Transcript THE INTER-TESTAMENTAL PERIOD

THE
INTER-TESTAMENTAL
PERIOD
400 Years of History in Ten
Minutes
LIFE UNDER THE GREEKS
• Alexander the Great dies in 323 BC
• His empire is divided among his general
• Israel is caught between
 Ptolemy in the south (Egypt)
 Seleucids in the north (Syria)
• Greek culture has powerful influence,
leading to translation of OT into Greek
 The Septuagint (LXX)
LIFE UNDER THE GREEKS
• 198 BC, the Seleucids defeated the
Ptolemies and gained control of Judah, but
not Egypt.
• The Seleucids were determined to
“civilize” the people of Judah.
ANITIOCHUS IV
• 175 B. C., Antiochus IV, Epiphanies
(the illustrious one).
• The Jews called him “Epimanes”
(the madman).
• Antiochus looked upon orthodox Judaism
as an obstacle to the unification of his
empire.
ANITIOCHUS IV
• He looked upon the office of high priest as a
political office.
 A Benjaminite named Melanus pays money to
become High Priest.
 The orthodox Jews were infuriated.
• Antiochus attacks Egypt.
 Almost won, but was defeated by the Romans.
ANITIOCHUS IV
• Antiochus takes his anger out on Israel.
 He sent his army to attack the orthodox Jews
on the Sabbath.
 He decreed that Greek deities were to be
worshipped.
 He put a statue of Zeus in the Temple and
sacrificed a pig on the altar.
 He held drunken orgies to the god Bacchus
and forced attendance.
ANITIOCHUS IV
• Antiochus takes his anger out on Israel.
 He forbid the Jews to practice circumcision on
the threat of death.
 The Sabbath was forbidden.
 The observance of Jewish feasts was
forbidden.
 Copies of the Scriptures were burned.
THE MACCABEES
• 165 BC, An aged priest, named
Mattathias, was commanded to offer a
sacrifice to Zeus at the town of Modin.
• He refused and killed the next man who
tried.
• Together with his five sons, he destroyed
the altar and ran for the hills.
THE MACCABEES
• For the next few years, they fought a guerrilla
war against the Seleucids.
• After having several killed on the Sabbath, when
they would not fight, Mattathias decreed that
fighting in self-defense on the Sabbath was
allowed.
JUDAH THE MACCABEE
(the Hammer)
• He continued the raids and guerrilla
warfare.
• Antiochus had battles in other parts of his
kingdom and couldn’t focus on them.
JUDAH THE MACCABEE
(the Hammer)
• Eventually, the Maccabees took Jerusalem,
entered the Temple and removed all signs of
paganism that they found there.
 They tore down the altar to Zeus and built a new altar
to the Lord.
 One day of oil burned for eight.
 This is the Festival of Lights or “Hanukkah.”
JUDAH THE MACCABEE
(the Hammer)
• Judah’s victory was short-lived.
 Antiochus sent his army against him, promising
religious freedom if they surrendered.
 The people chose to surrender and Judah ran away.
 He did not stop fighting, however, and died in battle.
JONATHAN,
JUDAH’S BROTHER
• Won by diplomacy.
• Jonathan sought to become high priest,
even though he was not of the right
lineage.
• The Syrians later murdered him.
SIMON,
ANOTHER BROTHER
• Became both military commander and
high priest.
• Expelled the Syrians from the land.
• The offices of priest, field commander, and
ruler were all given to him by the people
and made hereditary.
• Began the Hasomanean dynasty.
THE HASOMANEAN DYNASTY
• The parties of the Pharisees and the Sadducees
began
• After about 75 years, the Hasomeaneans fell to
fighting each other.
• The Roman general, Pompey, offered to
mediate.
 He conquered the land and ended the arguments.
 In 63 BC, Israel came under Roman domination.
