Notes
Slide Show
Outline
1
History of the Gospels: Introduction
  • L. D. Alford
  • www.lionelalford.com
  • www.ldalford.com
2
Focus of Class
  • Gospels as Greek Literature
    • Literary context
    • Basis for all modern literature
  • Gospels as Histories
    • Historical context
    • Cultural context
    • Basis of Western Civilization
  • NT in terms of history and literature
3
Outline
  • 1.  Ancient cultures and history
  • 2.  Historical veracity and literature
  • 3.  Tellos of Matthew
  • 4.  Tellos of Mark
  • 5.  Tellos of Luke
  • 6.  Tellos of John & Tellic comparison
4
Summary
  • 1.  Introduction to ancient cultures and literature
    • Course outline
    • Rabbinic understanding of the Messiah
    • No new law
5
New Testament Documents
  • New Testament
    • 27 separate historical works
  • Historical documents—Historical documents written in Greek
    • Language is critical
6
Language
  • Significantly different than English (or other Germanic or Romance language)
    • Simple language
    • Geometrically based
    • Sparse number of words compared to modern languages
      • Many words describe complex concepts
      • Modern languages tend to use modifiers to differentiate
      • Singular meanings – words of the day
7
Greek Language
  • 6 primary words for love
    • άγαπάν (agape)
    • έρως (eros)
    • πόθος (pathos)
    • φιλαω (philao)
    • έπίθίμία (epithumia)
    • στέργηθρον (sterguthron)
  • All 6 translated love



8
Greek Words for Love
  • άγαπάν (agape) – sacred word
    • Charity – old English translation
    • Sacrificial love
    • Specifically love of the gods, both ways
    • Rarely used of men – never in classical Greek
    • Mother or father to children
    • Translated Words KJV (116) - charitably + (2596), 1; charity, 27; dear, 1; feast of charity, 1; love, 86; NAS (115) - beloved, 1; love, 112; love feasts, 1; love's, 1;
9
Greek Words for Love
  • έρως (eros) – romantic love X NTD
  • πόθος (pathos) – passion
    • whatever befalls one, sad or joyous
      • spec. a calamity, mishap, evil, affliction
    • a feeling which the mind suffers
      • an affliction of the mind, emotion, passion
      • passionate deed
      • Greeks: either a good or bad sense
      • NT: bad sense, depraved or vile passion
      • Translated Words KJV (3) - affection, 1; inordinate affection, 1; lust, 1; NAS (3) - passion, 2; passions, 1;
10
Greek Words for Love
  • φιλαω (philao)
    • Brotherly love, tender love, affection
    • to love
      • approve of, like, sanction
      • treat affectionately or kindly, welcome, befriend
    • to show signs of love; to kiss
    • to be fond of doing; be wont, use to do
      • Translated Words KJV (25) - kiss, 3; love, 22; NAS (25) - kiss, 3; love, 13; loved, 3; loves, 6;
11
Greek Words for Love
  • έπίθίμία (epithumia)
    • Strong desire
    • German – Lust
    • desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust
      •  Translated Words KJV (38) - concupiscence, 3; desire, 3; lust, 31; lust after, 1; NAS (38) - coveting, 2; desire, 4; desires, 8; earnestly, 1; impulses, 1; long, 1; lust, 5; lustful, 1; lusts, 15;
12
Greek Words for Love
  • στέργηθρον (sterguthron)
    • Parental love
    • Old shoe love
    • Comfortable love
    • X NTD
13
Greek Language
  • Similar to other ancient languages – grammar is key
    • Mnemonics
    • Has vowels
    • No punctuation
    • No sentences
    • No paragraphs
    • No spaces between words
14
Greek Literature
  • Focus is logical argument
    • English
      • Intro
      • Body
      • Conclusion
    • Hebrew - parallelism
      • Synopsis
      • Body
    • Greek – logical argument to a tellos
      • Body
15
Greek Culture
  • Use of language is a direct result of culture
  • Culture is critical
    • What was the culture?
      • Established oriental monarchy
      • All seven simple machines in use
      • Domestication of animals and plants
      • Established agrarian
      • Established literacy
      • Slavery based
16
Greek Culture
    • Position of women, children
      • Protection
      • Protected
      • Isolated
17
Greek Culture
    • How did people tell time?
