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New Testament Survey

HCBC Ed CenterWeek 1- Introduction, Israel’s Position, Political and Religious Changes

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Course DescriptionThis course will introduce you to:

The structure and chronology of the Greek Testament of the Scriptures The purpose of each book of the Greek Testament of the Scriptures How the Church Age fits into God’s revealed plan for His future Kingdom

Focus:The unique position of God’s chosen peoples of the Church and of IsraelHis past, present, and future purposes for them.

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COURSE SCHEDULE

SNT, p. 174-206; HB: 1&2 Cor, Rom

Paul’s Major Epistles (1&2Corinthians, Romans)

11/97

SNT, p. 150-173; HB: Gal, 1&2 Thes

Epistles Intro and Paul’s early Epistles (Galatians, 1&2Thessalonians)

11/2Time?

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Theology Study #1SNT. P. 124-149; HB: Acts

Spread of the Church - Acts10/195

SNT, p. 88-123; HB: Mk, Lk, Jn

Gospels – Mark, Luke, John10/124

SNT: p. 46-87; HB: Matthew

Gospels – Perspectives & Matthew10/53

SNT: p. 11-44Changes in Israel since OT9/212

Course Overview and approach, Background

9/141

Assignment DueRequired Reading*

TopicDateSession

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COURSE SCHEDULE

SNT, p. 270-281; HB: Rev

Revelation 12/2112

Theology Study #3SNT, p. 259-269; HB: Ju, 123Jn

Jude, 1,2&3 John12/1411

SNT, p. 240-258; HB: Jam, Heb, 1&2 Pet

James, Hebrews, 1&2 Peter12/710

SNT, p. 225-239; HB: 1&2 Tim, Tit

Paul’s Pastoral Epistles (1&2Timothy, Titus)

11/309

Theology Study #2SNT, p. 207-224; HB: Eph, Col, Philem, Philip

Paul’s Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians)

11/168

Assignment DueRequired Reading*

TopicDateSession

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Theological StudiesQuizzes (without the pressure)Take home – return next weekShort AnswerFocus on Purposes, Chronology, EventsOpen Book / BibleAnswer in your own wordsShow that you grasp the concepts

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Why Study the New Testament?It reveals God

His PersonHis CharacterHis PlanHis FaithfulnessHis RighteousnessHis Grace

The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be unworthy of thinking, worshiping men…

A.W.Tozer

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Why Study the New Testament?It reveals man

his purposehis naturehis response to God

It reveals our hopeWhy the world is as it isWhat we can expect of itWhere our hope must lie to be unshakable

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BibliologyThe Bible and the individual books are Thematic:

Include details needed for theme developmentOmit details not needed for theme developmentOrganize details in logical rather than Chronological orderMay give overview followed by detailed thematic repetition

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Prolegomena – say what?Things to consider before beginningWhy not just start reading Matthew?

Gal 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law”God did not send Christ immediately after man fell into sin, but sent Him at precisely the time planned for since before the world was created.

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Prolegomena1 Peter 1:20 “For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you”

Therefore, all events leading up to this time were purposefully part of God’s plan.

Without understanding the development of God’s plan up to Matthew, we miss seeing why this was the right time to send His Son.Israel at the N.T. times was very different than in O.T. times

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We are Ethiopian Eunuchs (?)Acts 8:30-31, 35 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.We can read the Scripture, but we need the background to see how it fits together.

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Previously, on Lost…The Old Testament Survey shows the flow of God’s plan and themes developed leading to Christ, until He left Israel with all needed revelation prior to His coming.The OT ends leaving several promises of God for Israel yet to be fulfilled.The OT has a lot to say about the Messiah, His Kingdom, and about the New Covenant with Israel, that we must consider in the NT study.

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Israel!Israel is a particular People

From AbrahamThrough IsaacThrough Jacob (Israel)To Jesus ChristTo future generations

“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

Deut 7:6

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The Promised LandA land flowing with milk and honey?

