A New Testament Account of Tyre and Sidon
A NEW TESTAMENT ACCOUNT OF TYRE AND SIDON
A RESEARCH PAPER
SUBMITTED TO TIMOTHY JENNEY
FOR ACADEMIC WRITING
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE MASTERS OF DIVINITY DEGREE
IN THE REGENT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
BY
TAMEKIA D. BELL
ATLANTA, GA
NOVEMBER 28, 2011
CONTENTS
CONTENTS iii
INTRODUCTION 1
PHOENICIA 1
GEOGRAPHY 2
HISTORY 3
CONTEXT 5
JUDGEMENT 6
VISITATION……………………………………. 8
MIRACLES ………………………………………………………………………………………9
CONCLUSION 10
BIBLIOGRAPHY 12
INTRODUCTION
Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-31 both record that, toward the end of his ministry, Jesus visited the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon. In Matthew 11:20-22, Mark 7:24-31, and Luke 10:13-14, he indicates that Tyre and Sidon have sinned in some grave fashion placing them in position of harsh judgment. Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 3:8, Mark 7:24-31, and Luke 6:17 indicate that, in spite of their sins, Jesus was able to do many great miracles for the people of that area. Jesus’ interaction with them is a standalone testament to the cultural context of that time. It helps us to understand better the ministry of Jesus to the Jews but also to the gentiles. It is by no coincidence that Christ chose to visit these cities toward the end of his life. Nor is it that he just so happened to mention the impending judgment of the cities and that in spite of his decrees, he still did many miracles for these gentile people. Events such as these have proved to be the building blocks for preaching the message of the gospel to the gentiles. It is important to grapple with the juxtaposition of Jesus’ cultural lean and the universality of his ministry. The questions I am asking are what are the sins, which brought about judgment to the Tyrians and the Sidonians? Why did Jesus visit those cities just before his crucifixion? Finally, why did he or why was he able to heal and perform miracles among them? My
A RESEARCH PAPER
SUBMITTED TO TIMOTHY JENNEY
FOR ACADEMIC WRITING
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE MASTERS OF DIVINITY DEGREE
IN THE REGENT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
BY
TAMEKIA D. BELL
ATLANTA, GA
NOVEMBER 28, 2011
CONTENTS
CONTENTS iii
INTRODUCTION 1
PHOENICIA 1
GEOGRAPHY 2
HISTORY 3
CONTEXT 5
JUDGEMENT 6
VISITATION……………………………………. 8
MIRACLES ………………………………………………………………………………………9
CONCLUSION 10
BIBLIOGRAPHY 12
INTRODUCTION
Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-31 both record that, toward the end of his ministry, Jesus visited the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon. In Matthew 11:20-22, Mark 7:24-31, and Luke 10:13-14, he indicates that Tyre and Sidon have sinned in some grave fashion placing them in position of harsh judgment. Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 3:8, Mark 7:24-31, and Luke 6:17 indicate that, in spite of their sins, Jesus was able to do many great miracles for the people of that area. Jesus’ interaction with them is a standalone testament to the cultural context of that time. It helps us to understand better the ministry of Jesus to the Jews but also to the gentiles. It is by no coincidence that Christ chose to visit these cities toward the end of his life. Nor is it that he just so happened to mention the impending judgment of the cities and that in spite of his decrees, he still did many miracles for these gentile people. Events such as these have proved to be the building blocks for preaching the message of the gospel to the gentiles. It is important to grapple with the juxtaposition of Jesus’ cultural lean and the universality of his ministry. The questions I am asking are what are the sins, which brought about judgment to the Tyrians and the Sidonians? Why did Jesus visit those cities just before his crucifixion? Finally, why did he or why was he able to heal and perform miracles among them? My