Todays Covenant Person of Scriptural history is: Gamaliel the Elder /ɡəˈmeɪljəl/, or Rabban Gamaliel I (רבן גמליאל הזקן; Greek: Γαμαλιήλ ο Πρεσβύτερος) - a leading authority in the Sanhedrin in the early-1st century CE. He was son of Simeon ben Hillel, and grandson of the great Jewish teacher Hillel the Elder, and died twenty years before the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (70 CE). He fathered a son, whom he called Simeon, after his father, and a daughter, whose daughter (i.e., Gamaliels granddaughter) married a priest named Simon ben Nathanael. Gamaliel is a Hebrew name meaning reward of God. The Acts of the Apostles introduces Gamaliel as a Pharisee and celebrated doctor of the Mosaic Law in Acts 5:34–40. In the larger context (vs.17–42), Peter and the other apostles are described as being prosecuted before the sanhedrin and senate (or elders) for continuing to preach the gospel, despite the Jewish authorities having previously prohibited it. The passage describes Gamaliel as presenting an argument against killing the apostles, reminding them about the previous revolts of Theudas and Judas of Galilee which had collapsed quickly after the deaths of those individuals. Gamaliels advice was accepted after his concluding argument: And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. —Acts 5:38–39. The Book of Acts later goes on to describe Paul the Apostle recounting that although born in Tarsus, he was brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, [and] taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers. (Acts 22:3) No details are given about which teachings Paul adopted from Gamaliel, or how much Gamaliel influenced aspects of Christianity. However, there is no other record of Gamaliel ever having taught in public, although the Talmud does describe Gamaliel as teaching a student who displayed impudence in learning. In the Talmud, Gamaliel is described as bearing the titles Nasi and Rabban (our master), as the president of the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem; although some dispute this, it is not doubted that he held a senior position in the highest court in Jerusalem. Gamaliel holds a reputation in the Mishnah for being one of the greatest teachers in all the annals of Judaism: Since Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, there has been no more reverence for the law, and purity and piety died out at the same time. Gamaliels authority on questions of religious law is suggested by two Mishnaic anecdotes in which the king and queen ask for his advice about rituals. The identity of the king and queen in question is not given, but is generally thought to either be King Herod Agrippa I and his wife Cypris, or King Herod .Since the Hillel school of thought is presented collectively, there are very few other teachings which are clearly identifiable as Gamaliels. There is only a somewhat cryptic dictum, comparing his students to classes of fish: A ritually impure fish: one who has memorized everything by study, but has no understanding, and is the son of poor parents. A ritually pure fish: one who has learnt and understood everything, and is the son of rich parents. A fish from the Jordan River: one who has learnt everything, but doesnt know how to respond. A fish from the Mediterranean: one who has learnt everything, and knows how to respond.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 00:47:01 +0000