Intertestamental Period: Historical Background - PDF

Inter-Testamental Period Historical Background to the NT  Inter-Testamental History NB: The NT period was different from that of OT, e.g. in the OT there were no Synagogues, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians Sanhedrin and Diaspora etc mentioned in the OT. This poses a question on ho...

Inter-Testamental Period Historical Background to the NT  Inter-Testamental History NB: The NT period was different from that of OT, e.g. in the OT there were no Synagogues, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians Sanhedrin and Diaspora etc mentioned in the OT. This poses a question on how these came to exist? The answer lies in the period of about 400 years between the OT and NT. These were called the “silent years” because there was a marked absence of biblical prophetic activity. It is therefore, important for us to understand the world in which the NT Jews lived and how the history shaped the world in which NT was written; The people who wrote; and the people whom it was written. Though many Jews returned to Judea/Palestine, they were still under the rule of Persians. Except for a short period, Jews remained under rule of foreigners until the end of the NT period. This reality played an important role in shaping the Jewish self- understanding in NT era  The Dispersion “Diaspora” is a Greek word meaning “dispersion” or “scattered”. It refers to Jewish communities living in other places after the exile to Babylon and general scattering from Jerusalem. Many Jews prospered in Babylon and didn’t return; Other Jews fled to Egypt before the Babylonians arrived and founded Jewish communities there which prospered. From this time on, the Jews with other people-groups of the region got involved in substantial migration throughout what was (to them) the known world. The proportion of the Jews living in “dispersion” increased creating diverse religions/cultural expressions of Judaism as they adapted to their new cultural surroundings The need to live out their faith outside the Promised land led to the development of the SYNAGOGUE – a place for worship and teaching in the Diaspora (since the temple was so far away) 4 Key Political Developments Related to the Intertestamental Period Persian Greek Hasmonean Roman period Period Period period  Persian Period (538-332 B.C) Babylonian captivity ended with Persian conquest. King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. Not all the Jews chose to return. – Some of them stayed in Diaspora to continue with their lives and businesses. E.g. Nehemiah, Esther, etc. This period saw an end of the Davidic dynasty as the ruling monarchy. Jews tried to continue their lives as before, but without a King and independence. – Leaders were Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah. The “scribes” arose in this period and were basically skilled in the study of the law (cf. Ezra 7:10) The highest Jewish official was the High Priest  The Greek Period (332-142) Greeks spread their culture wherever they went. – This led to the rise of “Hellenism” which means the blending of the Greek culture with the cultures it came in contact with. – Hellenistic period refers to “Historical period from Alexander to Roman empire”. All Judaism from here until NT was “Hellenistic”. – Though Jews were much against Greek culture, all manifestations of Judaism were affected by Hellenism Alexander the Great established a vast empire and this transformed ancient Near East. Greek Period Cont.... Greek culture remained dominant until the spread of Islam 1000 years later Greek language remained lingua franca of the areas Alexander conquered; With the spread of the language went much of Hellenistic culture Despite its autonomy, Greek culture absorbed ideas and practices wherever it went as well e.g. Rural Egyptians expressed hopes and prayers in Greek; yet Greek rulers adopted the royal ideology of the ancient Pharaohs in order to strengthen their command over their subjects  The spread of Hellenism is important because it established a common language The Greek period … and a common educational/formational process throughout Eastern Mediterranean and ANE.  Therefore, Paul could write to Christians in Eastern Asia minor and in Rome and use the same language.  