      • Sun
      • Concept of a year and day was illusive—Egyptians
        • Sundial—1300 BC
        • 10 hours of daylight
        • 2 hours of twilight
        • 12 hours of night
      • Hours/minutes/seconds from—Babylonians
        • 300 BC
        • Supported temple sacrifices--Zosternism
        • Past the OT period
18
Greek Culture
      • Concept of time in the NT difficult
        • Hebrews
        • Greeks
        • Romans
        • Each had a different way of measuring the day
      • Water clock in the temple
19
Greek Culture
    • What about numbers?
      • Fingers and toes
      • Numerals
      • Greek and Roman numbers
      • 40 days and 40 nights—a long time, euphemism in Hebrew—beyond the numbers commonly available in Hebrew (the number of fingers and toes on two people)
      • 70 times 7—eternity Greek euphemism—cannot accomplish math easily without Arabic base 10 numerals and null (zero)
20
Greek Culture
    • What about fire?
      • Belonged to God
      • Kindled in the temple/distributed to the people
      • Leviticus 10:1-2—illicit fire before God (Nadav and Avihu)
      • Greek example
    • What about sacrifice?
      • Will explore this in depth later
      • Taking the life of anything was viewed as taking from the province of God or gods
21
Greek Law
    • What about Laws?
      • Greek Law
      • God’s Law - Torah
      • Roman law
      • Means to protect women, children, aged, handicapped requires strength and organization
        • Roman law the freest for women in history
      • Rule of law in development
22
Greek Religion
    • What about religion?
      • The world is a fearful and dangerous place
      • No understanding of how things work—action of spirits
      • Gods are in everything
      • Paganism
      • Pagan man sees spiritual action and forces in all things—therefore these spirits must be placated—back to the concept of sacrifice
      • Slight inking of monotheism—Hebrews almost only monotheists
23
Greek Geography
    • Geography is critical
      • What is the climate of the Middle East?
        • Changed radically over time
        • Much due to human action
          • Cedars of Lebanon—no more
          • Spain and Greece were denuded of wood for building fleets
          • Warfare
          • Water depletion
          • Herodotus writes of Xeres army depleting rivers
          • Population—inheritance
24
Ancient Thinking
  • ¶How did people think?
    • Greek
      • Philosophy
      • Scientific method
      • Legal-Historical method
      • Greek rationalism
    • Roman
      • Hellenized
      • Functional rationalism
25
Rabbinic View
    • Hebrew – Rabbinic view
      • Rabbinic focus
        • When an OT quote is mentioned, it is an introduction a synopsis
        • Note in NT – Septuagint
      • Interpretation – understanding – pardes (acronym and mnemonic for peshat, remez, derash, and sod)
      • Meaning is already there – the point is to tease out the complete understanding
      • No room for multiple understandings
26
pardes
      • Peshat – plain literal sense of a verse in its context
      • Remez – allegorical or symbolic meaning only hinted at in the text
      • Derash – homiletic interpretation to uncover an ethical or moral lesson thought to be implicit in the text
      • Sod – secret, esoteric, or mystical interpretation, emphasized by the kabalists
27
pardes
      • Derash first means of Rabinnic understanding
        • Derash - from Hebrew for seek
        • Subjective method
        • Detailed and ingenious analysis of
        • Unusual spelling
        • Vocabulary
        • Other elements
        • Extensive cross-references
        • Reveal the moral and ethical teachings (aggadah)
28
pardes
      • According to JPS handbook -- Derash interpretation used by the rabbis “…until the rise of Islam 600 AD when Jewish scholars were exposed to Greek rational modes of thought and historical perspective, as well as the scientific study of language…”
        • However, when were the Rabbis first exposed to Greek rational modes of thought?
        • When did Rabbis have to contend with a real world historical perspective?
        • When did language really begin to have a great effect on Hebrew thought?
