1. New Testament World of Jesus
CHAPTER TWO
New Testament World of Jesus

2. Bell-ringer January 23rd, 2015
Student led-prayer/religious artwork to start the class.
Be prepared to have a discussion on: What does it mean to know Jesus? (Make sure to have your notebooks and textbooks open).
See pp in the textbook for reference.

3. Catholic Superhero Silliness!

4. Learning Targets
Uncover basic knowledge about Jesus from the Scriptures.
Show a familiarity with Palestine including the significance of Capernaum and Jerusalem.

5. Palestine: The Holy Land
- Palestine has always been a strategic place in World History; the keystone of the fertile crescent
- Bridges two continents, playing a key international commercial, political, and cultural role

6. Geography Four major terrain's:
1.) Coastal plain along Mediterranean Sea - Jesus only made a brief visit to this region
2.) Mountain range running north and south (dominant geographical feature) - Bulk of Jesus’ activities took place here
3.) Great Rift Valley where the Jordan River flows - John the Baptist’s ministry took place here
4.) Transjordan - hilly terrain east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea - Jesus’ transfiguration was here

7. Geography of Palestine

8. Regions and Cities Galilee
• Center of Jesus’ earthly ministry, mainly Jewish
• Cities included Nazareth, Cana, Bethsaida, and Capernaum
- Samaria
• North-central region of the Holy Land
• Samaritans accepted only the Law of Moses and considered only the first five books to be sacred
• Jews looked on Samaritan worship as false

9. Regions and Cities - Judea
• South of Palestine - mainly Jews who returned to the Holy Land.
• Cities included Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Bethany, and Jericho

10. Homework Read pp. 65-70 in the textbook.
Continue working on the guided reading packet for Chapter 2.

11. Bell-ringer January 26th, 2015
Read Luke 10:25-37 and write down what you consider the main message to be in your notebook.
Afterwards discuss with your assigned partner what type of person or individual in our world today would be considered a “Samaritan” or outcast.
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12. Learning Targets
Describe Jerusalem of Jesus’ day including its relation to Samaria. Identify Jesus’ native language and other languages he may have spoken.

13. Language and Dialect
- Common language throughout the Roman Empire was Greek
• Gospels were written in Greek but retained several Aramaic sayings
- Latin was used in Palestine because of the Roman occupational forces

14. Language and Dialect
- Jesus spoke Aramaic which is a Semitic language closely related to Hebrew
- The Bible was read in Hebrew but many people could not understand it
• Scriptures were therefore translated into Aramaic phrases

15. Bell-ringer January 27th, 2015
Think about your 3 favorite days of the year. We will discuss this in a large group after prayer.
Prayer: Open your bibles to Luke 1: We will pray this as a group.

16. Learning Targets Distinguish between synagogue and Temple.
Describe in some detail the political scene in Jesus’ day.
Explain the existence of slavery in Jesus’ time and how his teachings apply to slavery.

17. Feasts and Practices
- Jesus’ practice of his Jewish faith revolved around:
1.) The Synagogue
2.) The Temple
3.) Religious feasts

18. Feasts and Practices 1.) Synagogue
- Comes from Greek word meaning “assembly”
- Served three main purposes:
• A house of prayer where scriptures were read and Yahweh was worshipped
• A place of discussion for legal settlements
• The local school

19. Feasts and Practices 2.) Temple
- The one and only Temple was in Jerusalem
- This is where the Jews offered sacrifices to God
- A Holy place where Jews believed God dwelled in a special way
- The Temple standing during New Testament times was the third one constructed in Jerusalem

20. Jewish Passover

21. Feasts and Practices 3.) Religious (Jewish) Feasts
-Major Jewish feasts
• Passover: most important feast because it celebrates the Chosen People’s liberation from Egypt
• Pentecost: held fifty days after Passover - celebrated Yahweh’s giving of the Law to Moses, the Sinai covenant
• Tabernacles: fall harvest celebration - recall the time that Jews spent in the wilderness

22. Activity:Saint Paul on Slavery
You can work alone or work in pairs or trios of your choosing.
Read his Letter to Philemon and answer the “Journal” questions on p. 73 of the textbook in your notebook.
This will activity will be part of your
daily participation grade.
Please return to you seats when
the timer is finished. I will conclude the lesson then.
10 minutes
End

23. Homework
Write a letter to the editor of a “Roman” newspaper from the point of view of a Jewish person living in Palestine during Jesus’ life.
Be sure to mention specific Roman practices and beliefs that would be offensive to Jews.
Due Thursday. Worth 10 points.
Read pp of the textbook.

