NEW TESTAMENT FOUNDATIONSNT 102

 

Introduction A. Importance of the NT

1. Status2. Content

B. OT & NT: Continuity & Discontinuity “The days are coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors the day when I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt … I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people” (Jer. 31:31-33).

Moving from an Exiled Israel of the OT the Reconstitution of Israel (the new Israel to include Gentile believers) the Redemption of the Cosmos in the New

(Dis)continuity with the OT Differences from the OT:1. Cultural situation:

a. Language shiftsb. Hellenism

 2. Political forces

a. From the Westb. Tensions in Palestine

3. Socio-economic affairsa. Economic realitiesb. Travel & multi-cultural environmentsc. Cosmopolitan landscaped. Focus lies outside Israel

 4. Religious tradition

C. Text & Books of the NTi. Language of the NT world

ii. Characteristics of NT Greek1. Koiné style 2. Semitic influence

D. The Canon of the NTi. Preliminary remarks (see B. Metzger, The Canon

of the NT)

1. Canon defined

2. How did the canon come about? (Why was there a need?)

 3. Why only these books?

 

ii. Authoritative works in the 1st century1. The OT

 2. The teachings of Jesus

 3. The writings of the apostles

iii. The Rise of the New Testament 1. Major developments contributing to

formalizing NT a. Marcion controversy (circa. 150AD)

b. a spate of various kinds of Christian writings (see Schneemelcher,

NT Apocrypha)  c. church’s response

2. Qualifications for canonicitya. apostolicity

b. regular reading in church liturgy (lections)

c. consistency of theology 3. Muratorian Canon (c. AD 200); Origen (c. AD 250);

Eusebius (c. AD 300)

4. Development of the inclusion of NT letters:a. around 150-70, formally certainly

authoritative: 4 Gospels, Acts, Paul’s letters, 1 Peter, 1 John (21 books) [Revelation?]

 b. certainly not authoritative: Acts of Paul, Shepherd of Hermas, Apocalypse of

Peter, Epistle of Barnabas, Didache, Gospel According to the Hebrews

c. disputed: James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Revelation (authorship issue)

  5. Recognition of present 27 books (last half 4th c.)  E. Current Issues

Aims of the Course1. historical & cultural background 2. basic content of the NT 3. coherence of individual books and what issues they

address in what settings.

Emphases:1. NT documents as unitary Wholes:

a. literary context 

b. historical context  2. NT as Word of God both to live it & to teach others

 

1 Tim. 4:16: “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

The Graeco-Roman World of the Apostles

Introduction I. Roman Caesars

Roman Emperors

Arch of Titus: Fall of Jerusalem

II. The Geography & the Peoplesi. Roman Empire & Provinces

 

Roman Empire

Roman Provinces in Asia Minor

Inscription of Pontius Pilate

ii. Travel

Via Appia

Cargo ship

iii. Language  III. Everyday Life in Graeco-Roman Society

i. Classes in society3 classes of people: Slaves; Freedmen; Free.

1. Emperor & the imperial household 2. Aristocracy (Honestiores)

i. Senateii. Equestriansiii. Decurionsiv. Wealthy landowners & tradersv. Examples of wealthy or powerful early

Christians

3. Slaves (Humiliores)a. 1/5 of the populationb. Reasons for enslavementc. Lifestyle & conditionsd. Many were believers

4. Artisans, freedmen & working classes 5. Roman military 6. Roman citizenship 7. Patrons & Clients

Inscription honoring a benefactor

8. Marriage & family

Marriage 

i. Husbands/Menii. Wives/Womeniii. Children  

Child’s toy

9. Educationa. Public Gymnasium b. Rhetoric

 10. Work & leisure

 11. Guilds, clubs & associations

IV. Religions 

A. Role of religion1. pervasive

Temple of Hephaestus

Temples of Jupiter

2. corporate, civic activity 3. religion & politics inseparable 4. bolster political unity 5. society critical of those who rejected traditional religions

B. The gods1. classical Greek pantheon with Roman deities 2. Agricultural activities3. Urban matters4. Healing figures5. Pagan temples

Temple housing an image of deity

C. Characteristics1. Ceremonial, ritual purity & rites

 2. polytheistic

 3. popularity of astrology, magic & occult practice

 4. sense of helplessness before all-pervading Fate

 5. gods as benefactors/patrons of communities

 6. gods subjected to human passions

D. Imperial Cult or Emperor Worship

Promoting power in coinage

Coin Augustus

E. Mystery religionsMystery religions appeal to:1. the emotions

2. the intellect

3. the conscience

Varieties of mystery religions:1. Dionysus

2. Cybele (Great-mother of the gods) & Attis (her consort

3. Isis, Osiris & Serapis

4. Mithraism

Common features of mystery religions:i. elaborate secret initiation, revelation of ‘mysteries’ ii. regular fellowship & the sharing of sacrificial meals iii. spiritual ecstasy (in some cases) iv. reputation for immorality v. notions of a dying & rising god?

F. Fate  

G. Private religions & personal pietyOracles, dreams & divination

magical papyri

One curse tablet reads: “Spirits of the netherworld, I consecrate and hand over to you, if you have any power, Ticene of Carisius. Whatever she does, may it all turn out wrong. Spirits of the netherworld, I consecrate to you her limbs, her complexion, her figure … and if I see her wasting away, I swear that I will be delighted to offer a sacrifice to you every year” (CIL 10.8249)

H. Demons

V. PhilosophyReligion for the intellectuals

 Philosophical schools1. General concerns: moral exhortation (e.g. I Thess); diatribe (e.g. Rom. 2-4)

 2. Social setting

A philosopher with his scrolls

Stoa in Athens

3. General beliefs 4. NT moral teachings 5. Main types:

a. Stoics (1) Origin (founded by Zeno, ca. 300 BC)

(2) Concerns

  (3) Metaphysical issues

(4) Comparison with Christianity

(5) Contrasts with Christianity

b. Epicureans (founded by Epicurus, ca. 300 BC)

Epicurus

(1) Beliefs

(2) Goals

(3) Popular version: “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die” (cf. Acts 17; 1 Cor. 15:32)

(4) Comparison with Christianity c. Platonists (Plato: 4th c. BC)

(1) Values

(2) Outgrowth

(3) NT Response 

Summary of Graeco-Roman religious lifea. closely bound up with politics & culture 

b. little to do with personal reformation 

c. to cope with Fate 

d. some attracted to Jewish law, ethics & way of life

Summary of Graeco-Roman social lifeA. Modern cities today not too different from Graeco- Roman civilization

1. Socio-economic differences

  2. General feeling of moral decay & loss of standards

3. Value of human life B. Paul’s judgments in Rom 1:18-32 were echoed in the writings of many others C. An age of pessimism & depression