A strange, harsh world with tenderness and dignity

The New Testament WorldThe New Testament World

Roman rule• 63 BCE to 70+ CE• Peace and taxation

Jewish residents• History of foreign rule• Hellenized culture

Aramaic spoken Christ followers

• “God-fearing” Gentiles from Judaism

• Jews who followed Christ and Torah

Pharisees• Torah teachers

Sadducees• Temple priests

Essenes• Flee city for desert

Zealots• Seek political

freedom Herodians

• Have political power Samaritans Gentiles

First-century PalestineFirst-century Palestine

Herod the Great 37–4 BCE Idumean (from coastal people; not fully

Jewish) Politically astute (plays all sides) Initiated building programs

• Creating jobs• Feeding people• Offending some by celebrating Greek culture

Enlarged Jerusalem Temple

Political Situation under Rome: PalestinePolitical Situation under Rome: Palestine

Emperor’s Pax Romana Public building programs

• Aqueducts• Roads (facilitate trade and movement of armies)• Gymnasiums and Spas

Crime reduction on roads and seas• Protects trade routes and pleases merchant class

High taxes• Peasant farmers pay for public works program

Impoverished people become slaves

Political Situation under Rome: Empire-widePolitical Situation under Rome: Empire-wide

Rome permitted innocuous religions Rome condemned all social unrest

• i.e., prophets seeking social change• thieves, traitors, insurgents

60 CE Emperor Nero purged Rome 64–70 CE War in Palestine-Jerusalem 110 CE Jerusalem closed to Jews 112 CE Christianity becomes a crime

• “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach 136 CE Bar Kochba Revolt

Judaism and Christianity under RomeJudaism and Christianity under Rome

Hellenism in Palestine• “Reclining” at tables (rather than sitting up)• Surgical operations to reverse male circumcision• Aramaic spoken (Hebrew for ceremony)

And Roman syncretism in Judaism• Wisdom theology• Dualism

Good vs. evil• Apocalypticism

Deterministic view of history God is in charge

Hellenism: Greek Culture under Roman RuleHellenism: Greek Culture under Roman Rule

Hellenism in Diaspora Jews left Palestine over hundreds of

years• For business and trade• Fleeing war or changes in political climate

Synagogues over Jerusalem Temple• Houses of prayer; not sacrificial rites

Rabbis over priests Torah over sacrifices Greek spoken over Hebrew or Aramaic Septuagint writings over Hebrew

Hellenism: Greek Culture under Roman RuleHellenism: Greek Culture under Roman Rule

Epicureans• Free will• Tranquility

Stoicism• Virtue is highest calling• Logic and reason control

emotion Cynicism

• Radical authenticity• Extreme independence

Mystery religions• Secret societies

Honor of the emperor• Worship or patriotism?

Animism• Belief in spirit world

Augury• Oracles• Fortune/future tellers

Supernaturalism• Miracles• Divine men

Roman Philosophies and ReligionRoman Philosophies and Religion

2nd–4th century phenomenon

Worldview• Anything material =

evil• Spirit = good• Soma sema—a

Greek refrain meaning “the body is a tomb”

Syncretistic—mixes with any religion

Gnostic Christianity (after first century)• Christ the spiritual

redeemer brings secret knowledge

View 1• Liberate spirit from

flesh—renounce (ignore or harm) body

View 2• Spirit is already free of

flesh, bodily excess won’t hurt spirit

GnosticismGnosticism