New Testament New Testament Background Background

Palestine in the Days Palestine in the Days

of Jesusof Jesus

Palestine in the Days of JesusPalestine in the Days of JesusPalestine in the Days of JesusPalestine in the Days of Jesus

JudeaJudea•Jerusalem

•Bethlehem •Mt. of Olives

SamariaSamaria

GalileeGalilee

•Nazareth•Capernaum

Palestine in the Days of JesusPalestine in the Days of JesusPalestine in the Days of JesusPalestine in the Days of Jesus

Other Other Features:Features:

•Sea of Galilee•Jordan River•Dead Sea•Great Sea

(Mediterranean Sea) •Decapolis •Caesarea

Philippi

Roman Empire 150 A.D.Roman Empire 150 A.D.Roman Empire 150 A.D.Roman Empire 150 A.D.

Earliest ChurchesEarliest ChurchesEarliest ChurchesEarliest Churches

Politics and PowerPolitics and PowerPolitics and PowerPolitics and Power

The Family Line of HerodThe Family Line of HerodDates Names Scriptures

37 - 4 BC Herod the Great Matt 2:1

4 BC - AD 39

Herod AntipasTetrarch of Galilee and Perea

Luke 3:1, Mark 6:17-29, 8:15, etc.

4 BC - AD 6

Herod ArchelausEthnarch of Samaria, Judea,

and IdumeaMatt 2:22

4 BC - AD 39

Herod PhilipTertrarch of Iturea and

TrachonitisLuke 3:1

AD 37 - 44

Herod Agrippa I(see above*)

Acts 12:1-3, 21-23

53 - 93

Herod Agrippa IITetrarch of Iturea and

Trachonitis; c.  56 also parts of Galilee and Perea

Acts 25:13-26:32

Question:Question:

Take a few minutes and reflect on Take a few minutes and reflect on these questions, these questions,

1.1. What are the core issues/values in What are the core issues/values in your life? your life?

2.2. What can you not live without?What can you not live without?

3.3. Maybe ask it this way, what Maybe ask it this way, what defines your life? defines your life?

Second Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple Judaism

Jesus is Lord defines the core of early Judaism as the Four Pillars of Four Pillars of JudaismJudaism (pg. 65)

1. Monotheism

2. Election

3. Covenant

4. Land

Second Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple Judaism

Let’s now examine those cultural/religious/political entities which make up what is commonly called:

Second-Temple JudaismSecond-Temple Judaism (Judaism in Jesus’ Day)

Second Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple Judaism

a. Toraha. Torah

Law plus Oral Tradition

Second Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple Judaism

b. Templeb. Temple

Holy building with compromised leaders

TempleTempleTempleTemple

Court of Gentiles

Court of Women

Court of Israel

Holy of Holies

Holy Place

(35 acres)(35 acres)

TempleTempleTempleTemple

Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem

““Culture Centers…”Culture Centers…”

“… consist in the point or points in a society where its leading ideasleading ideas come together with its leading leading institutionsinstitutions to create an arena in which the events that most vitally affect its members’ lives take place.”

Clifford Geertz, Local Knowledge

Second Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple Judaism

c. Landc. Land

God’s Chosen people as Tenants

Second Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple JudaismSecond Temple Judaism

d. Messianic Hoped. Messianic Hope

Davidic Messiah (Warrior-King) to Restore Land

Priestly Messiah to Restore Temple & Law

Religious / Political GroupsReligious / Political GroupsReligious / Political GroupsReligious / Political Groups

1.1. Pharisees (and scribes)Pharisees (and scribes)

Primarily 1st half of Gospels. Jesus was a threat to their teaching

2. Sadducees (and chief priests)Sadducees (and chief priests)

Primarily 2nd half of Gospels. Jesus was threat to the temple practices.

3. EssenesEssenes

Qumran / Dead Sea (Maybe John the Baptist)

4. Revolutionaries / ZealotsRevolutionaries / Zealots

Simon the Zealot (maybe Judas Iscariot)

Religious / Political GroupsReligious / Political GroupsReligious / Political GroupsReligious / Political Groups

5. Samaratians5. Samaratians

Luke 10 / John 4 / Acts 1:8Luke 10 / John 4 / Acts 1:8

6. Herodians6. Herodians

Mark 3:6, 12:13Mark 3:6, 12:13

7. Sanhedrin / Jewish Ruling Council7. Sanhedrin / Jewish Ruling Council

At trial of Jesus in GospelsAt trial of Jesus in Gospels

At trials of Apostles in Book of ActsAt trials of Apostles in Book of Acts

Literature of the JewsLiterature of the JewsLiterature of the JewsLiterature of the Jews

1. Old Testament / Hebrew Bible1. Old Testament / Hebrew Bible

•Hebrew •Septuagint (LXX)

2. Rabbinic Writings2. Rabbinic Writings

•Talmud (Codification of the Oral Tradition)

•Targums (Aramaic Translation of the OT)

3. Dead Sea Scrolls3. Dead Sea Scrolls

4. Apocrypha4. Apocrypha