Was There Really A Heartless Innkeeper?

​Lk 2:7 - And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (Gk - kataluma). NASU
 
Mk 14:14 - and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is My guest room (Gk - kataluma) in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"' NASB

• Same Greek Word

I believe this Pump Up is going to tackle over a thousand years of incorrect theology.

I have included the above two passages of scripture that use the same Greek word "kataluma". In the Luke passage it is interpreted "inn" and in the Mark passage it is interpreted "guest room".
 
I believe the best translation would be "guest room" and if I am correct then there wasn't any "heartless innkeeper".
 
So how did we get so far off the track?
 
Kenneth E. Bailey in his book, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, says, "an anonymous Christian wrote an expanded account of the birth of Jesus … and is called The Protoevangelium of James.

This book is said to have been written 200 years after the birth of Jesus and is filled with imaginative details surrounding His birth.
 
Much of the incorrect theology of the birth of Jesus and surrounding events has come from this non-canonical work. 

• Jewish Culture 

Mr. Bailey makes some interesting points for us to consider about Joseph. First, he is a descendant of King David.

In Luke 2:4 - Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,…
 
All Joseph had to do was tell people of his lineage and that he was a descendant of King David and he and Mary would have been immediately welcomed into any person's home in Bethlehem, the city of King David.

King David was and is a hero of theirs and to be able to say that one of his relatives is staying in your house would be considered a great honor.
 
Another point is Joseph had been in Bethlehem days before Jesus was born. It didn't happen like the Christmas story when they arrive at night, find no room at the inn and immediately Mary gives birth to Jesus in a barn aka stable.
 
Luke 2:6 says, "While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth".  
 
Who is the "they"? The "they" is Joseph and Mary.
 
Where is "there"?
The "there" in the above passage is Bethlehem.
 
The culture that could be found in those days would be screaming "stay with us, stay with us". Joseph is a descendant of King David and Mary is pregnant. They would be welcomed in any home because of their ancestors and I believe they were.
 
Houses in this day had a "guest room". The house they went to had a "guest room" and it was taken by someone but that doesn't mean they couldn't stay in the house.
 
Mr. Bailey's book goes on to draw a layout of what a typical first century house would have looked like and how it wasn't uncommon for a house to have a place for their animals stay in as well (pg.29).  

• An Old Testament Example 

In the book of 1 Sam. 28:24 - "The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it;…" the story is told of a woman having a fattened calf inside her house. She kills it and prepares it and feeds King Saul in this story.
 
It wasn't uncommon for a house to be built so that at one end the livestock could be brought in and kept safe at night from theft or attacks from other wild animals. In the daylight they would be untied and taken outside. 

• One Last Piece Of Evidence 

The story of the Good Samaritan in the book of Luke actually mentions a first century inn or as we would call it a motel. As you read I want to call your attention to the Greek word for "inn" used by Luke.
 
Also, remember that Jesus' birth record we have been discussing is also recorded by Luke. The same man would use the same word if he were referencing a similar place.
 
The Good Samaritan story found in Luke 10:34 - "…and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn,…" (Gk - pandocheion) and took care of him.
 
The Good Samaritan brought the victim to an "inn" but Luke uses a different Greek word for this "inn". He uses the Greek word - "pandocheion".

He doesn't use the Greek word "kataluma" that he used in referencing Jesus' birth place, but he uses "pandocheion" for a lodging place.
 
My point is if there were no rooms in the lodging place "pandocheion" with the heartless innkeeper for Jesus to be born in then why didn't Luke use that word? 

• My Conclusion

Serago, I thought your Pump Ups were to be positive and encourage us. How then is this an article of encouragement?
 
I am hoping you will see this Pump Up as a tool that says you are never too old to learn something new.

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV
 
I hope you will continue to "study" God's Word and "rightly divide the word of truth".
 
Think About These:
 
Truth is not always popular, but it is always right.
 
To hear truth and not accept it doesn't nullify it.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word