Survey of New Testament Times

J Gareth Evans

When we study the New Testament we encounter people and cultures different from our own. We

need to be aware of this as we seek to communicate God's Word to our own generation and culture.

Lecture Outline● Relationship to Old Testament● The New Testament Canon● New Testament World

– Greek, Roman, Jewish● Language & Literature● Religious Movements● Messianic Expectations● The Early Church

Relationship to the Old Testament

● Volume II of God's story of Salvation● New Covenant superior – 2 Cor 7-18● Fulfilment of OT Law● Realization of Messianic Hope

– Jesus – the New Moses– Jesus – the last Adam

● Church and Israel● Numerous quotations, eg 1 Cor 15:32 from Isa 22

New Testament Canon

● 27 Books● Canon = “rule”● Took 400 years to formulise● Many churches rejected Revelation, James, 2 Peter● Some accepted Epistle of Barnabas, Apocalypse of

Peter, Shepherd of Hermas● Current canon first used by Athanasius (367AD)● Council of Carthage - 397AD

New Testament World

● Culturally - Greek, Roman and Jewish● Language

– Greek for trade– Latin for goverment– Aramaic

● Politically – Roman– Stability– Communications

Historic Outline

● Alexander the Great● Ptolemies & Seleucids● Antiochus IV ● Maccabees● Roman Conquest● Herods● Jewish Revolt

Alexander the Great

● “Goat” of Daniel 8● Ruled 336-323 BC● Introduced Greek

culture throughout his empire, including Palestine.

Extent of Alexander's Empire

Antiochus Epiphanes

● After his death, Alexander's empire fragmented.● Ptolemies in Egypt and Seleucids in Syria● Continuing conflict with Palestine in middle (Daniel 11)● Seleucid Antiochus attempted unification through enforced

Hellenization and eradicating Jewish belief● Defiled the temple by removing treasures, erecting a statue

of Zeus, and sacricing pigs (cf Matt 24:15)● Killed Jews who refused to conform● Sparked off Maccabean revolt

Maccabean Revolt – Dan 11:12?● Hasidim or “pious ones” suffered terribly

– 90 year old Eleazar killed for spitting out pig's flesh– 7 brothers (2 Maccabees 7)

● Mattathias kills Syrian commissioner● Organizes resistance movement with 5 sons

– Judas Maccabeus● Recapture & purification of temple● Feast of dedication – Hanukkah● Independence 142 BC – Hasmonean dynasty

Roman Rule

● Hasmonean Dynasty (142-40 BC)

● Intervention in a dispute between John Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II

● Rome sent Pompey to establish Hyrcanus as “ethnarch” - puppet of Rome

Roman Empire at height of its power

Roman Emperors

● Augustus (30 B.C. - A.D. 14) Jesus' birth (circa 5 B.C.) (Luke 2) ● Tiberius (AD. 14-37) Jesus' Public Ministry (Luke 3) ● Caligula (AD. 37-41) Wanted status of deity ● Claudius (AD. 41-54) Expelled Jews from Rome (Acts 18:2) ● Nero (AD. 54-68) Probably responsible for deaths of Peter and Paul ● Galba (AD. 68-69), Otho (A.D. 69), Vitellius (AD. 69) ● Vespasian (AD. 69-79) Led in the seige of Jerusalem ● Titus (A D. 79-81) Destroyed Temple (A.D. 70) ● Domitian (A.D. 81-96) The Book of Revelation written in this

period.

