The World Jesus Lived In Presented by Randy Broberg
Your Instructor, in his archaeology days French Beret Long Hair
Jesus Didn t Live Once Upon a Time You Need to Know the History For Interpretation For Apologetics Luke 1:1-5 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
The World as They Knew It
Come On, Knock it Off, I dare you. Matthew 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king. Luke 2:1-2 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Luke 3:1-2 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
So When did Jesus Live? The Time of the Second Temple When discussing the history of Judaism, scholars refer to this period as the period of the Second Temple. The period dates from rebuilding of second temple in 538 BC to destruction of that temple in 70 AD. Likely location of money changers
So When Did Jesus Live? The Time of the Pax Romana Jesus was born in the Roman Empire during the rule of Augustus, the first emperor Jesus died and rose again under emperor Tiberius, the second emperor. The Church first grew under Emperor Gaius (aka Caligula). Paul was in Corinth under Emperor Claudius Paul and Peter martyred under Emperor Nero John writes Revelation under Emperor Domitian. Augustus Caesar, a.k.a. Octavian, nephew of Julius Caesar
Romans Invited to resolve dynastic dispute! Pompey captures Palestine in 63 B.C. desecrates the Temple! Romans Acquire Judea 63 BC Roman General Pompey who added Judea to Roman Empire This is the same guy whose head was given to Julius Caesar in a basket in the movie Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton
Romans Appoint Herod as King (37-4 BC) Idumean, family forcibly circumcised by Maccabees Ruled by terror and brutality violation of Jewish laws (theatre, gymnasium,) oppressive taxation fortresses & palaces Rebuilt Jewish Temple
Herod the Great s Buildings Megiddo fortress Herodium Fortress cistern
Herod s Temple
Herod s kingdom divided among three sons Antipas - Galilee and Perea Philip - Golan Heights Archelaus - Judea - after 6 CE ruled by procurators. *Pontius Pilate 26-36 CE Independent Greek Cities Current Lebanon Current Syria Modern Israel Does Not Match the Holy Land Current Jordan
Palestine Scenery Mount of Olives
Geography, Scenery and Climate a lot like San Diego s! Jesus went up and Jesus went down
Sea of Galilee
Jews, Hellenized Jews and Gentiles Living Together Palestine thickly populated est 700,000 In some areas there are more Gentiles than Jews (e.g., Decapolis in Galilee)
Languages Hebrew Language of Liturgy Loss of knowledge of Hebrew outside a few Rabbis Aramaic Syrian/Babylonian language of the common people Koine Greek --Language of the marketplace Latin --Language of government
Sophisticated Culture on Trade Cross Roads Jerusalem as it was in Herod s reign. Model, Holy Land Hotel, Jerusalem
Alexander s Empire Divided after his Death Ptolemies secured control of Egypt Took possession of Jerusalem held it until 198 Seleucus obtained Syria and Asia Minor Antiochus III incorporated Judea into Seleucid kingdom in 198 Law of Moses: status of royal law in Judea Antiochus III
Hellenization --From name of Greeks, Hellenes Greek language, thought & culture Antiochus IV: Forbids the observance of the Mosaic Law Forbids circumcisions Rededicates the Temple to Zeus Slaughters a pig on the now pagan altar Daniel s prophecy Abomination of Desolation fulfilled? Was Antiochus IV the prince in Daniel? Looking for the Messiah under every bed. Hellenization & End Times Mania Nike -- the Winged Victory Now You Know Why they Call them Nikes! Swoosh!
Zenith of Hellenism within a few miles of Nazareth The Mona Lisa of Galilee Greek Amphitheater in Caesaria
John 12:20-21 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks so these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, Sir, we wish to see Jesus.
