The Bethany Traditions in the Gospel Narratives

Abstract

el-'Azariyeh is probably on or near site of ancient New Testament village. The Arab name means the place of Lazarus, and his traditional tomb has been located nearby since about A.D. 300, according to Gustaf Dalman.1 Through centuries this has been traditionally regarded as home of Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary, but it is not quite so generally known as residence of one Simon, a Pharisee and former leper, who was perhaps husband of one of these sisters, or else father of this well-known New Testament family. There are eleven references to Bethany in Gospels: four in Mark, three in John, and two each in Matthew and Luke.2 In addition, there are two further incidents in Luke3 which lack definite geographic location but which from their contexts seem to refer to Bethany. All these stories appear in scattered order through four gospels, but they are generally concentrated in Passion Narratives. The disarranged order of different events may have an important bearing on their meaning, both separately and collectively. The stories suggest a striking indefiniteness of locale or lack of fixity in growing body of remembered tradition about activities and associations of Jesus in his travels. They also indicate probability of a second home in Bethany where Jesus maintained headquarters of a sort for his frequent visits to Holy City.