Barbara Thiering identified Simon Zelotes with Simon Magus; however, this view has received no serious acceptance. Simon was powerless to prevent it. Simon was called by Jesus and was completely changed. Because Gods holiness will not tolerate idolatry or other violations against the covenant (Exod 20:5; Deut 5:9), God will punish the whole nation for such offenses unless someone acts on behalf of Godzealous with Gods jealous angerto kill or root out the offenders.. The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. Fortunately, creating sympathetic and believable backstories for under-developed biblical characters is what The Chosen does best. But its unclear when exactly this group started going by this name. In what ways do these hopes end up disappointing us? The show also is also trying to distinguish his personality from the other disciples - his role as an architect suggests precision, intelligence, and creativity, while his encounter with Jesus suggests that he is honest and candid. As a teaser for the future, explain to your students: You might have noticed Shmuel, the Pharisee who opposed Jesus in The Chosen Season 1, was back and joined by a new group of Pharisees. Basil the Great, the 4th-century Cappadocian Father, Simon died peacefully at Edessa. Ethiopian Christians believe he was crucified in Samaria. There are two possible explanations for this. In the King James Version and New King James Version, he is called Simon the Canaanite or Cananite. 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). 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. Explain that this episode of The Chosen Season 2 will be exploring many of these questions imaginatively, filling in the details that the Bible leaves us to wonder about. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. Older adaptations of the Gospels tended to depict Simon the Zealot and Nathanael in this way, if they depicted them at all. The connection between the two figures is invented in order to add depth to Simon's character and suggest thematic connections between their stories. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. That said, this is an adaptation and that means it's their telling of these stories, so I won't be too bummed if they've taken reworked this relatively minor story. 8, 2022, learnreligions.com/simon-the-zealot-mystery-apostle-701071. Some have suggested that Jesus is cryptically alluding to the fig leaves of Genesis 3. 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. How did Jesus meet Simon Peter? Perhaps your quiet time will generate an idea that you can turn into something beautiful! The term Zealots comes from the Greek word zelotes that means emulator or zealous follower. As it has been suggested that Jude is identical with the Apostle Thomas (see Jude Thomas), an identification of "Simon Zelotes" with Thomas is also possible. Professor David Rhoades elaborates in The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary: Judas and his followers opposed Jews who cooperated with the census, for they considered cooperation with Caesar to be an idolatrous transgression of the First Commandment to have no other lords before me. Judas small and unsuccessful revolt was carried out in the belief that if the Jews were faithful to the covenant, God would honor their cause by bringing victory in the struggle against Rome. Eusebius, a Greek historian of Christianity, wrote that Simon the Zealot became the second bishop of Jerusalem. Having examined what the Bible says about Simon the Zealot and Nathanael, however, it should be clear why it's necessary for The Chosen to build on what the Bible says. In The Chosen, during Season 2 Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is depicted as being the brother of the paralyzed man Jesus heals by the Pool of Bethesda, who is named Jesse in the show. By engaging with Scripture creatively, you'll allow your imagination to be unconsciously shaped and formed by the images, metaphors, and patterns of the biblical story. When Peter had his vision of unclean food, he was staying at Simon the Tanners house (Acts 9:43). zealots. something. As a result, there's a lot of latitude for how they can be depicted in Bible adaptation. Since Simon is commonly identified with the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, its worth unpacking who they were. What Does the Bible Say About Paying Taxes? But humans are complex creatures. 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. In the context of the New Testament, the Zealots were a party zealous for Jewish independence and throwing off Roman rule. Some have suggested that Jesus is cryptically alluding to the fig leaves of Genesis 3. In a book - and especially in a book that's written in a laconic style like the Gospels - it's possible to introduce characters like Simon and Nathanael without giving readers very much detail. In The Chosen, during Season 2 Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is depicted as being the brother of the paralyzed man Jesus heals by the Pool of Bethesda, who is named Jesse in the show. The Chosen Season 4 Controversy? Zeal is behavior motivated by the jealous desire to protect ones self, group, space, or time against violations. We are exposed to the indignities and oppression he witnessed as a young man and sympathize with his desire to make things right. How would you react if someone asked you that question after you'd been disabled for almost 40 years? The second explanation is that the show wanted this story to have a happy ending and so it significantly changed it to end in the desired place. What do you think it looks like to