©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Chapter 3 The Two Worlds in Which Christianity Originated: Jewish and Greek

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Key Topics/Themes Early Christianity born within Palestinian Judaism Rapidly expanded into surrounding Greco- Roman world Interpreted by Gentile converts in light of Hellenistic thought and culture Eventually resulted in Christianity’s separation from parent religion of Judaism

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The One God, Yahweh The Shema The divine name The Jewish deity’s name in the New Testament

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Torah The Mosaic Covenant The purity laws Views of Hebrew Bible authors concerning applicability of Mosaic Covenant Views of New Testament authors concerning applicability of Mosaic Covenant

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Divine Promises The promise to Abraham The Hebrew monarchy Attitudes toward the divine promises after the fall of the Hebrew monarchy

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Jerusalem Temple History of the Jerusalem Temple Significance of the Temple for devout Jews The Day of Atonement

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The World of Greek Thought and Culture The impact of Alexander the Great (reigned B.C.E.) The Hellenistic period (323 B.C.E.-312 C.E.) –Death of Alexander 323 B.C.E. –Conversion of Roman emperor Constantine 312 C.E. Impact of Greek culture during Hellenistic period

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Greek Philosophy Socrates, Plato, and the immortal soul –Socrates (ca B.C.E.) –Plato (ca B.C.E.) –Plato’s philosophical dualism –Impact of Plato’s thought

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Greek Philosophy (cont’d.) Stoicism –Founded by Zeno (ca B.C.E.) –The Logos as the divine principle –Influence of Stoicism in the Hellenistic world

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Greek Philosophy (cont’d.) Epicureanism –Founded by Epicurus (ca B.C.E.) –Relationship with atomistic doctrines of Democritus (b. ca. 460 B.C.E.)

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Greek Philosophy (cont’d.) Cynicism –Founded by Diogenes of Sinope (ca B.C.E.) –Antimaterialism –Opposition to cultural norms –Relationship to lifestyle of Jesus of Nazareth

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Greco-Roman Religion The twelve Olympians The Hymn to Zeus an image of ancient devotion to the Olympian gods

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Gods Offering Worshipers a Personal Relationship Asclepius –God of healing arts –Worshipped at healing shrines throughout Greco- Roman world Dionysus –Son of a god and a mortal –God of wine making –Myth involved Dionysus dying and rising from death

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Mystery Religions Orphism Mithraism The Isis Cult (worship of the mother goddess)

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Summary Christianity anchored in Judaism Developed in society dominated by Hellenistic worldview Competition with wide variety of Hellenistic religions Inevitable parallels between early interpretations of Christianity and other Greco-Roman religions