Chapter 2: The New Testament World of Jesus The Political Climate in First- Century Palestine

A History Of Oppression Over the course of 700 years the People of Israel (the Hebrews, the Jews) had been beaten down by a variety of foreign rulers, including: ▫The Assyrians (722 BC) ▫The Persians (614 BC) ▫The Babylonians (586 BC) ▫The Greeks (330 BC) ▫The Seleucids (175 BC) ▫The Romans (63 BC)

THE POWER OF ROME

A History of Oppression The Romans and the importance of the Pax Romana (Great Peace) of (14 BC-180 AD) ▫Keep the Peace at all costs ▫(will bear direct influence on final outcome ▫of Jesus’ life)

The Roman EMPEROR as a GOD

Emperor Tiberius 14-37

Jerusalem and Palestine Roman Emperor established a Prefect or Procurator in Jerusalem. (The Mayor) The Procurator was a Roman politician who answered directly to the Roman Governor in Syria, who then in turned answered to the Emperor in Rome. Pontius Pilate was the Procurator during Jesus’ adult life (26-36 AD).

The Rule of Pontius Pilate Not really a nice guy at all; in fact, most Jews really hated him. ▫Tax collecting (publicans) ▫Kept a standing army throughout Palestine ▫Had the power to appoint and depose the Jewish High Priest. ▫Put up the Emperor’s image everywhere ▫Robbed the Temple treasury to build an aqueduct ▫Had a large group of Jewish protesters killed by his soldiers.

The Prominence of Slavery The Romans had both Gentile and Jewish slaves, as it was widespread throughout the Roman Empire in the 1 st Century CE. Most of them were servants of wealthy people and enjoyed many protections provided under Jewish and Roman law. There were many ways a person could become a slave; however, faithful service usually lead to their freedom.

A History of Oppression The Romans and the importance of the Pax Romana (Great Peace) of (14 BC-180 AD) The hated rule of Antiochus IV ( BC) ▫Imposition of Greek (Hellenistic) culture) ▫Atrocities against the Jewish religion ▫The final outrage: a statue of Zeus in The Temple of Jerusalem ▫Judas Maccabeus and the Maccabean Revolt (164 BC) ▫Roman Dynasty (63 BC)

Herod the Great: Jewish Leader Roman Patsy The historian Josephus wrote that he had several of his sons, wives and other relatives killed out of fear that they’d usurp his throne. He was hated by most of the Jews under his rule. ▫However, he did reconstruct The Temple of Jerusalem ▫Jesus born sometime before his death in 4 BC,