Interbiblical Period (wk2) 10/31/09 2:43 PM

I. What did happened between the 400 years of OT and NT a) Time period

i) 480 BC – Xerxes ii) 333 BC - Daniel iii) 332 BC – Alexander entered Jerusalem

(1) believe sent by God to rule and would live forever iv) 323 BC – Alexander died very young

(1) 4 generals divided kingdom (a) beginning of Roman Empire

v) 323-170 BC – Israel under Greek (Syria) (1) took away the Jews freedom and sacrificed pigs at the

temple (2) Jews said you can tax us fine, but you crossed the line with

your sacrifices and messing with our temple and religion so they fought and defended temple

vi) 166 BC – Matlathias Mccabeau (Hammer) revolted the Greek (Syrian) (1) he became priest and King at the same time

vii) 165-62 BC – Freedom under Mccabeau rule (1) Hanukkah started here

viii) 63 BC - Pompey put Israel under Roman Rule (1) Rome would take the prince from each land they

conquered and would indoctrinate and keep them as collateral to ensure no rebellion

ix) 40 BC - Rome put Herod the Great over Israel (1) Herod was Roman’s puppet King

x) 19 BC – Herod built the 2nd Temple so great and so big (the mall and wall around the temple) – many of his buildings still stand today (1) Herod was not Jewish (2) Was the one who killed all the baby boys under 2 years old

around Nazareth and wanted to defend thrown (3) This Herod was about to die

xi) 4-3 BC – Jesus Christ born II. Some important things/persons in Inter-biblical time

a) Five Groups of Leaders that made up governing group

i) Pharisees (1) Jewish fanatics who say they do all things for God (2) They Stick to the bible verse by verse

(a) You could split them into 2 groups (i) Those who practice what they preach (ii) Those who don’t practice what they preach

(3) Jesus had a problem when they tried to force the church to do as they did… what they did individually just for them was fine

ii) Sadducees

(1) From loyal and priest family but don’t believe in anything the bible says

(2) Born with silver spoon in mouth iii) Scribes

(1) Teachers of the law (2) When people argue about the letter of the law, they

address the scribes (3) Copier of manuscripts

iv) Herodians (1) Descendants and family of Herod (2) Because of name born into political position, has nothing to

do with qualifications or intelligence v) Essene

(1) John the Baptist was one of them (2) They were very devout and spent much time fasting,

praying, living in the wilderness and spreading the gospel (3) Essene and Pharisees are two extreme ends

(a) Wilderness vs. city (b) Don’t make others have to join them

b) Translation of OT from Hebrew into Greek i) Septuagint 285-247 BC

(1) 6 scholars from each of the 12 tribes gathered to translate ii) Greek is like English today, language of the world iii) Keep in mind that Romans ruled the time and their language was

Latin

(1) Romans felt people were not worthy to be apart of Roman culture therefore did no encourage people to learn Latin

iv) When church became Roman Catholic, they translated the bible into Latin and uses this version to this very day (Jerome commissioned to translate whole bible in 6th century)

c) Creation of Apocrypha (14 extra books in Septuagint and Vulgate but excluded from the Jewish and Protestant bible) i) Originally translated into 39 books then added apocrypha ii) Apocrypha is a big difference between Christians and Jews

Matthew (wk2) 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose: To Jewish people and to show that OT prophecy of the messiah was fulfilled in Jesus Christ and that he was Son of God and of Man

• shows genealogy of Jesus • talks about John the Baptist and how he paved the way

*God intended the 4 gospels to reach out and communicate to different people 2. Main Outline

• Sermon on the Mount (ch.5-7) • Apostles (ch.10) • Parables (ch.13) • Church’s guidelines (ch.18) • End time (ch.24-25)

3. Main themes • Jesus is fully God and fully man

o Christ (13x) o Father (45x) o Son of Man (31x)

• Kingdom of God/Heaven/Father(100x) • Church mentions only 3x in all 4 gospels

4. Author – Matthaios – Gift of God (Levi/Tax Collector) “Matthew’s Gospel is the bridge that leads us out of the Old Testament and into the New Testament. The theme of the Old Testament is given in Genesis 5:1: “This is the book of the generations of Adam.” But the New Testament is, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ” (Matt. 1:1). Jesus is the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), and He came to earth to save the “generations of Adam.” (This includes you and me, by the way.) Through no choice of our own, we were born into the generations of Adam, and this made us sinners. But by a choice of faith, we can be born into the generation of Jesus Christ and become the children of God!” Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Mt 1:1

