World of the New Testament

Maccabean Revolt Greek king Antiochus IV forced the Jews to worship Greek gods and adopt Greek culture Threatened the Jews with torture and death if they did not comply Re-dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem to Zeus 164 BC – A rebellion led by Judas Maccabeas defeated the Greeks and won back Jerusalem Purified the Temple and re-dedicated it to God Hanukkah – A celebration of the purification of the Temple

Hasmonean Dynasty Maccabean army eventually re-conquered nearly all of David’s old kingdom A new dynasty was established under the rule of John Hyrcanus, the high priest & ruler from 135-105bc Made treaties with the Greeks, and Romans for independence Established the Hasmonean Kingdom as an independent Israel for nearly a century until 63 BC when the Romans took over

Promise of Everlasting Kingdom Fulfilled? It may have seemed so to many Israel was restored There was a High Priest There was a King So what was the problem? The promises and prophesies were about a king from the tribe of Judah, a Son of David – the Hasmoneans were not in the line of David!

Two Powerful Groups in Jewish Society Pharisees – In order for Israel to remain faithful to God, the people must remain pure and hold to strictly to the Law Exaggerated Laws and customs to the point they became burdens Refused to associate with Gentiles (non-Jews) Reject belief that Jerusalem would be an everlasting kingdom and the center of worship for ALL the nations Believed in the afterlife and resurrection of the body – as did Jesus!

Two Powerful Groups in Jewish Society Sadducees – Wealthy land owners and priests who believed the only way for Judaism to survive was to cooperate with the Gentiles Only the Pentateuch (first five books of Scripture) was canonical Rejected traditional interpretations and later additions to the Law and covenants contained in later Scripture Did not believe in the afterlife, resurrection of the body, angels, or spirits

Herod the Great King of Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth Called “Great” because of the prosperous economy and the buildings he had built, not holiness. He cleverly cooperated with the Romans who allowed him to rule Judea as long he sent payment to Rome Not a Jew but deceived the Jews into thinking he was a descendant of David – called himself “Christ, King of the Jews” After his death the kingdom split among his three sons (Tetrarchy)

The Fullness of Time Why did Jesus come at this time? Roman Peace -The political state of the world was stable Travel was the easiest it had ever been. Using the Roman roads one could safely travel from one end of the empire to the other Same currency Same laws Roman religion had become irrelevant to the people, so the Jewish faith was spreading more.

Galilee Jesus lived in the town of Nazareth in Galilee, the northern region of Judea People from Galilee had the reputation of being poor, uneducated and uncultured Fertile soil and because of its closeness to the Sea of Galilee, there were many fishermen

Samaritans An ethnically mixed population in Israel who were considered outcasts by the rest of Jewish society Worshipped the one, true God, but differently than the Jews Jews were forbidden by law from associating with Samaritans