Archaeology and the Itinerant Jesus: a historical inquiry into the Extent of Jesus' itinerancy in the north

Abstract

There is a general consensus among New Testament scholars that the historical Jesus was itinerant. Mark claims that Jesus travelled among the towns and villages of Galilee, preached in their synagogues, attracted the attention of large crowds, and journeyed through the surrounding regions. However, only a small number of settlements are mentioned by name, and Mark provides no clear itinerary of Jesus’ travels. Also, the summary statements of Jesus’ travels and many of the topographical references belong to Mark’s editorial material. Therefore, they are often interpreted as saying more about Mark and his community, than the historical Jesus. Consequently, there has been uncertainty as to the geographical extent of Jesus’ itinerant ministry, and the number of towns and villages he may have visited.

Yet in the last few decades archaeological surveys have discovered perhaps as many as 200 towns and villages in Galilee during the Early Roman period. Moreover, the material culture of these settlements indicates that the vast majority of the population at this time was Jewish. Drawing on literary sources and archaeology, this work explores Jesus’ itinerancy in the north. Focusing particularly on the summary statements and topographical references in Mark 1.14–8.30, it argues that Jesus’ itinerant ministry in the north was extensive and that Mark’s depictions of Jesus’ travels are historically plausible. Jesus probably visited many towns and villages of Galilee, preached in their synagogues, and attracted large crowds. Moreover, Jesus probably extended his ministry beyond Galilee to the regions round about because there were Jewish communities living in these regions also.