29
pardes
      • Peshat
        • Developed 600 to 1100 AD
        • Languished until the Enlightenment
        • Archeology
        • Ancient manuscripts
      • Remez
        • Allegorical understandings
        • Reached height 14th to 16th centuries
        • About the same time as in the Christian Church
        • One of M. Luther’s main problems with the Catholic church was the use of allegory to explain those things in OT and NT documents that could be understood literally
30
Ancient Human Culture
      • Our thinking about human culture of the past must wrap around the concept of ignorance and not lack of intelligence or wisdom
        • Humans in different cultures are motivated differently
        • Thinking and concepts of logic in development
        • People in different cultures do think and act differently
31
Hebrew Covenants
  • ¶Covenants in Hebrew thought
    • Adamic – first to Adam alone, second:
    • Noahic
    • Abrahamic
    • Mosaic
    • Messianic age
32
Hebrew Covenants
    • Adamic – first to Adam alone, second:
      • All humankind
      • All time
      • No Law
      • Messianic
    • Noahic
      • All humankind
      • Until the destruction of the earth
        • Implies it is created into the fabric of the creation
      • All Law
      • Messianic promise is continued
33
Hebrew Covenants
    • Abrahamic
      • All peoples will be blessed
        • Messianic
      • To Abraham and his seed
      • For all time
34
Hebrew Covenants
    • Mosaic
      • To the CoI
      • Law of God
      • Expansion of Noahic Laws
      • Til the end of the Creation
        • dabar – bound in the Creation
        • amar – bound outside the Creation
      • Atonement except for intentional sin


35
Hebrew Covenants
    • Messianic age
      • No new law
      • Complete atonement
      • Revelation of the Messiah
      • Only thanksgiving sacrifice required
36
Greek Language
    • Μεσσίαν - Messiah
      • Messias = "anointed"
      • the Greek form of Messiah
      • a name of Christ
      • Translated Words KJV (2) - Messias, 2; NAS (2) - Messiah, 2;
37
Hebrew Language
    • Mashiyach - Hebrew
      • anointed, anointed one
        • of the Messiah, Messianic prince
        • of the king of Israel
        • of the high priest of Israel
        • of Cyrus
        • of the patriarchs as anointed kings
      • Translated Words KJV (39) - Messiah, 2; anointed, 37; NAS (39) - Anointed, 1; Messiah, 2; anointed, 34; anointed ones, 2;
38
Greek Language
    • Χριστοΰ - Chirst
      • Christ = "anointed"
      • Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God
      • anointed
      • Translated Words KJV (569) - Christ, 569; NAS (531) - Christ, 516; Christ's, 11; Messiah, 4;
      • Chrio khree'-o
        • to anoint
        • consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office, and furnishing him with the necessary powers for its administration
        • enduing Christians with the gifts of the Holy Spirit
        • Translated Words KJV (5) - anoint, 5; NAS (5) - anointed, 5;  Verse
39
Greek Language
    • συναγωγης  - Synagogue
      • a bringing together, gathering (as of fruits)
      • an assembly
      • a synagogue
        • an assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures; assemblies of that sort were held every sabbath and feast day, afterwards also on the second and fifth days of every week; name transferred to an assembly of Christians formally gathered together for religious purposes
40
Greek Language
        • the buildings where those solemn Jewish assemblies are held. Synagogues seem to date their origin from the Babylonian exile. In the times of Jesus and the apostles every town, not only in Palestine, but also among the Gentiles if it contained a considerable number of Jewish inhabitants, had at least one synagogue, the larger towns several or even many. These were also used for trials and inflicting punishment.
        • Translated Words KJV (57) - assembly, 1; congregation, 1; synagogue, 55; NAS (56) - assembly, 1; synagogue, 31; synagogues, 24
41
Greek Language
      • suna - Sunago soon-ag'-o
        • to gather together, to gather
        • to draw together, collect
        • of fishes, of a net in which they are caught
        • to bring together, assemble, collect
          • to join together, join in one (those previously separated)
          • to gather together by convoking
          • to be gathered, come together, gather, meet
        • to lead with one's self
          • into one's home, i.e. to receive hospitably, to entertain
          • Translated Words KJV (62) - be assembled, 3; be gathered, 4; be gathered together, 12; come together, 6; gather, 15; gather together, 9; misc, 10; take in, 3; NAS (56) - assemble, 1; assembled, 5; came together, 1; convened, 1; gather, 10; gather together, 1; gather...together, 2; gathered, 9; gathered together, 14; gathered...together, 1; gathering, 3; gathering together, 1; invite, 2; invited, 1; met, 2; store, 2
42
Greek Language
    • ραββί - Rabbi
      • my great one, my honourable sir
      • Rabbi, a title used by the Jews to address their teachers (and also honor them when not addressing them)
      • Translated Words KJV (17) - Master (Christ), 9; Rabbi (Christ), 5; rabbi, 3; NAS (15) - Rabbi, 15
43
Greek Language
      • Rab rab
        • much, many, great
          • much
          • many
          • abounding in
          • more numerous than
          • abundant, enough
          • great
          • strong
          • greater than adv
          • much, exceedingly n m
        • captain, chief
        • Translated Words KJV (458) - captain, 24; enough, 9; great, 118; greater, 4; greatly, 3; long, 10; many, 190; mighty, 5; misc, 40; more, 12; much, 36; multitude, 7; NAS (453) - Champion, 1; Great, 2; abound, 1; abounding, 4; abounds, 1; abundance, 1; abundant, 15; abundantly, 2; broad, 1; captain, 25; chief, 1; chief officers, 1; enough, 8; far enough, 2; full, 2; great, 83; great deal, 1; greater, 6; greatly, 5; heavy, 1; increased, 2; large, 6; larger, 4; leading officers, 1; long, 8; long enough, 2; many, 207; many things, 1; many times, 2; many...things, 1; masses, 1; mighty, 7; more, 5; more numerous, 1; much, 16; multitude, 2; numerous, 10; official, 1; older, 1; plentiful, 1; plenty, 2; populous, 1; powerful, 1; prevalent, 1; severe, 2; very, 2; who are many, 1; who was once great, 1;
44
Greek Language
  • διδάσκαλος - didaskalos
    • a teacher
    • one who is fitted to teach, or thinks himself so
    • Translated Words KJV (58) - Master (Jesus), 40; doctor, 1; master, 7; teacher, 10; NAS (59) - Teacher, 41; teacher, 10; teachers, 8;
      • 1321  didasko (did-as'-ko); a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb dao (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application): KJV-- teach.
