Entah siapa yang memulainya di ranah dialog antar umat beragama khususnya antara Islam dan Kristen, permasalahan tentang nama yang digunakan oleh pengikut Isa Almasih alias Yesus Kristus: Nasrani atau Kristen. Satu yang pasti, jika Anda membaca terjemahan Inggris, para teolog Islam Barat tidak ragu menerjemahkan kata Arab: Nasrani, menjadi Kristen (Christian).A. PENGANTAR
Theos akan mengutip apa yang ditulis oleh Ben Abrahamson (1) dalam satu notenya yang menjelaskan tentang asal muasal nama Nasrani yang dikaitkan olehnya ke zaman yang jauh sebelum Isa lahir. Artinya, komunitas Nasrani itu sudah ada jauh sebelum Isa memiliki pengikut yang "diklaim saudara kecil kita" sebagai nama dari pengikut Isa. Nasrani.B. NASRANI: VERSI YAHUDI
The historical origin of the Nasaara (Notzrim) 28 January 2013 at 13:59
Around 520 BCE, after the first exile of the Children of Israel, the Persians set up four governors to rule the former kingdom of Solomon (pbuh): Sanballat, Tobiah, Zerubavel and Gashmu. Each governor was to collect taxes for Persia, and except for Zerubavel, they intermarried with the local nobility to facilitate tax collection. Zerubavel was given exclusive control over the Temple in Jerusalem and the others had to pay part of their taxes to support it. This led to religious tension. Sanballat encouraged a religious cult in the areas under his authority which became known as the Shomrim (Samaritanism). Tobiah encouraged a religious cult which became known as the Notzrim (Nasaara). Zerubavel maintained the Temple worship in Jerusalem. Gashmu's religious efforts were given names much later as Salamai, Muslamai as well as ToShaBim or Sabians.
Sanballat's religion stressed rational thought, commerce and trade; as well as a literal, minimalistic interpretation of Scripture to allow room for Hellenistic philosophy. When Samaria and the coast was conquered by the Hasmoneans and worship on mount Gerizim and Beit El was forbidden by Johanan Hyrcanus, the combination of Samaritanism and Hasmonean Judaism gave birth to Sadduceanism. It proved to be quite popular with the rich and the elite. Its possible that some of their Messianic aspirations lived on in the legends of Sanballat, Smbat and even Sinbad.
Tobiad's religion stressed gnosticism, allegory and monasticism. It stressed the seeking of angels, communications with the heavens by means doves, foretelling the future and tax collecting. Their religion was based on virtues of Joseph (pbuh): foretelling the future and tax collecting, and their chief redeemer was a tragic Messiah like Joseph (pbuh). For them, the first messiah was Joshua (pbuh), a descendant of Joseph (pbuh), who led the Children of Israel into Egypt after Moses (pbuh) passed away. Centuries later, the high priest Joshua together with "the Branch" were declared by the Prophet Zechariah (pbuh) to usher in an age of peace. Tobiah applied the name "Branch" (netzer) to himself. This movement proved quite popular with the poor, and those interested in magic.
Three hundred years later, the Hasmonean kings came to power and ruled an independent nation of Judea. Rome recognized their borders to include Galilee, Iturea, Perea, Idumea and Samaria. This was a portion of the "lost Kingdom of Israel" but not the entire area that was under King Solomon (pbuh). The Hasmoneans and Herodians laid claim to lands farther north as well as south to Arabia. In spite of diplomatic maneuvers and military operations they were unable to obtain those lands. The earlier Hasmonean kings held power by broad popular support, however the later ones became tied to the elite and ruthlessly suppressed dissension.
During 88-76 BCE, Hasmonean king Alexander Jannæus ordered persecutions of the Pharisees, because they opposed his policies of expansion. Joshua ben Perachiah and his disciples, among others, fled to Egypt for a time for safety. One was student was called Judah ben Tabbai (Judah the Tobiad, Notzri). Judah ben Tabbai went on to become a great leader in the Pharisaic community. The other student was his brother, Joshua ben Tabbai (Joshua the Tobiad, Notzri). Joshua ben Tabbai became involved in the occult. Joshua ben Tabbai was excommunicated and eventually executed, but his reputation as a powerful magician and healer lived on. So much so that later 80 followers of his were executed in Ashkelon as witches.