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A Donkey Grazing in the land of Plenty

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Not an easy land10 “For the land, into which you are entering to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you used to sow your seed and water it with your foot like a vegetable garden.11 “But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven,12 a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year.13 “It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul,14 that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil.15 “He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.Deut 11:10-15

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A land to live by faith every day

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The Land BetweenTravel between Asia, Europe, and Africa goes through Israel due to GeographyAny rising world power wants to conquer it

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The Land BetweenTemptation is to trust in alliances and armiesJericho was a fortified city defending the East – but Israel was not to rebuild itCommand was to trust in the Lord for securityA land where living each day must be by faith – the Promised land is a land of Promise. Do you trust His promise?

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Promises of God for IsraelThe promised land was to belong to Israel forever, under the Abrahamic covenant.Israel was to be a light to the world, a nation of priests, showing the nations how to live in right relationship to God.The Abrahamic Covenant promised blessings to all peoples, as the climax of the promise.Per the conditions of the Mosaic covenant, Israel was sent into exile, declared to be “not My people”for 70 years for covenant unfaithfulness. But the nation was promised they would again be in the land and would again be known as “My people.”

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Promises of God for IsraelBut, per the conditions of the Mosaic covenant, the penalty was to be increased 7 times (to 490 years) when the nation failed to return to God with all their heart. This resulted in God leaving them in a famine of prophesy for 400 years before Christ.The 70 “weeks” of Daniel speaks of this same 490 years while the nation is to be under Gentile rule before the Davidic throne is re-established by the Messiah; the King who is David’s son and his Lord, who will rule on his throne forever.

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Promises of God for Israel69 of the 70 weeks would be completed on Palm Sunday when the Messiah entered Jerusalem to be welcomed as King.God had promised to make a New Covenant with Israel (the house of Israel and the house of Judah) where the nation’s heart would be changed and they would be caused to obey Him.Isa 42.6 The Father will appoint Messiah as a covenant to Israel and as a light to the Gentile nations.

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Late OT eventsThe prophesy to Daniel and Zechariah both speak of Gentile rule over Israel until the Messiah comes to take the Davidic throne.Assyria carried off the 10 Northern tribes (Israel) into exile. (NOT all the people, but the national and tribal identity – rulership.) Babylon then carried off the southern tribes (Judah& Benjamin) into exile. (Again, NOT all the people, but those who could re-form a government.)

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Political Changes OT to NT

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Palestine (today’s name) ErasBabylonian Rule 605-539Persian Rule 539-332Hellenistic Rule 331-143Hasmonean Rule 143-63Roman Rule 63 BC – 192 AD

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Babylonian policiesTransplant the upper class of captured peoples to Babylon and force culture and religion on captives.Establish “puppet kings” and governors in captured lands.Jews in Babylon remained separate and preserved much of culture and religionDaniel and Ezekiel interceded and called people to wait for return.Effect was to maintain a distinct chosen people.

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Persian Rule 539-332Cyrus the Great 559-530 – reversed policies of Assyrians and Babylonians issued decree to allow all captured peoples to return and practice their own religions –including Jews (Ezra 1) – established satrapical (provincial) system where each Persian region was governed by an appointed official answering to the Persian king

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Persian PoliciesPersians allowed high degree of local autonomy, esp. culture / religion to win allegiance of subjects. Relative local peace, prosperity and security in IsraelPersians employed Aramaic language as official language of empire. Similar/different than Hebrew – common language of Israel at time of Jesus.Most Jews remained in Babylon rather than returning.

What does it mean theologically when most of the people chose to remain in foreign lands?

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The Temple RebuiltThe Glory of the Lord left the temple before the exile, having been with the people in the pillars of cloud and fire, in the tabernacle, and then the temple until that time. God had truly lived among His people until he left before the exile.There is no mention that His Glory came to the new temple built after the exile!

The Talmud records the Ark and the Glory of the Lord were not in the rebuilt Temple

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Palestine under Alexander 331-301Took control 333 BC defeating Darius III of PersiaSamaria (city) resisted and was destroyed in 331. Refounded as Greek SebasteJerusalem and Judea submitted to Alexander without resistanceGreek culture had large influence in Palestine, including Jews. Many learned Greek as language for trade, government, literatureFounded many Greek cities (Decapolis – 10 cities in Galilee)Some Jews adopted appealing Greek customs

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Effects of HellenismHellenism: exporting Greek culture and way of life to other people groupsGreek ideals of life were health, beauty, education, wealth, and enjoyment of youth with friends. (Sound familiar?)Paul identified humankind as “Jews, Greeks, and barbarians.”Greek was the common trade language everywhere, and paved the way for the spread of the Gospel.