45
Hebrew Covenant
  • Law was inherent in Creation
    • Not just devised
    • Note comparison with Noahic covenant
    • God’s revelation in the Covenant at the right time
    • Particular step for God to bring the CoI and us into understanding of law
  • There is much confusion on the Laws and laws under the covenant of the CoI
46
Hebrew Covenant
    • Gentiles
      • Covered by the Noahic covenant
      • Acts declaration of first Jerusalem Council
      • Can become Yoked to the Torah if convert to Judahism
47
Hebrew Covenant

    • The Law of God is a physical representation of the Law God set in the creation
      • Laws for individuals
        • Noahic
        • Mosaic – ten words
      • Laws for society
      • Laws of cleanliness
      • Verbal Torah - Mishna
48
Hebrew Covenant
  • Covenant incomplete because there no redemption for intentional sin
    • Each earlier covenant is incomplete
    • Points directly to the Messiah
    • Rabbis understood the incomplete covenant and understood its limitations
      • Following destruction of the Temple led to a more secular understanding of covenant
      • Today covenant of Moses can’t be kept because no Temple
49
Hebrew Covenant
  • Synagogue of Christ’s time had a legal as well as a religious function
    • Lawyers and doctors of the Law were the men who presided over the synagogue to handle legal matters
    • In ancient world all legal matters were local matters and punishments were handled by the people in their own communities
50
Hebrew Covenant
    • Lawyers and doctors of Law acted as the Rabbis for their community
    • Training was in the Torah and other scriptures as well as the Mishna, at this time verbal
    • This verbal Mishna is what Christ knew and understood well
    • With the destruction of the Temple, the role of the synagogue and of the Rabbis became more important
51
Jewish Understanding
  • What is and was the Jewish understanding of the Messiah
    • From Hebrew “mashiach” annointed
    • Rule over restored kingdom of Israel where the dispersed Jews would be gathered at the end of days
52
Jewish Understanding
    • Core belief in Judaism
      • One of Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon —RaMBaM or the Rambam, 11th century) 13 principles of faith
        • Existence of God
        • Complete and total unity and uniqueness of God
        • Incorporeality of God
        • God is eternal
        • God alone is to be worshiped and obeyed
        • Prophecy
        • Moses is the greatest prophet
53
Jewish Understanding
        • Entire Torah was given by God to Moses
        • Torah is unchangeable
        • God knows man’s thoughts and deeds
        • Rewards and punishments
        • The coming of the Messiah (even though he may delay [a Jew must] anticipate every day that he will come)
        • The resurrection of the dead
54
Jewish Understanding
    • David’s descendents would rule the Jewish people forever
      • 2 Sam 7:13
    • Messianic age
      • Isa 11
    • Two messiahs
      • King – Zech 9:9
      • Priest – Zech 6:13
55
Jewish Understanding
    • Mashinach ben David
      • Single Davidic King
      • Conquer enemies of Israel
      • Return the Jewish people from exile
      • Rebuild the Temple
      • Reinstitute the Mosaic sacrifices
    • Mashinach be Joseph
      • Precede the messianic king
      • Be killed in an epic battle with the enemies of God and Israel
56
Jewish Understanding
    • Human agent of divine redemption
      • Riding into Jerusalem on a Donkey Zech 9:9
      • Clouds of heaven Dan 7:13
      • Born in Bethlehem the day the Temple was destroyed Mich 5:1
      • Present at the Creation, existing before the Creation
      • Sits among the lepers
      • Ascends the mount of olive heralded by a shofar blast
      • Announces himself at Sukot during the Hellal
57
Jewish Understanding
    • Modern views
      • Reform Judaism
        • Messianic age of universal justice
      • Orthodox Judaism still holds to the doctrine of a personal messiah
    • Modern practice
      • Chair for Elijah at every circumcision (each Jewish child could be the Messiah)
      • Born on Tisha b’Av 9th day of Av (July-Aug)
      • Dead buried with feet facing Jerusalem awaiting the resurrection of the dead when the messiah comes
58
Views of Maimonides
    • So this is the Jewish view
    • What is missing?
