How Jewish was Jesus?
Galilee had hosted a mix of Jews and gentiles (Aramaeans, Itureans, Phoenicians, and Greeks, some with antisemitic tendencies) until annexed by Aristobulus I in 103BC and forcibly converted to Judaism. [overview] That Rome left Galilee under Jewish control in 63BC implies it was predominantly Jewish by that date. Judaism itself had many ‘dialects’ at this time, possibly including: Ebionites, Hellenists, Hemerobaptists, Herodians, Essenes, Pharisees, Galileans, Genists, Masbateians, Merists, Nazarenes, Sadducees, Samaritans, and Scribes. [cite] Archeologists estimate that Nazareth was founded about 200BC, and the style of tombs suggest it was always predominantly Jewish. [hj16] The men of Nazareth probably met for sabbath observances, but didn’t have a dedicated synagogue. (Sepphoris was too far away to be visited on the sabbath– 2000 cubits or about 3000 feet was the longest trip allowed.) [later synagogues of Galilee] Sepphoris was rebuilt by Antipas as his capital after 4BC (and ren
