Jesus in the synagogue of Capernaum explained

All four gospels report that Jesus visited Capernaum in Galilee and often attended the synagogue there:

• describes Jesus leaving Nazareth and settling in Capernaum
• Mark 11:21–28 9 describes Jesus teaching and healing in the synagogue
• Luke 44:16–37 9 describes Jesus teaching regularly in the synagogue, cf. Luke 4:23, where Jesus, speaking in the Nazareth synagogue, refers to "what has been heard done" in Capernaum.^[1]
• John 66:22–59 9

contains Jesus' Bread of Life Discourse; verse 59 confirms that Jesus taught this doctrine in the Capernaum synagogue.

Healing of a demoniac

An exorcism performed in the synagogue is recounted in 1:21–28 and 4:31–37 . Mark's version reads:

Luke's account adds that the evil spirit came out of the man "without harming him".^[2] Nicoll comments that this wording anticipates that the man would have been harmed.^[3] Mark concludes:

Analysis

Roman Catholic theologian John Chijioke Iwe argues that the Markan pericope marks the beginning of the last year of the three years of the public ministry of Jesus.

John McEvilly points out that the spirit is called “unclean” since it delights in, and stimulates to, "acts of uncleanness".^[4]

See also

• Life of Jesus in the New Testament
• Bread of Life Discourse
• Ministry of Jesus
• Miracles of Jesus
• parables of Jesus

Sources

• Book: Iwe, John Chijioke . 1991. Jesus in the Synagogue of Capernaum: The Pericope and its Programmatic Character for the Gospel of Mark. Tesi Gregoriana. Serie Teologica 57. 9788876528460.
• Book: Talbert, Charles H. . Reading Luke. 2002. 1573123935.

Notes and References

1. 4:23 NKJV
2. Luke 4:35

   Evangelical Heritage Version

3. Nicoll, W. R., Expositor's Greek Testament on Luke 4:35, accessed 31 August 2023
4. Book: MacEvilly, Rev. John. An Exposition of the Gospels: Mark 1. John McEvilly. 1898. Benziger Brothers. New York. https://web.archive.org/web/20230429141103/https://www.ecatholic2000.com/macevilly2/untitled-39.shtml. 29 April 2023.