survey of new testament times
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J Gareth Evans When we study the New Testament we encounter people and cultures different from our own. We need to be aware of this as we seek to communicate God's Word to our own generation and culture. Survey of New Testament Times. Lecture Outline. Relationship to Old Testament - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Survey of New Testament Times
J Gareth Evans
When we study the New Testament we encounter people and cultures different from our own. We
need to be aware of this as we seek to communicate God's Word to our own generation and culture.
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Lecture Outline● Relationship to Old Testament● The New Testament Canon● New Testament World
– Greek, Roman, Jewish● Language & Literature● Religious Movements● Messianic Expectations● The Early Church
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Relationship to the Old Testament
● Volume II of God's story of Salvation● New Covenant superior – 2 Cor 7-18● Fulfilment of OT Law● Realization of Messianic Hope
– Jesus – the New Moses– Jesus – the last Adam
● Church and Israel● Numerous quotations, eg 1 Cor 15:32 from Isa 22
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New Testament Canon
● 27 Books● Canon = “rule”● Took 400 years to formulise● Many churches rejected Revelation, James, 2 Peter● Some accepted Epistle of Barnabas, Apocalypse of
Peter, Shepherd of Hermas● Current canon first used by Athanasius (367AD)● Council of Carthage - 397AD
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New Testament World
● Culturally - Greek, Roman and Jewish● Language
– Greek for trade– Latin for goverment– Aramaic
● Politically – Roman– Stability– Communications
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Historic Outline
● Alexander the Great● Ptolemies & Seleucids● Antiochus IV ● Maccabees● Roman Conquest● Herods● Jewish Revolt
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Alexander the Great
● “Goat” of Daniel 8● Ruled 336-323 BC● Introduced Greek
culture throughout his empire, including Palestine.
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Extent of Alexander's Empire
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Antiochus Epiphanes
● After his death, Alexander's empire fragmented.● Ptolemies in Egypt and Seleucids in Syria● Continuing conflict with Palestine in middle (Daniel 11)● Seleucid Antiochus attempted unification through enforced
Hellenization and eradicating Jewish belief● Defiled the temple by removing treasures, erecting a statue
of Zeus, and sacricing pigs (cf Matt 24:15)● Killed Jews who refused to conform● Sparked off Maccabean revolt
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Maccabean Revolt – Dan 11:12?● Hasidim or “pious ones” suffered terribly
– 90 year old Eleazar killed for spitting out pig's flesh– 7 brothers (2 Maccabees 7)
● Mattathias kills Syrian commissioner● Organizes resistance movement with 5 sons
– Judas Maccabeus● Recapture & purification of temple● Feast of dedication – Hanukkah● Independence 142 BC – Hasmonean dynasty
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Roman Rule
● Hasmonean Dynasty (142-40 BC)
● Intervention in a dispute between John Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II
● Rome sent Pompey to establish Hyrcanus as “ethnarch” - puppet of Rome
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Roman Empire at height of its power
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Roman Emperors
● Augustus (30 B.C. - A.D. 14) Jesus' birth (circa 5 B.C.) (Luke 2) ● Tiberius (AD. 14-37) Jesus' Public Ministry (Luke 3) ● Caligula (AD. 37-41) Wanted status of deity ● Claudius (AD. 41-54) Expelled Jews from Rome (Acts 18:2) ● Nero (AD. 54-68) Probably responsible for deaths of Peter and Paul ● Galba (AD. 68-69), Otho (A.D. 69), Vitellius (AD. 69) ● Vespasian (AD. 69-79) Led in the seige of Jerusalem ● Titus (A D. 79-81) Destroyed Temple (A.D. 70) ● Domitian (A.D. 81-96) The Book of Revelation written in this
period.
