Historical Background on the Gospels 1 st century Palestine : (The social, political, historical, and religious climate of the time.)

Major areas of study Timeline of key events leading up to the appearance of Jesus on the scene Definition of Gospel Nature of 1 st century Judaism Jewish sects and their major tenets

Timeline of Key Events… BC 586  Fall of the Southern Kingdom and Babylonian Exile 1Loss of the land 2End of the Davidic line 3Destruction of Temple BC 538  Cyrus, king of Persia, conquers Babylon and returns Jews to Palestine 1Rebuild Temple 2Recall Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel BC 332  Alexander the Great of Greece conquers Palestine and begins a process of Hellenizing the area

Timeline cont’d… BC 323  Alexander dies and his kingdom is divided. BC  Constant struggles between Egypt and Syria for control of region BC  Maccabean revolt and the beginning of Hasmonean rule  Response to outrageous acts of Antiochus Epiphanes, who sacrificed a pig on the Temple altar and forbids the reading of the Law BC 63  Romans take control of the region BC 37  Herod (son of Antipater) takes Jerusalem; dies in 4 BC, and kingdom is divided between his 4 sons

Technical use of Gospel in the New Testament 1.Never used in a purely secular or neutral sense (I.e., “good news”). 2.Not used in reference to a written document until Justin Martyr in AD Paul’s use: a. “Christ died for our sins”: this is the Gospel b. Emphasizes the crucifixion and resurrection 4.In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John: it is the Gospel of the Kingdom 5.How is Paul’s perception related to that of the Gospel writers?

The “Four Pillars” of Judaism The One God of Israel Belief in the people of God Intensification of the Torah as a norm in defining the people of God Temple (and land)

One God of Israel 1.God of mercy 2.God of Justice 3.God who is holy and transcendent (God is “not like us”) 4. Problem: If God was all of these things, and the people were obeying His Law, then why were they an occupied country?

Belief in the people of God A chosen people (election and covenant) A future corporate hope: restoration of the people of God (not individualistic) Plan for the present as await his restoration: “Be holy as I am holy” (Leviticus)  Torah, Temple,and purity

Intensification of Torah

Temple and the Land Temple: –Religious center –Political center –Economic center –Social center Connected to people’s understanding of the Land

OriginDemographicsBeliefsActivities Pharisees means “separated ones” Descendants of Hasidim, during Maccabean revolt Largest Jewish sect Mainly middle class businessmen (merchants and tradesmen) Monotheistic Saw whole OT as authoritative Study Law=true worship Believed in resurrection Concerned with keeping of the law Changed Judaism from religion of sacrifice to a religion of the Law Exercised great control Opposed Jesus because he didn’t accept oral Law as binding Sadducees Means “righteous ones” or “judges” AristocracyAccepted only Torah, no oral Law Literal interpretation of Law Denied resurrection Materialistic In charge of Temple and services Great political control in Sanhedrin Supported ruling power Opposed Jesus Zealots Get their name from their religious zeal The extreme wing of the Pharisees Believed only God had power to rule over Jews (required total obedience to usher in Messianic Age) Extremely opposed to Roman rule Refused to pay taxes Terrorized Rome Herodians Based on support of Herod Wealthy, politically influential Jews who supported Herod Political, not religious group Supported Herod Accepted foreign rule and Hellenization Essenes UnknownScattered throughout Judah and in Qumran Strict observance of purity rituals, Law Apocalyptically inclined monastic Devoted to copying and studying the Law Maintained non- Levitical priesthood Ascetics