Hamilton Reformed Church 2010

1. Hamilton Reformed Church 2010 New Testament Survey Session 1 - Background

2. New Testament Survey • Background • The Synoptic Gospels and Acts • The Writings of John • Paul’s Letters • The Other New Testament Letters

3. Background • Historical • Political • Geographical • Language • Religious • Important Dates

4. Foreign powers - Assyria • Fall of Samaria 722BC • Defeated most of Judah around 700BC (Isaiah 36:1) • Besieged Jerusalem but forced to withdraw by God’s intervention (Isaiah 36,37) • Went into decline end 7th C BC • Nineveh fell 612 BC

5. Foreign powers - Babylon • Invaded Judah around 603BC carried captives into exile including Daniel & Co (2 Kings 24:1; Daniel 1:1ff) • Invaded again around 597BC carried Jehoiachin and 10,000 others into exile (2 Kings 24:12ff) • Returned again and destroyed Jerusalem & temple in 586BC (2 Kings 25:8ff) • At the height of its power, Babylon is overcome by Persia in 539BC (Daniel 5)

6. Foreign powers - Persia • Control of Israel from 539BC to around 331BC • Had policy of returning exiles to own land, reinstituting religion • As a result many Jewish exiles able to return (Ezra 1:1ff) • Cyrus, God’s anointed, financed building of 2nd temple (Isaiah 45:1,13; Ezra 1) • Conquered by Greece

7. Foreign powers - Greece • Alexander the Great defeated Persia – very successful general • Empire extended around to India • Imported Greek culture wherever went • Empire lasted from 331-323BC • No apparent successor when Alexander died at age 32 • Empire eventually divided in four.

8. Foreign powers – Ptolemies & Seleucids • Israel caught in tug of war between two kingdoms • Ruled by Ptolemies from 323BC till 198BC • Bible translated into Greek in Alexandria around 250BC (LXX)

9. Foreign powers - Ptolemies & Seleucids • Seleucids gained control in battle • Held Israel from 198BC till 165BC • Antiochus Epiphanes abolished sacrifices, set up altar to Zeus in temple 168BC (Daniel 11:31ff; 12:11) • Gave rise to successful Maccabee rebellion • Temple rededicated 165BC (Hannukah – John 10:22)

10. Independence! • Maccabees under Judas Maccabeus gain control of Jerusalem in 165BC • Expand territory over period that follows • John Hyrcanus deliberately settles Jews in far North to surround Samaria • Hasmonean kingdom falls to Romans in 63BC • Last Hasmonean king executed in 37BC

11. Foreign powers - Rome • Hasmoneans fall to Pompeius in 63BC • (Note that NT mainly chronicles growth of Gospel in Roman Empire)

12. Political Situation • No Israelite king / corrupt Priesthood • Under foreign rule – Roman • Several “layers” of government • One national language – Greek! • Bible used is Septuagint • Greek thought still dominates • Time of peace / stability • Travel easy throughout empire • 4,000,000 Jews in empire only 700,000 in Palestine (more in Alexandria than Jerusalem) • Jewish synagogues throughout empire

13. RomanRule • A complicated picture!

14. The Herods • Herod – family name several Roman rulers • Herod the Great known for building projects – commenced rebuilding of temple around 19BC. Had been under construction for 46 years in Jesus’ time • Interesting family dynamics!

15. Land of the New Testament • Different rulers over various provinces (Luke 23:7) • Samaria had been repopulated (2 Kings 17:24ff) • East of Jordan now Gentile

16. Distances / Dimensions • Dan • Dan to Beersheba 248 kms • Dead sea to Mediterranean 100 kms • Length of Dead Sea 80 kms • Between Galilee and Dead Sea 112 kms • Mt Carmel to Galilee 64 kms • Total length Israel 320 kms • Width narrowest point 48 kms 64 kms 112 kms 248 kms 100 kms 80 kms • Beersheba

17. Jordan Valley

18. Jordan Valley

19. Language • Greek • Not “Holy Ghost” Greek but Koine (common) • Aramaic • Hebrew confined to religious purposes • Latin – legal language of empire, mostly spoken in West

20. Religious Background • Pharisees (separated ones) • Flourished during 2nd temple period • Some connection to Hasidim (faithful) who arose in response to Antiochus Epiphanes • Held to authority of Scriptures and traditions of the elders (Mark 7:5,8,13) or “oral law” • Went on to form basis of Rabbinic Judaism

21. Religious Background • Sadducees • From Aaronic line – High Priests typically Sadducees • Held only to the Law of Moses • Rejected oral traditions • Did not believe in the resurrection of the dead nor in angels or spirits (Matt 22:23ff; Acts 23:8) • Formed majority of Sanhedrin • Largely disappeared after 70AD

22. Important Dates • 10BC to 90AD – Period covered by NT • 8BC – approximate date of Jesus’ birth • 27-30AD – Jesus’ ministry (temple rebuilding began 19BC) • 46-57AD – Paul’s missionary journeys • 65-67AD – Nero’s persecution (Peter & Paul probably martyred then) • 70AD – Fall of Jerusalem / temple destroyed (only wailing wall remains) • 100AD – John dies on Patmos • 49-90AD – Writing of New Testament

23. Unanswered Questions • Where is this promised king and his kingdom? • Where is the greater glory God promised for the new temple? (Haggai 2:9) • What has happened to God’s covenant with us? • Why have we not heard from God for 430 years? • Has God in his anger forgotten to show mercy? (Psalm 77:9) • There is an answer to all these questions …

24. The King has come!