Under the Herodian kings, the occultic aspect of this gnostic religion was suppressed and the monastic aspect and mystical aspect was encouraged. The usage of allegory and parable was adopted by the Pharisees. As a teaching method this made the Pharisees very popular with the masses, but put them at odds with the rationalist, Hellenist Sadducees. This made for a sympathetic relationship between the Pharisees and the Tobiad ascetics.
The Jews who lived over the Jordan river in the territories of the tribes of Ephraim and Menasseh sons of Joseph (pbuh) and around the sea of Galilee were considered second class to the "Jews" of Jerusalem, who ironically had incorporated the Edomites seamlessly into their midst. Many were poor, taken on Greek names and had intermarried. Jesus (pbuh) referred to them as "the lost sheep of the House of Israel". Jesus' (pbuh) name had probably been chosen because of the many Tobiah Joshuas who paved the way for the final tragic redeemer. This is probably why he was called a Notzri, Nazereth being a community of Tobiad Notzrim. Matthew 4:14–15 based on Isaiah 9:1 refers to the "Galilee of the Gentiles". His disciples were from Jordan. Jesus' (pbuh) ministry centered in that area (around the sea of Galilee) and the Church fled there (Jordan) during the wars between Judea and Rome.
As the Herodians were increasingly dispossessed by the Romans, the Sadducees began to shift their loyalties from being vassals of Rome to being nationalist zealots. After the first great revolt with Rome which resulted in the destruction of the Temple, Rome punished the Sadducees by outlawing all forms of Judaism besides Pharisaism, and "rewarded" the Pharisees by allowing them to regroup in Yavneh.
During the first three centuries of the common era, the Sadducees increasingly distanced themselves from the Pharisees. Their synagogues had mosaics that contained elements of Jewish, Roman pagan, and Tobiad Gnostic art. The discussions between these Sadducean Minim and Rabbis are mentioned several times in the Talmud. As Roman law continued to restrict Rabbinical Judaism, and pagan traditions fell out of favor, the Sadducean leaders embraced Tobiad Gnostism, especially as reformed by Jesus (pbuh). It was a universal message, that focused on intention and avoided politics, and most importantly to Rome it had no nationalistic aspirations. The tragic Messiah like Joseph (pbuh) was transplanted to replace the nationalistic Judean Messiah like David (pbuh). The initial adherents of this reformed Tobiad faith were the Edomites of Jerusalem who sought favor with Rome. The Pharisees simply called them Edom and Notzrim.
Around 520 BCE, after the first exile of the Children of Israel, the Persians set up four governors to rule the former kingdom of Solomon (pbuh): Sanballat, Tobiah, Zerubavel and Gashmu. Each governor was to collect taxes for Persia, and except for Zerubavel, they intermarried with the local nobility to facilitate tax collection. Zerubavel was given exclusive control over the Temple in Jerusalem and the others had to pay part of their taxes to support it. This led to religious tension. Sanballat encouraged a religious cult in the areas under his authority which became known as the Shomrim (Samaritanism). Tobiah encouraged a religious cult which became known as the Notzrim (Nasaara). Zerubavel maintained the Temple worship in Jerusalem. Gashmu's religious efforts were given names much later as Salamai, Muslamai as well as ToShaBim or Sabians.
Sanballat's religion stressed rational thought, commerce and trade; as well as a literal, minimalistic interpretation of Scripture to allow room for Hellenistic philosophy. When Samaria and the coast was conquered by the Hasmoneans and worship on mount Gerizim and Beit El was forbidden by Johanan Hyrcanus, the combination of Samaritanism and Hasmonean Judaism gave birth to Sadduceanism. It proved to be quite popular with the rich and the elite. Its possible that some of their Messianic aspirations lived on in the legends of Sanballat, Smbat and even Sinbad.
Tobiad's religion stressed gnosticism, allegory and monasticism. It stressed the seeking of angels, communications with the heavens by means doves, foretelling the future and tax collecting. Their religion was based on virtues of Joseph (pbuh): foretelling the future and tax collecting, and their chief redeemer was a tragic Messiah like Joseph (pbuh). For them, the first messiah was Joshua (pbuh), a descendant of Joseph (pbuh), who led the Children of Israel into Egypt after Moses (pbuh) passed away. Centuries later, the high priest Joshua together with "the Branch" were declared by the Prophet Zechariah (pbuh) to usher in an age of peace. Tobiah applied the name "Branch" (netzer) to himself. This movement proved quite popular with the poor, and those interested in magic.