Paul and other Christians could travel over great distances communicating in Greek  Greek system of educational system remained remarkably stable over a long period of time over a wide region - it facilitated christian discipleship and Authorship of the NT Numerous cultures disappeared under its powers. – Jews spread out over a wide territory, and struggled to maintain its self-identity against the tidal wave of Greek culture. – Jews’ key question was how to respond to the attack of Greek culture – which was at odds with the Mosaic law. Jewish responses began to produce different expressions in Judaism. Historical forces, combined with pervasive Hellenism will shape the Judaism of the NT era in decisive ways When Alexander the Great died, there was struggle among his generals hence division. One of them Seleucus took over Syria while Ptolemy took over Egypt. EGYPTIAN ERA (320-63 BC) Palestine was under Ptolemies (Egyptian rulers/ Greek rulers of Egypt The Jews prospered and many migrated to Alexandria and it was here that the Septuagint was produced The Jewish local government was run by High Priests The Ptolemic period was generally more favorable to the Jews compared to the Seleucid period.  SYRIAN ERA (200-142 BC) – The Greek rulers of Syria were called Seleucids – Antiochus I defeated Egyptians and took over Palestine – Antiochus IV Epiphany - meaning “the glorious” crushed all Jewish opposition – In an attempt to force Jewish resistance, Antiochus Epiphanies (AE) forbade circumcision, Sabbath observance and forced people to eat pork – anything that will remind the Jews of their distinctive Jewishness was forbidden – He thought he would return Jewish loyalties toward himself but this led to open revolts by the Jews – Due to this unrest and opposition began to develop but AE finally enforced entire Hellenisation Syrian Era – 164 B.C The King of Syria – Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed a pig on the altar and dedicated it to Jupiter He sent 22,000 soldiers and burned down the city of Jerusalem He was against Law to circumcise, observe Sabbath, festivals or people possessing copies of the OT This resulted in a revolt led by an old priest Mattathias and his 5 loyal sons; one of them being Judas Maccabeus hence the Maccabean revolt Judas Maccabeus was the leader of the revolt especially because of the desecration of the temple (Mathias, a priest was ordered by royal agent of AE to make a pagan sacrifice and he refused. Another Jewish priest offered to do it. Maccabaeus killed him, and killed the royal agent and filled the mountains with his 5 sons. This led to the beginning of the Maccabean revolt.  … MACCABEAN PERIOD (167 - 63) Judas Maccabeus succeeded his father and waged war against AE He seized Jerusalem and the Temple and cleansed the temple This led to a new feast “Feast of Dedication” (Hanukah) After cleansing, Jews gained limited independence, though Seleucid threat was still very real. JM helped Jews attain the following: Regained religious freedom. Rededicated the temple. Removed Syrian troops from Jerusalem The Maccabean revolt is significant in two ways:- AE’s specific attack on distinctives of Jewish people established these factors in Jewish consciousness as part and parcel of their self-understanding as Jews – Therefore when we get to the NT, circumcision (Acts 15) food laws (Galatians), and Sabbath keeping (Gal 2:11-16) are not peripheral issues – Observing these distinctiveness is what makes a Jew a Jew (part of the people of God). Failure to observe these is what separates one from the people of God As with Exodus from Egypt, the Maccabean revolt became understood as a classic example of God acting to vindicate His Name, Land, Law and His People  The Hasmonean prd … Semi-indep. The Hasmonean Dynasty was started by JM and it ruled for over a Century Jewish people regained semi-independence, yet those Jews who were in power, were largely looked upon as “compromised” Jews. – They fought with one another over power – Often made deals with the very “Hellenistic” Seleucid overloads they had fought to overthrow – Adopted many Greek customs This left the Jews confused as they had been after return from Babylon. They reacted in various way: - – Some formed separate communities (Qumran) – Some tried to reform from within (Pharisees) Political … The Roman Period – There was a big squabble between two Hasmonean kings. – Popmey took advantage of the situation and walked into Jerusalem and entered the Temple even into the Holy of Holies (allowed only for the High Priest once a year - Day of Atonement) – Pompey’s conquest of Jerusalem ended all Jewish independence and Judea became official province of Roman empire – The confusion of Jews now multiplied and the big question was “If YHWH could throw off AE, how could Pompey simply walk into the holy of holies?” – The Jews wondered if God would raise a new JM and the revolts which followed showed that many Jews believed that God would raise someone. – Rome inherited the hatred of Babylon, of the Persians, of the Greeks, Seleucids, and the whole of the encroaching Hellenistic culture – Herod the Great was appointed by the Romans as king of Judea but he was never fully accepted by Jews (because he was half Jew)  Cultural World of the New Testament The Roman Empire was a miscellany of independent cities, states and territories – all of them subject to the central government. Some cities became part of the empire by voluntary alliance, others by annexation by conquest. The Roman provincial system is a government machinery that grew with time. “Provincia” was the office of carrying on war or a post of command – part of general empirical system. Peaceful provinces and those loyal to Rome were governed by proconsuls e.g. Achaia (under Gallio). 