NEW TESTAMENT BACKGROUND

DEVELOPING A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW

Definition of a “Worldview” & “Christian Worldview”

Worldview is variously defined by different authors as follows:

 Kearney (1984) – People’s way of looking at reality

 Kraft (1996) – The culturally structured assumptions, values and commitments
underlying a people’s perception of reality and their response to those perceptions
 Ryken ( 2006) – It is a way of looking at life, our interpretation of the universe, the
orientation of our soul
 Hiebert (2008) – Fundamental cognitive, affective and evaluative presuppositions a
group of people make about the nature of things
 Sire (2004) A “worldview” is a set of assumptions ( which may be true, partially true
or entirely false) held consciously or unconsciously, consistently or inconsistently in
faith about the basic make-up or constitution of reality of the world and how the
world works. It provides a foundation on which we move and have our being.

• Worldview is a theory of the world, used for living in the world

• It is the basic way of interpreting things and events that pervades a culture so
thoroughly that it becomes a culture’s concept of reality.

• A worldview is like a set of lenses, our basic assumptions compose these lenses.

• The beliefs, values and behaviors of a culture stems directly from its worldview.
One’s worldview is the basis for making daily decisions.

• A person’s worldview is a combination of all Beliefs and Assumptions, which a

person has internalized, as Values and Convictions, and applies in generating Culture
-Thoughts, Feelings, Attitudes, Decisions, Words and actions
 Worldviews
Assumptions Thoughts

Beliefs Convictions Feelings

Attitudes
Values Decisions
Words
Environmental Actions
Experiences
Culture

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF WORLDVIEWS

i. Worldviews are learned from others in the group through socialization

ii. Worldviews are subjective – no single perspective on reality is universally accepted

iii. Worldviews are holistic – assumptions and beliefs form a unified system of
convictions

iv. Worldviews are invisible – it is a mental construct implied in people’s actions,

thoughts, and words

v. Worldviews are typically human – all human beings subscribe to one kind of
worldview or the other- non without culture

PRACTICAL RESULTS OF ONE’S WORLDVIEW

 Shapes our Religious Orientation—A Worldview is a framework of thought that

people use to make sense of fundamental issues of life, such as religious orientation or
inclination of hearts/minds—Christian, Animistic, Islamic, and Jewish Worldviews.
 Shapes our Socio-geographic mindset—A worldview is a pattern of thinking or
mindset of a particular socio-geographic location—African, Western, Kenyan,
etc.

 Shapes our Ideological mindset - Worldview refers to the philosophy of life or

ideology that communities or individuals subscribe – Capitalists, Communists,
Socialist
 HOW ARE THESE WORLDVIEWS DERIVED?

 Worldviews are derived when Man’s basic questions are given logical answers.
These Man’s basic questions are:

1. Metaphysical questions - This is the study or theory of reality. It attempts to offer a

comprehensive view of all that exists
 What is ultimate reality? Can ultimate reality be grasped by five senses or is
supernatural or transcendent? Is there a God? What is the essence of nature and time?
Immortality

2. Epistemological questions - Epistemology is the study or theory of Knowledge

 It studies the sources, nature and validity of knowledge. Central Questions in the field

 Sources of Knowledge – Where does genuine knowledge come from? – Origin

 Nature of Knowledge – Is there a real world outside the mind? Can we know it? –
Appearance vs Reality

 Validity of Knowledge – Is our knowledge valid? How do we distinguish truth from

error? – Test of truth – Rationalism or Empiricism?

3. Value Theory Or Moral Questions

This is the study that attempts to provide answers on questions on values - ethics and
aesthetics. Ethics concerns itself with questions of morality – What is right and
wrong in human relations? –

 Descriptive ethics – Seeks to identify moral experiences in human conduct, motives,

desires, and intentions.

 Conduct of Individuals – Personal Morality

 Conduct of groups – Social morality

 Normative ethics - seeks to identify what ought to be acceptable judgments or moral

ought. The problem of evil in particular, where did evil come from? Is there right and
wrong?

 Aesthetics – study of art and beauty. What is good? What is beautiful?

NB: The way people and societies answer these questions determines the Worldviews
they create.