      • Psalms?
      • Isaiah 51-53;  where is the suffering servant?
      • Where is the bridegroom redeemer? Ruth and Judges
    • Mosaic covenant is incomplete
      • No sacrifice for intentional sin
      • No forgiveness but the grave
      • Messiah required to complete the covenant
59
Summary
  • Ancient cultures very different than ours – thinking was different
  • Rabbinic understanding in first century was Messiah based
  • Expectation of Jewish world


60
Overview
  • 2.  Historical prelude
    • World
    • Levant
    • Jewish world
61
Greek Words and Language
  • Σλλην Hellen (hel'-lane)
    • a Hellen (Grecian) or inhabitant of Hellas; by extension a Greek-speaking person, especially a non-Jew:
      • KJV-- Gentile, Greek.
62
Greek Words and Language
  • Έκκλησίαν ekklesia (ek-klay-see'-ah)
    • a calling out for an assembly
    • The Athenian Democracy
      • KJV-- assembly, church.
        • ek (ek) or ex (ex); a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):
          • KJV-- after, among, X are, at, betwixt (-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+abundantly above), for (-th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with (-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
63
Greek Words and Language
        • kaleo (kal-eh'-o); to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, dir. or otherwise):
          • KJV-- bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-) name (was [called]).
  • Ρωμαίός Rhomaios (hro-mah'-yos)
    • Romaean, i.e. Roman (as noun):
      • KJV-- Roman, of Rome.
        • Rhome (hro'-may); strength; Roma, the capital of Italy:
          • KJV-- Rome.
64
Greek Words and Language
      • rhonnumi (hrone'-noo-mee); prolongation from rhoomai (to dart); to strengthen, i.e. (impersonal passive) have health (as a parting exclamation, good-bye):
        • KJV-- farewell.
  • Ρωμαϊστί Rhomaisti (hro-mah-is-tee')
    • Romaistically, i.e. in the Latin language:
      • KJV-- Latin.
65
Greek Words and Language
  • Βάρβαρος barbaros (bar'-bar-os)
    • of uncertain derivation; a foreigner (i.e. non-Greek):
      • KJV-- barbarian (-rous), foreigner, foreign
66
Jewish View of Law
  • Law was inherent in Creation
    • Not just devised
    • Note comparison with Noahic covenant
    • God’s revelation in the Covenant at the right time
    • Particular step for God to bring the CoI and us into understanding of law
67
Jewish View of Law
  • Much confusion on the Laws and laws under the covenant of the CoI
    • Gentiles
      • Covered by the Noahic covenant
      • Can become Yoked to the Torah if convert to Judaism
68
Jewish View of Law
    • The Law of God is a physical representation of the Law God set in the creation
      • Laws for individuals
        • Noahic
        • Mosaic – ten words (synopsis of Torah)
      • Laws for society – ten words (Torah)
      • Laws of cleanliness – ten words (Torah)
      • Verbal Torah - Mishna
        • Talmud
69
Intentional Sin
  • Num 15:30-31 (NIV)
  • 30 "'But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the LORD, and that person must be cut off from his people.
  • 31 Because he has despised the LORD's word and broken his commands, that person must surely be cut off; his guilt remains on him.'"


  • Num 15:30-31 (NAS)
  • 30 'But the person who does {anything} defiantly, whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the LORD; and that person shall be cut off from among his people.
  • 31 'Because he has despised the word of the LORD and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt {shall be} on him.'"