THE ROMANS
• Jews generally fared well; Romans gave a
lot of independence
• Still, longed for freedom
• Herod the Great
 Began ruling in 37 BC
 Rebuilt several cities and six fortresses
 In 20 BC, began building Temple; finished in
68 AD
THE NEW TESTAMENT
ENVIRONMENT
GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
• Genuine belief in the gods and goddesses
of Greece and Rome had given way to a
general agnosticism.
• Growth in superstition and astrology
GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
Philosophies
• Platonism
 Taught that true reality is not found in the objects of
sense, but in the idea or form which lies behind each
object.
 By grasping and participating in the eternal forms, the
soul is lifted and attains true well-being.
 The soul’s real home is the world beyond the senses.
 The body is a prison for the soul.
 This release takes place at death.
GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
Philosophies
• Cynics
 Believed “simple pleasures are the best” and taught
an extreme frugality.
 Salvation lies in returning to nature.
 Cynics took their beliefs to the people.
 Cynics’ style called the “diatribe” which consisted of
questions and answers.
GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
Philosophies
• Epicureans
 Rejected Plato
 How you feel should be the standard of truth.
 Wisdom consists in the pursuit of happiness and
enjoying life, but not to excess.
 There is no afterlife, so you best enjoy life now while
you can.
 The gods, if they do exist, have nothing to do with us.
 At death, the body dissolves.
 This tended to bring about atheism and selfindulgence.
GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
Philosophies
• Stoics
 Encouraged the development of a moral fiber.
 Divine Reason pervades the universe and it is our
duty to live in accord with Reason.
 Ethical living was very important to the Stoics.
 Interpreted the Roman myths allegorically.
 The soul is the divine spark of Reason trapped within
the human body.
 We have the ability to rise above our circumstances
and face them with dignity.
GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
Mystery Religions
• Most of these started in the east and were
brought to Rome later.
• Believed everyone worshiped the same god or
gods, just used different names.
• They are called “mystery religions” because the
members were not supposed to tell nonmembers what was going on.
• Generally, anyone could join.
GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
Mystery Religions
• Eleusians
 Founded at the Eleusis a small town near Athens.
 Based on the myth of Persephone and Pluto.
 As she was searching for Persephone, Demeter
came to Eleusis.
 She was so well treated by the people that she
initiated the king into the sacred mysteries.
 The worshippers would re-enact the mythic story, thus
brining the people into the reality of the tale.
GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
Mystery Religions
• Mithraism
 We have more information on this group than just
about any other cult.
 Very popular among the military.
 Restricted to men.
GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
Mystery Religions
• Mithraism
 In the worship area, there was a statue of Mithra
slaying a bull.
 His left knee is astride the bull, which is forced to its knees.
 His left hand pulls back the nose of the bull and the right
hand plunges in a dagger.
 From the wound comes three stalks of grain.
 The picture is the light of Mithras in victory over the wild life
of the bull.
GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
Mystery Religions
• Mithraism
 Ethics were very important for this group.
 There were seven degrees of membership,
with costumes and head pieces for each level.
 The final level was a baptism in the blood of a
bull which was supposed to give eternal life.
JUDAISM AND ITS DIVISIONS
• Synagogues
 “Synagogue” means “meeting place”.
 Not sure when they began, probably during
the Babylonian Captivity.
 The synagogues were places for the reading
of Scripture and prayer.
JUDAISM AND ITS DIVISIONS
• Synagogues
 There was a synagogue in virtually every village in
Israel
 One rule for the establishment of a synagogue: there
had to be ten men.
 Men and women sat in different sections of the
building.
 The “God-fearers” stood along the back wall.
THE TEMPLE
THE TEMPLE
THE TEMPLE
VARIOUS GROUPS AND HOPES
JEWISH MESSIANIC
EXPECTATIONS
JEWISH MESSIANIC
EXPECTATIONS
• The Spirit of God would return to-the covenant
land.
• God would send the Messiah to free His
covenant people and the covenant land from
the Romans
 Of Davidic line
 Man, not divine, but empowered by God's Spirit sad
kept righteous
 He would be righteous and just in His rule, serving as
God's Messianic agent.