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Roman Rule 63 BC- 192 ADAntipater switched allegiance to Julius Caesar in 48 BC and was awarded administrator of Judea as well as IdumeaHerod made governor of JudeaWith family squabbles Herod gained favor of Rome and was made “king” of Judea in 40, came to real power in 37Meanwhile Augustus Caesar brought paxromana – with general peace and freedom from war – conditions at the time of the N.T.

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General Effects on PalestineTaxation support required for EmpireLocal rulers had titles, but had to keep Rome happyRome’s power crushed insurrections and kept “peace”“Hellenization” continued, with increasing control from Rome.Rome’s plan was to assume direct control

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New Testament Survey

Religious Changes in Israel

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Old Testament LawNational Constitution – unique to IsraelMosaic Covenant – the national response to God’s grace in choosing and delivering them, and placing them in the Land

Penalties – drought & exile – were nationalPart of showing the world the obedient response to God – light to the World

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Old Testament LawShows how the people were to respond to God – not their rights over HimFocus was on seeking His grace when they wronged Him.

Constant sacrifices were requiredAcknowledging their sin was necessaryFaithful response showed His grace

Stress on their sin and His graceRomans 5:20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

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Old Testament LawHorizontal relationships (man to man) had the same emphasis:

If I wrong someone, how do I restore relationship?Not my rights over them, just as law didn’t address my “rights” over GodMy sinful actions, not theirs, are my responsibility

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Old Testament Law

National Response to individual sinRequired holding position under God foremostNation’s reaction or lack of reaction showed covenant obediencePurpose was to rid this sin from among them

National and individual focus was on sacrificial system

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Old Testament Law & the ExileThe Temple was destroyed and sacrifices stoppedSin did not stop (Duh…)So… if trespass occurs, how are relationships restored?Human response: add a “hedge around the Law” so that they avoid breaking it…

Stricter rules of behavior to keep farther from disobeying(according to Jewish record – not Bible)

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After the ExileThe Temple was rebuiltSacrifices were restoredLaw read to the people Nehemiah 8:7-8

“…the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.”“explained” could mean adding cultural notes such as “hedge” developed during exile – oral tradition

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Explaining the LawThe Nehemiah text is neither explicitly positive nor negative about the practice introduced of chosen Levites “explaining” the Law

Cultural Translation – what the Law meant originally so they could understand it – would be positive (suggested in most English translations)Directives to “do this” without understanding the focus and purpose would be negative

It does show a new layer of human interpreters (who claim authority) between the Law and the people

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Post-Exilic DevelopmentsLocal synagogues replaced the temple as centers of worship and instruction outside Jerusalem (Even after rebuilding of Temple)Instruction and observance of “Law” and prayers took place of sacrificesRabbis replaced Priests as the primary influence in society and became the interpreters of ScriptureRituals (Sabbath-keeping, circumcision, purity laws) became ethical rules defining Jewish distinctivenessJudaism (defined above) replaced Hebraism

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NT Judaism75% of Jews lived outside Palestine, mainly Babylon, Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, Greece, RomePractices were not geographically exclusive: Hellenistic influence and Hasidim (conservative) were mixed throughoutJudaism was attractive to many Gentiles

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Greco-Roman ReligionsPluralistic – no exclusive devotion to one deitySyncretistic – blending or transfer of deities, hierarchy of deitiesDemonizing – Demons viewed as intermediaries between gods and menCorporate nature – required system of worship, not individual practice

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Greco-Roman ReligionsPersonal choice – made not on national basisSeparated morality and religion – Purity was ceremonial, not moral; Conduct code was national or “school” orientedDualistic – Spiritual afterlife was separate from prison of body – no physical resurrection

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ConclusionsGod’s plan is never thwarted, so we should understand what He had promised His chosen people Israel, and look for how He will fulfill those promises.Israel, and their view of the Law, had changed since the O.T.Gentile rule for nearly 500 years had subtle influencesJewish focus of Law changed from awareness of sin and need for Grace to avoiding sin by the hedge around the Law