Arimathea is a town mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, primarily known as the home of Joseph of Arimathea, a significant figure in the events following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The exact location of Arimathea is not definitively known, but it is traditionally identified with the modern town of Ramallah or possibly Ramathaim-Zophim, the birthplace of the prophet Samuel, located in the hill country of Ephraim.

Biblical References:

1. Joseph of Arimathea: The most notable mention of Arimathea in the Bible is in connection with Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph is described as a wealthy and respected member of the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, who was also a secret disciple of Jesus. After the crucifixion, Joseph courageously approached Pontius Pilate to request the body of Jesus for burial. This act is recorded in all four Gospels:

· Matthew 27:57-60 : "As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away."

· Mark 15:43-46 : "Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so. When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb."

· Luke 23:50-53 : "Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man who had not consented to their decision and action. He was from Arimathea, a town of Judea, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid."

· John 19:38-42 : "Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body. Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there."

Significance:

Joseph of Arimathea's actions are significant for several reasons. His request for Jesus' body and subsequent burial in his own tomb fulfilled the prophecy found in Isaiah 53:9, which states, "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death." Joseph's courage and devotion to Jesus, despite the potential risk to his reputation and standing, highlight the transformative impact of Jesus' ministry and the hope of the coming Kingdom of God.

Arimathea, though not extensively detailed in the Scriptures, serves as a backdrop to this pivotal moment in Christian history. The town's mention underscores the fulfillment of prophecy and the role of faithful individuals in the divine narrative of redemption.Arimathea

a lion dead to the Lord

Arimathea

(heights). (Matthew 27:57; Luke 23:51; John 19:38) St. Luke calls it "a city of Judea." It is identified by many with the modern Ramleh .

A "city of the Jews" (Luke 23:51), the birth-place of Joseph in whose sepulchre our Lord was laid (Matthew 27:57, 60; John 19:38). It is probably the same place as Ramathaim in Ephraim, and the birth-place of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1, 19). Others identify it with Ramleh in Dan, or Rama (q.v.) in Benjamin (Matthew 2:18). ARIMATHAEA

ar-i-ma-the'-a (Arimathaia): "A city of the Jews," the home of Joseph in whose sepulchre the body of Jesus was laid. Its identity is the subject of much conjecture. The Onomasticon of Eusebius and Jerome identifies it with Ramathaim-Zophim in the hill-country of Ephraim (1 Samuel 11), which is Ramah the birthplace and burial-place of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:19; 1 Samuel 25:1), and places it near Timnah on the borders of Judah and Dan. G. A. Smith thinks it may be the modern Beit Rima, a village on an eminence 2 miles North of Timnah. Others incline to Ramallah, 8 miles North of Jerusalem and 3 miles from Bethel (Matthew 27:57 Mark 15:43 Luke 23:51 John 19:38).

S. F. Hunter

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA

(A Arimathaias; for etymology, etc., of Joseph, see general article on JOSEPH): Joseph of Arimathea-a place the locality of which is doubtful, but lying probably to the Northwest of Jerusalem-was a "rich man" (Matthew 27:57), "a councilor of honorable estate," or member of the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:43 Luke 23:50), "a good and righteous man.... who was looking for the kingdom of God" (Luke 23:50 Mark 15:43), and "himself was Jesus' disciple" (Matthew 27:57 John 19:38). Although he kept his discipleship secret "for fear of the Jews" (John 19:38), he was yet faithful to his allegiance in that he absented himself from the meeting which found Jesus guilty of death (compare Luke 23:51 Mark 14:64). But the condemnation of his Lord awakened the courage and revealed the true faith of Joseph. On the evening after the crucifixion he went "boldly" to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. There is a fine touch in that he himself took down the body from the cross. With the assistance of Nicodemus he wound it in fine linen with spices (compare Matthew 27:57, Joseph was a "rich man") and brought it to the new sepulcher in the garden near the place of His crucifixion. There they "laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain" and `rolled a stone against the door of the tomb' (compare Matthew 27:57-60 Mark 15:42-46 Luke 23:50-53 John 19:38-42). In this was held to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9.

The Gospel of Peter, written probably in Syria about the middle of the 2nd century, gives a slightly different account. According to this Joseph, "the friend of Pilate and the Lord," was present at the trial of Jesus, and immediately upon its conclusion besought of Pilate that he might have the body for burial. This was granted, and after the crucifixion the Jews handed the body over to Joseph (compare Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 27-30). Legends of a later origin record that Joseph was sent by Philip from Gaul to Britain along with 11 other disciples in 63 A.D., and built an oratory at Glastonbury (compare PHILIP, the Apostle), that he brought the Holy Grail to England, and that he freed Ireland from snakes.

