Encountering Jesus in the New Testament Chapter 3

Encountering Jesus in the New Testament Chapter 3

Languages of the Bible Aramaic Koine Greek Spoken all The common across Palestine language of trade and commerce Hebrew Latin Spoken in the synagogue Spoken among the Roman officials Who was Jesus of Nazareth?

Palestine and the Fertile Crescent Throughout world history, Palestine has always held a strategic place due to its proximity to the Fertile Crescent, a land bridge between two great civilizations. Palestine bridged two continents, playing a key international, commercial, political, and cultural role. In the ancient world, it served as the crossroads for Egyptian, Syrian, and Persian expansions and later became an attractive target for the political conquests of Greece and Rome. --Student Text, page 117 Jesus' Public Ministry Took Place in Palestine

Geography of Palestine Jesus’ Public Ministry Took Place in Palestine

Map of Palestine during time of Jesus Galilee • • Nazareth Cana Bethsaida Capernaum Judea • Jerusalem • Dead Sea Jesus’ Public Ministry Took Place in Palestine

Characteristics of Galilean Jews and Judean Jews Characteristics Galilean Jews Judean Jews Trades Jewish Heritage How they relate to other cultures Population Political Climate/Ruler Jesus’ Public Ministry Took Place in Palestine

Pax Romana: The reign of Augustus to the reign of Marcus Aurelius (27 BC-AD 180) Political Climate in Roman Empire • There was an extended period of peace and security. • A common language was spoken in the Empire. • There was an intricate road system. • There was a fair and just legal system. • The Romans had a strong military force. • Jews were subordinate to the Roman leaders. The Political Climate in First-Century Palestine

Herod’s Temple The Second Temple, that of Zerubbabel (completed in 515 BC), was greatly expanded and renovated by Herod the Great beginning in 20– 19 BC (see John 2: 20). It is sometimes referred to as Herod’s Temple. The work of decorating the Temple was still going on in Jesus’ day. The Temple was finished in AD 64, only six short years before the Romans leveled it during the First Jewish Revolt (66 – 70). The Political Climate in First-Century Palestine

Duties of a Roman Prefect • collecting taxes • approving or denying death sentences • keeping the peace • reporting to Rome Pontius Pilate was the prefect during Jesus’ trial The Political Climate in First-Century Palestine

Slavery in the New Testament A person could become a slave by: • • being a prisoner of war being kidnapped needing to pay a debt being born the child of a slave “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ” (Gal. 3: 28) The Political Climate in First-Century Palestine

Synagogues in Jesus’ Time • A synagogue was a house of prayer where the Scriptures were read and YHWH was worshipped. • A synagogue was a place of discussion for legal settlements. • A synagogue functioned as the local school. Jewish Beliefs and Practices in Jesus’ Time

Apocalypse A word meaning “revelation” or “unveiling. ” It refers to a period when God will intervene against the forces of evil and establish a divine rule of goodness and peace. Jewish. Beliefsand and. Practicesinin. Jesus’Time

Sanhedrin The seventy-onemember supreme legislative and judicial body of the Jewish people. Many of its members were Sadducees. Jewish Sects in the Time of the New Testament

Sects of the Jews • Sadducees • Pharisees • Essenes • Zealots Jewish Sects in the Time of the New Testament