Schools in First Century Galilee

Schools in First Century Galilee
Schools were associated with the local synagogue in first century Galilee. Apparently each community would hire a teacher (respectfully called "rabbi") for the school. While this teacher was responsible for the education of the village he had no special authority in the synagogue itself. Children began their study at age 4-5 in Beth Sefer (elementary school). Most scholars believe both boys and girls attended the class in the synagogue. The teaching focused primarily on the Torah, emphasizing both reading and writing Scripture. Large portions were memorized and it is likely that many students knew the entire Torah by memory by the time this level of education was finished. At this point most students (and certainly the girls) stayed at home to help with the family and in the case of boys to learn the family trade. It is at this point that a boy would participate in his first Passover in Jerusalem (a ceremony that probably forms the background of today's bar mitzvah in orthodox Jewish families today.) Jesus' excellent questions for the teachers in the temple at his first Passover indicate the study he had done.

 

 

1st Century Synagogue

The best students continued their study (while learning a trade) in Beth Midrash (secondary school) also taught by a rabbi of the community. Here they (along with the adults in the town) studied the prophets and the writings (3) in addition to Torah and began to learn the interpretations of the Oral Torah (4) to learn how to make their own applications and interpretations much like a catechism class might in some Churches today. Memorization continued to be important because most people did not have their own copy of the Scripture so they either had to know it by heart or go to the synagogue to consult the village scroll. Memory was enhanced by reciting aloud, a practice still widely used in Middle Eastern education both Jewish and Muslim. Constant repetition was considered to be an essential element of learning.
 

A few (very few) of the most outstanding Beth Midrash students sought permission to study with a famous rabbi often leaving home to travel with him for a lengthy period of time. These students were called talmidim (talmid, s.) in Hebrew, which is translated disciple. There is much more to a talmid than what we call student. A student wants to know what the teacher knows for the grade, to complete the class or the degree or even out of respect for the teacher. A talmid wants to be like the teacher, that is to become what the teacher is. That meant that students were passionately devoted to their rabbi and noted everything he did or said. This meant the rabbi-talmid relationship was a very intense and personal system of education. As the rabbi lived and taught his understanding of the Scripture his students (talmidim) listened and watched and imitated so as to become like him. Eventually they would become teachers passing on a lifestyle to their talmidim.

As a result, Galilee was a place of intense study of Scripture. People were knowledgeable about its content and the various applications made by their tradition. They were determined to live by it and to pass their faith and knowledge and lifestyle on to their children. It was into this world that Jesus came as a child and eventually a rabbi.


Setting the Stage
Jesus was born, grew up and spent his ministry among people who knew Scripture by memory, who debated its application with enthusiasm, and who loved God with all their hearts, all theirs souls and with all their might (Deuteronomy 6:5). God carefully prepared this environment so that Jesus would have the stage set for Him to deliver his message “The Kingdom of Heaven”. People would understand His teachings and would become followers.

Knowing all these details helps us understand the great faith and courage His followers had who left Galilee and went out into the world. Their courage, the methods they used and their complete devotion to God and his Word were born in the religious communities in Galilee.


11 of Jesus’ Disciples are from Galilee
If you examine Scripture, you will find 11 out of the 12 disciplines are from Galilee. The only disciple not from Galilee is Judas Ischariot. He is from Judea.
Andrew (the brother of Peter) was from Bethsaida and Capernaum (Galilee)
Bartholomew (aka Nathaniel) lived in Canan in Galilee.
James the son of Zebedee lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum (Galilee).
Jame the son of Alpheus lived in Galilee
John the son of Zebedee lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum (Galilee).
Jude (aka Thaddeus) lived in Galilee.
Matthew lived in Capernaum (Galilee).
Simeon Peter lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum (Galilee).
Phillip lived in Bethsaida (Galilee).
Simeon the Zealot lived in Galilee.
Thomas the Twin lived in Galilee.

Why is it important they are from Galilee? They would have been well versed in Scripture since they were small children. They would have easily known what Jesus was talking about and would have had all the Scriptures memorized. It would have been easy fro Jesus to say one verse of Scripture and for the disciples to have known the context around the piece of Scripture.