C. M. Kerr

707. Harimathaia -- Arimathea, probably a city near Jer.
... 706, 707. Harimathaia. 708 . Arimathea, probably a city near Jer. ... Word Origin
of Hebrew origin, cf. Ramah Definition Arimathea, probably a city near Jer. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/707.htm - 6k

Joseph of Arimathea
... JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA. BY REV. ALFRED ROWLAND, DD. LL.B. "Joseph of Arimathea, an
honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God.""Mark 15:43. ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/joseph of arimathea.htm

The Request of Joseph of Arimathea to be Allowed to have the Body ...
... CHAPTER XLVII. The Request of Joseph of Arimathea to be allowed to have
the Body of Jesus. Scarcely had the commotion which the ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlvii the request of.htm

The Man Born Blind and Joseph of Arimathea
... VI THE MAN BORN BLIND AND JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA. There were two extraordinary ...
you out. II. Now we come to Joseph of Arimathea. I do ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/vi the man born blind.htm

Meditation ii. The Supper-Room.
... This building was in a very dilapidated state when it became the property of Nicodemus
and Joseph of Arimathea, who arranged the principal building in a very ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/meditation ii the supper-room.htm

Of the Question Whether the Evangelists are all at one on the ...
... Matthew proceeds as follows: "Now when the even was come, there came a rich man
of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: he went to ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxii of the question whether.htm

A Glance at the Disciples of Jesus on Holy Saturday.
... The evening was advancing, and Joseph of Arimathea came in with a few other disciples,
to ask whether any of the women wished to return to their homes, as they ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter lviii a glance at.htm

The Eve of the Resurrection.
... CHAPTER LVI. Joseph of Arimathea miraculously set at large. A short time
after the return of the Blessed Virgin to the holy women ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter lx the eve of.htm

A Description of Some Parts of Ancient Jerusalem.
... They will be followed by a description of the tomb and garden of Joseph of Arimathea,
that so we may have no need to interrupt the account of the burial of our ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlix a description of.htm

The Burial
... This is the first time that Joseph of Arimathea appears on the stage of the
gospel history; and of his previous life very little is known. ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter xxiii the burial.htm

Joseph and Nicodemus
... JOSEPH AND NICODEMUS. 'And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus,
but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/joseph and nicodemus.htm

Arimathea (4 Occurrences)
... (A Arimathaias; for etymology, etc., of Joseph, see general article on JOSEPH):
Joseph of Arimathea-a place ... Multi-Version Concordance Arimathea (4 Occurrences). ...
/a/arimathea.htm - 12k

Arimathe'a (4 Occurrences)
Arimathe'a. Arimathea, Arimathe'a. Arioch . Multi-Version Concordance
Arimathe'a (4 Occurrences). Matthew 27:57 And evening having ...
/a/arimathe'a.htm - 7k

Arimathaea (4 Occurrences)
... SF Hunter. JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA. (A Arimathaias; for etymology, etc., of Joseph,
see general article on JOSEPH): Joseph of Arimathea-a place the locality of ...
/a/arimathaea.htm - 11k

Burial (25 Occurrences)
... Our Lord was buried in a new tomb, hewn out of the rock, which Joseph of Arimathea
had prepared for himself (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:46; John 19:41, 42). ...
/b/burial.htm - 42k

Pontius (4 Occurrences)
... crucified. Having ascertained from the centurion that he was dead, he gave
up the body to Joseph of Arimathea to be buried. Pilate's ...
/p/pontius.htm - 36k

Pilate (60 Occurrences)
... crucified. Having ascertained from the centurion that he was dead, he gave
up the body to Joseph of Arimathea to be buried. Pilate's ...
/p/pilate.htm - 53k

Gardens (14 Occurrences)
... 9); Ahab's garden of herbs (1 Kings 21:2); the royal garden (2 Kings 21:18); the
royal garden at Susa (Esther 1:5); the garden of Joseph of Arimathea (John 19 ...
/g/gardens.htm - 12k

Wait (223 Occurrences)
... Again, after our Lord's crucifixion, when Joseph of Arimathea begged for the body
of Jesus, we are told that he was one of those that "waited for the kingdom ...
/w/wait.htm - 41k

Wealthy (22 Occurrences)
... for men of wealth to be saved, however, is apparent from the narratives, in the
Gospels, of such rich men as Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38, 39 ...
/w/wealthy.htm - 17k

Wealth (340 Occurrences)
... for men of wealth to be saved, however, is apparent from the narratives, in the
Gospels, of such rich men as Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38, 39 ...
/w/wealth.htm - 40k

Who was Joseph of Arimathea? | GotQuestions.org

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