James Jude: Letters to Everyone in General & Johannine Epistles Archaeology & the New Testament NT227 Lesson 03 of 03 Listening Guide I. Introduction to Archaeological Evidence [1] What do we examine in this lesson? II. Palestine [2] What three major archaeological sites do we look at in this lesson? [3] Why these three? A. Capernaum [4] How many fishing towns surrounded the Sea of Galilee in New Testament times? [5] Why is Capernaum important to New Testament studies? [6] What recent archaeological discovery explains the presence of a Roman centurion in a prominently Jewish town? [7] When was Capernaum founded? [8] Why is the current Tell Hum the modern choice of where ancient Capernaum was located? [9] What is one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Capernaum? NT227 Listening Guide 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Lesson 03 1
[10] What caused a serious break in tradition, which makes the specific identification of places such as Peter s house strongly debated? B. Caesarea-Philippi [11] What idol s shrine was discovered in modern-day Banias that is mentioned in Joshua 11:17? [12] Where did the name Caesarea-Philippi come from? [13] What civilization was dominant there in the time of Christ? C. Samaria [14] How prominent is Samaria in biblical literature? [15] Why was Samaria significant in Old Testament times? [16] Samaria is how many miles north of Jerusalem? [17] Why was Samaria such an important commercial location? [18] What was the city of Samaria renamed? (Note: The Old Testament city of Samaria was renamed Sebaste in 30 b.c. by Herod the Great in honor of Caesar Augustus. In Jesus time the name Samaria referred to the territory that lay between Judea and Galilee and was populated by the despised Samaritans.) NT227 Listening Guide 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Lesson 03 2
[19] What happened in Sebaste when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire? III. Paul s Travels [20] What three cities will we limit our survey to in the study of Paul s travels? A. Ephesus [21] What major temple added to the commercial importance of Ephesus (see Acts 19:23 28)? [22] What was the population of Ephesus in New Testament times? [23] What is the current name of the country where Ephesus was located? [24] Describe Ephesus in a few sentences that capture its character as a city. B. Corinth [25] Where was Corinth located? [26] Why was its location so strategic commercially? [27] Why did Julius Caesar rebuild Corinth in 146 b.c.? [28] Although it was geographically located in Greece, what was the primary culture of its citizens? NT227 Listening Guide 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Lesson 03 3
[29] On what was Corinth s reputation based? [30] Why did Paul see Corinth as a base for the Christian mission? C. Athens [31] Was Athens named for the goddess Athena or was Athena named for Athens? [32] What role did Athens play in Attica in the New Testament era and what role does it play in Greece today? [33] Why was Athens so prominent in spite of the fact that Attica was one of the driest regions of Greece? Give at least two reasons. [34] What was the Agora, and why is it important in biblical studies? [35] What was the Acropolis? [36] What was the Parthenon? [37] What was the Areopagus? [38] What was the point of contact in Paul s speech at the Areopagus recorded in Acts 17:22 31? NT227 Listening Guide 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Lesson 03 4
Reflection Record one new fact or insight you discovered in this lesson. Application As we consider the enormous differences in culture between Palestine, Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome discovered through archaeology, we realize how transcultural and eternal the gospel message is. While holding vastly different worldviews, all these people could comprehend and embrace Jesus love for them. Paul modeled a crucial principle for all of us to follow when he found ways to connect with everyone, regardless of their religion, worldview, or prejudices and share God s love with them. Jesus message to all His followers is, You will be my witnesses... to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). NT227 Listening Guide 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Lesson 03 5