stop putting hope in things that disappoint us, like the Pool of Bethesda, and to instead focus our hopes around Jesus? We know almost nothing about Simon the Zealot. The Apostle Philip followed Peter, John, James, and Andrew in being called to serve as a disciple of Jesus. John P. Meier argues that the term "Zealot" is a mistranslation and in the context of the Gospels means "zealous" or "religious" (in this case, for keeping the Law of Moses), as the Zealot movement apparently did not exist until 30 to 40 years after the events of the Gospels. The second story including Nathanael takes place in the final chapter of John: The relationship between these two narratives is really interesting and worth further study, but I won't get into that right now. He was one of the 12 main disciples of Jesus Christ, but he plays no particular role in the gospels and is only mentioned by name in lists of the apostles (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:1-13). "Meet Simon the Zealot: A Mystery Apostle." Which disciples seem to be the potential leaders of the group? [6] However, neither Brandon[7] nor Hengel[8] support this view. This draws our attention to something significant about the way The Chosen is adapting the figures of Simon the Zealot and Nathanael. So far, there are no obvious figures in Scripture that correspond to Atticus Aemilius. Just as it's important for every character in an ensemble to contribute in a meaningful way, it's also important for each of them to have unique weaknesses, vulnerabilities, or vices. 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. 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. Berean Literal Bible In the Gospels, he is mentioned in three places, but only to list his name with the twelve disciples. How did Jesus meet Simon Peter? 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. Zavada, Jack. 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). It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Simon was a man of intense loyalties and warm personal devotions, and he did profoundly love Jesus. Simon the Zealot (Acts 1:13, Luke 6:15) or Simon the Canaanite or Simon the Canaanean (Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18; Greek: ; Coptic: -; Classical Syriac: )[3] was one of the most obscure among the apostles of Jesus. The Bible itself never explains Simon's relationship to the Zealot movement. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Simon the Zealot must have been shaken by the violence of Jesus' crucifixion. 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 (. What has Simon the Zealot put his hope in to bring salvation? Jesus was the ultimate judge of character and saw an intensity in Simon the Zealot that would work well in spreading the gospel. 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. The Bible gives us very little information about Simon the Zealot and no information about his family. One of Jesus' 12 disciples was known as Simon the Zealot (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). As an apostle of Jesus Christ, Simon the Zealot would have been sent somewhere to spread the gospel, just as the other apostles were. The Bible does not give us his name or mention anyone to whom he was related. He discovers that Jesse has been healed by Jesus. What did he do? Another odd aspect of Simon's appointment was that the Zealots generally agreed with the Pharisees, as far as legalistic observance of the commandments. Because Season 2 of The Chosen is more focused on the drama of the budding Jesus community, however, the pre-Jesus backstories of its major new characters (Nathanael, Simon the Zealot, and Judas) have to be condensed and delivered in the episode prologues. In The Chosen, during Season 2, Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is reunited with his brother, Jesse, after years of separation. The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. Other scholars disagree. Josephus identifies three main Jewish sectsthe Essenes, the Saduccees, and the Pharisees. In the Bible there is no indication that Simon the Zealot was related to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda. (John 5:10-16 ESV), 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. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Instead, Jesus shows up and provides Simon with a new vision of justice and of how to make things right - not through violence but through the healing hand of the Messiah. Traditionally, it has been believed that Bartholomew was another name for Nathanael/Nathaniel. 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. 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). Its also unclear whether they were a serious threat, or just convenient scapegoats. We'll explore the political and religious context of first-century Judea and the impact it had on Simon's life. (NIV). His remains were later transferred to Anacopia. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/simon-the-zealot-mystery-apostle-701071. Jesus teachings (such as turning the other cheek and loving your enemies) were often the complete opposite of the ideology the Zealots embraced. Those scholars say such a move by Jesus would have shown that his kingdom reaches out to people in all walks of life. Another tradition, doubtless inspired by his title "the Zealot", states that he was involved in the First JewishRoman War (6673 AD).