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)