JEWISH MESSIANIC
EXPECTATIONS
• The Messiah's victory would be marked by
Judgment
 Non-Jews and all wicked Jews destroyed --Taxcollectors, prostitutes, other public sinners
 The covenant people would be set free and
empowered to live totally as God’s people.
JEWISH MESSIANIC
EXPECTATIONS
• An age of "heaven on earth"
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
Imagery of the year of Jubilee
An abundance of food with little work and toil
No more sorrow, sickness and death
No more oppression ant unrighteousness
Non-Jews would, sometime in the future, stream to
Jerusalem to become part of the covenant people.
 The coming of a "new heaven and a new earth"
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
Q AND SOURCE THEORY
OTHER CRITICAL
THEORIES
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
• What is the relationship among the three
Synoptic Gospels?
 The Synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark and
Luke
• A historical question, does not necessarily
impinge upon authorship and inspiration.
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
• That there is a relationship is obvious
 The general scheme of the three Gospels is
the same.
 Not only do Jesus’ words match, but also the
narrative events.
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
 Where there is a difference
 Matthew and Mark agree the most often.
 Sometimes Luke and Mark agree.
 Rarely, Matthew and Luke agree.
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
 There are passages that Matthew and Luke
have that Mark does not.
 Some stuff in Matthew and Luke is similar, but
not identical.
 Each Gospel has its own material.
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
• What is the relationship?
• St. Augustine
 Matthew wrote first.
 Luke used Matthew.
 Mark wrote a Reader’s Digest version of
them.
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
• Early Church
 Matthew wrote first.
 Mark wrote his Gospel independently, using
Peter as his source.
 Luke used Matthew to write his Gospel.
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
• Current Scholarship
 Mark was the first Gospel written.
 Matthew and Luke used Mark and an
unknown source called “Q.”
 From the German Quelle meaning
“source.”
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
• Why do scholars think that Mark is the first
Gospel?
 The amount of Mark found in the other Gospels.
 Generally, Mark’s order of events used.
 Sometimes, Matthew and Mark have a different order than
Luke.
 Sometimes Luke and Mark differ from Matthew.
 But Matthew and Luke never differ from Mark.
 Historical candor
 Style
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
• Biggest problem with Markan priority
 Early church witness states that Matthew was
the first Gospel written.
 There is no external evidence to back up this
claim.
 Still, most scholars think this scheme answers
more questions that it gives.
Q AND SOURCE THEORY
• Q = Information that is common to Luke and
Matthew, but not in Mark
 About 250 verses, mostly sayings with very little
narrative material s.
 Eusebius quotes a man named Papias who wrote
early in the second century.
 Papias states that Matthew wrote down the “logia”
(sayings, oracles) of Jesus in the “Hebrew dialect.”
 Many think that this might have been a type of Q
document.
Q AND SOURCE THEORY
 Except for the temptation of Jesus, most of
this material is in different locations in each
Gospel.
 This means one of two things:
 Jesus taught the same thing more than once
 That one or the other edited the material and put it
where he wanted.
 Most scholars think Luke has the “original” order.
Q AND SOURCE THEORY
• Q Problems
 There is no hard evidence of its existence.
 There is absolutely no parallel type of
literature in that era.
Q AND SOURCE THEORY
• Q Problems
 Q had no passion account.
 Scholars have come up with no less that 18
different possibilities of what was in Q.
 Some of the stuff in Q strikes me as two
different parables or something that Jesus
would have taught more than once.
Q AND SOURCE THEORY
• What Do We Do With All This?
 This is a historical question and does not
necessarily impinge on authorship or
inspiration.
 We know that Luke, at least, used sources.
 A good argument can be made for putting
Mark first.
 Q is a open question.
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Form Criticism
 Definition: The task of inferring what the oral
tradition of Jesus was like before it was
written down.
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Form Critics identify five types of literature
• Paradigms
 A story that ends with an important saying.
 Plucking ears on the Sabbath.
• Tales (Miracle stories)
 These have no important sayings and tend to show
Jesus as a miracle worker.