Mark (wk3) 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose: • to show power of Jesus • to encourage and empower believers • Not for the Jews (looks unpolished) • Written geared towards Romans and gentiles

2. Author: • John Mark

3. Where/When: • Rome 40-60 A.D.

4. Major Themes • Son of God/Son of Man • Fulfill prophecy • Suddenly • Savior

5. Outlines • Ch. 1 Jesus, God’s servant • Ch. 2-3 Miracles • Ch. 2-4 Parables • Ch. 6-13 Teaching • Ch. 14-16 Death/Burial and Resurrection of Jesus

Luke (wk3) 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose: • To show Jesus Christ as Messiah to the Jews and the world • To show that Jesus is fully God and man

2. Author: • Doctor Luke, Greek fro Philippi

3. Where/when: • Achia/Caesarea/70-90AD

4. Major themes: • Jesus as 2nd Adam

o The idea of substitution that’s/ not discussed in Matt. Or Mark • 20 miracles (6 not in any other gospel) • 23 parables (18 not in any other gospel) • Holy Spirit 17x (Mk 16x/Mt 12x) • Emphasis on prayer (not like Mark) • Show roles of women/gentiles/minorities

o Love for neighbor has a different meeting here • Love of neighbor including gentiles

5. Main Outline • Ch. 1 Birth of Jesus/John

o OT - Song of Miriam and Hannah o NT – Song of Elizabeth and Mary

• Ch. 2 Jesus to 12 yrs old (not in any other Gospel) • Ch. 3 Ministry of John the Baptist Jesus’ line through Mary

o In Matt., Joseph line through Solomon o In Luke, Mary’s line through Nathan o Both come from line of David

Don’t need Joseph at all to fulfill prophecy • Ch. 4 Jesus’ temptation • Ch. 5-9 Ministries in Galilee • Ch. 10-18 Ministries on the way to Jerusalem • Ch. 19-21 Ministries in Jericho / Jerusalem

o Jericho in center of everything and like Las Vegas of today o Women by the well/Zacchaeus/Parable of good Samaritan in

Jericho o Jericho like Sin City

• Ch. 22-23 Capture/Trial/Death

• Ch. 24 Resurrection/ to Heaven

John (wk3) 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose: • to encourage believers all over the empire especially to Easterners

2. Author: • Apostle John

3. Where/When: • 100 AD/Ephesus • Was written as last Gospel since he lived the longest

4. Themes: • God is the Father of all humans (not just Jews) (119x)

o Matt. And Mk. Say God is the father of all Jews o Luke says Jews and Gentiles o John says all, saved and unsaved

God is God of Love and everyone has a chance but through Jesus alone (which John clearly states)

• Father, Son, Holy Spirit are the Same God • Salvation by Jesus Christ (3:19-21, 9:5)

5. Main Outline • Ch. 1 Word of God become flesh

o Does genealogy not through Jesus’ family line anymore but now directly God

• Ch. 2 Jesus at the wedding • Ch. 3 Nicodemus and the story of salvation to all mankind • Ch. 4 Samaritan women at the well • Ch. 5 Healing of Bethsaida (blind man from birth) • Ch. 6 Feeding 5,000 • Ch. 7 Teaching at Tabernacle • Ch. 8 Saving a woman from stoning • Ch. 9 Healing a blind man from birth • Ch. 10 Good Shepherd • Ch. 11 Resurrect Lazarus • Ch. 12 Anointed at Bethany • Ch. 13 Washing disciple’s feet • Ch. 14 Comforting disciples • Ch. 15 I am the true vine • Ch. 16 Sending Holy Spirit • Ch. 17 Jesus’ prayer

• Ch. 18 Capture/trial/Peter’s denial • Ch. 19 Death • Ch. 20 Resurrection • Ch. 21 Victory/command

Philippians 10/31/09 2:43 PM

One night, in a vision, a man of Macedonia appeared to the apostle, saying, “Come over to Macedonia, and help us” (Acts 16:9). Immediately Paul arranged to sail for Macedonia with Timothy, and also with Luke and Silas. They first set foot on European soil at Neapolis, then journeyed inland to Philippi. The latter city was at that time a Roman colony, governed by Roman officials, and granting the rights and privileges of Roman citizenship to its inhabitants. On the Sabbath, the gospel preachers went down by the riverside where a group of women were in the habit of gathering for prayer (Acts 16:13). One of these was Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira. When she accepted the gospel message, she became the first known convert to Christianity on the continent of Europe. 1. Purpose:

• To thank the church for their support to his ministries o Most of his financial support came from this Church. o Dr. Luke came from this church

• To warn some believers to humble • To warn them about false teachings and false teachers

2. Author/ Date/Responses • Paul

o Couldn’t find a synagogue in town so travelled by the river bank on Sabbath day expecting to find a Jewish congregation

o To Paul’s surprise he found that congregation to be Jews of all women

o These Jewish women were rich and powerful because married to Roman soldiers. No Jewish men so couldn’t start a synagogue because Jewish law didn’t allow them.

o These women here built the church. They were the 1st generation teacher and preachers

Paul allowed and supported them to do it • In Rome (1st Jail time) • AD 61-62

3. Major themes • Joy/rejoice at all time (1:4,25; 2:2; 4:1,4,10) • Living a Christ-like lifestyle

4. Outline • Philosophy of Christian life • Christ-like lifestyle

o Humble o Honor Christ o Imitate good example

• Rewards for living Christian life o Forgiving of sin (past) o New goals in life (present) o Rewards of future (future)

• Power to help us living a Christ-like lifestyle o Joy (source of power) o Prayer (supported power) o Imitating Christ (Foundation of Power) o Depending of Christ

What is difference between Christians and Jews when starting a church? • The Jews start it with the beginning and end defined

o Membership has prerequisite o Will not start without solid foundation that won’t have hope

for a future (financial security) o OT – needed at least a family of 10 to start a temple o Why waste time money and energy into something that will

fail, time and money management • The Christians live day by day without considering whether or not

you may/may not last till the end

Colossians 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • To set a standard teaching Christology • To help them in spiritual growth • To tell them his situation in jail.

2. Author/Date/Recipients • Paul (in Roman jail 1st time) • AD 60-62 • Paul never came

3. Major themes • Jesus is God and head of the church • False teachings (Law of man/special revelation/ angelic power • Small group of selected one

4. Outline • Jesus Christ is fully God • Enemies of Christ

o Man philosophy o Culture/tradition/ceremony o Angelic worshipping

• Spiritual life in Jesus Christ o Seeking gifts of Holy Spirit o Leaving old life o Putting on new life

• Christian Life o Relationship with others o Prayer life o Personal life

Colossae in Asia Minor, about 100 miles from Philippi. Paul actually never visited or met. The church is considered a small church with 100-200. The church knows Paul from his teachings from his letters and writings. His disciples would go to help the church and report back to him. This was a small church that was very strong and Paul was impressed by how this church loved God and worked so hard for God, even though new, young and small.

2 Corinthians 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • To protect his apostleship (3:1) • Confirm his right as apostle (10:13) • Raise fund to support poor believers (11:7) • Further advise them on church administration

2. Time/Place/Author • Paul wrote when in Macedonia (2:12) • On his 2nd missionary journey (Philippi) • AD 55

3. Major themes • Real apostle will suffer for Christ (12:9) • Live worth living is to live for Christ (ch. 1-5)

4. Outline • Thanksgiving • Forgiving accusers • New covenant • Christ makes our lives useful • Ministry of reconciliation • We are the temple of living God • Rejoice for repentance • Giving generously • Offering for other believers • Paul defense his ministry • Paul and false apostles • Vision of Paul • Warning and blessing

Galatians 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • Warn against Jewish teachings in Galatian church • To confirm about salvation by grace through faith

2. Time/Place/Author • Paul wrote during his 3rd missionary journey • Around AD 57 in Ephesians

3. Major themes • No complementation/no request for prayers • Strong words of warning and criticism • Strong emphasis on salvation by faith

4. Outline • defining the gospel of Jesus Christ • even Jews were saved by grace alone • Abraham’s faith • Salvation by faith (sarah and haggar) • Fruit of holy spirit and flesh • Helping each other among believers

1 Thessalonians 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • to strengthen them in time of persecution • to defend his ministry from Jewish accusations • To encourage them to trust and obey the Christian leaders.

2. Author/Date/Recipients • Paul • AD 50-54 • When Paul in Corinth on his 2nd missionary journey • Thessolonika had 200,000 people (today 300,000)

3. Major themes • 2nd coming of Jesus Christ • resurrection of all believers

4. Outline ch. 1 - Preparation for 2nd Coming ch. 2 – hope of 2nd coming

o witness while waiting o sacrifice for gospel o good example

ch. 3 – Hope with holy/purified life ch. 4 – Christian life

o normal living o sexual cleanliness o love among believers

ch. 5 – warning to Christian o personal life o duty to church

This place was BIG.

