Is There Evidence of a Synagogue from the Time of Jesus at Capernaum

Abstract

Luke 7: 1-5 refers to a synagogue built by a centurion at Capernaum. Today the site is dominated by a monumental ancient synagogue constructed of white limestone. Although archaeologists disagree about its exact date, there is no doubt that the white limestone synagogue is later than the time of Jesus. In this paper, I consider the literary and archeological evidence for claims that the synagogue of the centurion lies underneath the white limestone synagogue. I conclude that there are no definite archaeological remains of a synagogue from the time of Jesus, nor is it possible to establish that such a synagogue even existed.