Prophets, Historical & Political World of Jesus PDF

The Bridge Between the Old and New Testament The Prophets, Historical and Political World Timeline of the Sprint Through Salvation History (Genesis to Royal Kingdom)  Prophets Called to speak on God’s behalf, announcing God’s message to the people Nab...

The Bridge Between the Old and New Testament The Prophets, Historical and Political World Timeline of the Sprint Through Salvation History (Genesis to Royal Kingdom)  Prophets Called to speak on God’s behalf, announcing God’s message to the people Nabi ○ Hebrew word meaning “one who speaks for another” Intimate relationship with God Universality of God Spoke about God in a Message for all people, not personal and intimate way just for Israel Used words that often harsh Concern for the poor and and violent but full of love marginalized and compassion Remind people of the covenant 3  Seven Characteristics of a Prophet 1) Outsiders 2) Called by God 3) Advocates of the Law 4) Critics of Idolatry 5) Voices of Justice 6) A Warning of Judgment 7) Messengers of Hope 4  Prophets’ Basic Themes Worship the one true God Be just, especially to the poor and most in need Know that God will ultimately triumph Accept God’s love and mercy 5  Major and Minor Prophets The difference is related to the length of the book, not to the importance of the prophet and his message. MINOR PROPHETS MAJOR PROPHETS Joel Hosea Isaiah Jeremiah Micah Obadiah Amos Habakkuk Jonah Ezekiel Nanum Zechariah Malachi Haggai Zephaniah 6  Eras of Prophets PRE-EXILIC DURING EXILE POST-EXILIC Prophets before the Spoke during the Spoke after the exile occurred Babylonian exile Babylonian exile (Southern tribes) North conquered by Time of Assyria in 721 BC The Northern kingdom consolidation, became known as Lost reflection, and South conquered by Tribes of Israel recommitment to Babylon (586-538 BC) God and the covenant 7  Prophets of the Northern Kingdom PRE-EXILIC PROPHETS Elijah Elisha 1 Kings 2 Kings Taunted the pagan Chosen by Elijah to be practices of the king and successor people Known for the miracles he Second greatest prophet of performed the OT Major theme: Challenged the Major theme: promote the king and political institutions worship of the one true to live morally God 8  Prophets of the Northern Kingdom PRE-EXILIC PROPHETS Amos Hosea Book of Amos Book of Hosea Occupation: shepherd Message: accuse Israel of Foretold that small sin and infidelity to God, remnant of the people but showed that God still would survive the loved His People destruction Message: worship of God ○ Sin resulted from must show itself in not truly knowing concrete deeds of mercy God and justice to the weak and poor 9  Prophets of the Southern Kingdom Book of Isaiah (major prophet) Largest of all the prophetic books - 66 chapters Collection of prophecies spanning 250 years Message: repentance and coming of the Messiah 10  Isaiah Isaiah himself Second Isaiah Third Isaiah PRE-EXILIC DURING EXILE POST-EXILIC Ch. 1-39 Ch. 40-55 Ch. 55-66 Preached from Compassionate Oracles from after 742-700 BC message the exile Predicts virgin Written toward end Referenced and birth of the of Babylonian exile prefigured the Messiah Promises that God coming of the Root of Jesse’s stem will redeem His Messiah ○ Ideal Davidic people King, Who will Contains the restore what Suffering Servant Songs (Is 42-53) was lost 11  Prophets of the Southern Kingdom PRE-EXILIC Jeremiah DURING EXILE Preached justice, foretold the punishment for Israel’s sins Taught by enacting living parables ○ God as the Potter and the People the clay (Jeremiah 19) Unless the people repented, God would break the nation as a punishment God promised He would write a new covenant on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-4) 12  Prophets of the Southern Kingdom PRE-EXILIC DURING EXILE Micah Ezekiel Contemporary of Isaiah Levi priest and prophet Warned of coming judgement Great value on the Temple and its worship Foretold a time when God would bring universal reign Warned of punishment for of peace Israel's sins Affirmed Isaiah’s message of Foretold of a new king Who hope: will shepherd the people and make covenant of ○ Coming of Messiah and peace with them peace and justice Foretold rebuilding of ○ Messiah will come from Temple Bethlehem 13  The Kingdom Divided After King Solomon’s death, Israel was split into two kingdoms ○ Israel in the North 10 tribes ○ Judah in the South 2 tribes 14  Northern Kingdom Captured Assyrian Empire: Northern Kingdom of Israel 746 - 609 BC destroyed in 722 BC Assyrians deported more than 27,000 Israelites into exile Became the Lost Tribes of Israel ○ Eventually intermarried with peoples of new lands ○ Lost their identity as God’s Chosen People 15  Judah and the Babylonians Babylonian empire ○ Defeated the Assyrian empire in 609 B.C. 597-586 