Three hundred years later, the Hasmonean kings came to power and ruled an independent nation of Judea. Rome recognized their borders to include Galilee, Iturea, Perea, Idumea and Samaria. This was a portion of the "lost Kingdom of Israel" but not the entire area that was under King Solomon (pbuh). The Hasmoneans and Herodians laid claim to lands farther north as well as south to Arabia. In spite of diplomatic maneuvers and military operations they were unable to obtain those lands. The earlier Hasmonean kings held power by broad popular support, however the later ones became tied to the elite and ruthlessly suppressed dissension.
During 88-76 BCE, Hasmonean king Alexander Jannæus ordered persecutions of the Pharisees, because they opposed his policies of expansion. Joshua ben Perachiah and his disciples, among others, fled to Egypt for a time for safety. One was student was called Judah ben Tabbai (Judah the Tobiad, Notzri). Judah ben Tabbai went on to become a great leader in the Pharisaic community. The other student was his brother, Joshua ben Tabbai (Joshua the Tobiad, Notzri). Joshua ben Tabbai became involved in the occult. Joshua ben Tabbai was excommunicated and eventually executed, but his reputation as a powerful magician and healer lived on. So much so that later 80 followers of his were executed in Ashkelon as witches.
Under the Herodian kings, the occultic aspect of this gnostic religion was suppressed and the monastic aspect and mystical aspect was encouraged. The usage of allegory and parable was adopted by the Pharisees. As a teaching method this made the Pharisees very popular with the masses, but put them at odds with the rationalist, Hellenist Sadducees. This made for a sympathetic relationship between the Pharisees and the Tobiad ascetics.
The Jews who lived over the Jordan river in the territories of the tribes of Ephraim and Menasseh sons of Joseph (pbuh) and around the sea of Galilee were considered second class to the "Jews" of Jerusalem, who ironically had incorporated the Edomites seamlessly into their midst. Many were poor, taken on Greek names and had intermarried. Jesus (pbuh) referred to them as "the lost sheep of the House of Israel". Jesus' (pbuh) name had probably been chosen because of the many Tobiah Joshuas who paved the way for the final tragic redeemer. This is probably why he was called a Notzri, Nazereth being a community of Tobiad Notzrim. Matthew 4:14–15 based on Isaiah 9:1 refers to the "Galilee of the Gentiles". His disciples were from Jordan. Jesus' (pbuh) ministry centered in that area (around the sea of Galilee) and the Church fled there (Jordan) during the wars between Judea and Rome.
As the Herodians were increasingly dispossessed by the Romans, the Sadducees began to shift their loyalties from being vassals of Rome to being nationalist zealots. After the first great revolt with Rome which resulted in the destruction of the Temple, Rome punished the Sadducees by outlawing all forms of Judaism besides Pharisaism, and "rewarded" the Pharisees by allowing them to regroup in Yavneh.
During the first three centuries of the common era, the Sadducees increasingly distanced themselves from the Pharisees. Their synagogues had mosaics that contained elements of Jewish, Roman pagan, and Tobiad Gnostic art. The discussions between these Sadducean Minim and Rabbis are mentioned several times in the Talmud. As Roman law continued to restrict Rabbinical Judaism, and pagan traditions fell out of favor, the Sadducean leaders embraced Tobiad Gnostism, especially as reformed by Jesus (pbuh). It was a universal message, that focused on intention and avoided politics, and most importantly to Rome it had no nationalistic aspirations. The tragic Messiah like Joseph (pbuh) was transplanted to replace the nationalistic Judean Messiah like David (pbuh). The initial adherents of this reformed Tobiad faith were the Edomites of Jerusalem who sought favor with Rome. The Pharisees simply called them Edom and Notzrim.
Bahasan tentang hal ini sudah diulas tuntas oleh "Sarapan Pagi Biblika" (2). Theos hanya akan melihat apa yang biasanya dijadikan hujjah oleh debater Islam untuk mengkritisi pengenaan term Kristen yang dipakai oleh pengikut Yesus di masa kini.B. VERSI KRISTEN: NASRANI ATAU KRISTEN?