The Herods● Puppet kings under the Romans

● Herod the Great - (Matthew 2:1-19, Luke 1:5) - Authority over Palestine at tine of Jesus' birth

● Herod Antipas - (Mark 6:14-29, Luke 3:1, 13:31-35, 23:7-12) - Controlled Galilee and Perea during Jesus'; public ministry

● Archelaus - (Matthew 2:22) - Replaced by procurator in A.D. 6

● Herod Phillip - (Luke 3:1) - Ruler of territory around Caesarea Philippi

● Herod Agrippa 1 - (Acts 12:1-24)

● Herod Agrippa 2 - (Acts 25:13-26:32)

● Family Tree

Language and Literature● Old Testament – Hebrew and Greek (LXX)

– Epistle to the Hebrews● Intertestamental Literature

– 1 Enoch (Jude 14,15)● Secular writing

– Epimenides (Titus 1:12)● NT Literature Types

– Gospel, Epistle, History, Apocalyptic– Quotations. Is Eph 5:14 – A baptismal hymn?

Religion in the Roman Empire● Religious Pluralism● The Twelve Olympians (Acts 14:11ff)● Mystery Religions

– Mithraism; A Persian religion associated with Zoroasterianism

● Philosophies– Stoics (Acts 17:18)– Epicureans (Acts 17:18)– Platonism

Jewish Religious Diversity

● Sadducees● Pharisees

– Hillel and Shammai● Zealots● Essenes● Samaritans● Galileans

Pharisees● The Pharisees ("separated ones") originated from the Hasidim, those Jews who

separated themselves from the corruption of Hellenistic culture. Pharisees originated after the Maccabean Revolt of 168 B.C.

● Beliefs

– Accepted both the written law and the oral law. When the oral law was eventually recorded, it was known as Mishnah. This, plus the commentary which was added, comprised the Talmud.

– Believed in the resurrection of the dead.

● In the New Testament, they are shown as Jesus' bitter opponents (Matt 23). They are synonymous with hypocrisy and legalism.

● Two major groups of Pharisees:

– Those who were very strict in the law - following Rabbi Shammai.

– Those who were more liberal in their interpretation -led by the Rabbi Hillel.

Sadducees

● Sadducees means “righteous ones” - A link with Zadok?

● Heirs of the Intertestamental Hasmoneans (politically minded group who controlled Israel between 142 and 37 B.C.).

● Beliefs:

– They practiced a literal reading of the Torah and rejected the oral Law.

– They did not share the Pharisee's belief in a coming judgment, resurrection, angels, or demons (Mark 12:18, Acts 23:8).

● Role - Priests who officiated Temple ceremonies.

● According to Josephus, the Sadducees seem to have been the mediators between the Jews and Romans during Roman occupation. They stood to lose the most when dews revolted against Rome.

● Sadducees dominated the Sanhedrin

Essenes and Zealots

● Essenes– An example of apocalyptic Judaism– Qumran– Dead Sea Scrolls– 2 Messiahs (priest and king)

● Zealots (Mark 3:18)– Sought to overthrow the Romans by force– Masada, AD 73

Qumran – Site of Essene Community

Dead Sea Scrolls - Caves

4Q166 a fragment of commentary on Hosea

Masada – Herod's Royal Citadel and Zealot's last oupost during Jewish War

Samaritans

● Lived between Judea and Galilee● Mixed Race – Intermarrying between Israelites

and imported peoples during Assyrian period● Temple on Mount Gerizim● Deep rooted enmity between Jews and

Samaritans– Bad Reception (Luke 9:51-56)

The Temple

● Focus of Jewish Religious Life● Built - 19 BC - 63 AD● An enlarging and further beautifying of

Zerubbabel's Temple initiated by Herod the Great

● Complex – 500 x 325 yards (25 football fields)● Destroyed - 70 AD

Reconstruction of Jerusalem Temple

Synagogue

● From Greek. Lit. “Gathering”● Originated during exile ~500 BC● Reading the OT Scriptures● Jesus attended the synagogue (Luke 4:15)● So did Paul (Acts 13:14)● 10 males required (Acts 16:13)● Separation of men and women

Synagogue at Capernaum

Messianic Expectation

● Old Testament Prophecies● Jewish Apocrypha & pseudopigrapha● Essenes (2 Messiahs)● Year of Jubilee● Roman occupation● Other claimants – Judah the Galilean (~4 BC)

Non-Biblical Sources for Jesus of Nazareth

● Flavius Josephus (born AD 52-54)– Antiquities contain positive reference to Jesus. Some

think Christians have “doctored” documents.● Cornelius Tacitus (born AD 52-54)

– Refers to Nero's persecution of Christians & to deathof Jesus

● Seutonius (AD 120)– Refers to Claudius expelling Christians from Rome

(Acts 18:20 and persecution under Nero.