Second Temple Worship Temple Profaned by Antiochus Maccabees outside of priestly line Temple Polluted by Romans Herod s appointed priests not in priestly line Competing Temples!! (Egypt, Samaria)
Development of Synagogues Developed during the Exile Event Means assembly Pattern of worship Reading of the Shema (Deut. 6:4ff) Prayer Singing of Psalms Reading from the Law and Prophets Homily/Interpretation Blessing/Benediction Bema White Synagogue in Capernaum
Synagogue Meetings Reading of the Shema (Deut. 6:4ff) Prayer there was room for free prayer -- generally prayed standing with face toward Jerusalem or Temple. One prayed and the whole congregation said Amen. Singing of Psalms Philo (DeVita Contemplativa) mentions the responsive singing of the Psalms by the Essenes. Reading from the Law and Prophets Homily/Interpretation After the reading of the law and the prophets, and exposition or work of exhortation was given by some qualified person locally or by a distinguished visitor (as Christ in Nazareth and Paul and Barnabas at Antioch). Rabbi stood to read. Sat to preach Blessing/Benediction
Synagogue Buildings Rectangular Meeting Room with benches forming a U shape Kitchens and Eating Areas Libraries and Meeting Rooms
Monotheism-- the shema Images of God forbidden Anticipation of a Messiah, political deliverer. Law (Torah) practice, not doctrine or theology Mishna (Oral Traditions, regulations) Temple (Ceremony, Ritual) Judaism
Jewish worship Jewish worship on the Sabbath -- whatever its origin -- is upheld by its antiquity, while their other customs, which are ill-omened and disgusting, gain strength from their depravity. They sit apart at meals, and have adopted circumcision in order to make manifest their difference from other men, and converts to their religion accept this custom. It is a crime to kill any superfluous children...and their burial customs are similar to those of the Egyptians, as is their belief about the underworld. But their faith about things divine is very different. While the Egyptians worship many animals and images mixing men and beasts, the Jews have a mental conception of their God as a single essence. Tacitus Histories, 5.5
Jewish Holidays Passover & Unleavened Bread (March-April) Commemorates the Exodus Event Pentecost (April-May) Marks the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai New Year (Rosh Hashanah) (September-October) Lev.15 Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) (September-October) national repentance, fasting, and atonement Festival Tabernacles/Booths (October-November) Commemorates the wilderness wanderings Festival of Lights/Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) (December) Commemorates the rededication of the temple during the Maccabean revolt Feast of Purim (January-February) Commemorates the deliverance of Israel during the time of Esther
John 10:22-24 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon so the Jews gathered around him and said to him, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.
Initiation Rites Circumcision baptism
Jews performed ritual immersion ("mikveh ) for purification purposes and imitation of converts. Mikveh in Hebrew literally means any gathering of waters, but is specifically used in Jewish law for the waters or bath for the ritual immersion. Baptism was a term used in the Old Testament to indicate the practice of washing according to the Mosaic laws of purification (Ex. 30:17-21; cf. Mark 7:4 The concept of immersion in rabbinic literature is referred to as a new birth [Yeb. 22a; 48b; 97b; Mass. Ger. c.ii]. Jewish Baptisms Mikveh in Jerusalem near Temple
According to Jewish law Immersion is required for both men and women when converting to Judaism. The person being baptized made special preparations by undressing completely and made a fresh profession of faith before the designated "fathers of the baptism" [Kethub. 11a; Erub 15a]. Whom the Jews Baptized
How the Jews Baptized There are six descending orders of ritual baths in the Mishnah [Oral Laws of how to accomplish the written Law] and the highest order is that of a spring or flowing river, called Living Water. The candidate would totally immerse himself in the water. Immersion was accompanied by exhortations and benedictions [Maimonides Hilkh. Milah iii.4; Hilkh. Iss, Biah Xiv.6]. A convert would reaffirm his acceptance of the Torah by declaring, "I will do and I will hear" [Deuteronomy 29:9-14]. Jewish baptism was to be performed in the presence of witnesses in whose name he was immersed [Yebam. 47b].