Man’s Basic Questions

1 Ultimate Reality What kind of God, if actually exists?

2 External Reality Is there anything beyond the cosmos?

3 Knowledge What can be known, and how can anyone know it?

4 Origin Where did I come from?

5 Identity Who am I?

6 Location Where am I?

7 Morals How should I live?

8 Values What should I consider of great worth?

9 Predicament What is humanity’s fundamental problem?

10 Resolution How can humanity’s problem be solved?

11 Past/Present What is the meaning and direction of history?

12 Destiny Will I survive the death of my body? What state?

 The way people and societies answer these questions determines the types of cultures
or Societies or Worldviews they create.

 Secularism Worldview - Ultimate reality is physical – rooted in the 19th & 20th
Century Europe - Enlightenment.

• Darwin believed that life is a result of matter and energy, time and chance.

• Truth is empirical. Morals are relative.

• Values from social consensus.

 Animism - Ultimate reality is spiritual –

• Rooted in Eastern Religions – real world is unseen.

 • Truth is hidden and irrational, all is mystery – reality is consciousness - All is one

 Theism - Ultimate reality is personal & relational –rooted in the ANE.

• God exists - Truth is revealed by God.

• God’s Character establishes absolute morals

• Theism holds to one personal-infinite God, the great ‘I AM’ of Scripture.

• Believes that God created man and the world – This is Christian Worldview

FUNCTIONS OF WORLDVIEWS

1. Identity – means by which people can best define themselves

2. Models of reality – provide mental images that are used in conceptualizing reality –
food, death, relationships, time & behavior

3. Appropriate behavior – Values and convictions for responding to various issues of

life

4. Explanations – provide answers to our ultimate questions – where are we?

5. Validation – establishes standards of behavior for peace and harmony in communities

6. Organizations – informs people about their purpose in life

7. Adaptation – when cultures clash – adapt or reject

8. Prioritizing – Influences how people choose priorities in life

CHRISTIAN OR BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

 It is framework of thought for understanding reality or meaning of life

 It consists of systems of beliefs, derived from faith in Jesus Christ

 The Bible is the primary source of system of beliefs

 It has Christ-centric mindset

 Christians are guided by scripture and their belief in the Trinity of God on aspects
such as leadership, politics, morality, business, education, development, health, nature
of man etc.
  A biblical worldview is based on the infallible Word of God. When you believe the
Bible is entirely true, then you allow it to be the foundation of everything you say and
do. That means, for instance, you take seriously the mandate in Romans 13 to honor
the governing authorities by researching the candidates and issues, making voting a
priority.

Do you have a biblical worldview? Answer the following questions, based on claims
found in the Bible.

• Do absolute moral truths exist?

• Is absolute truth defined by the Bible?
• Did Jesus Christ live a sinless life?
• Is God the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe, and does He still rule
it today?
• Is salvation a gift from God that cannot be earned?
• Is Satan real?
• Does a Christian have a responsibility to share his or her faith in Christ with other
people?
• Is the Bible accurate in all of its teachings?

 A Christian worldview answers these questions biblically:

1. Origin - A Setting – Gen.1 -2 God created us in His Image

2. Purpose - To govern or manage the world, fellowship with God (Gen. 1:27 – 28;
2:15) and Procreate.

3. Problem with Man - A conflict -Gen.3 - Sin against God results in both managing
the earth and childbirth becoming painful, even life-threatening.

4. Remedy - God has redeemed the world through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ
– (Gen. 3:15; Luke 19:10).

5. Destiny - God pursues humanity to redeem Rom. 5:8 and promises a new existence
1Cor. 15 and Rev. 21; Isa. 65:17 – 25.

SIGNIFICANCE OF ACQUIRING CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW AS A STUDENT OF

KABARAK UNIVERSITY

1. A Christian worldview affirms that God is the sovereign and almighty Lord of all
existence; therefore, God is the Source of all that is good.

2. A Christian worldview maintains that God is a purposeful God in creation and in

God’s provision and preservation for creation; he is working out his ultimate purposes
 for humanity and the world. The fullest embodiment of good, love, holiness, grace,
and truth is in Jesus Christ. See John 1:14 -18.

3. A Christian worldview becomes a driving force in life, giving us a sense of identity.

We no longer see ourselves as alienated sinners.

4. A Christian worldview is not escapism but is an energizing motivation for godly and
faithful thinking and living now. It also gives us confidence and hope for the future.