[7][8]. So The Chosen has made Nathanael an architect in order to make this image of Jesus as a stairway/ziggurat particularly relevant to his character. What do you think he meant by it? Vespasian became emperor and granted Josephus Roman citizenship. Meet Simon the Zealot: A Mystery Apostle. Episode 1: What do we do when we are scared? Their one and only goal was to overthrow the Roman government and their occupation of Israel. We might wonder how Simon the Zealot reacted to that. What do you think it would have been like to be a person who waited around pools like Bethesda in hopes of having a sickness or disability healed? The Chosen follows this theory and portrays Simon as a Zealot who gives up his violent ways in order to follow Jesus. In Islam, Muslim exegesis and Quran commentary name the twelve apostles and include Simon amongst the disciples. (NIV), Acts 1:13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Where did Simon the Zealot live? St. Simon the Zealot's (Simon Kananaios) cave in Abkhazia, Georgia, The Apostle Simon the Zealot by Georg Gsell, Simon Zelotes evangelische Kirche Leihgestern. In Season 2, Episode 5, Simon seeks out Jesus and joins the disciples. [10][11], James Tissot, Saint Simon, Brooklyn Museum. By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. Regardless of why this line was included, we know nothing else about the angel described - if he even existed. And it was in Gessius Floruss time that the nation began to grow mad with this distemper, who was our procurator, and who occasioned the Jews to go wild with it by the abuse of his authority, and to make them revolt from the Romans.. What emotions do you imagine you'd feel? To confuse things further, Bible scholars argue over whether Simon was a member of the radical Zealot party or whether the term simply referred to his religious zeal. The New Testament records nothing more of Simon, aside from this multitude of possible but unlikely pseudonyms. Therefore, it is anachronistic to view people acting with zeal before 68 C.E. 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. 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. Facts. The Bible does not tell us anything about Simon the Zealot before he met Jesus. ~65 or ~107 place of death disputed. Episode 1: What do we do when we are scared? There are numerous accounts of Simon the Zealots death, but the earliest records come centuries after his death. 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. (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 appearances of Nathanael (in John 1 and John 21) function as a kind of framing device for John's Gospel. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Who is Simon in Bible? The connection between the two figures is invented in order to add depth to Simon's character and suggest thematic connections between their stories. As a former assassin, he is the most physically formidable of the disciples. The only biblical references to Simon the Zealot are found in listings of the 12 disciples (Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, and Acts 1:13). As The Chosen shifted its attention toward the formation of the church in Season 2, it would have been quite easy for the show to fill up the remaining roster of the disciples with two-dimensional background characters. Luke 6:15. and Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot; Matthew 10:2. Simon was known for being (or once having been) a Zealot. The Chosen recognizes this. Died. Saint Simon the Apostle, also called Simon the Zealot, (flourished 1st century addied, Persia or Edessa, Greece? He saw numerous demonstrations of Jesus divinity. After the first three episodes of Season 2, I prematurely predicted that The Chosen was departing from its Season 1 emphasis on personal encounters with Jesus in order to focus instead on the formation of a community surrounding Jesus. Before watching The Chosen, had you ever given much thought to Simon the Zealot or Nathanael? In this account, in his second mission to Britain, he arrived during the first year of Boadicea's rebellion (60 AD). The moniker the Zealot comes from the Greek word zlts, which the Apostle Luke used in both his gospel and Acts to distinguish this Simon from Simon Peter. His painful backstory and longing for justice serve as an excuse/justification for him to engage in acts of violent vengeance. On the other hand, there also isn't strong evidence to the contrary. Our most detailed descriptions of who they were, how their movement started, and what they stood for comes from Flavius Josephus, a Jewish-Roman historian who lived during the first century. 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. Like Nathanael, Simon the Zealot's skills and personality are tied to his past vocation. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed. But he answered them, The man who healed me, that man said to me, Take up your bed, and walk. They asked him, Who is the man who said to you, Take up your bed and walk? Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. In The Chosen, during Season 2, Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is reunited with his brother, Jesse, after years of separation. Simon left everything in his previous life to follow Jesus. 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. Life 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. When Jesus was carrying his cross on his way to be crucified, a man named Simon from Cyrene was forced to help him (Mark 15:21). 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). Simon the Zealot, one of Jesus Christ 's 12 apostles, is a mystery character in the Bible. When his building collapses, Nathanael fears that his dream of building something great for God has collapsed as well. It could mean he belonged to a Jewish sect known as the Zealots. James the Less: The Obscure Apostle of Christ, Meet Thaddeus: The Apostle With Many Names, Philip the Apostle - Follower of Jesus Christ, Meet Matthew the Apostle, Ex-Tax Collector, Judas Iscariot - Betrayer of Jesus Christ. According to an Eastern tradition Simon travelled to Georgia on a missionary trip, died in Abkhazia and was buried in Nicopsia. Or even zealous for Jesus and his teachings. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. In the biblical tradition, human acts of zeal punished idolatrous violations of Gods right to exclusive allegiance from Israel. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. New Living Translation Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? Did he leave the Zealots in order to join the Jesus movement, while continuing to be known for his past association? In Season 2, Episode 5, Simon seeks out Jesus and joins the disciples. Although The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 did livestream on YouTube and Facebook, new episodes are now only being left up for 24 hours before being taken down. So who was this person the Bible calls Simon the Zealot, and what do we actually know about him? ", What the Bible Says About Simon the Zealot. They hoped to accomplish this by inciting the people to rebellion, driving the Romans from Israel, and establishing a Mosaic theocracy. [16][17], Yet another tradition says he visited Roman Britain. Why do you think Jesus asked him that question? 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". Matthew and Mark give him the title kananaios, which most scholars believe comes from the Aramaic word qanan, meaning zealous one.. 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. Of course, within the frame of the narrative itself, Jesus appears to be demonstrating his super-human knowledge - a common theme in the Gospel of John. Jesus first met Simon peter while he was a disciple of John the baptist John 1:35-42 . In Luke 22:38, the disciples tell Jesus, "See, Lord, here are two swords." 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. [5] Eisenman's broader conclusions, that the zealot element in the original apostle group was disguised and overwritten to make it support the assimilative Pauline Christianity of the Gentiles, are more controversial. The Bible gives us very little information about Simon the Zealot and no information about his family. If Simon the Zealot had gone through with his attempt to assassinate the Roman leader, his hope would also have been disappointed by the intervention of Atticus, the undercover Roman agent. Corrections? Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? In the Bible there is no indication that Simon the Zealot was related to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda. [13] Tradition also claims he died peacefully at Edessa. By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. It is possible that Judas Iscariot, another member of the Twelve and the one who went on to betray Jesus, was a former Zealot as well. (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. 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. 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). 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. Narrative Ambiguity & Charitable Reading. As The Chosen has showed us at various points, the Romans were hated by most of the Jews, who viewed them as oppressive enemies. 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. While the conflict among the disciples and their struggle to come together temporarily takes the backseat, this miracle-of-the-week storyline is one of the most intricately constructed episodes of The Chosen so far. We can't know for sure, but it's hard to imagine that someone could follow the peaceful way of Jesus and still participate in a violent insurrection. He suggests that the Zealots were a fourth which sprung up as a result of Judas influence and caused the problems which led to the First Jewish-Roman War: For Judas and Sadducus, who excited a fourth philosophick sect among us, and had a great many followers therein, filled our civil government with tumults at present, and laid the foundations of our future miseries, by this system of philosophy, which we before were unacquainted withal.. Saint Simon the Zealot. Samuel, Cain, & the Queen Mother (Tragic Old Testament Stories that Need a Film/TV Adaptation), The Chosen: 9 Good Friday & Easter Episodes ***Season 3 Update***, The Rings of Power, LOTR, and Bible Adaptation, Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power & The Challenges of Biblical Adaptation, In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 1), In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 2), Thomas and Ramah in The Chosen & Scripture (Adapting Biblical Characters), Yussif, Jairus, & Shmuel in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Ears to Hear (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 7 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 7 & Episode 8: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Feeding of the 5,000 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 8 with Youth or Small Group), Pontius Pilate & His Wife in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Intensity in Tent City (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6 with Youth or Small Group), Clean Part 2 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5 with Youth or Small Group), Clean Part 1 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 with Youth or Small Group), Physician, Heal Thyself (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3 with Youth or Small Group), 2022 BY THE BIBLE ARTIST.

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