general introduction greco-roman world greco-roman world nt301: introduction to the new testament...
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Genera
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Greco-romanWorld
Greco-Roman World
NT301: Introduction to the New Testament
New Brunswick Theological SeminaryVirginia Wiles
The Greco-Roman World
Introduction
Genera
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Greco-Roman World
Social Institutions
A social institution is --a grouping of persons within a
society in order to…• provide and maintain personal
identity• provide meaning and purpose for life• maintain and perpetuate society
Such groupings are --artificialappear to be “natural”
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Greco-Roman World
Categories of Social Groupings
Family and Sexual Relationsprimary socializationperpetuation
Educationsecondary socializationperpetuation of culture
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Social Groupings (continued)
Religioussecondary socialization“cosmic” identitymeaning and purpose
Socialsecondary socializationfriendshipsocial maintenance: behaviorsocial mobility
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Social Groupings (continued)
Economicbusiness and trade
• exchange of goods and services
• training and maintenance
other economic relations• slavery• client/patron
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Patronage
Patron
Client
Client
Client
Client
Client
Client Client
Client Client
Client
Client
Client
Client
Patron Patron
Patron
Patron
Patron
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Family and Sexual Relations
The HouseholdBasic building block of the
stateAristotle
• Husband/Wife -- Father/Children -- Master/Slave
• The “Household Codes”
Patriarchal Paterfamilias
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General Education
Advanced Scholarship: Science, Geology, History, Pedagogy, Mathematics, Medicine, Art, Music, Literature and Oratory
Early Education
Gymnasium
Higher Education
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The Philosophical Schools
PlatonismSeneca
EpicureanismLucretius
StoicismEpictetusMusonius Rufus
CynicismSkepticism
Genera
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Religion in the Ancient World
Pluralistic and Syncretistic
The Greek Mysteries
Official Cult
Judaism
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The Religionsof the
Greco-roman World
The religious environment of the Greco-roman world was
pluralistic syncretistic and inclusive
The Goddess Isis
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Pluralistic FeaturesMultiple Gods and Goddesses
“populated by deities”
Assumption of multiple loyaltiesinclusive
In general -- Religion was not identified with moralitycontrast Ethical Monotheism
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Syncretistic Features
Identification or combination of deities of different origins
Oriental religions hellenized
Inherited ancient concepts reinterpreted to fit into new world culture
Creation of new religions out of Greek and non-Greek elements
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The Greek Mysteries
Demeter cult in Eleusis
Dionysian Cult
Sarapis and Isis
Mithras
Asclepios
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Demeter cult in Eleusis“Mother of Grain”
Most significant of the mystery religions
RitualInitiationConsecrationHigher Consecration
Each stage consisted of demonstrations, actions, and words
Destroyed in 5th c. C.E.
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Dionysian Cult (=Bacchus)
Thracian == “Son of Zeus”
Originally only women -- orgiastic feasts in middle of winter
Widely accepted Common meal and
drinking of wine Myth of the dying and
revivification of Dionysius
Observances of ritual purity and rules of abstention
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Sarapis and Isis Egyptian -- most
Hellenized oriental religion
Isis = the goddess of the royal throne
Horus = the mythical representation of the living Pharoah (=Isis’ son)
Osiris = the mythical embodiment of Nile’s fertile lands, also God of the dead Pharoahs
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Imported from Persia
Popular with military
Exclusive for menStrong competitor with Christianity
Mithras
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God of
Healing
Temples =
Hospitals
Strong
Devotion
Asclepius
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Thanksgiving for Healing of the Ears . . .
...and the Feet
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The Emperor Cult
Especially popular in Asia Minor & Macedonia
Pertained to Civic duty
Emperors proclaimed divine after death
Caesar Augustus
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Civic Religion
Greek Roman Characteristic Function
Zeus Jupiter FatherHera Juno Guardian of MarriageAres Mars War
Athena Minerva Wise Warrior – MaidenAphrodite Venus Goddess of LovePoseidon Neptune Sea
Hephaestus Volcanus Fire, Smith, TechnologyHermes Mercury Messenger of the Gods and Goddesses