 The stilling of the storm.
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Sayings
 Not attached to a narrative.
 The Sermon on the Mount and the parables.
• Legends
 Poor choice of words.
 The idea was an extraordinary story about a holy
person.
 The infancy narratives.
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Myths
 Another poor choice of words.
 Times when Jesus and God interacted.
 The transfiguration.
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Positives of Form Criticism
 The Form Critics help bring attention to the
preaching and teaching character of the
Gospels.
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Negatives of Form Criticism
 Biggest problem: the presuppositions which the critics
use.
 Began with the belief that the Church either
modified or totally made up the words and actions
of Jesus.
 The Gospels tell us more about the life situation of
the early church than they do about Jesus.
 They divided the “Jesus of history” from the “Christ
of faith.”
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Negatives of Form Criticism
 Biggest problem: the presuppositions which the critics use.
 The Gospels have layers: geographical notations, dating,
miracles, and doctrinal elements were all added by the later
church.
• Critics argue that we need to strip the layers from Gospels
to get to the “real Jesus” and “the real words of Jesus.”
• This lead to the so-called “search for the historical Jesus.”
• When the search for Jesus is stripped away, you are left
with someone who looks much like you do.
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Negatives of Form Criticism
 The uncertainty of exact classification
 Often arbitrary in selection of forms: paradigms,
tales, sayings, legends, myths
 All interest in the person and life of Christ are ruled
out
 The "community myth"
 Contradicts all we know about primitive
communities
 Rules out the influence of Christ and of the
apostles on the community
 The Good News produced the community, not vice
versa
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Negatives of Form Criticism
 The folk-lore analogy is dubious
 A little more or less than a generation separates
Mark from the event
 Ignores the memory of men who were
eyewitnesses
 Neglects the tradition of Jesus' actual words
 Makes insufficient allowance for the existence of an
authentic tradition of Christ's words, e.g. 1 Cor.
7:10, 12, 25; 15:3 - 11
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Negatives of Form Criticism
 Ignores the way people learned
 Memorization—the only way to preserve a
statement or text and the Jews were very tenacious
about it.
• The Rabbis spoke tersely and incisively. The avoided
wordy talk; they expressed themselves in concise terms.
• There were poetic devices: alliteration, parable, rhythmic
phrases, etc.
 Repetition—which would answer why the same
stuff shows up in more than one gospel in a
different location, Jesus was repeating himself.
 Recitation
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Negatives of Form Criticism
 Overstepped the legitimate limits of their method
 Went from form, speculative in itself, to content
 Over-ruled or ignored literary and historical truths
 If the main contention of form criticism were true, then
the burning issues of the early church would be
reflected in the Gospels, e. g.
 The problem of integrating the non-Jew into the
Christian community;
 Speaking in tongues.
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES
• Redaction Criticism
 Why the material is arranged the way it
is
 Overall, pretty positive
 However, comes from form-critical
school with its problems.
 Tends to see a theological motive where
others might night.
FEATURES IN THE LIFE
AND MINISTRY OF JESUS
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
• When was Jesus born?
 Herod the Great died in 4 BC
 There was an imperial census in 8 BC.
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
• The Problem of Quinirius.
 Quinirius was governor around 6 AD, which is too late
for the birth of Jesus.
 There are three possible answers:
 Luke is in error here.
 Luke has been mistranslated.
• “First” should be translated “before”
• “Governor” should be translated “governing”
 Luke doesn’t give the whole story.
• Started under Herod
• Completed under Quinirius
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
• The Genealogies
• Two suggestions:
 Matthew is highlighting Joseph’s heritage;
Luke is highlighting Mary’s.
 But both say they are Joseph’s heritage.
 If Mary, Jesus would be considered illegtimate.
 Joseph is the product of a Levirite marriage.
JESUS’ MINISTRY
• PARABLES
 One third of Jesus’ teaching was done in parables.
 The parables describe the Kingdom of God in action.
