1. The Jews of the Early First Century
Sunday Morning Introduction and Background Class #2
The Jews of the Early First Century
(part 2)

2. New Testament Survey New Testament History
Book recommendations:
New Testament Survey
Merrill Tenney
New Testament History
F.F. Bruce
Website: christianbook.com

3. I. Political Arrangement
Intertestmental period
- Seleucids (Greek rulers in Syria)
- Maccabean revolt ( BC)
- Hasmoneans
Priestly family who assumed governing authority
Eventually claimed kingship
Became very corrupt

4. Romans
- Judea a province by 63 BC
- Jews were granted religious freedom
- Jews were granted internal self-rule
- Named Herod king of the Jews

5. - Idumean (Edomite descent) - Claimed to be a follower of Judaism
Herod the Great
- Idumean (Edomite descent)
- Claimed to be a follower of Judaism
- Pagan in his practices
- Firm rule from 37 BC – 4 AD
- Effectively played the middle between Romans and Jews
- Economic prosperity
- Extensive building projects
(the temple)

6. Caesarea Philippi

7. Model of Herod’s Palace in Jerusalem
Model of Herod’s Temple

8. Herod the Great
- Suspicious, jealous, brutal
(killed wife, three sons)
- Matthew 2

9. The Herods and the Governors
- Herod’s Kingdom was divided among heirs but none proved as able
- Eventually territories administered by his descendants and Roman governors

10. N.T. listing of Herodian rulers
- Herod Archelaus – son of Herod the Great, ethnarch over Judea and other territories (Joseph and Mary return to Nazareth because of his rule in Judea).
- Herod Antipas – son of Herod the Great, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea (ruled during days of John the Baptist and Jesus)

11. - Herod Agrippa I – grandson of Herod the Great, king of Judea and Samaria (put the apostle James to death – Acts 12)
- Herod Agrippa II – son of Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, ruler of Galilee, Iturea, Trachonitis (Paul made a defense before him – Acts 26)

12. The Sanhedrin
- Official ruling Jewish council with Roman approval
- Composition:
Chief Priests: politically connected, power brokers, wealthy
Elders: aristocracy around Jerusalem
Scribes: respected for knowledge of the Law and general piety

13. II. Religious Life Synagogue - Required 10 men
- Center of Jewish society: worship, school, community meetings
- Service
Read the Law in an annual cycle; other readings complimented
Prayers, exhortation

14. Temple
- Herodian temple
- 24 divisions of priests
- It was a complex with courts that allowed different groups closer access to the temple building

16. Model of Herod’s Temple

17. Festivals
- Three pilgrimage feasts:
Passover
Pentecost
Tabernacles (booths)
Proselytes – converts to Judaism
God-fearers (devout Greeks) – Gentiles who had come to believe in the one, true God and hallow the scriptures

18. III. Economic Life
Commerce was dynamic because of the Greco-Roman advances

19. Galilee especially was at a commercial crossroads

20. Palestine was a complex money economy
Galilee:
- General farming
- Olive and olive oil
- Fishing, fish sauce
- Carpentry (stones)
Olive Press
Palestine was a complex money economy