BC: Babylon deports the middle and upper class of the kingdom ○ The “people of the land” are left in Judah After a failed rebellion by the people, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon returns and destroys Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC Time between 597 to 538 B.C. is known as Babylonian Exile 16  Assyrians Babylonians 746 - 609 BC 609 BC - 539 BC Conquered by deporting Defeated Assyrian empire, citizens and and took control of lands intermarrying them Conquered lands by Destroyed the Northern deporting the wealthy Kingdom of Israel in 722 and intelligent of the B.C. people to the capital of empire 17  Judah in the Babylonian Exile To distinguish themselves from their captors, the deported Jews: ○ Studied the Law ○ Observed the Sabbath ○ Continued circumcision Without the Temple, there was no place for sacrifice Worshipped in synagogues, taught by rabbis and scribes 18  Judah and the Persian EmpirePersian Empire 550 - 330 BC In 538 BC, the Persians, under Cyrus the Great, conquered the Babylonians ○ Permitted the Jews in Babylon to Return to Judah Practice their faith ○ Many had prospered in Babylon, so they stayed ○ Others returned to Judah 19  Return from the Exile In 515 BC, many exiled Jews returned to Judah and rebuilt the Temple (Second Temple) Jews united under a High Priest At this time, religion became known as Judaism, and the people as Jews (refer to the descendents of Judah, citizens of Judean state) Gradually two main classes of leaders developed: ○ Priests - responsible for leading worship in the Temple ○ Scribes - responsible for teaching the Law of Moses 20 Hellenistic Influence Alexander the Great (Greek King) defeated the Persian Empire in 334 BC ○ By the time of his death, he had conquered most of the known world (to the Greeks) Established cultural movement known as Hellenism ○ Effort to unite the East and West in unified Greek culture Koine (common Greek) 21 Hellenistic Influence During the reign of Alexander the Great 336 - 323 BC 22  Palestine in the Hellenistic Age After death of Alexander, two families fought for control of the empire: 1. Ptolemies of Egypt: ruled Palestine from 323 to 198 BC ○ Generally kind and peaceful ○ No imposition of Hellenistic culture on Jews 2. Seleucids of Syria: ruled Palestine 198 to 63 BC ○ Antiochus IV (ruler) tried to impose unity on subjects by forming a powerful army ○ Desecrated the Temple and forbade the Jews from: Circumcision Worship on Sabbath Temple sacrifices Abstinence from pork 23  Maccabean Revolt Revolt against the Greeks by the Jews ○ One Jewish leader was nicknamed “maccabeus,” an Aramaic word meaning “the hammer” Led by Judas Matthias, rebels recaptured Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple in 164 BC ○ Feast of Hanukkah commemorates this event Found in Books 1 and 2 Maccabees 24  Hasmonean Dynasty Under the Maccabees, the Hasmonean Dynasty formed Governed by the Jews (164 to 63 BC) ○ Brought glory and political freedom to the Jews ○ Led to conversions ○ Founding of Jewish communities 25  The Roman Empire Romans took over the Seleucids and Ptolemies, and retained much of the Hellenistic influence Romans were effective rulers ○ Maintained peace, control, and avoided revolts How Romans maintained control ○ Romans did not declare an official religion ○ Appointed leaders from within the conquered people 26  The Roman Empire The Jewish people, the most part, did not like the Roman rule because ○ Heavy taxation ○ Ruling over their “Promised Land” Reactions to Roman Rule ○ Wealthy Jews tried to get along with the Romans ○ Hasidim Jews, “pious ones,” resented the Romans 27 The Roman Empire 28  Herod the Great Ruled as king of Judea from 37 to 4 BC Not a “pure Jew” (Arabian and Idumaean) Hated by Jews Architectural efforts (reconstruction of the Temple of Jerusalem) Ordered most of his family to be executed Ordered all first born to be killed in Bethlehem and surrounding cities when he heard of the announcement of the birth of the Messiah (Matthew 2:16-18) 29  Herod Archelaus Ruled: 4 BC - 6 AD Gained Judea, Samaria, Idumea ○ Son of Herod the Great Reign did not last long, because of violence (exiled) Replaced by many Roman governors until Pontius Pilate was appointed in 26 A.D. 30  Herod Antipas Ruled: 4-39 AD Ruled Galilee and Perea Known in Scripture for the beheading of John the Baptist and returning Jesus to Pilate. 31  Philip the Tetrarch Half-brother of the other sons of Herod Ruled 4-34 AD Northern territories of Palestine Map shows the different areas each Herod governed. 32  BBOT&NT Alexander the Great Historical and Political Hellenistic Influence Maccabean Revolt World of Jesus Roman Empire The 4 Herods Slides 22-33 33  BBOT&NT Divided Kingdom Historical and Political Assyrians World of Jesus Babylonians Persians Slides 14-21 34