Before watching The Chosen, had you ever given much thought to Simon the Zealot or Nathanael? Two of them are among Jesus Twelve ApostlesSimon the Zealot and Simon Peter. But heres what we know. Eusebius, a Greek historian of Christianity, wrote that Simon the Zealot became the second bishop of Jerusalem. Simeon is sometimes identified with Simon, brother of Jesus, and has also been identified with the Apostle Simon the Zealot . (John 21:1-8, ESV), Nathanael sitting under a fig tree in Season 2 of The Chosen, In order for characters to contribute to an ensemble in a meaningful way, it's important for each of them to have unique gifts or abilities. The Bible does not tell us anything about Simon the Zealot before he met Jesus. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, Do you want to be healed? The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me. Jesus said to him, Get up, take up your bed, and walk. And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Some scholars believe Josephus exaggerated the Zealots to keep the peace, blaming the war on a small Jewish sect and some bad Roman leaders. To watch this season with your group, you'll need to pick up The Chosen app (Google / Apple). Simon the Zealot and Nathanael in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), S3 still - Feeding the 5,000 - Jesus and Simon the Zealot feed the hungry crowd, The only biblical references to Simon the Zealot are found in listings of the 12 disciples (, The Bible itself never explains Simon's relationship to the Zealot movement. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? Some interpreters have seen it as an allusion to 1 Kings 4:25, which describes the reign of King Solomon, to whom "son of God" language is sometimes applied (e.g., Psalm 2). Matthew 10:1-4 ), he appears to have already been established as a disciple of Jesus. Zavada, Jack. While there may only be one path that saves us, that path can be entered through a variety doorways. The Chosen introduces Simon the Zealot and Nathanael (as well as Judas) in similar ways, using teaser segments/prologues. Read Scripture Like an Artist is a Bible journal that will help you engage with Scripture through your imagination and respond to what you are reading through art and/or creative writing. Nevertheless, what John gives us about Nathanael is much more substantial and evocative than what we get concerning Simon. . [9] Another tradition holds that this is the Simeon of Jerusalem who became the second bishop of Jerusalem, although he was born in Galilee. The Bible mentions Nathanael less frequently than Simon the Zealot; he only comes up twice in the Gospel of John [although he may correspond to Bartholomew, who is mentioned in the list of Jesus' disciples (e.g., Matthew 10:3)]. Simon the Zealot's prologue establishes his longing to combat evil and injustice. It was most likely an underground hot spring. Omissions? Nothing further is known about him from the New Testament. Barbara Thiering identified Simon Zelotes with Simon Magus; however, this view has received no serious acceptance. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, Children, do you have any fish? They answered him, No. He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. He would then be the cousin of Jesus or a son of Joseph from a previous marriage. Simon's background as a Zealot also establishes that he is a serious, disciplined, and *surprise* zealous person. The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. For the apostle Simon Peter, see, Appendix to the Works of Hippolytus 49.11. Jesus teachings (such as turning the other cheek and loving your enemies) were often the complete opposite of the ideology the Zealots embraced. How could you relate to Simon the Zealot and/or Nathanael, as they were depicted in The Chosen? Study now. [22], "St. Simon" redirects here. Nathanael's aspiration to build great things for God becomes a kind of excuse/justification that allows his arrogance to grow out of control, until it finally lands him in tragedy. Did you have any questions about what happened? In The Chosen, Nathanael is portrayed as an architect in order to give his character depth and perhaps because the biblical story that features him contains a reference to Jacob's ladder. (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. Jesus Christ transcends political causes, governments, and all earthly turmoil. The first is that we simply haven't gotten to that point in the story. Saint Simon the Apostle, also called Simon the Zealot, (flourished 1st century addied, Persia or Edessa, Greece? Another account says he was crucified in 61 AD in Britain. To distinguish him from Simon Peter he is called Kananaios or Kananites, depending on the manuscript (Matthew 10:4 Mark 3:18), and in the list of apostles in Luke 6:15, repeated in Acts 1:13, Zelotes, the "Zealot". By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. I want the youth to enjoy it and not just see The Chosen as an elaborate preaching illustration. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. A few pseudepigraphical writings were connected to him, but Saint Jerome does not include him in De viris illustribus written between 392 and 393 AD.[4]. ; Western feast day October 28, Eastern feast day June 19), one of the Twelve Apostles. The Chosen Season 4 Controversy? Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. How would you react if someone asked you that question after you'd been disabled for almost 40 years? Click here for my affiliation policy. While The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 closes on a happy note, with Jesse joyfully dancing on his new legs full of gratitude to Jesus, the original account of this story in the Gospel of John ends much more ambivalently: The ending of this story in the Gospel of John seems to suggest that the invalid, after getting healed by Jesus, turns into a snitch, reporting Jesus to the Pharisees. Traditionally, it has been believed that Bartholomew was another name for Nathanael/Nathaniel. This draws our attention to something significant about the way The Chosen is adapting the figures of Simon the Zealot and Nathanael. and Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot; Matthew 10:2. Since the story of The Chosen has grown increasingly complex in Season 2, it's a good idea to regularly review some relevant information from previous episodes (especially since there's not a regular "previously on The Chosen" segment). Or he may have simply been zealous for the Mosaic Law. Those who take the former view think Jesus may have chosen Simon, a member of the tax-hating, Roman-hating Zealots, to counterbalance Matthew, a former tax collector, and employee of the Roman empire. 2010-11-26 00:36:58. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [18] According to Caesar Baronius and Hippolytus of Rome, Simon's first arrival in Britain was in the year A.D.44, during the Roman conquest. In the gospels Simon the Zealot is not identified with Simon the brother of Jesus mentioned in Mark 6 :3: Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Simon the Zealot is one of the greatest cases of the changing power of Christ. I'm sure that's why The Chosen decided to make Simon a. Venerated in. Western tradition is that he preached in Egypt and then went to Persia with St. Jude, where both suffered martyrdom. Its unclear when the group formally became known as the Zealots. [13] However, Moses of Chorene writes that he was martyred at Weriosphora in Caucasian Iberia. (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. . In a smaller ensemble, it's common for character abilities to fall into basic archetypal patterns like the power trio (the logical brain, the emotional friend, and the balanced hero) or the five-man band (the charismatic leader, the edgy anti-hero, the brain, the tank, and the token girl). They assumed he was from Canaa town within Galileeor possibly Canaan, an ancient region in the near east which was frequently mentioned in the Bible. To overcome his vice, Simon needs to recognize that there is a greater justice at work in the world - a Chosen King who has come to make things right not through the sword but through healing - and he needs to reorient his discipline and zeal around Him. This would be very in-keeping with the Gospel of John, which is quite interested in the way people initially respond to Jesus with faith when he does a miracle but eventually fall away when he doesn't something inexplicable or the water gets too hot. Simeon of Jerusalem was a Jewish Christian leader and according to most Christian traditions the second Bishop of Jerusalem (63 or 70-107 or 117), succeeding James, brother of Jesus. The Bible gives us very little information about Simon the Zealot and Nathanael - two of the more significant disciples The Chosen introduces in Season 2. The scribe copying the passage may have added this line to explain why the waters brought healing, since it was confusing to readers in his day. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the second explanation will prove true, but I would prefer the first - since there are plenty of other miracle healings that the show could have utilized instead of undermining a central feature of this specific story. In the Gospels, he is mentioned in three places, but only to list his name with the twelve disciples. Robert Eisenman has argued that contemporary talmudic references to Zealots refer to them as kanna'im "but not really as a grouprather as avenging priests in the Temple". Updates? In the Bible there is no indication that Simon the Zealot was related to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda. A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus over for dinner, where a sinful woman famously poured perfume on Jesus feet (Luke 7:40). For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. In the King James Version and New King James Version, he is called Simon the Canaanite or Cananite. In Islam, Muslim exegesis and Quran commentary name the twelve apostles and include Simon amongst the disciples. As we mentioned earlier, Rhoades argues that Josephus work makes it clear that there was no formal group called the Zealots until about 68 AD. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Narrative Ambiguity & Charitable Reading. (2022, April 8). Simon was called by Jesus and was completely changed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. For the most part, I just clarify who characters are and occasionally I briefly explained a reference or allusion that is confusing to my youth. Whether you're studying on your own or with your small group or ministry, Come and See is a perfect resource to help you dig deeper into The Chosen. Simon is the name of one of Jesus brothers (Mark 6:3), whos traditionally believed to have succeeded James as head of the church in Jerusalem. In Episode 6 of The Chosen Season 1, Jesus faced opposition from a Pharisee in Capnernaum. In some versions of the Bible (such as the Amplified Bible), Simon is called Simon the Cananaean, which is from the Aramaic word for zealot. The Gospels tell us almost nothing about him, but they all list him as one of the twelve disciples. Known for: Little-known apostle of Jesus Christ. How did Simon the Zealot meet Jesus? But humans are complex creatures. Which disciples seem to be the potential leaders of the group? Instead, Jesus shows up and provides him with a new and unexpected way to fulfill his longing, by contributing to the construction of God's spiritual temple, the church. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. One of Jesus' 12 disciples was known as Simon the Zealot (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). And since this immovable resolution of theirs is well known to a great many, I shall speak no further about that matter; nor am I afraid that any thing I have said of them should be disbelieved, but rather fear, that what I have said is beneath the resolution they show when they undergo pain. In Luke 22:38, the disciples tell Jesus, "See, Lord, here are two swords." At first glance, this may seem like a rather minor structural detail. We'll explore the political and religious context of first-century Judea and the impact it had on Simon's life. This mistake led to the idea that Simon was present at the wedding in Cana in John 2, where Jesus performed his first miracle and turned water into wine, and that he was the same person as Simon, the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). When Peter had his vision of unclean food, he was staying at Simon the Tanners house (Acts 9:43). His remains were later transferred to Anacopia. They also do not value dying any kinds of death, nor indeed do they heed the deaths of their relations and friends, nor can any such fear make them call any man lord. After Simon encounters Jesus and decides to follow him, he closes his shop, and after Daniel's grandmother dies, he offers the shop and adjoining house to Daniel. Like many of the apostles, its hard to conclude exactly which tradition (if any) can be trusted: Like many of the lesser-known apostles, most of Simon the Zealots life and identity remains a mystery, and the few details the Bible gives us has led to centuries of speculation, little of which can be confirmed or denied. In the fifth century, Moses of Chorene wrote that Simon the Zealot was martyred in the Kingdom of Iberia. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? (The Transfiguration of Jesus & the Second Commandment), Reflecting on The Chosen Season 3 & Anticipating Season 4: What Worked & What to Fix, The Chosen Season 3: What to Expect & How to Watch, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 & Episode 2: Reaction and Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 7 & 8: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2: Questions to Discuss Before the Premiere, Preparing for The Chosen Season 3: 7 Episodes to Watch, I am the Law of Moses (The Chosen Season 3 Controversy), Thomas & Ramah in The Chosen & Scripture ***Season 3***, Yussif, Jairus, & Shmuel in The Chosen ***Season 3***, Quintus, Gaius, Atticus, and the Romans in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Little James in The Chosen & Scripture ***Season 3***, Pontius Pilate & his Wife in The Chosen ***Season 3***, Judas in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Matthew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Simon and Andrew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen, Simon the Zealot & Nathanael in The Chosen, Episode 8 Guide: The Feeding of the 5,000. Matthew 10:4. However, his title "the Zealot" suggests that he may have been a member of a band of violent Jewish revolutionaries. This episode is our first extended visit to Jerusalem and introduces us to Simon the Zealot, a future disciple, as well as the invalid at the pool of Bethesda (who, in The Chosen, is the brother of Simon the Zealot). And he had a double name; he was said Simon Zelotes, and Simon Cananean of Cana a street that is in Galilee, there whereas our Lord converted the water into wine.. Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Others have seen a connection to the description of the peaceful abundance of Solomon's reign, when every Israelite sat under his own fig tree (. The Catholic Church defined that "brothers of Jesus" are not biological children of Mary, [2] because of the dogma of the perpetual virginity of Mary, by virtue of which it rejects the idea that Simon and any other than Jesus Christ God could be a biological son of Mary, suggesting that the so-called Desposyni were either sons of Joseph from a . Or maybe he simply had a personality that resembled that of the Zealots. It also makes it clear that Nathanael continued to be a disciple of Jesus into the resurrection period. The effect was a reign of terror that disrupted the Roman government. In Acts, a man known as Simon the Sorceror attempted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from Peter (Acts 8:9-24). But the group known as the Zealots may not have existed at the time the gospels took placepossibly not even when they were written. Similar to the callings of some other apostles, the Bible says that Jesus sought out and discovered Philip just before the Messiah was about to depart for Galilee (John 1:43). According to an Eastern tradition Simon travelled to Georgia on a missionary trip, died in Abkhazia and was buried in