Lazarus and the Rich man

45degreeN · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:46 am Post subject:

As with so many other times in scripture we can easily get confused by people with the same name.

Jesus has a very dear friend named Lazarus who lived in Bethany along with Martha and Mary (remember them?)
He was the one who was raised from the dead and no he didn't have leprosy. (Hansen's disease which is called leprosy took many years to die so this is very unlikely)

I didn't know that Caiaphas had 5 brothers but that would certainly make this parable very pointed one. But still just a parable fraught with symbolic messages. Yes ordinarily lepers were required to move out of town so how was the leper in this story at the rich man's door?

I see the point more connected to Jesus' own resurrection and how the people would still not believe. How they call themselves sons of Abraham yet they reject all the prophets. Some people just don't get the message no matter what.

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45degreeN · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:16 pm Post subject:

I don't know for a fact, was one of Caiaphas' sons named Eliezer (another variation of Lazarus?)

Like I've said before the Bible doesn't tell us everything just the essentials, so this must not be an essential.

knuckle · Young Wolf Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 501

Hi All-------------

Guys if you don't mind I am going to chase a rabbit here.

We know about the friendship between Lazarus and Jesus

It would seem by comparing the different gospels that Lazarus' house and Simon the lepers house is the same house.

we know that according to the law a leper cannot live with in the city.

We know that Jesus healed many lepers before Lazarus is mentioned as His friend.

What if Simon was healed by Jesus and was the father of Lazarus,Martha,and Mary?

It would explain the womens faith--Lord had you been here my brother wouldn't have died

much love-----------knuckle

Zathrus · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:51 am Post subject:

Interesting idea, knuckle. Thanks. It seems possible, though without anything conclusive to prove it, we can't really declare it "gospel" (I was really trying to avoid that pun).

I also tend to think the Lord naming the character in His parable Lazarus is a reference to His friend, though I think it's more of an allusion than Him casting His friend or a member of His friend's family in the parable. I went into that a few posts back, so I won't repeat it here.

What strikes me though is that regardless how Jesus was working His friend or His friend's name into the parable, this shows the harmony between the gospels. Skeptics point to inconsistencies between them. Scholars conclude that the gospels were written long after Christ's time, and were not actually written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John the apostles, but by others forging their names. One exception is John A.T. Robinson who writes that he sees no reason to believe any of the new testament was written after 70AD.

But though John's gospel reads very differently from the three others, and includes many accounts not contained in the others, including the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, Luke's account of Jesus making some sort of reference to His friend Lazarus in a parable of the kingdom indicates the 4 writers were not making stuff up independently.

janicebrownwest · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

Praise the Lord,
I am new hear and just wanted to introduce my self, my name is Janice and I was born on June 12th. I to am seeking the lord, and am a born again Christian. I have been reading some of your remarks they are very Interesting.

Nobby · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:29 pm Post subject:

Hi JANICE, "Welcome" to our group. Glad to meet you.
I would like for you to introduce yourself in our introductry forum, so other can welcome you. Very Happy

Just make yourself at home. If you have any questions just ask one of the mod's or myself.
Have fun,
Nobby

Paul2 · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject:

It seems more plausible to me that Eleazar (Lazarus) represents the Gentiles and the rich man (Judah) represents the Jews. Eleazar of Damascus was Abraham's faithful servant and was, at one time, Abraham's sole heir.
Judah is the name from which we get the word "Jew" and Judah had five brothers - Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar and Zebulun. Lazarus is the Greek form of Eleazar.

Zathrus · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 4:53 am Post subject:

Paul, that idea also seems to hold together. Certainly the religious Jews who Jesus directed the parable to would have made those connections. They'd have know what Jesus was getting at.

Welcome, Janice! I'm glad you're finding our discussion interesting.

45degreeN · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 5:55 am Post subject:

The idea that Jesus went to preach in hell was the impetus of this whole discussion. Clearly with this parable Jesus talked of a place, after death, where people go, where they are aware of themselves and their surroundings, and at least some of them are being punished (Hell?)

Either Jesus was merely using this parable to fool those around Him into thinking there was this place or just maybe it was real and Jesus' use of it within the parable was literal. Given the potential downside if we're wrong I would be very careful in my analysis.

Zathrus · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 6:24 am Post subject:

45degreeN · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject:

Maybe I'm dense but I do in fact see eternal torture in those verses, all the curses of the law upon such an individual wow I certainly dont want to experience such a thing.