Jesus in Context

1
Jesus in Context
2
(No Transcript)
3
(No Transcript)
4
1st century Judea (region)

• Small area vulnerable, marginal
• Occupied by Roman Empire
• Ruled by local governor who complied with the
  Empire
• Religious authorities also had to comply with
  Empire to stay in business (Roman deity and
  sacrifice at Jewish Temple in Jerusalem)
• Had been ruled by Babylonians, Persians, and
  Greeks for previous 400-500 yrs
• Judeans at times revolted against foreign rule
  and taxation
• Usually brutally suppressed at Sepphoris in 4
  BCE at Jerusalem in 70 CE

5
1st century Judaism

• Had accommodated to Empire in need of reform
• Diverse, not one single form
• Pharisees scholarly, more liberal
• Sadducees priestly, more conservative
• Essenes rejected Temple, withdrew
• Zealots staged revolts against Empire
• Jesus-followers met in Temple and at synagogues
• Defined as Christians in process of separation
  after 70 CE
• Temple vs. village
• Temple destroyed in 70 CE needed new practices
  to survive

6
Roman religion

• Civil Tied to stability of civic life
• People who refused to participate were seen as
  unpatriotic, even seditious
• Example in 410, Christians were blamed for sack
  of Rome by Goths
• Main focus honor emperor through sacrifice and
  offerings
• Refusal could be punished by death
• Featured many local deities and festivals

7
Judaism in 1st century Palestine

• Competing groups with different visions
• Sadduccees priestly elite in Jerusalem who
  collaborated with Rome. Conservative.
• Pharisees lay scholars who studied ways of
  interpreting and applying the law. Expanded
  Jewish tradition. Forerunners of rabbis
  (teachers).
• Essenes rejected other forms, withdrew to
  desert, waited for apocalypse.
• Zealots advocated armed resistance to Romans,
  establishing self-rule.

8
Jesus of Nazareth

• Born ca. 4 BCE, crucified ca. 30 CE
• From the village/small city of Nazareth far from
  Jerusalem not of the religious elite
• Observant Jew
• Not starting a new religion, but fulfilling his
  own (Matt. 5)
• Took up itinerant ministry for last 3 yrs of his
  life
• Focus preaching and miracles
• Main content of preaching the in-breaking of the
  Kingdom of God
• Miracles enact the Kingdom, make it present

9
Kingdom of God

• What is it?
• When is the kingdom coming?
• Where is it present? How do you know?
• What are its main features?
• What does the kingdom ask
• Of ones family connections?
• Of ones ethics?
• How is the kingdom good news in context? What
  were the political implications of this
  alternative order of divine rule (Chidester,
  27)?

10
Matthew 51-48

• Describe Jesus what is he doing? What is he
  like? To whom would you compare him?
• Beatitudes (vv. 1-12)
• Who is blessed?
• The Antitheses (vv. 21-48)
• Two contrasting statements, plus interpretation
• How is Jesus fulfilling the law? (v. 17)
• What is his vision for Judaism?

11
For Wednesday

• Use Starks chapter to visualize the Matthew
  reading, which was probably written in Antioch
  between 80 and 90 CE.
• What details most surprise/disgust you?
• What is the meaning of healing in this context?