25. January 28th, 2015 -Politics dominated Jewish life
-Hellenism (love of Greek culture) was imposed by the Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV
-After Herod the Great’s death, Palestine was ruled by his sons Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Philip. Herod Antipas was king during Jesus’ lifetime

26. Learning Target
Explain the four important Jewish beliefs at the time of Jesus.

27. Political Climate -Politics dominated Jewish life
-Hellenism (love of Greek culture) was imposed by the Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV
-After Herod the Great’s death, Palestine was ruled by his sons Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Philip. Herod Antipas was king during Jesus’ lifetime

28. Political Climate
-Slavery was a fact of the ancient world and the Roman Empire but not as much in Palestine.
-Christ’s teachings on the fundamental dignity of persons, after centuries, eventually led to the abolition of slavery throughout the world

29. Beliefs and Practices - Jews expected the Messiah to come very soon
- They typically interpreted the coming Messiah as a Davidic figure, a military leader who would throw off Roman rule and establish God’s kingdom, restoring Israel’s glory
- Common belief was that Yahweh would judge the dead by rewarding the good and punishing the evil

30. Beliefs and Practices
- New Testament records the accepted Jewish belief in the existence of angels and demons.
- Jews believed in heavenly messengers(angels)
- Important literature produced in this era books (Jubilees, Enoch, and the Dead Sea Scrolls) divided the angels into groups and gave them names and descriptions
-Jews and Christians accepted the existence of demons, but believed they were subject to God

31. Bell-ringer January 29th, 2015
No written bell-ringer! 
I will give a brief background on the Pharisees of Jesus’ day.
Question for class discussion: Why do you think that Jesus would have been frustrated and tested by such legalistic people?

32. Learning Targets
Review the four important Jewish beliefs in Jesus’ day.
Identify the four major sects within Judaism of the New Testament.

33. Religious Sects - Four Main Religious Groups: 1.) Sadducees
2.) Pharisees
3.) Essenes
4.) Zealots

34. Religious Sects 1.) Sadducees
- Mainly priests and aristocrats who cared for Temple practices and worship
- Centered their activities in Jerusalem
- Theologically conservative
• Accepted only the Torah as inspired scripture
• Did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, the immortality of the soul, or in angels

35. Religious Sects 1.) Sadducees cont.
- Stressed human freewill and responsibility over trusting Divine Providence
- Collaborated with Romans to stay in power
- Disappeared after the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 when they lost their power

36. Religious Sects
- Many Sadducees, along with a few Pharisees, made up the 71 member Sanhedrin
- The Sanhedrin was a major law-making body and Supreme Court of Judaism

37. Religious Sects 2.) Pharisees - Means “separated one”
• Came into existence by separating themselves from ordinary religious practices of the day
- Believed in strict observance of the Law and actively pursued holiness
- Had some Gentile influence

38. Religious Sects 2.) Pharisees Cont.
- Although there were only around 6000 followers during the first century, they had great influence
- Jesus’ beliefs and spiritual practices most closely paralleled the Pharisees
• Believed in the resurrection of the body and divine judgment of the living and the dead

39. Angelic Partner Assignment
In assigned partners read the text under “Spirit World” on p. 76 and complete the 6 questions in your own notebook.
Expectations:
All students to be on task (open Bibles, notebooks ready, and have a writing implement.
Each person is to write the answers down in your own notebook.
Any questions??

40. Homework
Read pp from the textbook and continue working on your guided reading packet.

41. Bell-ringer January 30th, 2015
No bell-ringer today.
We will be praying Morning Prayer from Liturgy of the Hours.

42. Learning Targets
Continue learning about the four major sects within Judaism in New Testament times.
Prepare for the Chapter 2 Test.

43. Religious Sects 3.) Essenes - An apocalyptic group
• Believed God would usher in his kingdom through a dramatic, even catastrophic event
- Lived strict, pure lives believing that they would be on Yahweh’s side when the great day would come
- Lived in tight-knit religious groups in towns and villages
• Avoided luxuries
• Shared communal meals
• Did work for the poor

44. Religious Sects 3.) Essenes Cont.
- Possible influence of John the Baptist
-Disappeared after the destruction of the Temple
• Similar to Sadducees

45. Religious Sects 4.) Zealots - An organized revolutionary faction
• Came into existence during the First Jewish War (66-70)
- Despised Roman rule and fomented violence to overthrow it
• After their second revolt, they were forbidden to set foot in the holy city of Jerusalem
-Famous stand at Masada is a symbol of Jewish pride today

46. Other People in New Testament
-Tax Collectors
• Were often cheaters who tried to line their own pockets at expense of fellow Jews
-Common People
• most of Jesus’ contemporaries
-Gentiles
• The nations of people who were not circumcised
-Women
• Had a lowly position in first-century Palestine
• Considered inferior to men; few political rights

47. Vocabulary
Apocalypse
Pentateuch
Qumran
Sanhedrin
Torah

48. Review Game!
Game TBD