18:12. More turbulent provinces were under the emperor himself. There were stationed armies in these and were governed by prefects/procurators appointed by the emperor, e.g. Palestine (under Pontius Pilate). Mt. 27:13 Social world One chief characteristic of this world was the institution of slavery. The institution of slavery in the New Testament world cannot compare with the trans-Atlantic slave trade learnt in history. Together with the Freedmen, this was a large population. The majority of slaves were artisans and professionals (physicians, teachers, accountants, etc). People entered slavery through war, debt, or by birth. The NT neither attacks nor approves of slavery. The other characteristics concerned entertainment. In the arena, there were bloody contests between men and beasts or trained gladiators. Later these arenas would be the grounds for the persecution of believers. Languages in NT times and their usage Latin – This was the language of law courts and of literature of Rome. It was mostly in the Western Roman World. it was the language of conquerors and learnt by people Greek – This was the cultural language of the empire. It was familiar to all educated persons. It was the lingua franca (official language/language of wider communication) of majority of populace of Rome. It was probably used by Jesus and disciples to communicate with gentiles. Aramaic – This was the predominant tongue of Near East. Paul addressed the people in Aramaic. The earliest believers spoke this language Classical Hebrew – This had been a dead language since the time of Ezra. Learned Rabbis made it a medium for theological thought. It was not understood by the common man. It was closely related to Aramaic * Latin and Hebrew did not play a major part in the development of church history in the AD 1. On the cross of Jesus, the inscription was made in Hebrew (Aramaic), Latin and Greek. Religious world – 4 features The existence of the Greco-Roman pantheon, e.g. Diana (Artemis) of Ephesians 19:34. Jupiter the sky God was equivalent to Gk. Zeus. Emperor worship. The emperor was believed to be deity. Refusal of Christians to worship the emperor resulted to violent persecution Philosophies – These included Platonism, Gnosticism, Neo- Platonism, Epicurianism, Stoicism, Cynicism, and Scepticism. Two different features of the Jewish people  Hebraists – They kept the circumcision, highly valued Judaism and temple worship, mostly used Hebrew and Aramaic, mostly found in Palestine  Hellenists – They were more than the Hebraic Jews. They followed the Greco-Roman culture. They used Gk. Language and operated on a Syncretistic culture. FEASTS – MAJOR ONES The Passover – this was the most important historically and religiously. It marks the anniversary of deliverance from Egypt. Every male Jew within 15 miles had to go to Jerusalem for this celebration. Feast of Pentecost – it took place 7 weeks after Passover. It was the anniversary of giving the law on Mt. Sinai. Feast of trumpets – beginning of the New year Day of Atonement – Holiest day in the Hebrew calendar when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. Feast of lights – anniversary for the concentration of the temple by Judas Maccabaeus Feast of Purim – anniversary for the salvation of the Jews by Queen Esther and Mordecai. Sects – Most Common Pharisees – separated themselves from the rest of the people through strict discipline. They adhered strictly to the Mosaic Law as needing complete value. They also valued the oral law. They practiced strict tithing laws, fasting, etc. Not all of them were hypocrites. Good examples are Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. The Sadducees – these were sons of Zadok the high priest at the time of David and Solomon. They possessed political power. They denied the existence of angels and spirits. They didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. This group did not survive the destruction of the temple of AD 70. The Essenes – this group practiced ascetic life or monasticism. They abstained from marriage. The Zealots – These were not strictly a religious sect. They were fanatical rationalists who advocated violence as a means of liberation from Rome.