Lecture 1 - Introduction: Background of New Testament

I. POLITICAL BACKGROUND

Developments in Jewish Culture During the 400 Years of Silence (423-331BC)

1. Synagogue - No access of the Temple
2. Oral Law - Interpretation and Application of Torah in every aspect of life

3. Aramaic Language - main language for international relationships.

Hellenistic Period (331-167 BC)

1. Alexander the Great

• Son of Philip of Macedon who defeated Athens in 338BC

• Alexander became the next conqueror after his father died

• Student of Aristotle
• Fascinated with the Greek cultures
• He spread the Greek culture (Hellenization) through implementing the Greek culture and language to the places he conquered.

• He conquered Greece to India, southern Russia to Northern Africa.

• Contributions of the Conquest
• Septuagint (LXX) - Old Testament translated to Greek
• New Testament is written in Koine Greek
• Urbanization

2. Successors of Alexander the Great

• Ptolemy:Ptolemiac (controls Egypt)

• Seleucus:Seleucids (controls Syria)

• Ptolemiac strong power in 311-198BC
• Israel was under the power of Ptolemaic Dynasty
• Israel experience peace and freedom under the government of this dynasty

• Seleucid strong power in 198-167BC
• Antiochus III took the ruling of Israel from Ptolemaic Dynasty (222-187BC)
• Seleucus IV (187-175BC) gave limited freedom to Israel
• Antiochus IV (Antiochus Epiphanes)
• Power rise in 175BC
• Proclaimed himself as God
• Sacrificed pigs in Jerusalem Temple
• Implementation of taxation in order to keep up payments to rising power of Rome
• Relationship between Seleucids and Jews started to turn in not good condition
• Hadisim-a group of Jews who stand in truth (pious people)

3. Maccabean Revolt and the Hasmonean Dynasty

A. Mattathias 

• A priest who disobey the command of Antiochus IV of an unlawful sacrifice - sacrificing pigs

• He killed his fellow Jews who practiced unlawful sacrifice

• He organized a rebel army with his 5 sons

B. Judas

• Son of Mattathias whose nickname is Maccabeus (hammer)
• He continued what his father has started

• He won over Seleucids and regain the control over the temple

• They celebrated this victory, and had the feast called "The Feast of Dedication" or Hanukkah (John 8; 10:22)
• He died in 160BC

C. Jonathan

• Brother of Judas and succeeded Judas from 160-143BC
• He was appointed as high priest
• Though there was a temporary peace with the Syrian, Judas continue to fight until they totally removed Syrian in  142BC

D. Simon

• Brother of Judas and Jonathan and succeeded his brother, Jonathan, (143-134)
• The Jews and the priests made him their military leader and the high priest (priest-king concept)
• This became the beginning of Hasmonean Dynasty (From Matthatias' great grandfather)

E. John Hyrcanus

• Son of Simon

• Succeeded his father in (134-104BC)

• This is the beginning of shift of ideal of the Maccabees from good to bad

• His regime focused on territorial expansion and forced conversion

• The conflict between Jews and Samaritan is triggered

• Hasidim protested against his government in terms of religious matter

F. Alexander Jannaeus

• Son of John Hyrcanus
• Succeeded his father (103-76BC)

• The lost of Maccabean ideal

G. Alexandra

• Wife of Alexander Jannaeus

• Rule from 76-67BC
• Jews liked her because she consider the law.

• Her death led to power struggle between their sons

H. Siblings Rivalry -  Hyrcanus II and Aristobolus II

• Hyrcannus II loved by her mother

• Because he was the older, he will be the next to rule

• Aristobolus II was so ambitious, and he appealed to Rome for a help.

• This is the beginning of Roman invasion of Israel

4. The Invasion of Rome

A. Julius Caesar

• Invasion of Rome in Israel began in 63BC
• Julius Caesar was the emperor during that time and sent Pompey, Julius's General
• Aristobolus II tried to resist Pompey but Pompey prevailed
• Pompey made Hyrcanus II (brother of Aristobolus II) as high priest
• The emperor made Antipater, an Idumean, as governor of Judea
• Antipater ruled from 63-43BC;
• Antipater helped Roman army and he gains Julius favor (reduction of tax, rebuilding of Jerusalem wall, fortification of cities, and freedom of religion)
• Then there was another conflict between Herod the Great (Antipater's son) and Antigonus (Aristobolus' son)
• Herod the Great (the one who tried to murder Jesus) gained the title of "the King"

• Julius Caesar was assassinated (44BC)

B. Octavian Caesar - Augustus Caesar

• Augustus was a nephew of Julius

• He defeated Mark Antony that led to suicide of Mark Antony and Cleopatra

• He reigned in 31BC to AD14

5. Herodian Dynasty

A. Herod the Great

• Antipater's son who fought with Antigonus, son of Aristobolus II for the throne.

• Herod ruled Israel from 37BC - AD4

• Herod the Great was loyal to Mark Antony, but he immediately gained the trust of Augustus
• Herod's group was known as Herodians
• He was paranoid of being dethrone, this lead to execution of his wife, Mariamne and his sons

• When he died, his rule was divided to his three of the remaining sons

B. The Three Sons of Herod

• Archelaus controlled the Judea (cruel treatment of the Jews)

• Philip controlled the northern and east of the Sea of Galilee

• Herod Antipas (time of Jesus' ministry) controlled Galilee and Perea
• Built a capital city called Tiberius (Tiberius succeeded Augustus Caesar)

II. RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND

A. Jewish Literature

1. Midrash - commentary of Old Testament

2. Septuagint (LXX) - Greek Translation of Old Testament

3. Targum - Translation of Old Testament into Aramaic

B. Jewish Sect

1. Pharisee

• Means "separatist"
• Came out from Hasidim

• Opposing the Hasmonean rulers

• Their place is synagogues

• Guarding the Law of Moses against corruption

• Oral Laws or Tradition of the Elders

• Believes in immortality of soul, bodily resurrection, rewards and punishments and existence of angels and demons
• Members of Sanhedrin (i.e. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea)

2. Sadducees

• Supporters of Hasmoneans
• Members of elite groups

• From the priestly family of Zadokites

• Rejected the oral laws

• Pentateuch Onlyism

• Do not believeimmortality, resurrection, angels, and demons

• Did not survive after the Fall of Jerusalam AD70

3. Esssenes

• Apocalyptically oriented

• When the religion of Judaism became corrupt, they separate

• Qumran community near Dead Sea
• Anonymous leader known as "Teacher of Righteousness"
• Believe in the coming of two messiahs

4. Zealots

• Judas of Galilee led the rebellion against Roman census in and registration of property under the Syrian governor Quirinus
• They believe that Maccabean miracle will be repeated.
• The Sicarii (dagger men) who killed other Jews  

Sources: Craig Blomberg, Jesus and the Gospels 

                 Craig R. Koester, Professor of New Testament

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