Dalil ayat yang paling laku dijual debater Islam adalah ini:
Kisah Para Rasul 24:5
Telah nyata kepada kami, bahwa orang ini adalah penyakit sampar, seorang yang menimbulkan kekacauan di antara semua orang Yahudi di seluruh dunia yang beradab, dan bahwa ia adalah seorang tokoh dari SEKTE ORANG NASRANI.
Telah nyata kepada kami, bahwa orang ini adalah penyakit sampar, seorang yang menimbulkan kekacauan di antara semua orang Yahudi di seluruh dunia yang beradab, dan bahwa ia adalah seorang tokoh dari SEKTE ORANG NASRANI.
Dalam Kisah 24:5 tsb. Kata "Nasrani" (NAZÔRAIÔN HAIRESEÔS) tidak mengarah kepada pengikut Yesus Kristus , sebab sebelumnya pengikut Yesus disebut dengan nama 'Kristen' (χριστιανος - KHRISTIANOS, Kisah 11:26).
Kisah Para Rasul 11:26
Mereka tinggal bersama-sama dengan jemaat itu satu tahun lamanya, sambil mengajar banyak orang. Di Antiokhialah murid-murid itu untuk pertama kalinya disebut Kristen.
Mereka tinggal bersama-sama dengan jemaat itu satu tahun lamanya, sambil mengajar banyak orang. Di Antiokhialah murid-murid itu untuk pertama kalinya disebut Kristen.
Dan sebenarnya 'Sekte Nasrani' itu telah ada sebelum kelahiran Yesus. Namun adanya kata yang mirip, yaitu antara "NASRANI" dan "NASARET" menjadikan seringnya terjadi salah-pengertian dengan adanya kaitan nama Yesus dengan kota asalnya Nazaret (bnd. penjelasan Abrahamson tentang asal muasal term "Nasrani").
"Sekte Nasrani" adalah "sekte Yahudi pra-Kristen" yang menganut mistik gnostik orang Mandaean. Sekte ini disebut dalam Epiphanus Panar.I,Haer. 29,6 & Tafsiran Jerome (Yesaya 11:1, thd kata Ibrani נֵצֶר - NETSER). Dalam Talmud (Ta'an.27b); Tertulianus: Marcion IV.3; Tafsiran Jerome (Yesaya 5:18), sekte ini jelas menunjukkan ciri sebuah sekte Yahudi yang kemudian bersinkretisasi juga dengan kekristenan (Yohanes Pembaptis) tetapi berbeda dengan pengikut Yesus, bahkan dalam Epiphanes (Panar.I, Haer.18 ) dengan jelas dibedakan antara "sekte Nasrani" Mandaean dengan 'umat Kristen.'
Nama "Kristen" sudah ada sebelum term "Nasrani" dikenakan oleh orang Yahudi kepada pengikut Yesus Kristus. Term "Kristen" ini pun di-amin-kan oleh Rasul Petrus dan juga oleh Raja Agripa:
1 Petrus 4:16
Tetapi, jika ia menderita sebagai orang Kristen, maka janganlah ia malu, melainkan hendaklah ia memuliakan Allah dalam nama Kristus itu.
Kisah Para Rasul 26:28
Jawab Agripa: "Hampir-hampir saja kauyakinkan aku menjadi orang Kristen!"
Tetapi, jika ia menderita sebagai orang Kristen, maka janganlah ia malu, melainkan hendaklah ia memuliakan Allah dalam nama Kristus itu.
Kisah Para Rasul 26:28
Jawab Agripa: "Hampir-hampir saja kauyakinkan aku menjadi orang Kristen!"
Simpulan Pendek
Berdasarkan data yang kita dapat, kita dapat mengetahui bahwa orang-orang Yahudi menjuluki pengikut Yesus sebagai "Nasrani". Sedangkan pengikut Yesus yang benar sebetulnya tidak mengenakan nama itu (semua term baik Nasrani dan Kristen adalah nama yang dikenakan oleh pengikut Yesus dari orang lain - dari Yahudi dan dari non-Yahudi saat itu).
