Were Ancient Synagogues Town Halls with a Torah? (Jordan Ryan) Ep. #258
What were synagogues actually like in the time of Jesus? Were they places of worship, centers of local government, or something entirely different?
In this episode, archaeologist and New Testament scholar Dr. Jordan Ryan joins Dru Johnson to challenge common assumptions about ancient synagogues. Drawing on archaeological discoveries, ancient texts, and the writings of Josephus, Philo, and the New Testament, Ryan explains why synagogues in the first century looked and functioned very differently from both modern churches and modern synagogues.
The conversation explores the origins of…
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