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Exploring Ancient Scriptures: Gospels, History & Jesus

Dive into the biblical world of the Gospels, tracing back to the life of Jesus amidst Roman occupation, exploring geographical and historical contexts, and understanding early Christian writings. Discover the diverse interpretations of the sacred texts from different perspectives.

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Exploring Ancient Scriptures: Gospels, History & Jesus

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  1. The Gospels Byzantine Online Fall 2013 Sandra Collins, Ph.D.

  2. Week 1 Introduction • Sandra (Sandee) Collins • scollins@bcs.edu • 412-321-8383, ext. 23 • "For what could God have more generously and abundantly provided in the divine writings than that the same words might be understood in various ways," (De doctrina Christiana, 3.27,28).

  3. Texts

  4. BIBLE: introduction and terms • Old Testament (Christian) • Tanakh (Jewish) • Hebrew Bible (academic) • Torah (lit. “teaching”)= can be only first five books or a reference to the totality of the Old Testament • Jews read the Bible descriptively • Christians order the text to fit a predictive reading

  5. Geography and dates • BCE = Before Common Era • CE = Common Era • Judea (4th century BCE-1st century CE) • Palestine (Latinized Philistia; 135 CE to 20th century CE) • Israel (1948-)

  6. HISTORY • Alexander the Great and Roman Occupation (333 BCE-63 BCE) • Imposition of Hellenistic (Greek) cultural norms • Septuagint (LXX): Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures,Alexandria, ~250 BCE • Establishment of Herodian kings (roughly 37-4 BCE Herod Agrippa, or Agrippa the Great, ruler of Judea (10 BC – 44 AD)

  7. Jesus the Christ • Jesus (roughly 4 BCE – 33 CE) • Life corresponds with Roman occupation of Judea • Pax Romana, or Roman peace • Killed by Roman authorities for sedition, or attempt to set up rival kingdom to that of the emperor of Rome, which is treason. • Image (Augustus Caesar [63 BCE-14 CE]; Chiaramonti Museum, Braccio Nuovo).

  8. Paul and earliest Christianity • Period of 54-70 CE • Paul • Apostle to the Gentiles • Earliest NT writings we have • Gospels • Roughly 65-90 CE • Mark is earliest; John the latest • 70 CE • Pivotal historical moment • Temple is destroyed by Rome • Great diaspora, or expulsion, of Jews from Judea • Image: Existing southern steps of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem.

  9. Johannine Christianity • Roughly 90 CE and following • Gospel of John; Johannine Letters; Revelation • Strong pneumatology • Trinitarian doctrine has its roots here

  10. “The Gospels are narratives.” • Image: • The ending of the Gospel of Luke from Codex Alexandrinus, a 5th century copy of the Septuagint (Greek OT) and New Testament found in Alexandria, currently in the British Library.

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