"Sarapan Pagi Biblika" sudah memerikan gambaran yang sangat baik untuk menjelaskan problematika ini:
Dalam Kitab-Suci umat Muslim, pengikut Yesus disebut sebagai 'Nasrani' (Nashara, Sura. 5:82) Ini bisa dimaklumi mengingat bahwa latar belakang Islam banyak berinteraksi dengan agama Yahudi (terutama di Medinah) dan menggunakan julukan orang Yahudi kepada orang Kristen sebagai julukan mereka juga.
* Qs 5:82
Sesungguhnya kamu dapati orang-orang yang paling keras permusuhannya terhadap orang-orang yang beriman ialah orang-orang Yahudi dan orang-orang musyrik. Dan sesungguhnya kamu dapati yang paling dekat persabahatannya dengan orang-orang yang beriman ialah orang-orang yang berkata: "Sesungguhnya kami ini orang Nasrani". Yang demikian itu disebabkan karena di antara mereka itu (orang-orang Nasrani) terdapat pendeta-pendeta dan rahib-rahib, (juga) karena sesungguhnya mereka tidak menyombongkan diri.
Bandingkan dengan Terjemahan Bahasa Inggris dibawah ini yang 'mengganti' kata NASHARA menjadi Christian
◾ Terjemahan Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall,
Qs 5:82
Thou wilt find the most vehement of mankind in hostility to those who believe (to be) the Jews and the idolaters. And thou wilt find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe (to be) those who say: Lo! We are Christians. That is because there are among them priests and monks, and because they are not proud.
◾ Terjemahan Abdullah Yusuf Ali,
Qs 5:82
Strongest among men in enmity to the believers will you find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers will you find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant."
Orang Yahudi tidak menerima 'Yesus sebagai Kristus' (Mesias) itulah sebabnya label "Nasrani" yang mereka pakai. Sebenarnya Kitab Suci umat Muslim sudah menggunakan nama 'AL-MASIHI' (QS 4:157) yang artinya 'MESIAS' untuk menyebut Yesus (Isa), sedangkan pengikut Yesus disebut sebagai 'Masihi'. Penggunaan nama ini menurut Ensiklopedia Islam disebut disebarluaskan oleh misionaris Kristen menggantikan istilah 'Nasrani' (Nashara, QS.5:82).
Dengan demikian penyebutan yang umum kita dengar "NASRANI" yang ditujukan bagi kaum Kristiani (orang-orang Kristen) sebenarnya "kurang tepat", namun hal ini sudah kadung menjadi stigma, ya sudah terima saja, namun saya mengharap dengan penjabaran ini Anda sudah dapat memahami latar belakang sebenarnya.
Menarik untuk memberi catatan bahwa adalah logis Quran menyebut pengikut Isa sebagai Nasrani karena Muhammad lebih bergaul dengan orang Yahudi terutama di Madinah yang jelas tidak mengakui Isa sebagai Almasih (Yunani: Kristus, dari sinilah term Kristen berasal). Mungkin dengan alasan inilah teolog Islam di Barat menyimpulkan bahwa term yang digunakan Quran: Nasrani, adalah identik dengan term Kristen (Christian).C. NASRANI VERSI ISLAM (3)
Teolog Islam klasik pun terbagi dua pendapat mengenai asal usul pengenaan term "Nasrani" ini. Ibn Kathir dalam kitab tafsirnya menjelaskan demikian:
why the christians were called nasara ("Who will be my helpers in Allah's cause'' Al-Hawariyyun said: "We are the helpers of Allah.'') (61:14). It was said that they were called `Nasara', because they inhabited a land called An-Nasirah (Nazareth), as Qatadah, Ibn Jurayj and Ibn `Abbas were reported to have said, Allah knows best. Nasara is certainly plural for Nasran.
Jadi, Islam memang multi tafsir. Ada yang mengaitkan term Nasrani dikenakan kepada pengikut Isa karena nama kota: Nazareth, dan ada pula yang menjelaskan bahwa term Nasrani di Quran berasal dari akar kata yang sama (ن ص ر) yang asal muasal artinya adalah penolong (anshaar).