The Jewish Passover Meal Cup reading of Gen 1:31b- 2:3; blessing+ sanctification of the Sabbath Bread blessed, broken, distributed Meal Birkat ha-mazon cup blessed on feast days. Olive Tree in Garden of Gesthemene
Groups: Zealots: Zionists Very nationalistic Opposed Hellenization Opposed Herod s high taxes and tax collectors Opposed Roman Control. Revolts of 70 AD and Bar Kochba Wasn t a religious movement, was a political movement. Who are today s Zealots? Candelabra, NOT STAR OF DAVID, was the universal Jewish symbol
Name means separated ones Developed after the Maccabean revolt Opposed to Hellenization Developed the synagogues Very legalistic Avoid sinners Afterlife, Resurrection Awaited Messiah Hostile towards Jesus teachings & ministry Who are the Pharisees today? Groups: Pharisees: Orthodox and Self Righteous Recreation of Sanhedrin Scene
Matthew 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?
Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
Groups: Scribes: Legalists A professional group that interpreted/taught the Old Testament law Gave judicial opinions on cases brought to them Developed after the exile Synonymous with lawyer, scribe, teacher of the law, and rabbi Jesus condemned the scribes in the same manner he condemned the Pharisees scribes unified in opposition to Jesus Who are the Scribes today?
Second Temple (model). Destroyed in 70 A.D.
Separationism Sabbath (39 classes of work forbidden) purity laws Dietary laws
Fear of a gentile infiltrating the Temple When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him [Paul] in the Temple, stirred up all the crowd, and laid hands on him, crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching men everywhere against the people and the law and this place; moreover he also brought Greeks into the Temple, and he has defiled this holy place." For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the Temple. Then all the city was aroused, and the people ran together; they seized Paul and dragged him out of the Temple, and at once the gates were shut. And as they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them; and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Acts 21.27-32
The Messiah Zealots expected a Revolutionary Sadducees did not believe in a coming Messiah. Essenes expected two separate figures. King and Priest Jesus did not fulfill expectations Did not restore the lands of Israel, didn t free his people, no universal peace, terrible death.
value rituals in Temple Accepted only 5 books of Moses Do not believe in: Resurrection, Afterlife, Final Judgment, Angels/Spirits, Divine Providence, Messiah Relationship with Jesus Sought to discredit Jesus teachings & ministry Jesus had little in common with the Sadducees Josephus - says that they deny fate and compares them with Epicureans deny immortality of the soul and resurrection Sadducees had little political power Who are the Sadducees today? Groups: Sadducees: Preserving Dead Ritual But Denying Truth of Faith
Groups: Essenes: End Times Maniacs founded by Teacher of Righteousness Established very strict communities similar to monasteries Rejected Temple worship sect would be vindicated when temple purged of evil Massacred by Romans in 68 AD. Left Dead Sea Scrolls (found in 1947) Who are the Essenes today?
Samaritans Distinctive Jewish group between Judea and Galilee Regarded as an alien people who practiced a false form of Judaism. Worshipped on Mount Gerizim instead of Jerusalem. Viewed favorably in NT. Continue to exist today.
Josephus Describes John the Baptist But to some Jews the destruction of Herod's army seemed to be divine vengeance, and certainly a just vengeance, for his treatment of John, surnamed the Baptist. For Herod had put him to death, though he was a good man and had exhorted the Jews to lead righteous lives, to practice justice towards their fellows and piety towards God, and so doing to join in baptism. In his view this was a necessary preliminary if baptism was to be acceptable to God. They must not employ it to gain pardon for whatever sins they committed, but as a consecration of the body implying that the soul was already thoroughly cleansed by righteousness. Josephus's Antiquities (18.116-118). Mikveh in Jerusalem near Temple
Josephus Account of Jesus About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, if indeed it be lawful to call him a man. For he was a doer of wonderful deeds, and a teacher of men who gladly receive the truth. He drew to himself many both of the Jews and of the Gentiles. He was the Christ; and when Pilate, on the indictment of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those who had loved him at the first did not cease to do so, for he appeared to them again alive on the third day, the divine prophets having foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things about him. And even to this day the race of Christians, who are named from him, has not died out. --Antiquities xviii 63f. Map of Jerusalem