What are the origins of the "scriptures" referenced in the christian Passion Narrative? When and where were these scriptures written?

by prairie_girl

Hello historians! During Holy Week back in April I was struck by the claims in the "Passion Narrative," specifically:

  • “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfil the scripture, “They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did this.
  • After this Jesus, knowing that all was finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), “I thirst.”
  • For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of him shall be broken.” And again another scripture says, “They shall look on him who they have pierced.”

My questions are which scriptures are these? When and where were they written? And also, are their similar scriptures that go unfulfilled when connected with the story of Jesus?

Please note, I am strictly not asking these questions from a religious perspective but a historical one. I am not asking in order to try to "prove" anything about religion, faith, or christianity, simply curiosity about the origins of these ideas.

Thank you!

talondearg

Your first quotation is from John 19:24. It is considered to be a fulfilment of Psalm 22:18. It is notoriously difficult to date individual psalms, though probably the collection was fairly stable by at least 400 BC.

The second quotation is John 19:28. It is unclear what 'Scripture' is in view here. Suggestions include Psalm 22:15, 42:2, 63:1, or 69:21. Personally I think the intended reference is either the first or last of these options.

Your last quotation is John 19:36-37. v36 appears to relate to three passages: Ex 12:46 and Numbers 9:12, which are related and give the idea that no bone of a Passover lamb is to be broken. In this view, Jesus is being represented in John's gospel as the Passover sacrifice. Alternatively, Ps 34:20 may be in view.

v37 is more directly attributable, it links to Zechariah 12:10. The book of Zechariah represents itself as a collection of oracles beginning in 520 BC, in the context of efforts to rebuild Jerusalem during the early period of the Persian empire.

It's worth noting that the idea of 'fulfilment' in operation in John's gospel is probably not the same as our prima facie idea of what fulfilment should be. I.e, people today tend to think that there are specific predictions, which are then to be verified/falsified. The author of John's gospel (or final redactor, if you prefer), appears to be operating with a more complex view of fulfilment in terms of typology, symbolism, and overall a 'fuller' sense of 'fulfilment'.