a strange, harsh world with tenderness and dignity the new testament world
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A strange, harsh world with tenderness and dignity
The New Testament WorldThe New Testament World
Roman rule• 63 BCE to 70+ CE• Peace and taxation
Jewish residents• History of foreign rule• Hellenized culture
Aramaic spoken Christ followers
• “God-fearing” Gentiles from Judaism
• Jews who followed Christ and Torah
Pharisees• Torah teachers
Sadducees• Temple priests
Essenes• Flee city for desert
Zealots• Seek political
freedom Herodians
• Have political power Samaritans Gentiles
First-century PalestineFirst-century Palestine
Herod the Great 37–4 BCE Idumean (from coastal people; not fully
Jewish) Politically astute (plays all sides) Initiated building programs
• Creating jobs• Feeding people• Offending some by celebrating Greek culture
Enlarged Jerusalem Temple
Political Situation under Rome: PalestinePolitical Situation under Rome: Palestine
Emperor’s Pax Romana Public building programs
• Aqueducts• Roads (facilitate trade and movement of armies)• Gymnasiums and Spas
Crime reduction on roads and seas• Protects trade routes and pleases merchant class
High taxes• Peasant farmers pay for public works program
Impoverished people become slaves
Political Situation under Rome: Empire-widePolitical Situation under Rome: Empire-wide
Rome permitted innocuous religions Rome condemned all social unrest
• i.e., prophets seeking social change• thieves, traitors, insurgents
60 CE Emperor Nero purged Rome 64–70 CE War in Palestine-Jerusalem 110 CE Jerusalem closed to Jews 112 CE Christianity becomes a crime
• “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach 136 CE Bar Kochba Revolt
Judaism and Christianity under RomeJudaism and Christianity under Rome
Hellenism in Palestine• “Reclining” at tables (rather than sitting up)• Surgical operations to reverse male circumcision• Aramaic spoken (Hebrew for ceremony)
And Roman syncretism in Judaism• Wisdom theology• Dualism
Good vs. evil• Apocalypticism
Deterministic view of history God is in charge
Hellenism: Greek Culture under Roman RuleHellenism: Greek Culture under Roman Rule
Hellenism in Diaspora Jews left Palestine over hundreds of
years• For business and trade• Fleeing war or changes in political climate
Synagogues over Jerusalem Temple• Houses of prayer; not sacrificial rites
Rabbis over priests Torah over sacrifices Greek spoken over Hebrew or Aramaic Septuagint writings over Hebrew
Hellenism: Greek Culture under Roman RuleHellenism: Greek Culture under Roman Rule
Epicureans• Free will• Tranquility
Stoicism• Virtue is highest calling• Logic and reason control
emotion Cynicism
• Radical authenticity• Extreme independence
Mystery religions• Secret societies
Honor of the emperor• Worship or patriotism?
Animism• Belief in spirit world
Augury• Oracles• Fortune/future tellers
Supernaturalism• Miracles• Divine men
Roman Philosophies and ReligionRoman Philosophies and Religion
2nd–4th century phenomenon
Worldview• Anything material =
evil• Spirit = good• Soma sema—a
Greek refrain meaning “the body is a tomb”
Syncretistic—mixes with any religion
Gnostic Christianity (after first century)• Christ the spiritual
redeemer brings secret knowledge
View 1• Liberate spirit from
flesh—renounce (ignore or harm) body
View 2• Spirit is already free of
flesh, bodily excess won’t hurt spirit
GnosticismGnosticism
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