Galilee & Galileans

● Jesus focussed much of his ministry in Galilee● Chorazim, Bethsaida, Capernaum● Galilee of the Gentiles (Matt 4:15) – Cosmopolitan● Via Maris trade route● Supplied fish to Jerusalem – John 18:16● Religious and knew scriptures well● Jewish Revolt started in Galilee

Capernaum

Pontius Pilate● Fifth Governor of Roman

Judea (Ad 26-37)● Suspended by Vitellius for

murdering Samaritans● One tradition states he was

exiled to Gaul where he committed suicide ● Inscription found at

Caesarea – 1961

● . . . . . . S TIBERIEVM . . [PO]NTIVS PILATVS [PRA]ECTVS IVDA[EA]E

Capital Punishment● Jews – Stoning

– But not allowed by Romans– Stephen martyred between governors

● Romans– Cross

● Could take a week to die

– Beheading– Sacked & thrown in sea– Whipping to death

The Early Church● Don't know much about church in 1st century

apart from New Testament● Expanded● Met in homes ● Opposition

– Persecutions– Heresies

● Judaisers● Docetism● Gnosticism

Persecution in NT Times● Three types - Religious, economic, political● Martyrdom – a real threat● Jewish Persecution

– James (Acts 12) - Herod– James the Just– Ananus after Festus' departure

● Nero – 64 AD

– Tacitus– Peter and Paul

● Domitian c90-96 AD

– John on Patmos● “All your cruelties can accomplish nothing. Our number increases the more

you destroy us. The blood of the Christians is their seed.” - Tertullian

The Church in Mission● “To the ends of the earth”● Holy Spirit Motivation● Reasons for Growth

– Common Language – OT Scriptures in Greek– Good Communications – Peace & Stability (Pax Romana)

● A message of hope in a hopeless world● Commitment to the task

The Diaspora

● Dispersion after the exile (1 Peter 1:1)● 8 million Jews worldwide during time of Jesus

– 1 out of 10 of population of Roman Empire● Greek speaking

– Used Septuagint (Greek OT)● Key to spread of Gospel – Acts 2

The Apostle Paul● Disciple of Gamaliel

– Talmud – Grandson of Hillel

● Native of Tarsus● Died in Rome under

Nero (~AD 66)● A Pharisee before his

conversion (Phil 3:5)

● Missionary extraordinary

● Great letter writer

Paul the Missionary

● Planned to visit Spain (Rom 15:24)

● Worked in a team – Col 4:10-14, Philemon

● Focussed on cities ● Trained the next

generation – Timothy, Titus

● Anthony Thistleton sees Corinth as a “post-modern” city. Paul experienced similar challenges to the ones we face.

Domitian - “a monster?”

● Emperor at time Book of Revelation written

● Building Projects– Colisseum, Palatine

● Rebellion & Warfare● Pompeii● Emperor worship

John – Exiled on Patmos

Ephesus

Synagogue at Sardis

A Luke warm water supply!

NT Archeology● "The excessive skepticism shown toward the Bible [by certain

schools of thought] has been progressively discredited. Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of numerous details." - WF Albright

● Recent archaeological discoveries include both the Pool of Betesda (John 5:1) and "The Pavement" (John 19:13). Their existence was doubted just a few decades ago.

● William Ramsey verifying historical accuracy of Luke's writings

● Hemer – The Book of Acts in the setting of Hellenistic History

Challenge – To communicate the Gospel written to the people of the New Testament world into our culture