Book review.
2 Pages
i. Bibliographic information + number of pages
ii. About the author
iii. Summary of the book. ( the content of the book)
iv. Evaluation/ appreciation ( strength and weakness) what should be revised e.t.c
INTRODUCTION
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Hellenistic Period - NT is written under the influence of Greek culture.
Alexander’s rule
Philip was murdered 336 B.C by an assassin . . . may be hired by his wife Olympia . . . no
evidence of this . . .
Alexander was only 20 when he became a King of Macedonia . . . was a student of
Aristotle. Philip was also a King of Macedonia. He conquered Greek city states at his 27 reign.
Alexander’s campaign of conquest. ( Map)
Alexander’s empire divided - seleucus , Ptolemy, Lysimachus, Antigonus.
HELLENIZATION
He organized Hellenistic – Greek way of life. One currency, Greek language
( koine (common) which is the language used in the NT, based largely on Attic dialect) higher
level of education , BODIES of ideas accepted by all, spread of Greek deities and cultus,
emergency of philosophy as representing a way of life. ( Ferguson 15)
Ptolemaic Dynasty
Seleucid rulers - Antiochus IV Epiphanes ( 175 – 164 B.C.E)
Major events - the revolt of the Macabees 166
The incursion of Rome into Hellenistic World
Fall of Macedonia ( battle of Pydna) 168 - - - - -
ROME importance
Successor to Greece
Carrier of Greek civilization
Roman emperors
Augustus 31BC – AD 14
Tiberius 12 – 37 AD time of Jesus ministry (the gospel – Augustus and Tiberius )
The last was Titus
5 Factors that contributed to the Expansion of Christianity in the 1st century
1. Greek language and culture
2. Unification of the world ( unified government)
3. Roads and communication
4. Pax Romana
5. Tolerance ( to local religion)
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
Cooperation between emperor and the senate in the administration of the provinces
1. Peaceful ( civilized ) provinces
Administered by the senate
2. Imperial provinces or military provinces ( e.g Syria)
Administered by the emperor
3. Troublesome provinces ( e.g Judea)
under imperial control
CLIENT KINGDOM
Status of Herod and his descendants
Client kings were left free in internal administration, levied taxes for their own use and
for Rome.
2nd TEMPLE PERIOD
- Reconstruction of the temple (536 B.C ) The temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar
- Interruption of the construction ( 522 B.C )
- Resumption of the construction (520 B.C)
- Temple dedication (516B.C)
- In the gospel when you see temple it refers to the second temple.
- Study of the Torah (5th cent) :Ezra
- Rebuilding of the wall (444 B.C) under Nehemiah
- Samaritan Schism ( see Nehemiah 6 and 13) .
- Temple on Mt Gerizim, ( spoken by the Samaritan woman) destroyed by the Hasmonean
( Hyrcanus )
- Herod the Great he was from Hasmonean Dynasty
Roman Judea 63B.C to 70A.D
The independent Hasmonean kingdom 142- 63 BCE
Judea under Roman Domination 63 BCE to 70CE
Pompey 63 BCE
Hasmoneans under Roman Tutelage 63-38BCE
King Herod the Great 38 – 4 BCE
Later Herodians
Archelaus ruled Judea and Samari
Destruction of the 2nd temple 70CE
JEWISH LITERATURE
1. APOCRYPHA
Written 2nd century before Christ ( intertestamental period e.g Maccabees Tobit
2. PSEUDEPIGRAPHA
3RD cent BC – 2ND e.g Jubilees, Enoch, Oracles, apocalypse of Abraham, Adam, Elijah,
Daniel, Testament of Moses, Testament of 12 Patriarchs
3. PHILO OF ALEXANDRIA – Ca 20BC – 50AD Is writing was allegorical
4. FLAVIOUS JOSEPHUS – AD 37 – 100
5. MISHNAH
Compiled by Rabbi Judah, AD 200
6. TOSEFTA – supplement
7. TALMUD compiled AD 400 ( Jerusalem) and AD 500 ( Babylonian)
8. MIDRASHIM
9. TARGGUMIM – preserving the way passages were interpreted.
General characteristics of Judaism
1. Increase of interest in angelology and demonology
2. Emergence of poetry and wisdom literature
3. Prayer and good works came to be viewed as an adequate substitute for animal sacrifice.
Jewish major annual festivals
DAY 02: 09/05/2017 – PARTIES AND SECTS
PHARISEES
Comes from “parush” ( separate/interpret)
Rejected the right of John Hyrcanus as King and Priest.
Emerged from Hasidim of the Maccabean revolt”?
Did not remove themselves from political and religious life and withdraw from the wilderness as
did the Qumranian
Concerned with the accurate interpretation of the law.
PHARISAIC PROGRAM
1. Two pillars: - Torah and Tradition
SADDUCEES
Connected with Zadok a high priest.
They rejected Pharisees innovations.
ESSENES
May be descended from Hasidim
QUMRAN
ZEALOTS
JEWISH INSTITUTION
1. SANHEDRIN
- Council meeting
- High court of the Jewish nation
- Composed of chief priests, elders of the people, and scribes
- 71 members presided by the high priest
2. SYNAGOGUE
- Origin unknown
- Archeological evidences indicates synagogues in Egypt from the third century BC
- Stronghold of Pharisees.
- Center of community and religious social life for the Jewish people.
CRITICAL METHODS OF STUDYING THE GOSPEL
1. Lower criticism (Textual Criticism )
DAY 03: INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AND LUKE
BOOK – Synopsis Euangelionum , Synopsis of the four gospels. , the oral gospel tradition
Harmony of the gospel.
Summary of High critical method
1. Form criticism - oral tradition / transmission . . . proverbs, sayings, parables, miracles,
similes. ( how was the gospel transmitted by the word of mouth before being put in
writing )
2. Source criticism – sources used to write the gospel, literary dependence (written source)
3. Redaction criticism – evangelist as a Redactor/editor.
4. Literary criticism – final product of the text but studied in its literary presentation.
DAY 04: 10/05/2016 - HISTORICAL JESUS
Early Testimony
MATTHEW - wrote to the Hebrews – Jewish Christians
MARK – Romans by John Mark.
JOHN –
ISRAEL in the time of Jesus.