why would the Gospel of John not mention Simon the Leper nor Simon the Pharisee but be the only one of the Gospels that mentions Nicodemus?

Is there a clue in the name?

There could be several reasons someone would be given such a name such as Nicodemus or Nicodemos.[19] It is said according to the Holman Bible Dictionary that Nicodemus means "innocent of blood"[20] while others translate it from the Greek components as “victory of the people.”

The author of the Gospel may have called this member of the Sanhedrin "innocent of blood" because he was innocent of the blood of Christ.

With a Greek origin the name Nikodemos, may be translated into “victory of the people.” But the name Nicolaitan can mean "conquered people" or "victory over the people" like the term "Balaam".

If we consider the Doctrine of Jesus which sets the captive free and is in opposition to the doctrines of men and their tables of welfare which are a snare and a trap entangling the people as merchandise in the cities of blood and the bondage of Egypt then the meaning of "innocent of blood" makes more sense. Those engaged in covetous practices are not innocent of blood which is why they become merchandise becoming entangled again in the yoke of bondage.

He is also mentioned by Josephus in The Jewish War. 2.17.10. and others[21]

Paul the Apostle came from an area where tent making was a major trade. His Father was wealthy enough to provide him with the best education and his stepfather was also wealthy and a prominent man in Rome. He joined Aquila and Priscilla in a tent-making enterprise which more than likely provided employment for many people because he was of “the same trade” (Acts 18:1–3).

But in another sense, the apostles were poor because they were to give up their personal estates and own "All things common".

The statement about owning all things common was not about the people who gathered in free assemblies but about those ministers of the kingdom of God who were appointed a kingdom as the little flock as Jesus promised. There should be no lone apostles, but only those who come into one accord with Christ and his appointed ministers as we see the apostles at Pentecost in the early Church. Their purpose was to set the captive free and return every man to his possessions and to his family and provide service to the congregations of the people because that is what the true levites did and Jesus was one who came to serve.

  1. ↑ Luke 5:6-7
  2. ↑ Mark 1:29–30
  3. ↑ Matthew 9:9
  4. ↑ Colossians 4:14
  5. ↑ 707 Ἀριμαθαία Arimathaia [ar-ee-math-ah’-ee-ah] of Hebrew origin 07414 הרמתים‎; n pr loc; AV-Arimathaea 4; 4
    • Arimathaea  = "heights"
    1) the name of several cities in Palestine The one mentioned in Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:51; John 19:38 appears to have been the same as the birthplace of Samuel in Mount Ephraim.
  6. ↑ Matthew 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
    Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
    Luke 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) [he was] of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
    John 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
  7. ↑ Matthew 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
  8. ↑ Matthew 27:57 "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:"
  9. ↑
    Joseph of Arimathea, "The Tin Man" (5?BC-80+AD) "de Marmore (Marmorica in Egypt)
    Son of Matthat, Son of Levi ben Melchi and Esthra / Estha
    Husband of Anna bar Simon, of Arimathea and Alyuba bar Eléazar
    Uncle of Mary as the younger brother of Joachim the father of Mary
    Brother of Saint Joachim; Heli ben Matat and Bianca.
    Half brother of JoAnna of Arimathea, Heli ben Matat and Gjora
    Great Uncle to Jesus and to His Brothers and Sisters
    • Brother Joachim/Jacob and Anna/Hannah (Bianca/Anna (Enygeus) The parents of Mary.
    AKA: "Joachin", "Joachim", "Joakhim", "Yoachim", "Yoyakim", "Heli (Prince Alexander III “Helios”) ben Matthan"
  10. ↑ George F. Jowett, "The Drama of the Lost Disciples", (p.18). The "Harlein Manuscripts" (38-59f, 1936) appears to support these claims.
  11. ↑ Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
    John 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
  12. ↑ Luke 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the Kingdom of God.
  13. ↑ John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
    John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
    John 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
    John 7:50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
    John 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound [weight].
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 3137 Μαρία Maria [mar-ee’-ah] or Μαριάμ Mariam [mar-ee-am’] of Hebrew origin 04813 מִרְיָם‎; n pr f; AV-Mary the mother of Jesus 19, Mary Magdalene 13, Mary the sister of Martha 11, Mary the mother of James 9, Mary the mother of John Mark 1, Mary of Rome 1; 54
    • Mary or Miriam  = "their rebellion"
    1) Mary the mother of Jesus
    2) Mary Magdalene, a women from Magdala
    3) Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha
    4) Mary of Cleophas the mother of James the less
    5) Mary the mother of John Mark, a sister of Barnabas
    6) Mary, a Roman Christian who is greeted by Paul in #Ro 16:6
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 3136 Μάρθα Martha [mar’-thah] probably of Chaldean origin (meaning mistress) מָרְתָא‎; n pr f; AV-Martha 13; 13
    • Martha  = "she was rebellious"
    1) was the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany
  16. ↑ 2976 Λάζαρος Lazaros [lad’-zar-os] probably of Hebrew origin 0499 אֶלעָזָר‎; n pr m; AV-Lazarus 11, Lazarus (the poor man) 4; 15
    • Lazarus  = "whom God helps" (a form of the Hebrew name Eleazar)
    1) an inhabitant of Bethany, beloved by Christ and raised from the dead by him
    2) a very poor and wretched person to whom Jesus referred to in #Luke 16:20-25
  17. ↑ Josephus (Ant. of the Jews, XIV, iii, 2)
  18. ↑ "The Nicodemus of the Talmud was also called Bunai, must have survived the destruction of Jerusalem, and was known under this latter name as a disciple of Jesus." Meyer's NT Commentary
    • "Nicodemus" He is mentioned only by S. John. It is impossible to say whether he is identical with the Nicodemus of the Talmud, also called Bunai, who survived the destruction of Jerusalem." Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
  19. ↑ 3530 Νικόδημος Nikodemos [nik-od’-ay-mos] from 3534 nikos victory or to utterly vanquish and 1218 demos people; n pr m; AV-Nicodemus 5; 5
    1) a member of the Sanhedrin who took the part of Jesus
    as a personal name it may mean "innocent of blood".
  20. ↑ Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
  21. ↑ Lamentations Rabbah, i. 5; Ecclesiastes Rabbah, vii. 11;
    Babylonian Talmud,
    Talmud - Mas. Ta'anith 19b pdf; Ktubot 65a-b, 66b, 67a; Gittin 56a (cf. Josephus, Jewish War, v. 1, § 4)
    "NAKDIMON BEN GURYON". Encyclopedia Judaica.
    Avot of Rabbi Natan, vi. 3.
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