2 Thessalonians 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • To show his joy and gratitude to their faith in time of persecution • To fight against false teaching about Jesus Christ and his 2nd

coming 2. Time/Date/Authorship

• At Corinth • Around AD 50-54 • Paul

3. Major themes • Jesus’ 2nd coming • Judgment Day • Satan is the main problem

4. Outline • Ch. 1

o Suffering of believers/rewards o Judgment of unbelievers

• Ch. 2. Steps of 2nd coming of Jesus o Rapture o False teachers/teachings o Holy Spirit and Satan o Anti-Christ/ Enemy of Christ

• Ch. 3. Christian preparation o Stand firm in the words of God o Living in the words of God o Sharing the words of God at all times

1 Timothy 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • to encourage and guide/touch young/new pastors • to fight against wrong teachings

2. Time/Date/Authorship • Paul wrote the letter to Timothy for the Church of Ephesus • Around AD 63-66

3. Major themes • to be a strong leader • to govern the church the right way • to get rid of Pharisee’s teachings

4. Outline • Ch. 1 – wrong teachings

o Man philosophy/myth/legion o Lacking of love and faith o Depending on laws/regulations

• Ch. 2 – Christian life-style o Prayer life o Man-Woman Christian Lives

• Ch. 3 – Qualification of leaders o Elder/pastor o Deacon

• Ch. 4 – Protecting of Faith • Ch. 5 – Duties to many groups

o Elderly o Widow and Orphan o Leaders

2 Timothy 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • To encourage Timothy and other leaders to keep working hard even

to death • To confirm the important of the words of God

2. Time/Date/Authorship • Paul wrote from Rome • Around AD 68 (2nd prison time in Rome) • Last writing of Paul before death

3. Major themes • education for leaders • witness at all occasions/cost • faithfulness in suffering/work/to God/his calls

4. Outline • Ch. 1 – Call to be faithful

o Thank God for Timothy o Ask to be brave o Stand for your faith o Example of faithfulness

• Ch. 2 – Challenge to stand firm o Faithful to the gospel o Holiness in life/living

• Ch. 3 – man’s heart in the end time o Ask to be faithful and witnessing

• Ch. 4 – Sharing gospel in end-time o Fighting against false teachers/teachings o Proof of faithfulness in time of Christ

Titus 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • to teach/train and prepare Titus • to teach believers on the grace of God

2. Time/ Date/ Authorship • Paul • To Titus (Greek convert) • From Macedonia (AD 64-67)

3. Major themes • church management • correct theology • Holy life of leader • Grace of God is more than enough

4. Outline • Ch.1

o The qualities of leading o False teachers (signs)

• How to deal with many groups o Elders (male + female) o Young people (male + female) o Salve + servant

• Ch. 2-3 – grace of God is enough to help us o Grace will help us to be good persons o Grace will change us o Grace will keep us Holy

Philemon 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • To save Onesimus • To recomment Onesimus for future ministry

2. Time/Date/Authorship • Paul • Around AD 62 • While Paul was imprisoned 1st time in Rome

3. Major Themes • Forgiveness is the major quality of Christian • In God, there is no slave or free but all are children of God • To serve each other in time of need

4. Outline • Session 1 – Intro

o Author/ Receiver o Thanksgiving

• Session 2 o Petition with love o Petition from the heart o Petition from co-laborer o Promise to pay back

• Session 3 – Conclusion and blessings

Hebrews 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • to strengthen the believers in time of persecution • to encourage believers to witness more • to renew their commitment and death to God

2. Authorship/Time/Place/Reception • Paul (others – Luke, Situs, Philip) • AD 68 • Macedonia • Jewish believers/Romans/others

3. Major themes • Jesus is greater than Moses, prophets, angels etc. • The unity of old and new testament • Jesus is the fulfillment of all promises • Faith is the answer for all problems

4. Outline Ch. 1 – Jesus is greater than angels/prophets Ch. 2 – Jesus is the way for salvation Ch. 3 – Jesus is greater than Moses Ch. 4 – Jesus is the high priest Ch. 5 – warning against deserting faith Ch. 6 – affirmative in the right faith Ch. 7 – Jesus compared to Melchizedek Ch. 8 – Jesus is the high priest in new covenant Ch. 9 – Altar and offering in new covenant Ch. 10 – High priest for new covenant Ch. 11 – Faith that bear fruits Ch. 12 – why God punishes us Ch. 13 – God’s approved life

- A lot of teachings you find in Hebrews you cannot find anywhere else in the NT

• Moses is untouched by most as a highly regarded prophet but in Hebrews he is compared to Jesus

• Jesus is pronounced fully God and fully man, not 50/50 • Sinners can not die for sinners, need somebody else to pay the

price

o Need God to die for us - no sacrifice to be made after Christ - need to prove that you are worthy of your belief - why do bad things happen to good people?

