The New Testament:The New Testament:
““And the Word became flesh, And the Word became flesh, and dwelled among us…”and dwelled among us…”
John 1:14John 1:14
Ch. 16: The World Ch. 16: The World of the New Testamentof the New Testament
HomeworkHomework• (due Tues., 3/24) Read pp. 288-
289(middle); NB: Intro & # I• (due Weds., 3/25) Read 289-
291; NB: II-IV• (due Mon., 3/30) Read pp.
292-294(middle); NB: V-VI• (due Mon.,3/30) Read pp. 294-
298(middle); NB: VII-IX
HomeworkHomework• (due Tues., 3/31) Read pp. 298-
300; NB: X-XI• (due Thurs., 4/2) Prepare for
Review• (Weds., 4/8) TEST on Ch. 16
The Prophecies FulfilledThe Prophecies Fulfilled• Maccabean
revolt (167-160 B.C.) won Jewish independence
• 4 major results of revolt?? (#1)
• Hasmonean dynasty(134-63B.C.)
The Prophecies FulfilledThe Prophecies Fulfilled• John Hyrcanus I
– High Priest-King in Hasmonean line
– 134-104B.C.– Conquered all former
territory in Israel (#2)– Forced all non-Jews to be
circumcised or leave (ouch!)-why?•Sign of being fully Jewish•“Cleansed” nation of pagan
influence (#3-4)
The Prophecies FulfilledThe Prophecies Fulfilled• Aristobulus (104-103B.C.), next
High Priest declared himself king… some thought him Messiah, but…
• not in line of David• Israel became divided
over who would be Messiah… (#5)
Judaism in Jesus’ time: Judaism in Jesus’ time: 4 Major Groups4 Major Groups
• Pharisees• Sadducees• Essenes• Zealots
PhariseesPharisees•“separate” or “pious” onesones•most influential group•laymen/ not official clergy•focus:
–Strict living of Law(Torah)–No compromise w/ gentiles (Romans) (#7-9)
•Expected MESSIAH WHO STRICLY TAUGHT THE LAW
SadduceesSadducees•Priestly aristocracy (high
priests)•Concerned w/ Temple
practices/ worship•Generally
wealthy/establishment•Politics: supported
Hasmoneans/Romans (#10)•Expected HIGH PRIESTLY
MESSIAH
EssenesEssenes•Monastic community•Lived in desert around Dead Sea
•Believed Jerusalem priesthood and worship were impure
•Focus: pure living of Law•Apocalyptic group: awaited a New Age/ Kingdom of God
•Expected SPIRITUAL/OTHER-WORLDLY MESSIAH
ZealotsZealots•“sicarii” (“dagger-carriers”)•hated foreign Roman rule•basically, terrorists: use of violence, etc.
•Kingdom of God by force•Led revolts against Rome (66-70; 132-135 AD)
•Expected MILITARY “BIN-LADIN”-LIKE MESSIAH
……and you???and you???•Reflect & write on:
–What is your “image” of God? Who is God for you/in your life?
–What role do you honestly expect God to play in your daily life/in the world?
– Is that expectation fair? Why/why not?
After the After the MaccabeesMaccabees
• (#11)• Israel divided
into factions• Eventually
conquered by Romans in 63 B.C.
• Herod the Great installed as “puppet” king in 40 B.C.
Herod the GreatHerod the Great• Ruled from c. 40-
4 B.C.• Beseiged
Jerusalem w/ 60,000 Roman troops
• Called “the Great” > economic prosperity under his reign (#12-14)
“Fullness of Ti“Fullness of Time”me”• Pax Romana:
– Roman “peace”/order from Augustus> 5th c.
– Benefits? (#15)
– Why the “fullness of time” for Christ’s coming?
Religion in Roman Religion in Roman EmpireEmpire
• (# 16)• Romans tolerated
any religion, if– Obedience– Taxes!!
• Some idea of God thru philosophy (#17-18)
Spread of Jewish Spread of Jewish ReligionReligion
• 3 Key factors:1. Jews lived throughout
empire2. The Septuagint (LXX)3. The rise of synagogues
Spread of Jewish Spread of Jewish ReligionReligion• Jews were
spread throughout Roman empire (#19-20)– Popularity of
Judaism– Prepared “the
Nations” for coming of the Christ
Spread of Jewish Spread of Jewish ReligionReligion
• The Septuagint or LXX made God’s revelation known throughout Greek & Roman empires (#21)
Spread of Jewish Spread of Jewish ReligionReligion
• Synagogue had replaced Temple as center of Jewish life– Why? (#22)– How connected
to our Christian worship? (#23)
Proselytes of the GateProselytes of the Gate• Judaism very popular
in Roman empire- why?
• Who were they? (#24)
• They were more ready to “receive the Christian message- why? (#25)
Judea and Judea and GalileeGalilee
• After Babylonian exile, people re-settled– Mostly in south,
around Jerusalem (former Judah > Judea
– Some in north, into Galilee (w/in former “Israel”) (#27)
• Trouble w/ Palestine for Rome? (#26)
The SamaritansThe Samaritans• (#28)• Ethnically
mixed (w/ pagan peoples)
• Worshipped the One God but differently
• Other Samaritan… stuff (#29-32)