The New Testament:

1
The New Testament

• And the Word became flesh,
• and dwelled among us
• John 114

2
Ch. 16 The World of the New Testament
3
Homework

• (due Tues., 3/24) Read pp. 288-289(middle) NB
  Intro I
• (due Weds., 3/25) Read 289-291 NB II-IV
• (due Mon., 3/30) Read pp. 292-294(middle) NB
  V-VI
• (due Mon.,3/30) Read pp. 294-298(middle) NB
  VII-IX

4
Homework

• (due Tues., 3/31) Read pp. 298-300 NB X-XI
• (due Thurs., 4/2) Prepare for Review
• (Weds., 4/8) TEST on Ch. 16

5
The Prophecies Fulfilled

• Maccabean revolt (167-160 B.C.) won Jewish
  independence
• 4 major results of revolt?? (1)
• Hasmonean dynasty(134-63B.C.)

6
The Prophecies Fulfilled

• John Hyrcanus I
• High Priest-King in Hasmonean line
• 134-104B.C.
• Conquered all former territory in Israel (2)
• Forced all non-Jews to be circumcised or leave
  (ouch!)-why?
• Sign of being fully Jewish
• Cleansed nation of pagan influence (3-4)

7
The Prophecies Fulfilled

• Aristobulus (104-103B.C.), next High Priest
  declared himself king some thought him Messiah,
  but
• not in line of David
• Israel became divided
• over who would be
• Messiah (5)

8
Judaism in Jesus time 4 Major Groups

• Pharisees
• Sadducees
• Essenes
• Zealots

9
Pharisees

• separate or pious ones
• most influential group
• laymen/ not official clergy
• focus
• Strict living of Law(Torah)
• No compromise w/ gentiles (Romans) (7-9)
• Expected MESSIAH WHO STRICLY TAUGHT THE LAW

10
Sadducees

• Priestly aristocracy (high priests)
• Concerned w/ Temple practices/ worship
• Generally wealthy/establishment
• Politics supported Hasmoneans/Romans (10)
• Expected HIGH PRIESTLY MESSIAH

11
Essenes

• Monastic community
• Lived in desert around Dead Sea
• Believed Jerusalem priesthood and worship were
  impure
• Focus pure living of Law
• Apocalyptic group awaited a New Age/ Kingdom of
  God
• Expected SPIRITUAL/OTHER-WORLDLY MESSIAH

12
Zealots

• sicarii (dagger-carriers)
• hated foreign Roman rule
• basically, terrorists use of violence, etc.
• Kingdom of God by force
• Led revolts against Rome (66-70 132-135 AD)
• Expected MILITARY BIN-LADIN-LIKE MESSIAH

13
and you???

• Reflect write on
• What is your image of God? Who is God for
  you/in your life?
• What role do you honestly expect God to play in
  your daily life/in the world?
• Is that expectation fair? Why/why not?

14
After the Maccabees

• (11)
• Israel divided into factions
• Eventually conquered by Romans in 63 B.C.
• Herod the Great installed as puppet king in 40
  B.C.

15
Herod the Great

• Ruled from c. 40-4 B.C.
• Beseiged Jerusalem w/ 60,000 Roman troops
• Called the Great gt economic prosperity under
  his reign (12-14)

16
Fullness of Time

• Pax Romana
• Roman peace/order from Augustusgt 5th c.
• Benefits? (15)
• Why the fullness of time for Christs coming?

17
Religion in Roman Empire

• ( 16)
• Romans tolerated any religion, if
• Obedience
• Taxes!!
• Some idea of God thru philosophy (17-18)

18
Spread of Jewish Religion

• 3 Key factors
• Jews lived throughout empire
• The Septuagint (LXX)
• The rise of synagogues

19
Spread of Jewish Religion

• Jews were spread throughout Roman empire (19-20)
• Popularity of Judaism
• Prepared the Nations for coming of the Christ

20
Spread of Jewish Religion

• The Septuagint or LXX made Gods revelation known
  throughout Greek Roman empires (21)

21
Spread of Jewish Religion

• Synagogue had replaced Temple as center of Jewish
  life
• Why? (22)
• How connected to our Christian worship? (23)

22
Proselytes of the Gate

• Judaism very popular in Roman empire- why?
• Who were they? (24)
• They were more ready to receive the Christian
  message- why? (25)

23
Judea and Galilee

• After Babylonian exile, people re-settled
• Mostly in south, around Jerusalem (former Judah gt
  Judea
• Some in north, into Galilee (w/in former
  Israel) (27)
• Trouble w/ Palestine for Rome? (26)

24
The Samaritans

• (28)
• Ethnically mixed (w/ pagan peoples)
• Worshipped the One God but differently
• Other Samaritan stuff (29-32)