Historical Background on the Gospels

1
Historical Background on the Gospels

• 1st century Palestine
• (The social, political, historical, and religious
  climate of the time.)

2
Major areas of study

• Timeline of key events leading up to the
  appearance of Jesus on the scene
• Definition of Gospel
• Nature of 1st century Judaism
• Jewish sects and their major tenets

3
Timeline of Key Events
 

• BC 586? Fall of the Southern Kingdom and
  Babylonian Exile
• Loss of the land
• End of the Davidic line
• Destruction of Temple

• BC 538? Cyrus, king of Persia, conquers Babylon
  and returns Jews to Palestine
• Rebuild Temple
• Recall Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel

BC 332? Alexander the Great of Greece conquers
Palestine and begins a process of Hellenizing the
area
4
Timeline contd

• BC 167-164? Maccabean revolt and the beginning of
  Hasmonean rule
• Response to outrageous acts of Antiochus
  Epiphanes, who sacrificed a pig on the Temple
  altar and forbids the reading of the Law

BC 63? Romans take control of the region BC 37?
Herod (son of Antipater) takes Jerusalem dies in
4 BC, and kingdom is divided between his 4 sons
BC 323? Alexander dies and his kingdom is
divided. BC 323-170? Constant struggles between
Egypt and Syria for control of region
5
Technical use of Gospel in the New Testament

• Never used in a purely secular or neutral sense
  (I.e., good news).
• Not used in reference to a written document until
  Justin Martyr in AD 150.
• Pauls use
• a. Christ died for our sins this is the
  Gospel
• b. Emphasizes the crucifixion and resurrection
• In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John it is the
  Gospel of the Kingdom
• How is Pauls perception related to that of the
  Gospel writers?

6
The Four Pillars of Judaism

• The One God of Israel
• Belief in the people of God
• Intensification of the Torah as a norm in
  defining the people of God
• Temple (and land)

7
One God of Israel

• God of mercy
• God of Justice
• God who is holy and transcendent
• (God is not like us)
• 4. Problem If God was all of these things, and
  the people were obeying His Law, then why were
  they an occupied country?

8
Belief in the people of God

• A chosen people (election and covenant)
• A future corporate hope restoration of the
  people of God (not individualistic)
• Plan for the present as await his restoration
• Be holy as I am holy (Leviticus)? Torah,
  Temple,and purity

9
Intensification of Torah
10
Temple and the Land

• Temple
• Religious center
• Political center
• Economic center
• Social center
• Connected to peoples understanding of the Land

11
Origin Demographics Beliefs Activities
Pharisees means separated ones Descendants of Hasidim, during Maccabean revolt Largest Jewish sect Mainly middle class businessmen (merchants and tradesmen) Monotheistic Saw whole OT as authoritative Study Lawtrue worship Believed in resurrection Concerned with keeping of the law Changed Judaism from religion of sacrifice to a religion of the Law Exercised great control Opposed Jesus because he didnt accept oral Law as binding
Sadducees Means righteous ones or judges Aristocracy Accepted only Torah, no oral Law Literal interpretation of Law Denied resurrection Materialistic In charge of Temple and services Great political control in Sanhedrin Supported ruling power Opposed Jesus
Zealots Get their name from their religious zeal The extreme wing of the Pharisees Believed only God had power to rule over Jews (required total obedience to usher in Messianic Age) Extremely opposed to Roman rule Refused to pay taxes Terrorized Rome
Herodians Based on support of Herod Wealthy, politically influential Jews who supported Herod Political, not religious group Supported Herod Accepted foreign rule and Hellenization
Essenes Unknown Scattered throughout Judah and in Qumran Strict observance of purity rituals, Law Apocalyptically inclined monastic Devoted to copying and studying the Law Maintained non-Levitical priesthood Ascetics