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The Herods● Puppet kings under the Romans
● Herod the Great - (Matthew 2:1-19, Luke 1:5) - Authority over Palestine at tine of Jesus' birth
● Herod Antipas - (Mark 6:14-29, Luke 3:1, 13:31-35, 23:7-12) - Controlled Galilee and Perea during Jesus'; public ministry
● Archelaus - (Matthew 2:22) - Replaced by procurator in A.D. 6
● Herod Phillip - (Luke 3:1) - Ruler of territory around Caesarea Philippi
● Herod Agrippa 1 - (Acts 12:1-24)
● Herod Agrippa 2 - (Acts 25:13-26:32)
● Family Tree
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Language and Literature● Old Testament – Hebrew and Greek (LXX)
– Epistle to the Hebrews● Intertestamental Literature
– 1 Enoch (Jude 14,15)● Secular writing
– Epimenides (Titus 1:12)● NT Literature Types
– Gospel, Epistle, History, Apocalyptic– Quotations. Is Eph 5:14 – A baptismal hymn?
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Religion in the Roman Empire● Religious Pluralism● The Twelve Olympians (Acts 14:11ff)● Mystery Religions
– Mithraism; A Persian religion associated with Zoroasterianism
● Philosophies– Stoics (Acts 17:18)– Epicureans (Acts 17:18)– Platonism
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Jewish Religious Diversity
● Sadducees● Pharisees
– Hillel and Shammai● Zealots● Essenes● Samaritans● Galileans
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Pharisees● The Pharisees ("separated ones") originated from the Hasidim, those Jews who
separated themselves from the corruption of Hellenistic culture. Pharisees originated after the Maccabean Revolt of 168 B.C.
● Beliefs
– Accepted both the written law and the oral law. When the oral law was eventually recorded, it was known as Mishnah. This, plus the commentary which was added, comprised the Talmud.
– Believed in the resurrection of the dead.
● In the New Testament, they are shown as Jesus' bitter opponents (Matt 23). They are synonymous with hypocrisy and legalism.
● Two major groups of Pharisees:
– Those who were very strict in the law - following Rabbi Shammai.
– Those who were more liberal in their interpretation -led by the Rabbi Hillel.
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Sadducees
● Sadducees means “righteous ones” - A link with Zadok?
● Heirs of the Intertestamental Hasmoneans (politically minded group who controlled Israel between 142 and 37 B.C.).
● Beliefs:
– They practiced a literal reading of the Torah and rejected the oral Law.
– They did not share the Pharisee's belief in a coming judgment, resurrection, angels, or demons (Mark 12:18, Acts 23:8).
● Role - Priests who officiated Temple ceremonies.
● According to Josephus, the Sadducees seem to have been the mediators between the Jews and Romans during Roman occupation. They stood to lose the most when dews revolted against Rome.
● Sadducees dominated the Sanhedrin
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Essenes and Zealots
● Essenes– An example of apocalyptic Judaism– Qumran– Dead Sea Scrolls– 2 Messiahs (priest and king)
● Zealots (Mark 3:18)– Sought to overthrow the Romans by force– Masada, AD 73
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Qumran – Site of Essene Community
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Dead Sea Scrolls - Caves
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4Q166 a fragment of commentary on Hosea
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Masada – Herod's Royal Citadel and Zealot's last oupost during Jewish War
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Samaritans
● Lived between Judea and Galilee● Mixed Race – Intermarrying between Israelites
and imported peoples during Assyrian period● Temple on Mount Gerizim● Deep rooted enmity between Jews and
Samaritans– Bad Reception (Luke 9:51-56)
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The Temple
● Focus of Jewish Religious Life● Built - 19 BC - 63 AD● An enlarging and further beautifying of
Zerubbabel's Temple initiated by Herod the Great
● Complex – 500 x 325 yards (25 football fields)● Destroyed - 70 AD
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Reconstruction of Jerusalem Temple
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Synagogue
● From Greek. Lit. “Gathering”● Originated during exile ~500 BC● Reading the OT Scriptures● Jesus attended the synagogue (Luke 4:15)● So did Paul (Acts 13:14)● 10 males required (Acts 16:13)● Separation of men and women
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Synagogue at Capernaum
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Messianic Expectation
● Old Testament Prophecies● Jewish Apocrypha & pseudopigrapha● Essenes (2 Messiahs)● Year of Jubilee● Roman occupation● Other claimants – Judah the Galilean (~4 BC)
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Non-Biblical Sources for Jesus of Nazareth
● Flavius Josephus (born AD 52-54)– Antiquities contain positive reference to Jesus. Some
think Christians have “doctored” documents.● Cornelius Tacitus (born AD 52-54)
– Refers to Nero's persecution of Christians & to deathof Jesus
● Seutonius (AD 120)– Refers to Claudius expelling Christians from Rome
(Acts 18:20 and persecution under Nero.
