New Testament World of Jesus Chapter 2 PDF

CHAPTER TWO New Testament World of Jesus Palestine: The Holy Land - Palestine has always been a strategic place in World History; the keystone of the fertile crescent - Bridges two continents, playing a key international commercial, political, and cultural role Geography Four major te...

CHAPTER TWO New Testament World of Jesus Palestine: The Holy Land - Palestine has always been a strategic place in World History; the keystone of the fertile crescent - Bridges two continents, playing a key international commercial, political, and cultural role Geography Four major terrain's: 1.) Coastal plain along Mediterranean Sea - Jesus only made a brief visit to this region 2.) Mountain range running north and south (dominant geographical feature) - Bulk of Jesus’ activities took place here 3.) Great Rift Valley where the Jordan River flows - John the Baptist’s ministry took place here 4.) Transjordan - hilly terrain east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea - Jesus’ transfiguration was here Regions and Cities - Galilee Center of Jesus’ earthly ministry, mainly Jewish Cities included Nazareth, Cana, Bethsaida, and Capernaum - Samaria North-central region of the Holy Land Samaritans accepted only the Law of Moses and considered only the first five books to be sacred Jews looked on Samaritan worship as false Regions and Cities - Judea South of Palestine - mainly Jews who returned to the Holy Land. Cities included Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Bethany, and Jericho Language and Dialect - Common language throughout the Roman Empire was Greek Gospels were written in Greek but retained several Aramaic sayings - Latin was used in Palestine because of the Roman occupational forces Language and Dialect - Jesus spoke Aramaic which is a Semitic language closely related to Hebrew - The Bible was read in Hebrew but many people could not understand it Scriptures were therefore translated into Aramaic phrases Feasts and Practices - Jesus’ practice of his Jewish faith revolved around: 1.) The Synagogue 2.) The Temple 3.) Religious feasts Feasts and Practices 1.) Synagogue - Comes from Greek word meaning “assembly” - Served three main purposes: A house of prayer where scriptures were read and Yahweh was worshipped A place of discussion for legal settlements The local school Feasts and Practices 2.) Temple - The one and only Temple was in Jerusalem - This is where the Jews offered sacrifices to God - A Holy place where Jews believed God dwelled in a special way - The Temple standing during New Testament times was the third one constructed in Jerusalem Feasts and Practices 3.) Religious (Jewish) Feasts -Major Jewish feasts Passover: most important feast because it celebrates the Chosen People’s liberation from Egypt Pentecost: held fifty days after Passover - celebrated Yahweh’s giving of the Law to Moses, the Sinai covenant Tabernacles: fall harvest celebration - recall the time that Jews spent in the wilderness Political Climate -Politics dominated Jewish life -Hellenism (love of Greek culture) was imposed by the Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV -After Herod the Great’s death, Palestine was ruled by his sons Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Philip. Herod Antipas was king during Jesus’ lifetime Political Climate -Slavery was a fact of the ancient world and the Roman Empire but not as much in Palestine -Christ’s teachings on the fundamental dignity of persons, after centuries, eventually led to the abolition of slavery throughout the world Beliefs and Practices - Jews expected the Messiah to come very soon - They typically interpreted the coming Messiah as a Davidic figure, a military leader who would throw off Roman rule and establish God’s kingdom, restoring Israel’s glory - Common belief was that Yahweh would judge the dead by rewarding the good and punishing the evil Beliefs and Practices - New Testament records the accepted Jewish belief in the existence of angels and demons - Jews believed in heavenly messengers (angels) - Important literature produced in this era books (Jubilees, Enoch, and the Dead Sea Scrolls) divided the angels into groups and gave them names and descriptions -Jews and Christians accepted the existence of demons, but believed they were subject to God Religious Sects - Four Main Religious Groups: 1.) Sadducees 2.) Pharisees 3.) Essenes 4.) Zealots Religious Sects 1.) Sadducees - Mainly priests and aristocrats who cared for Temple practices and worship - Centered their activities in Jerusalem - Theologically conservative Accepted only the Torah as inspired scripture Did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, the immortality of the soul, or in angels Religious Sects 1.) Sadducees cont. - Stressed human freewill and responsibility over trusting Divine Providence - Collaborated with Romans to stay in power - Disappeared after the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 when they lost their power Religious Sects - Many Sadducees, along with a few Pharisees, made up the 71 member Sanhedrin - The Sanhedrin was a major law-making body and Supreme Court of Judaism Religious Sects 2.) Pharisees - Means “separated one” Came into existence by separating themselves from ordinary religious practices of the day - Believed in strict observance of the Law and actively pursued holiness - Had some Gentile influence Religious Sects 2.) Pharisees Cont. - Although there were only around 6000 followers during the first century, they had great influence - Jesus’ beliefs and spiritual practices most closely paralleled the Pharisees Believed in the resurrection of the body and divine judgment of the living and the dead Religious Sects 3.) Essenes - An apocalyptic group Believed God would usher in his kingdom through a dramatic, even catastrophic event - Lived strict, pure lives believing that they would be on Yahweh’s side when the great day would come - Lived in tight-knit religious groups in towns and villages Avoided luxuries Shared communal meals Did work for the poor Religious Sects 3.) Essenes Cont. - Possible influence of John the Baptist -Disappeared after the destruction of the Temple Similar to Sadducees Religious Sects 4.) Zealots - An organized revolutionary faction Came into existence during the First Jewish War (66-70) - Despised Roman rule and fomented violence to overthrow it After their second revolt, they were forbidden to set foot in the holy city of Jerusalem -Famous stand at Masada is a symbol of Jewish pride today Other People in New Testament Tax Collectors Were often cheaters who tried to line their own pockets at expense of fellow Jews Common People most of Jesus’ contemporaries Gentiles The nations of people who were not circumcised Women Had a lowly position in first-century Palestine Considered inferior to men; few political rights Vocabulary Apocalypse Pentateuch Qumran Sanhedrin Torah