1. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World NT301: Introduction to the New Testament New Brunswick Theological Seminary Virginia Wiles The Greco-Roman World Introduction

2. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Social Institutions ñA social institution is -- åa grouping of persons within a society in order to… provide and maintain personal identity provide meaning and purpose for life maintain and perpetuate society ñSuch groupings are -- åartificial åappear to be “natural”

3. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Categories of Social Groupings ñFamily and Sexual Relations åprimary socialization åperpetuation ñEducation åsecondary socialization åperpetuation of culture

4. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Social Groupings (continued) ñReligious åsecondary socialization å“cosmic” identity åmeaning and purpose ñSocial åsecondary socialization åfriendship åsocial maintenance: behavior åsocial mobility

5. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Social Groupings (continued) ñEconomic åbusiness and trade exchange of goods and services training and maintenance åother economic relations slavery client/patron

6. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Patronage Patron Client Patron

7. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Family and Sexual Relations ñThe Household åBasic building block of the state åAristotle Husband/Wife -- Father/Children -- Master/Slave The “Household Codes” ñPatriarchal Paterfamilias

8. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Education in the Ancient World

9. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World General Education ñAdvanced Scholarship: Science, Geology, History, Pedagogy, Mathematics, Medicine, Art, Music, Literature and Oratory ñEarly Education ñGymnasium ñHigher Education

10. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World The Philosophical Schools ñPlatonism åSeneca ñEpicureanism åLucretius ñStoicism åEpictetus åMusonius Rufus ñCynicism ñSkepticism

11. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Religion in the Ancient World ñPluralistic and Syncretistic ñThe Greek Mysteries ñOfficial Cult ñJudaism

12. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World The Religions of the Greco-roman World The religious environment of the Greco-roman world was ñ pluralistic ñ syncretistic ñ and inclusive The Goddess Isis

13. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Pluralistic Features ñMultiple Gods and Goddesses å“populated by deities” ñAssumption of multiple loyalties åinclusive ñIn general -- Religion was not identified with morality åcontrast Ethical Monotheism

14. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Temples in Rome ca. 30 BCE

15. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Syncretistic Features åIdentification or combination of deities of different origins åOriental religions hellenized åInherited ancient concepts reinterpreted to fit into new world culture åCreation of new religions out of Greek and non-Greek elements

16. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World The Greek Mysteries ñDemeter cult in Eleusis ñDionysian Cult ñSarapis and Isis ñMithras ñAsclepios

17. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Demeter cult in Eleusis ñ“Mother of Grain” ñMost significant of the mystery religions ñRitual åInitiation åConsecration åHigher Consecration ñEach stage consisted of demonstrations, actions, and words ñDestroyed in 5th c. C.E.

18. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Dionysian Cult (=Bacchus) ñThracian == “Son of Zeus” ñOriginally only women -- orgiastic feasts in middle of winter ñWidely accepted ñCommon meal and drinking of wine ñMyth of the dying and revivification of Dionysius ñObservances of ritual purity and rules of abstention

19. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Sarapis and Isis ñEgyptian -- most Hellenized oriental religion ñIsis = the goddess of the royal throne ñHorus = the mythical representation of the living Pharoah (=Isis’ son) ñOsiris = the mythical embodiment of Nile’s fertile lands, also God of the dead Pharoahs

20. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World The Isis Myth ñOsiris dies ñIsis revives ñIsis becomes pregnant with Horus ñIsis buries Osiris ñSarapis = Osiris manifested as “fatherly figure”

21. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World ñImported from Persia ñPopular with military ñExclusive for men ñStrong competitor with Christianity Mithras

22. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World A Temple of Mithras

23. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World ñGod of Healing ñTemples = Hospitals ñStrong Devotion Asclepius

24. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Thanksgiving for Healing of the Ears......and the Feet

25. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World The Emperor Cult ñEspecially popular in Asia Minor & Macedonia ñPertained to Civic duty ñEmperors proclaimed divine after death Caesar Augustus

26. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Civic Religion

27. General Introduction Greco-roman World Greco-Roman World Summary of Key Terms ñHousehold Code ñPatronage ñSyncretism ñMystery Religion ñEmperor Cult