 There are 3 kinds of parables:
 A simple saying
 A comparison
 Allegories
 A parable has only one main point of comparison
JESUS’ MINISTRY
• MIRACLES
 Jesus’ miracles are well-attested to.
 Josephus calls Jesus a “doer of wonderful
deeds.”
 Babylonian Talmud accuses Jesus of sorcery.
JESUS’ MINISTRY
• MIRACLES
 Miracles were part of Jesus’ message.
 Jesus’ Mission statement: Luke 4.
 The Kingdom of God had come to set people free from:
•
•
•
•
Sickness
Demons
Evils of nature
Death
 The key to understanding the miracles was faith:
realizing that the miracles were the kingdom of God at
work.
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
• The Last Supper
 Did Jesus celebrate the Passover?
 Synoptics: Most definitely yes!
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
 Did Jesus celebrate the Passover?
 John: Well, maybe not… John 18:28, 19:14
• John uses the word “Passover” in a wide
sense Passover and the “Feast of the
Unleavened Bread
• Friday was normally called “Preparation
Day” meaning “Preparation for the
Sabbath.”
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
 Did Jesus celebrate the Passover?
 John: Well, maybe not… John 18:28, 19:14
• Saying this was “Preparation for the Passover”
could mean “Friday in Passover Week.”
• There were other important meals during
Passover week that might be what John is
referring to.
• There is some discussion as to whether or not all
the Jews used the same calendar
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
• THE LAST SUPPER
 The Order of the Meal
 First cup of wine (Luke 22:15-18) At this time,
Jesus would have spoken the blessing over the
wine.
• The footwashing (John 13:1-20)
• “One of you will betray me” (Luke 22:22;
Matthew 26:23-24)
• Washing the right hand was followed by
preliminary dish.
• It consisted of herbs that were dipped in sauce.
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
• THE LAST SUPPER
 The Order of the Meal
 First cup of wine (Luke 22:15-18) At this time,
Jesus would have spoken the blessing over the
wine.
• Jesus says that the betrayer would be one who
dipped his hand into the dish with me.
• John asks Jesus who the betrayer was.
• Jesus says it is the person he gives a dipped
portion to: Judas.
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
• THE LAST SUPPER
 The Order of the Meal
 First cup of wine (Luke 22:15-18) At this time,
Jesus would have spoken the blessing over the
wine.
• Judas leaves.
• “All of you will leave me.” Matthew 26:31-35;
Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-38; John 13:31-38
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
 The Main Part of the Meal
• After the preliminary dish, the second cup of wine was
distributed.
• The meal was put on the table.
• The youngest would ask, “Why do we eat this meal?” and
the father of the family would respond with the Passover
story.
• This was followed by singing some of the Hallel Psalms
(Psalms 111-118).
• The second cup of wine was then drank and both hands
would be washed.
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
 The Third Cup, the Cup o Blessing or
Thanksgiving (Eucharist).
• It was at this point that Jesus instituted the
Lord’s Supper.
 Finally, after the meal, Jesus had his great
discourse in John.
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
• PONTIUS PILATE
 Pilate served from 26 to 36 AD.
 There were three major incidents before the trial of
Jesus (RAGS):
 Roman Standards
 Aqueduct
 Golden Shields
 When the Jews protested, they basically threatened
Pilate.
 Tiberius was not well.
 Pilate would have faced exile or suicide.
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
• Crucifixion
 There were two types of crosses: T and Latin cross
 The cross beam was carried by the accused; it
weighed about 100 lbs.
 A superscription given the reason for the crucifixion
was either put above the head or around the neck.
 A wooden seat was positioned about half way up.
 A piece of wood was used to help the body stay on
the cross.
 Death was caused by suffocation.
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
• If Jesus Didn’t Rise, then What happened?
 The “stolen body” theory
 The “wrong tomb” theory
 The “swoon” theory
 The “hallucination” theory
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
• Evidence in Scripture for the resurrection:
 The women
 Early church preaching
 The Gospels vary in their accounts
 The disciples
 Paul
THE PASSION AND
RESURRECTION
• What did the Resurrection mean?
