In the Fullness of Time

F. W. Mattox, The Eternal Kingdom: A History of the Church of Christ, Delight,

Arkansas: Gospel Light Publishing Company, 1961.

Galatians 4:4

• “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”– Jesus was delivered according to God’s

determined counsel – Acts 2:23.– Jesus did not enter a vacuum.– In order to understand the history of the

church Jesus founded, we must know the world in which it began and in which it moved.

Belief in a Power• With but few exceptions, all men believed

in a power, or powers, invisible, superhuman and eternal which controlled human destiny.

• Activities of nature were viewed as the work of invisible powers of good and evil who worked arbitrarily.

• Such power was to be worshiped or placated by prayer, ritual or sacrifice.

• (Williston Walker, A History of the Christian Church, p. 4).

The Earth and Its Workings• The earth was seen as the center of the universe.• Miracles were expected as higher forces impressed

men with the important or unusual.• Innumerable spirits, both righteous and malevolent,

were thought to reside in the world and touch all aspects of human life, even entering men to possess them and control their actions for good or bad.

• The many religious manifestations were evidence of general dissatisfaction with life and a desire to have greater than any man could give.

• (Walker, p. 4).

The Greek Language

• Koine (common or general) Greek was widely used.

• Koine Greek was easily understood by the masses.

• Koine Greek is still accurately understood due to the use of tenses and moods.

Socrates and Plato

• Socrates (B.C. 470-399) said right action is based on knowledge and will result in four virtues—prudence, courage, self-control and justice.

• Plato (B.C. 427-347) basically said visible objects had ideas in back of them which led to other ideas.– The world did not have reality to him, only the

appearance of it.• (Walker, p. 5).

Aristotle• Aristotle (B.C. 384-322) basically said

there is an idea present in the object itself.– Matter was viewed as eternal, with the world

being the prime object of knowledge.– Changes in the world demand a “prime

mover” who was Himself unmoved.– The “prime mover” works with intelligent

purpose.– A divine spark is in man which is eternal.

• (Walker, pp. 5-6).

Epicureanism and Stoicism• Epicurus (B.C. 342-270) thought mental bliss

was man’s highest aim.– It is most perfect when passive.– Its worst foes are the dread and anger of the

gods.• Stoics believed there was something behind

the physical that made it what it is.– All are morally free and are brothers.– Passion and lust are the enemies of reason,

which is the highest duty, and must resolutely be put aside (self-denial).

• (Walker, pp. 6-7).

The Roman Government

• Augustus became emperor of Rome and restored peace to the empire.– The world was opened to trade and travel.– The common coinage encouraged free trade

and commerce flourished.– Excellent roads were built.– Pirates were removed from the Mediterranean

Sea.

Social Order

• At the top was the Emperor.• Then came Senators, Knights, Citizens,

Provincials, free born, slaves and beggars.• The poorest class, which was very large in

Rome, was provided for by a daily dole of bread by the state.

Moral Conditions

• The wealth and luxury of upper class, along with wide extension of slavery, produced dissolution of morals.– Pagan religion readily adapted itself to vices

and temples were used for violent purposes.– Women were even more depraved.

• Divorce became so commonplace that women counted their age by the change of husbands.

Moral Conditions

• The idea of life being sacred was foreign to the Roman mind.– Abortion was not discouraged by law and was

widely practiced, either by drowning at birth or exposure.

– Suicide was prevalent.– One of the main amusements at the

gladiatorial games was the spectacle of human bloodshed.

Religion• Due to the masses of uneducated, illiterate,

pagan superstition and idolatry were accepted.• The uniting of East and West brought the

“mystery” religions of Persia, Egypt, etc.• Greek and Roman mythology were widely

accepted.• Adherence to one did not imply hostility to the

others.– Syncretism arose in which all religious ideas were

put together and each picked what he liked.

The Mystery Religions

• They claimed a person could gain salvation and access to God through secret ceremonies and mysterious rites, very emotional experiences.

• The outward ceremonies consisted of bathing, fasting, animal sacrifices, etc.

• Drugs and intoxicants were also used at times.

Zoroastrianism – Religion of Zoroaster

• It dates back 500 years before Christ, in Persia.

• An all wise good god was said to be opposed by a devil, or evil spirit.

• They believed in a system of good and evil with rewards for good and punishment for evil in the afterlife.

Mithraism, Which Grew Out of Zoroastrianism

• Mithra was the god of light who, through death and resurrection, was able to cleanse the sinner and support the weak.

• It had a moral system higher than Zoroastrianism and was the most honorable of the pagan cults.

• Rites included sacrificial meals.• Its mythology included a miraculously born

savior.

Roman Religion• Pagan superstition and idolatry pervaded all

conduct, but provided no sense of personal satisfaction or moral improvement.

• After Augustus, the Emperor was looked on as the deliverer who would bring personal peace.– The Emperor was the embodiment of the state.– Every person was expected to take part in the state

religion, but activity in other religions was not precluded.

– Leading officials, on occasions, acted the part of priests, but a regular priesthood was supported by the state.

The Heathen World• Walker (p. 11) says a religion which met the

requirements of the age must:– Teach one righteous God– World-denying virtue– Future life– Have an initiation– Promise forgiveness of sins– Have a redeemer-god with whom men could

come in contact by certain sacramental acts– Brotherhood of all men

The Jewish Contribution• God revealed Himself and His purpose.

– It is clearer thru a backward look with the fulfillment of prophecies in mind to see the mystery revealed.

– The Law exposed sin as sin and showed every person fell short of the required conduct.

– Sacrifice emphasized the seriousness of their sin.– The entire Mosaic dispensation forced upon the

Jewish mind the reality of God’s presence and man’s inability to save himself.

– Over time, the Jews modified, or annulled, God’s high purpose through their traditions.

– In Jesus’ day, Jewish tradition was of greater importance than the word of God.

The Sadducees• They believed in free will and rejected

traditional interpretation of Mosaic Law, yet basically practiced a live and let live philosophy.

• They denied the resurrection, future rewards and punishment.

• They were aristocratic and constituted a conservative element in Judaism, opposing innovation, causing them to be intolerant and severe toward others (the High Priest condemned Christ and they were the first to begin persecuting the church).

The Pharisees

• They were the Puritans of their day.• They based their theology on tradition,

believing the Law was supplemented by oral tradition, which was as valid as Law.

• They exhibited devout outward manifestations of their religion.

• They believed in the resurrection.

The Essenes

• They craved moral purity.• They opposed marriage.• They objected to the slaughter of animals

as food or for worship.• They lived in disciplined communities.

The Zealots

• They fanatically refused to recognize any outside legal authority.

• They were men of action bent on the destruction of everything not Jewish.

• They had a sense of great expectation for the coming Messiah.

Conclusion

• Through the Jews, God showed man could not keep His Law based on human effort or merit.

• Through the Gentiles, God showed the world man’s efforts to provide his own salvation ends in failure.

• So, the time was right (ripe) for the “Word” to become flesh (John 1:14).