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Galilee & Galileans
● Jesus focussed much of his ministry in Galilee● Chorazim, Bethsaida, Capernaum● Galilee of the Gentiles (Matt 4:15) – Cosmopolitan● Via Maris trade route● Supplied fish to Jerusalem – John 18:16● Religious and knew scriptures well● Jewish Revolt started in Galilee
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Capernaum
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Pontius Pilate● Fifth Governor of Roman
Judea (Ad 26-37)● Suspended by Vitellius for
murdering Samaritans● One tradition states he was
exiled to Gaul where he committed suicide ● Inscription found at
Caesarea – 1961
● . . . . . . S TIBERIEVM . . [PO]NTIVS PILATVS [PRA]ECTVS IVDA[EA]E
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Capital Punishment● Jews – Stoning
– But not allowed by Romans– Stephen martyred between governors
● Romans– Cross
● Could take a week to die
– Beheading– Sacked & thrown in sea– Whipping to death
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The Early Church● Don't know much about church in 1st century
apart from New Testament● Expanded● Met in homes ● Opposition
– Persecutions– Heresies
● Judaisers● Docetism● Gnosticism
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Persecution in NT Times● Three types - Religious, economic, political● Martyrdom – a real threat● Jewish Persecution
– James (Acts 12) - Herod– James the Just– Ananus after Festus' departure
● Nero – 64 AD
– Tacitus– Peter and Paul
● Domitian c90-96 AD
– John on Patmos● “All your cruelties can accomplish nothing. Our number increases the more
you destroy us. The blood of the Christians is their seed.” - Tertullian
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The Church in Mission● “To the ends of the earth”● Holy Spirit Motivation● Reasons for Growth
– Common Language – OT Scriptures in Greek– Good Communications – Peace & Stability (Pax Romana)
● A message of hope in a hopeless world● Commitment to the task
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The Diaspora
● Dispersion after the exile (1 Peter 1:1)● 8 million Jews worldwide during time of Jesus
– 1 out of 10 of population of Roman Empire● Greek speaking
– Used Septuagint (Greek OT)● Key to spread of Gospel – Acts 2
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The Apostle Paul● Disciple of Gamaliel
– Talmud – Grandson of Hillel
● Native of Tarsus● Died in Rome under
Nero (~AD 66)● A Pharisee before his
conversion (Phil 3:5)
● Missionary extraordinary
● Great letter writer
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Paul the Missionary
● Planned to visit Spain (Rom 15:24)
● Worked in a team – Col 4:10-14, Philemon
● Focussed on cities ● Trained the next
generation – Timothy, Titus
● Anthony Thistleton sees Corinth as a “post-modern” city. Paul experienced similar challenges to the ones we face.
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Domitian - “a monster?”
● Emperor at time Book of Revelation written
● Building Projects– Colisseum, Palatine
● Rebellion & Warfare● Pompeii● Emperor worship
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John – Exiled on Patmos
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Ephesus
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Synagogue at Sardis
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A Luke warm water supply!
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NT Archeology● "The excessive skepticism shown toward the Bible [by certain
schools of thought] has been progressively discredited. Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of numerous details." - WF Albright
● Recent archaeological discoveries include both the Pool of Betesda (John 5:1) and "The Pavement" (John 19:13). Their existence was doubted just a few decades ago.
● William Ramsey verifying historical accuracy of Luke's writings
● Hemer – The Book of Acts in the setting of Hellenistic History
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Challenge – To communicate the Gospel written to the people of the New Testament world into our culture