The Sea of Galilee – most scholars gloss over this term, accepting that the Sea of Galilee simply refers to the lake by which Capernaum was situated. While this is somewhat true, the fact that this toponym often goes unmentioned is a mystery. Apart from Matthew and Mark’s gospels and one reference from John (Matt 4:18; 15:29; Mark 1:16; 3:7; 7:31; John 6:1), the toponym is absent in the literature from the period. Even the use by John creates a dynamic in which the author feels compelled to further define the toponym by describing it with a known term, “which is the Sea of Tiberias,” John 6:1. Josephus refers to it as a lake which the local inhabitants call Lake of Gennesareth (War 3.463). R. Steven Notley’s research finds there is no other usage in Greco-Roman literature for this term, Sea of Galilee. (R. Steven Notley, “The Sea of Galilee: Development of an Early Christian Toponym,” JBL 208, no.1 (Spring 2009): 183-188.) Luke uses the correct term for the body of water, λίμνη, (freshwater) in 5:1, calling it the Lake of Gennesaret rather than the term, Sea of Galilee, θάλασσα (sea or brackish water) used by Matthew and Mark. It is not that Luke does not know the term, θάλασσα, for he uses it elsewhere at 17:2,6; 23:25; Acts 4:24; 7:36 et passim, to describe bodies of water which fit the description of seawater. Nevertheless, Matthew and Mark both use this terminology.
Jesus has commanded mastery over the waters in Matt 8:23-27 and 14:22-33, advocating his divine identity and closely identifying him with YHWH of the Hebrew Scriptures. The early Matthean community had to identify the one who has control over the elements; in this case, the Sea. Apocalypticism pervades Matthew’s gospel; thus, analyzing pericopae reveals context. When interpreting apocalyptic symbols, it’s crucial to consider contemporaneous writings for similarities that aid the scribe’s intent. This paper investigates the apocalyptic significance and spatial symbolism of the Sea, comparing Matthew and 4 Ezra. Both texts use covenant and election language, emphasizing the Land of Israel, agriculture symbols, and metaphors, with an anticipation for the eschatological age. Both authors addressed the crisis following Jerusalem’s destruction during the First Jewish War; Ezra suggested returning to the Torah, while Matthew presents Jesus as the Son of Man, promoting his Torah teachings (Matt 5-7) and a call to righteous living in preparation for the Kingdom of Heaven. This paper finds that the Sea used in 4 Ezra is the same symbol being used by Matthew’s scribe within his gospel to designate the Sea of Galilee. Thus, the Sea of Galilee is a toponymic reference filled with apocalyptic and eschatological force within the scribe’s dynamic spatial construct.