 That Jesus is the Son of God.
 That God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
 That we live a new, forgiven life.
 That we will rise again.
THE FOUR GOSPELS
THE GOSPELS
• The Gospels are not biographies as we
would normally understand that term.
• The purpose of the Gospels is to present
Jesus to the readers.
MATTHEW
• Author: Matthew, the apostle
 Attested to throughout church history
 Best argument against it: Why would rely so
heavily on Mark’s Gospel?
 This is an assumption.
 He could have read Mark’s Gospel and then
decided to incorporate it to show apostolic unity.
 If Matthew not the author, then you have to
show why church tradition is wrong.
MATTHEW
• Place of writing: Somewhere in Palestine
• Written to Jewish Christians
• Date of writing: Depends on presuppositions.
Probably around as 50-60 AD.
MATTHEW
• Key Themes
 Messianic interest
 Jesus is the new Moses
 Structure:
• Birth and Infancy of Jesus (1-2)
• Book 1—The Kingdom of Heaven is Announced
 Narrative (Galilean ministry; 3-4)
 Teaching (Sermon the Mount; 5-7)
• Book 2—The Kingdom of Heaven is Preached
 Narrative (8:1-9:34)
 Teaching (9:35-11:1)
MATTHEW
• Key Themes
 Messianic interest
 Jesus is the new Moses
 Structure:
• Book 3—The Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven
 Narrative (11:2-12)
 Teaching (parables) (13:1-52)
• Book 4—The Church as the Kingdom of Heaven
 Narrative (13:53-17)
 Teaching (18)
MATTHEW
• Key Themes
 Messianic interest
 Jesus is the new Moses
 Structure:
• Book 5—The Advent of the Kingdom of Heaven
 Narrative (19-22)
 Teaching (23-26)
• The Passion and Resurrection (26-28)
MATTHEW
• Key Themes
 Jesus is the fulfiller of prophecy
 His passages sometimes bring questions
 Jew first, then the Gentile
 The Church
 Only Gospel writer to use the word “Church”
 Eschatology (end times)
MARK
• Author: John Mark
 Papias states that he wrote from Rome with
Peter as his source.
 Is he the naked guy?
• Date: 50 to 60 AD
• Written to Roman Christians
MARK
• Key themes:
 Jesus as a busy man
 Gospel for gentiles
 Blunt view of people
• Textual question: The ending of Mark
LUKE
• Author: Luke, a doctor and companion of
Paul’s
 Author of both Luke and Acts
 Both dedicated to same man
 Only Gentile author in the NT
 Some wonder if there is medical language or
interests in his Gospel
LUKE
• Date: 60-65 AD ?
• Written to Theophilus
 “Most Excellent” a social rank
 Strong catechetical emphasis
LUKE
• Themes in Luke:
 Universality of the Gospel—Gentiles and women are
prominent
 Prayer
 Holy Spirit
JOHN
• Author: John the apostle.
 John Drane: “The question of authorship has
always been rather confused.”
 No, it has not.
JOHN
• Author: John the apostle.
 Early Church evidence
 Irenaenus states that Polycarp, who was a student of John’s,
said that he was the author of this Gospel and that it was
written in Ephesus.
 “The Elder John”
• This comes from Papias, once again quoted in Eusebius.
• Would the early church would give a Gospel to man of whom
nothing was really known?
• Eusebius mentions the Elder John is to get away from the idea
that Revelation was written by the apostle.
JOHN
• Author: John the apostle.
 Internal evidence
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Gives great deal of geographical detail
Author claims to be an eyewitness
John, son of Zebedee, is never named.
There is the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”
• This disciple is one of the 12
• Close connection with Peter
• Given care of Jesus’ mother
JOHN
• Date: Around 85-100 AD.
• Purpose: John 20:30-31
• Themes:
 Emphasis on the Old Testament
 The Sprit
 Love, truth, light, life, and abiding are all abstract
themes that keep coming up.