70
Jewish View of Law
  • Covenant is incomplete because no redemption for intentional sin
    • Each earlier covenant is incomplete
    • JPS Handbook points to 31 unforgivable
    • Points directly to a Messiah
    • Rabbis understood the incomplete covenant and understood its limitations
      • Following destruction of the Temple led to a more secular understanding of covenant
      • Today covenant of Moses can’t be kept because no Temple
71
Jewish View of Law
    • Training was in the Torah and other scriptures as well as the Mishna, at this time verbal
      • Ancient writing mnemonics
    • This verbal Mishna is what Christ knew and understood well
      • Synagogue trained - Pharisaically trained
    • With the destruction of the Temple, the role of the synagogue and of the Rabbis (Pharisees) became more important
72
World History
  • ¶History is critical
    • 400 BC to 0 AD
    • Greeks
      • City-state – each with a different political system
      • Athens only democracy
      • Constant war with each other and with outside enemies
      • Greeks - not generally defeated or subjugated
73
World History
      • Most important invention in thinking “Greek philosophy”
        • Not separate from theology
        • Direct separation from Paganism
        • Direct separation from the world’s past way of thinking
        • Key date 399 BC – death of Socrates


      • How did we get there?
74
World History
    • Alexander
      • 336 takes kingship of Macedonia
      • 323 dies in Babylon of illness
      • Ushered in a new era in politics
        • City-states under outside dominion
        • Alexander sparked the imagination of so many cultures his empire became the model for the world
75
World History
        • City-states modeled themselves after Greek (Hellenism)
          • Adopted Greek language
          • Greek culture
          • Greek philosophy
          • Greek science (same as philosophy)
          • Greek religion
          • Paganism
          • Temples
          • Oracles
          • Mystery religion
76
World History
      • Generals
        • Seleucus
          • Asia – Persia
          • Seleucid empire
        • Ptolemy
          • Egypt
        • Antigonus
          • Macedon
77
World History
    • Socrates – 399 BC
      • Ushered in a critical change in thinking
      • Death was the turning point of the Greek culture in moving from Paganism to Mysticism
78
World History
      • Difference in Socrates and the other Greek philosophers is they did not focus their knowledge in religion
        • Step toward Mystery religion
          • Focus on a leader
          • Revelation of a mystery
          • Initiation rites
          • Steps of knowledge to the full revelation
          • Leads directly to Gnosticism – next step in religion
          • Separation from a physical revelation
79
World History
        • Greatest addition was not mystery religion, but a look at the world from a position of rationalism
          • Peshat vs. Derash
          • Concept of the world as rational
          • History
          • Science
          • Logic (Socrates 469-399 BC
          • Scientific method (Aristotle 384-322 BC)
          • Historical-legal method (Herodotus 484–424 BC)
          • Greek rational thought
80
Truth
  • Logic (Socrates 469-399 BC
  • Scientific method (Aristotle 384-322 BC)
  • Historical-legal method (Herodotus 484–424 BC)


  • Greek rationalism
    • Basis of Western Civilization and thought
81
World History
    • Romans
      • 509 Republic established
        • City-States with Rome as a part
      • Not a world power until 200 BC
      • First Punic war 264-241 BC defeats Carthage
      • Second Punic war 218-201 defeats Hannibal
      • Defeats Macedon 197
      • Defeats Syria 190
      • Third Punic war 149-146 Carthage raised (proves the effectiveness of war)
82
World History
      • 49 BC Caesar crosses the Rubicon – beginning of the end of the Roman republic
        • Caesar – beginning of the Emperors
83
World History - Conclusion
  • Greek rational thought was the framework of the Gospels
  • Brought to the known world by Alexander the Great through conquer
    • Irrational (Derash) world accepted the mantel of Hellenistic thinking and culture
  • Romans accepted and spread Greek rationalism with pluralism and new political construct – nation-state
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Greek Language
  • ήγεμών hegemon (hayg-em-ohn')
    • a leader, i.e. chief person (or figuratively, place) of a province:
      • KJV-- governor, prince, ruler.
      • hegeomai (hayg-eh'-om-ahee); to lead, i.e. command (with official authority); figuratively, to deem, i.e. consider:
        • KJV-- account, (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, think.
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Greek Language
  • βασιλέως basileus (bas-il-yooce')
    • notion of a foundation of power; a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively):
      • KJV-- king.
      • basis (bas'-ece); from baino (to walk); a pace ("base"), i.e. (by implication) the foot:
        •  KJV-- foot.
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Greek Language
  • έθνάρχης ethnarches (eth-nar'-khace)
    • the governor [not king] of a district:
      • KJV-- ethnarch.
      • ethnos (eth'-nos); a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication, pagan):
        • KJV-- Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
      • arche (ar-khay'); (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank):
        • KJV-- beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.
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Greek Language
  • τετραάρχης tetrarches (tet-rar'-khace)
  • the ruler of a fourth part of a country ("tetrarch"):
    • KJV-- tetrarch
    • tessares (tes'-sar-es); tessara (tes'-sar-ah); a plural number; four:
      • KJV-- four.