Nicopsia. That's why The Chosen works to portray each new disciple as a fully-realized, three-dimensional person with a unique set of longings, gifts, and vices that ultimately demand a saving encounter with the person of Jesus. Simon was surnamed the Zealot for his rigid adherence to the Jewish law and to the Canaanite law. Based on these references, we only know a few facts: Simon was one of Jesus' original apostles, Simon continued to be one of the apostles after the Ascension. Simon the Zealot, one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles, is a mystery character in the Bible. Matthew and Mark give him the title kananaios, which most scholars believe comes from the Aramaic word qanan, meaning zealous one.. Learn Religions, Apr. He was one of the original followers of Christ. Jesus really did know a Zealot named Simon. Most scholars today believe kananaios comes from the Aramaic word qanan, meaning zealous one, which effectively makes Simons moniker the same in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. In the place of the pool, what does he discover is a much better hope? [13] Tradition also claims he died peacefully at Edessa. When he surrendered to Vespasian, he claimed Jewish messianic prophecies were about Vespasian becoming the emperor of Rome, and lo and behold Vespasian decided to let him live, taking him on as a slave. He was a Zealot for much of his life, which meant he was extremely legalistic and held a deep-set hatred towards the Romans and any who had dealings with them. There's no evidence to suggest Nathanael was a failed architect. Did he leave the Zealots in order to join the Jesus movement, while continuing to be known for his past association? While the Chosen depicts Simon the Zealot as the brother of Jesse, the invalid Jesus heals by the Pool of Bethesda, this detail does not come from the Gospels. He ends up believing that Jesus is the Messiah. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. As foreign conquerors imposed their pagan ways on the Jewish people, the Zealots sometimes turned to violence. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. Simon the Zealot can't simply be another name on a list - we want to have at least a basic understanding of where he came from and what he contributes as a disciple. 28 Bible Verses about zealots. In the Bible there is no indication that Simon the Zealot was related to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda. The New Testament records nothing more of Simon, aside from this multitude of possible but unlikely pseudonyms. Jesus is depicting himself as the stairway between heaven and earth that Jacob once saw at Bethel. Heres how Josephus described the Fourth Philosophy which became known as the Zealots: These men agree in all other things with the Pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord. The Chosen creatively connects these two characters in order to make a point. Therefore, it is anachronistic to view people acting with zeal before 68 C.E. Today we'll be exploring what the Bible says about Simon and Nathanael and how The Chosen adapts them to the screen. Bartholomew was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus (e.g., Matthew 10:3). The backstory prologues gives us a thumbnail sketch of the pride and arrogance that Nathanael is prone to as a result of his great skill and intelligence. boat; cross and saw; fish (or two fish); lance; This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 08:21. That's why I'm excited to share with you a new resource that I've created to help you study biblical adaptations & reflect on how they apply to everyday life. I was half-right. Other scholars disagree. The Bible itself never explains Simon's relationship to the Zealot movement. [15], Another tradition states that he traveled in the Middle East and Africa. What has Simon the Zealot put his hope in to bring salvation? In The Chosen, the man at the pool is given the name Jesse and is depicted as the brother of Simon the Zealot (see more above). Most scholars believe he teamed up with Judas (surname Thaddeus) to spread the Gospel throughout Persia and Egypt. I'm sure that's why The Chosen decided to make Simon a former Zealot who has repented and turned to Jesus. By making Nathanael an architect, The Chosen has assigned his character a unique (albeit rarely needed) skill (building/design). Although there are various versions of his death, it is likely he served with zeal as a missionary in Persia and eventually died a martyr's death. The Zealots (as The Chosen shows) were a group of religious insurgents, who sought to push back against the oppressive practices of Rome through violence, terrorism, and assassination. He may have suffered crucifixion as the Bishop of Jerusalem. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Simon the Zealot may be the same person as Simeon of Jerusalem or Simon the brother of Jesus or both. Or did he in fact find a way to straddle the two movements? Meet Simon the Zealot: A Mystery Apostle. [18] Nikephoros I of Constantinople writes:[18][19]. He made disciples of men who had been fixed on the things of this world and changed their lives to focus on things that last forever. If Josephus account is reliable, its possible that Simon the Zealot did belong to this groupwhether or not it was formally known as the Zealots at the time he was involved or the time the gospels were written.
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how did simon the zealot meet jesus