61:14 (Ash-Shaaf - Barisan, Urutan Turun Quran: 109, Madaniyah)
yaa ayyuhaa alladziina aamanuu kuunuu anshaara allaahi kamaa qaala ‘iisaa ibnu maryama lilhawaariyyiina man anshaarii ilaa allaahi qaala alhawaariyyuuna NAHNU ANSHAARU allaahi faaamanat thaa-ifatun min banii israa-iila wakafarat thaa-ifatun fa-ayyadnaa alladziina aamanuu ‘alaa ‘aduwwihim fa-ashbahuu zhaahiriina
Hai orang-orang yang beriman, jadilah kamu penolong (agama) Allah sebagaimana Isa ibnu Maryam telah berkata kepada pengikut-pengikutnya yang setia: “Siapakah yang akan menjadi penolong-penolongku (untuk menegakkan agama) Allah?” Pengikut-pengikut yang setia itu berkata: “KAMILAH PENOLONG-PENOLONG agama Allah”, lalu segolongan dari Bani Israil beriman dan segolongan lain kafir; maka Kami berikan kekuatan kepada orang-orang yang beriman terhadap musuh-musuh mereka, lalu mereka menjadi orang-orang yang menang.
yaa ayyuhaa alladziina aamanuu kuunuu anshaara allaahi kamaa qaala ‘iisaa ibnu maryama lilhawaariyyiina man anshaarii ilaa allaahi qaala alhawaariyyuuna NAHNU ANSHAARU allaahi faaamanat thaa-ifatun min banii israa-iila wakafarat thaa-ifatun fa-ayyadnaa alladziina aamanuu ‘alaa ‘aduwwihim fa-ashbahuu zhaahiriina
Hai orang-orang yang beriman, jadilah kamu penolong (agama) Allah sebagaimana Isa ibnu Maryam telah berkata kepada pengikut-pengikutnya yang setia: “Siapakah yang akan menjadi penolong-penolongku (untuk menegakkan agama) Allah?” Pengikut-pengikut yang setia itu berkata: “KAMILAH PENOLONG-PENOLONG agama Allah”, lalu segolongan dari Bani Israil beriman dan segolongan lain kafir; maka Kami berikan kekuatan kepada orang-orang yang beriman terhadap musuh-musuh mereka, lalu mereka menjadi orang-orang yang menang.
1. Term Nasrani yang dikenakan oleh orang Yahudi kepada pengikut Yesus adalah karena term Nasrani itu sudah ada jauh sebelum Isa lahir di abad 1 Masehi. Lihat kembali catatan Ben Abrahamson.D. KESIMPULAN
2. Adalah logis menyimpulkan bahwa pengenaan term Nasrani, baik oleh orang Yahudi dan pengikut Muhammad di kemudian hari seperti yang ada di Quran, didasari karena penolakan Yahudi terhadap ke-Mesias-an Yesus. Bagi Anda yang tidak memahami ini, simak: Kristen berasal dari kata Kristus, yang dalam bahasa Arabnya adalah Al Masih. Mengingatkan kembali bahwa Muhammad memang bergaul intens di masa kenabiannya dengan orang Yahudi, sehingga logis menyatakan bahwa Yahudi menyebut pengikut Isa sebagai Nasrani (bukan Kristen atau Masiha) karena mereka menolak Isa sebagai Mesias atau Al Masih.
3. Bagi umat Islam sendiri, pengenaan term "Nasrani" pun tidak kalah dilematiknya. Debater Indonesia seakan-akan menolak penggunaan term "Kristen" dan menyatakan bahwa pengikut Isa yang benar adalah "Nasrani", padahal sudah jelas Quran sendiri menyatakan bahwa term "Nasrani" itu kafir (QS 9:30). Dilematik karena term "Nasrani" sebagaimana sudah dijelaskan oleh Ben Abrahamson telah ada jauh sebelum pengikut Isa ada. Pun jika dikaitkan dengan etimologi "anshaar" (penolong), Isa Almasih tidak pernah menggunakan bahasa Arab, bagaimana mungkin pengikut Isa yang paling awal disebut dengan sebuah term Arab?
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Footnote
(1) https://www.facebook.com/notes/ben-abrahamson/the-historical-origin-of-the-nasaara-notzrim/584337108259000
(2) http://www.sarapanpagi.org/kristen-vt325.html
(3) http://quranx.com/Tafsirs/2.62