    • archo (ar'-kho); to be first (in political rank or power):
      • KJV-- reign (rule) over.
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Greek Language
  • ‘Іουδαίας – Judaea
  • Γαλιλαίας – Galilee
  • Ποντίου Πιλάτου – Pontius Pilate
  • ‘Ηρώδου -- Herod
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History - Levant
  • History is critical
    • 200 BC to 0 AD
    • Greeks – following Alexander’s death
      • Ptolemy
        • Egypt
      • Antigonus
        • Macedon
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Alexander
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Seleucid Empire
      • Seleucid empire - Seleucus
        • Asia – Persia
        • Controlled the Levant back and forth with Greek Egypt at this time Seleucid empire was in control
        • Goal was Hellenization
        • 175 BC
        • Jason is the high priest – who has taken on a political controlling influence
        • Antiochus IV is the head of the Seleucid empire
        • Jason was open to Hellenization and built gymnasiums and encouraged priests to go to the sporting events
        • Jason rebelled against Antiochus IV and Antiochus sent in troops
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Israel
        • Antiochus began a heavy program of Hellenization of the Jews
          • Defiled the temple with swine
          • Did not allow circumcision
          • Prevented temple worship
          • Built an alter to Zeus in the Temple– abomination of desolation (interpreted by the Rabbis)
          • Precipitated a revolt 167 BC – the Maccabean revolt
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Maccabean Revolt
    • The Maccabean revolt - 167 BCE
      • Started by Mattathias (priest) and his sons
      • Beginning of the Hasmoneans
      • Successful because the Romans are eating away at the Seleucid empire
      • Simon proclaimed by people to be their leader and high priest
        • Significant because (according to Josephus) Simon was not of the line of Aaron and not entitled to be high priest
        • Simon and prior to him, his brother Jonathan proclaimed both high priest and king of Israel
        • Line of Hasmoneans through Simon
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Jewish Sects
      • Proclamation of Simon as king and high priest caused a split into 4 Jewish sects
        • Essenes
        • Pharisees
        • Sadducees
        • Zealots
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Jewish Sects
      • Essenes
        • Jewish tradition says may have been started by the ex-high priest prior to Jonathan
        • Strictly interpreted Law and rejected many elements of Jewish “tradition”
        • Example:  tradition changed the date of the Passover to the first Friday following the 15 of Nissan, Essenes and Pharisees disagreed with this counting and the Essenes celebrated Passover on 15 Nissan—Christ had his Passover on 15 Nissan Thursday
        • Separated from sacrificial Law
        • Resurrection of dead
        • Reward and punishment after life
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Jewish Sects
      • Pharisees
        • Like the Essesens disagreed with the Hasmodeans as high priest and king
        • Strongly supported the use of Oral Torah along with the Torah in the determination of Jewish Law
        • Advocated greater leniency in punishments
        • Believed in resurrection
        • Believed in eternal punishment of the wicked
        • Supported by the people
        • Saul/Paul was a Pharisee
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Jewish Sects
        • Sadducees
          • Held only Torah as basis for Law
          • No resurrection
          • No punishment after death
          • Generally controlled Temple and high priest
        • Zealots
          • 6 AD founded by Judas of Galilee
          • Basically Pharisees with an extremist bent
          • Violently opposed the Romans and Hellenization
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Roman Intervention
    • Roman intervention
      • Pompey 66BC sent to stabilize Syria
      • Took Jerusalem and added Judea to Syria
      • End of Hasmodean rule – Pompey appointed his chief lieutenant Gabinius as the administrator
      • Hyrcanus II (a Hasmodean) was appointed high priest by Rome (Pompey), his advisor is Antipater (an Idumean, south of Judea and not a Jew)
      • Antipater’s son was Herod (Herod Antipater)
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Herod
    • Herod
      • Appointed administrator of Galilee
      • Brother Phasael appointed administrator of Jerusalem
      • Mark Anthony appointed Herod and Phasael as tetrarchs
      • The Parthians invaded Syria and captured Phaseal and Hyrcanus II
        • Phaseal committed suicide in prison
        • Hyrcanus was mutilated so he could not be the high priest any longer
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Herod
      • Herod retreated to Masada and appealed to Rome
        • 37 BC Rome accepted Herod’s appeal and made him the King of Judea
        • At Herod’s request the last Hasmodean king, Antigonus was put to death
      • Herod was a Idumean whose family had been forced to convert to Judaism at sword point
        • Tied himself to Hasmodeans by marrying Mariamme a princess of the family
        • Appointed her brother an Hasmodean (Aristobulis III) as high priest – Herod had him drowned in 35 BC because of his popularity eliminating the last of Hasmodeans
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Herod
        • Killed many of his own sons and his wives
          • Caesar Augustus said, “It is better to be Herod’s pig than his son.”
