The Jesus Movement and Social Network Analysis

Abstract

The intent of this study is to imaginatively shed light on Gerd Theissen's view of the early Jesus Movement with the help of social network analysis. Part I, after a brief introduction to network analysis, discussed Graph Theory, Central Place Theory, Urbanology, and settlement archeology as aids to understand the importance of the Galilean towns Jesus is said to have visited, especially those around the Sea of Galilee. It included some information about lake harbors, Roman roads, and Dead Sea towns (the Babatha archive). It also attempted to see Capernaum as a minor Central Place from which Jesus could travel, both by land and by sea. Part II resumes with a more detailed discussion of social network concepts and then analyzes the Jesus Movement discussed by Theissen as an "Ego-centered network." It offers as an illustration Jesus' natural kinship network, and concludes with reflections about several important critical issues in current Jesus study. (Many works cited in Part II are in "Works Cited," Part I, BTB 29/4 [1999: 171-75]).