Jesus, The Purple Robe And The Theology Of Wealth
Well, the story of Jesus is quite a familiar one, a very famous story, but one thing that has really been amazing is understanding the personality of Jesus Himself.
Difference in Jewish and Christian Perspectives
Well, Biblical wealth has been quite an interesting thing for Christians or those who follow His teachings. Unlike the Jews who are eager to ask the question “Who wants to be rich!” and have no problem with making money, Christians have somehow a very complex idea of wealth.
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Sticking To The Plan
Well, I don’t want to deviate the discussions into something that will require me to write a 10-page dissertation with what I need to defend, but it is understandable the stance people take. Riches and poverty have had a complex interplay in human history. Some have used the Bible to really make themselves rich — from priests to ancient colonizers, etc. — as such, getting rich has been a great disdain to many folks, whereas somehow interestingly, people still want to be rich. It is very complex from what I see it here.
And another case has been that some people think they are more pleasing to God the more they are poor. I don’t know, but these ideas are quite interesting in themselves, but clarity in them will be from a more Biblical viewpoint. God may want you to be more resourced to achieve the plans He has for you, which means you will need to be well-equipped (in many ways, including financially) to fulfill His mission. But another scenario will be like the Young Rich Ruler; riches themselves can be a stumbling block to see God properly, hence the need to deescalate.
It is the reason why making these theological arguments is somehow jaded. Poverty is not a crown in itself, but somehow it is better to be poor than miss God. These circumstantial things that affect people personally and are based on people’s personal convictions should be left to people to decide based on their relationship with God, rather than providing some brick and mortar decisions on them which have ruined many people and prevented a lot of people from being equipped to perform their Godly mission.
The Old Testament Perspective
The Jews may be right in their initial perception, since Biblically, God has always connected prosperity with riches as well (not everything is about riches, baby), but prosperity has had this strong connection with it anyway. So that is a no-brainer. In the Book of Proverbs, wisdom is connected with riches. In several scriptures, God provides his perception about riches. We know the popular ones because they are recited in several places.
Psalm 35:27
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Proverbs 10:4
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Greed and Prosperity
We have always known these scriptures, and they show the perceptions of God about riches and prosperity, but somehow people confuse greed with wealth. Wealth is normally God’s resource that He provides a person He trusts and makes the person accountable for. However, folks just want to be rich with no purpose other than being rich. Well, it provides comfort, but you sure must have a plan if you expect God to pour on you 10 billion dollars. Even with God’s perception of wealth, He has always had a different perception of it introduced in Christianity. Wealth has always remained important for one purpose: His Kingdom.
1 Corinthians 4:8
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign — and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!
God really wants us to prosper because it affects His Kingdom and shows His love. Not only that, but He also wants us to be totally well-protected, health-wise and in all things. Something that makes the theology very complete.
3 John 1:2
Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.
The Story Of The Purple Robe
So, let us take a trip down to Jesus’s crucifixion day. The story of the robe has been used to provide an analysis of Jesus in many ways. Many people have used it to depict the Biblical Jesus as one of extravagance rather than the practically, naturally simplistic Jesus that is well known. Well, that is understandable; God has no problem with your Zara bag or your beautiful clothes from the nicest boutiques, so we don’t want to confuse ourselves here. However, I feel the story of Jesus’s purple robe has been blown out of proportion, so there will be the need for clarity on this. In order to understand this, I had a few interactions with my friend ChatGPT. Although not a Master of Theology, these prompts provided an in-depth background that helped me to understand the background to these things.
A Friendly Conversation With An AI Theologian Wannabe
Me:
How will a purple robe in Jesus time look like and will it have been expensive?
ChatGPT:
Cost Of Textile
In Jesus’ time, the availability and cost of textiles varied based on factors such as the type of fabric, dyeing methods, and the region’s economic conditions. Purple robes were often associated with luxury and high status because obtaining the color purple was a labor-intensive process.
The most famous purple dye of the time came from a sea snail called the Murex trunculus, commonly found in the eastern Mediterranean. Extracting the dye from these snails was a complex and time-consuming process. Thousands of snails were needed to produce a small amount of dye, making it a costly and luxurious commodity.
The Color Extraction Process
The color extracted from these snails was known as Tyrian purple or royal purple, and it ranged from a deep reddish-purple to a bluish-purple. The Phoenician city of Tyre was particularly renowned for producing this dye. The richness of the color and the labor-intensive production process contributed to the high cost of purple garments.
Wearing purple garments, especially those dyed with Tyrian purple, was a symbol of wealth, royalty, and high social status. In the Bible, purple is mentioned in association with royalty and wealth. For example, in the New Testament, there are references to Jesus being dressed in a purple robe during his trial (Mark 15:17, John 19:2).
Garment For Luxurious Folks
In summary, a purple robe in Jesus’ time, especially if dyed with Tyrian purple, would likely have been a luxurious and expensive garment, associated with high social status and wealth.
Me:
But what are the chances that Jesus will be having a purple clothe based on his occupation?
ChatGPT:
Status And Occupation
The chances of Jesus wearing a purple robe would be relatively low, given his occupation as a carpenter and his generally humble lifestyle. In the context of the historical and cultural setting of the time, purple garments were associated with wealth, royalty, and high social status. Carpenters, like Jesus, were typically part of the working class, and it is unlikely that he would have had access to or chosen to wear such an expensive and luxurious item.
The Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life also emphasize his humility and simple lifestyle. For example, in the Bible, there is no indication that Jesus owned extravagant clothing or displayed signs of wealth. In fact, the Gospels often portray him as associating with common people, advocating for the poor, and emphasizing spiritual values over material possessions.
Owned By The Romans
The mention of a purple robe in the context of Jesus’ trial (as found in Mark 15:17, John 19:2) is likely symbolic and related to the mockery and humiliation that he endured during that event. It may have been a garment placed on him by Roman soldiers as a form of mockery, rather than something he regularly wore.
In summary, based on Jesus’ occupation, lifestyle, and the cultural significance of purple garments, it’s unlikely that he would have worn a purple robe as part of his regular attire. The mention of a purple robe in certain biblical accounts is more likely to be a narrative device or a symbol rather than a reflection of his everyday clothing.
Hebrews 10:7
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’
Well, this conversation is great, but I think the point still stands. The simplistic, down-to-earth connection of Jesus, not one who condones poverty nor one who condones greed. The human, down-to-earth Jesus whose main aim was to connect with various parts of human nature, both rich and poor, and looked to fulfill the Father’s will is the Jesus we aim for. If anything, for historical purposes, it turns out the robe was not Jesus’s but the Romans’.
Mark 15:16–20
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
The Right Image Of Him
So, conclusively, the Biblical nature of Jesus must be kept in the right way. To truly understand the true picture of Jesus, we must honestly look at it from a clear Biblical view as given to us, rather than adding connotations that provide a wrong image of Him.