      • Herod’s greatest accomplishments were his building programs and Hellenization of the Levant
        • Rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem
        • Also erected temples to the Roman gods
        • Staged athletic games in Caesar’s honor
        • Constructed the port at Caesarea Maritama
        • Reequipped Masda
        • Rebuilt many cities in Hellenistic style
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Herod’s Legacy
    • Herod’s children
      • 4 BC, riots erupted at Herod’s death that the Roman legate of Syria, Varius had to suppress
      • Herod’s will gave the kingdom to three of his sons (ratified by the Roman Senate)
        • Judea, Samaria, and Idumea – Archelaus as ethnarch
        • Galilee – Antipas as tetrarch
        • Perea – Philip as tetrarch
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Judea
    • Judea
      • 6 BC a delegation from the Jews and Samaritans convinced Augustus to exile Archelaus to Gaul (France)
      • Judea was annexed to the Roman province of Syria and a procurator was appointed as the local administrator
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Judea
      • 6 to 41 AD six Roman procurators ruled Judea
        • Administered from Caesarea Maritima
        • Came to Jerusalem during the 3 pilgrim festivals
          • Passover
          • Shavuot
          • Sukkot
        • P. Sulpicius Quirinius 6 AD
          • Started with a census
          • Led to armed rebellion
          • Fearing higher taxes and labor service
          • Placed Ananus as high priest
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Judea - Procurators
        • Valerius Gratus
          • Deposed Ananus 15 AD
          • Appointed and deposed 3 other high priests
        • Pontius Pilate 26 AD
          • Ordered legionary standards into Jerusalem
          • imagines (imago) – staffs bearing portraits of the deified and reigning emperors
          • aquila – staffs bearing the legion’s eagle
          • Caused a riot in Caesarea Maritum where there was a great slaughter
          • Josephus tells us about the incident, but it is referred to in Luke
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Pilate
      • Luke 13:1-5
        • 1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
        • 2 Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?
        • 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
        • 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?
        • 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
        • (NIV)
      • Built an aqueduct for Jerusalem
        • Unfortunately used Temple funds
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Herod Antipas
    • Herod Antipas
      • Tetrarch of Galilee
      • Divorced his first Queen to marry Herodias wife of his late half-brother Philip
      • Built Tiberias
        • On the ruins of an ancient cemetery
      • 39 AD Caligula exiled Herod Antipas to Gaul
        • Awarded all the lands to Herod Agrippa (a grandson of Herod I)
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Religious Focus
  • Religious focus of the times
    • World a fearful and dangerous place
    • No understanding of how things work—action of spirits
    • Gods in everything
    • Paganism
    • Pagan man sees spiritual action and forces in all things—therefore these spirits must be placated—back to the concept of sacrifice
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Paganism
  • Paganism
    • Greeks, Romans, and everyone else
    • Belief: gods in everything
    • Becomes a pantheon
    • Mystery religion
    • Gnosticism – knowledge religion
    • What about fire?
      • Belonged to God
      • Kindled in the temple/distributed to the people
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Paganism
      • Leviticus 10:1-2—illicit fire before God (Nadav and Avihu)
      • Greek example
    • What about sacrifice?
      • Taking the life of anything was viewed as taking from the province of God or gods
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Law
    • What about Laws?
      • God’s Law - Torah
      • Roman law
      • Means to protect women, children, aged, handicapped requires strength and organization
      • Roman law the freest for women in history
      • Rule of law in development
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Law
    • Jewish Law
      • Laws for individuals
        • Noahic
        • Mosaic – ten words
      • Laws for society
      • Laws of cleanliness
      • Verbal Torah - Mishna
    • Religion changing – mystery religion based on Greek rationalism common
    • Mystery religion paving way for Gnostics
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Law
    • Slight inking of monotheism—Hebrews almost only monotheists (mystery and Gnostics moving toward monotheism)
114
Conclusion
  • Known world Hellenized
    • Greek is the culture
    • Greek is the language
  • Total warfare and conflict until Roman law and control
  • Conflicting world views and conflicting views of God
  • 4 Jewish Sects developed
  • Religious world in turmoil
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Next Time
  • Historical veracity and literature of the Gospels