The World of the New Testament

The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.

Saint Augustine CCC #129

He carried the wood

for the sacrifice…

Historical OverviewA Divided Kingdom 921B.C.

Israel (North) 921-721B.C.

Judah (South) 921-587B.C.

Persian Period 537-333B.C. Cyrus and the rebuilding of the templeGreek Period (In Palestine) c.333-…B.C. Alexander the Great (died 323)Maccabean Period 186B.C. Fight for Jewish independence, 164B.C. Regained Jerusalem/TempleRoman Period 67B.C. Pompey Power entrusted to local ruler c.40B.C.

Herod the Great

• Insane/murderous• Shrewd ruler• Economic prosperity• Rebuilt the Temple• ? Why is he labeled the Great• ? What happened after his death

Herod cont…

• Great not because he was universally admired, but because his reign was so prosperous compared to the reign of his successors

• The Tetrarchy, “the rule of four”, was established after his death, divided among his four surviving sons

Divisions Among the Jews

• The Pharisees, in Hebrew Perushim, “the separated”

• Scholars/forerunners of the rabbis• The Law and ritual purity of highest

importance• Separation from Gentiles/exclusive• Exaggerated Jewish customs• Often lacking the spirit of the law

Cont. Divisions among the Jews

• The Sadducees, the priests of Jerusalem• Believed it was better to cooperate with the

Gentiles• Powerful in government• Majority of the Sanhedrin were Sadducees• Rejected everything but the Torah…for example, the resurrection of the dead,

angels or spirits…

The Essenes

• Small community at Qumran• Left the city for the desert to live pure and

righteous lives• Saw temple worship, etc…as corrupted• Who is believed to have been part of this

community? _______________________• What famous discovery is this group

associated with? ____________________

The Zealots

• Those who sought to overthrow the Romans by force

• Ignited many uprisings in the first century A.D.

Cont. Division among the Jews

• The Samaritains lived between Galilee and Judea in Samaria

• Despised by the Jews for their intermarriage and for worshiping on Mt. Gerizim, rather than in Jerusalem

“When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

Galatians 4:4-5

Why had the time fully come for the Incarnation?Stability and peace allowed by the extensive

Roman Empire (Pax Romana)Travel was easier, faster, safer, allowing for the

Gospel to spread extensively and quicklyGreek language prevalent (Septuagint)A great longing for the Messiah among the Jewish

faithful who were spread throughout the empire

Religion in the Roman Empire

• Many gods for the Romans• Rituals impersonal and businesslike• Tolerated religion/worship of others as long as

the peace was kept• First Cause= the “philosophers God” arrived at

by pure reason• Searching for answers to the meaning of their

life…sought religions from the East

What part of the Mass is taken from the ancient synagogue liturgy?

• Who are the Proselytes of the Gate?