James 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • To help Christians to grow stronger and deeper in the Lord • For believers to help in others more

2. Authorship/Time/Place/Reception • James (Jesus’ brother) • AD 45-48 (1st book of NT) • At Jerusalem • To Christian/Jewish believers, for older believers to build on top of

Paul o You cannot start with James without the foundation of Paul

3. Major themes • faith without fruits is dead • faiths needs to be proved • Fruits of faith is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in believers

4. Outline Ch. 1 – Joyful life in time of tests

o fighting against trials (source/steps/way out)

o Help from the words of God Ch. 2 – Dealing with others

o Polite and compassionate to all o Helping others (proof of real faith) o Tongue, speaking and what you say

(power/danger/punishment) Ch. 3 – Wisdom from God (humble/polite/peace) Ch. 4 – Disagreement (source/fruits/way out)

o Disagreements among church in leadership How to deal with disagreement

o Ways to righteousness o Boasting

Ch. 5 – Warning to the rich o Perseverance/prayer for others

- James teaching to the Pharisee side of the church and Paul teaching to the gentile perspective - How do you know when you are born again?

• Galatians 5:16 – Fruits of the Spirit

• Believe you will all have an experience where God becomes your desire above all

o Pastor Savang shared of a few things changing, (1) a guilt about all sins from life hit deeper than ever before (2) receive and acknowledge presence of fruits of spirit (3) desire to go to church and do God’s work, changed from

obligation or lifestyle. Didn’t go to church to get something out of it, but only because wanted to, desired to do the work

- Most church problems are personal, need to limit the problems and not let personal problems become a church problem

• main thing, church can’t take sides

1 Peter 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • to encourage Christians in time of suffering • to prepare the church for the big changes and crisis

2. Authorship • Peter the apostle • Compare

o Acts 2:23 – 1Peter 1:20 o Acts 10:20 – 1Peter 4:5 o Acts 4:10-11 – 1Peter 2:3-6

3. Reception • Christians all over Asia Minor and other places

4. Time and Place • Around AD 64-65 • Babylonian/Rome

o When they mention about Babylonian, really means Rome 5. Major Theme

• Joyful life in time of suffering • New life gives hope in times of tests • New lifestyle from the grace of God • Don’t depend on anything except God

o If you end up having to depend on certain people, settings or things other than in God himself, you have a real problem

o i.e. – worshiping God on Sunday they’re not singing my favorite song the music isn’t to my taste I can’t worship with this singer’s voice It’s not the Pastor I’m used to hearing

6. Outline Ch. 1 - New life in Christ

o Holy life (cost/cleansing from God) Ch. 2 – New life in this World (God’s people/slave)

o Roles of evangelist o Roles of people of God o Slave of God

Ch. 3 – Christian family (Roles of wife/husband) Ch. 4 – In time of persecution

o Not just how you live through it or deal with it but its your attitude about it

o If your heart is ready your ready, if not its not All believers need to prepare your heart for what’s to

come It is not enough to be ready physically but you need to

be ready spiritually and emotionally Ch. 5 – New responsibilities (elders/young people)

o Church built on many generations The elder must prepare the younger generations as part

of their duty to God When the younger generation fails, the elders fail too Like a relay race where they hand off the baton

If it is dropped, then you both fail You cannot say, I’ve done my part, I did my best

and that their failure has nothing to do with me You must help the second generation get ready the best

you can You cannot worry for them

- More about personal relationship with Jesus vs theological like Paul (since Paul didn’t have the same kind of personal experience with Jesus) - Peter talks about how what God has done in your life will show and not just how you live differently

2 Peter 10/31/09 2:43 PM

1. Purpose • to fight against false teachings and teachers • to continue preparing the church for the end time

2. Authorship • Peter, the apostle

3. Reception • Jewish and gentile Christians mainly in Asia Minor

4. Time and Place • around AD 65-68 just before his death in Rome (AD 68)

5. Major themes • Characteristics of spiritual believers • Characteristics of false teachers/teachings • Characteristics of Christian teachers • 2nd coming of Jesus Christ

6. Outline Ch.1

o Power of God o Duty of Christians

Ch. 2 o God will help us from false teachings o Characteristics of false teachers o Characteristics of false teachings o 2nd coming of Jesus Christ