5. In the midst of life’s challenges and struggles, a Christian worldview helps to

stabilize life, anchoring us to God’s faithfulness and steadfastness.

6. Christian worldview also provides a framework for ethical thinking. We recognize

that humans, who are made in God’s image, are essentially moral beings.

7. Developing a Christian worldview is a process in which Christian convictions shape

our participation in culture - new way of thinking, seeing, and doing, based on a new
way of being.

8. . A Christian worldview provides balance and insight for understanding 21 st Century

life that technology becomes an instrument through which we fulfill our role as God’s
stewards but not an object of worship that will eventually rule us.

9. Christian worldview provides a difference in perspective on Sexuality and marriage;

environmental stewardship; Science and faith and an understanding of work.

10. A Christian worldview provides bearings and direction when confronted with
secularistic and pluralistic approaches (materialism, existentialism, polytheism,
pantheism, mysticism, or deconstructionist postmodernism) to truth and morality.

Factors In The Intertestamental Period That Divinely Prepared The World For Jesus
Christ's Coming And The Spread Of Christianity In The First Century.

PREPARATION THROUGH THE JEWISH NATION: BABYLONIANS & MEDO-

PERSIANS

• The preparation for the Coming of Christ is the story of the Old Testament.
• The Jews were chosen of God to be a treasured possession as a kingdom of priests,

and a holy nation (Ex. 19:5-6).

• Promises of God given to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen. 12:1-3;

Rom. 9:4), they were to be the custodians of God’s Word and the channel of the

Redeemer (Gen. 12:3; Gal. 3:8; Rom. 9:5).

• These prophesies were very precise giving details of Messiah’s lineage, Place of birth,

conditions around the time of His birth, life, death, and His resurrection.

• Though Israel was disobedient and was taken into captivity, God nevertheless brought

a remnant back to their homeland after seventy years, as He had promised in

preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

PREPARATION THROUGH THE GREEK LANGUAGE

• The conquests and aspirations of Alexander the Great,

– His desire was one world and one language.

– Greek language became the lingua franca

– The Greek culture was the pattern of thought and life.

• Greek-Greek - a matchless vehicle of communication for clarity and preciseness to

proclaim the message of the Savior.

• NT books were written in the Greek language.

• The Disciples used the Greek language to proclaim the gospel as they obeyed the

Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20)

PREPARATION THROUGH THE ROMANS

• When Christ was born in Palestine, Rome ruled the world.

1. “Pax Romana,” the peace of Rome

2. Romans built a system of roads, patrolled by her army contributed greatly to the

measure of ease and safety .

 3. The presence of Roman rule and law helped to prepare the world for the preaching of

the gospel - the source of true personal peace and lasting world peace (Mark 1:14-15).

4. The Gospel - Christ who was truly God, the God-Man, instead of a man called god.

PREPARATION THROUGH THE RELIGIONS OF THAT TIME

• There were competing religions all of which struggling to reach a god or gods who

remained essentially inaccessible.

• Judaism:

• Paganism:

OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT COMPARED AND CONTRASTED

No. OLD TESTAMENT (OT) NEW TESTAMENT (NT)
1. Lays the foundational belief system The NT continues the belief that God is
for the NT. I.e.. the Jewish one but provides more revelation of God
Monotheism (belief in one God- as three Persons in One, (a complex unity
Deuteronomy 6:4) is carried over to of the Trinity)
the NT).
2. Lays the foundational sacrificial The OT sacrificial system finds meaning
system that is given a fuller meaning in Jesus Christ- the lamb of God who
in the NT. The animal blood and takes away the sins of the world. The high
sacrifices atoned for the sins of the priest who is sinless. In the NT, Jesus is
people as a temporary means, in the ultimate sacrifice for human sins.
anticipations of Jesus Christ.
3. In the OT, the paradise is lost in In the NT, the promise of paradise
Genesis 3 through the fall of regained is given during the New
mankind. Creation.
4. The OT details several covenants that The NT details the New Covenant that is
God made with the nation of Israel. initiated through the blood of Jesus Christ.
5. The OT records prophecies The NT provides a testimony of the
concerning the Messiah. These fulfilment of these prophecies, primarily
promises were made long before in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus was born.
6. In the OT, the ancient nation of Israel In the New Testament, the multi-ethnic
was a representation of God’s people. community of the church, is the new
people of God.