NT 572: THE JEWISH WORLD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT Aída Besançon Spencer In order better to interpret the New Testament, the course will survey the history, literature, and practices of Judaism from the Maccabean revolt (175 B.C.) to the great revolt under Hadrian (A.D. 135). Students will become acquainted with literary tools which illumine the setting of the New Testament. Goals: The class meetings and assignments aim to: (1) acquaint persons with the basic historical events, the practices, and the literary tools so that they may be able better to comprehend the setting of the New Testament and the New Testament itself. (2) encourage people to integrate the New Testament and the primary source literature of this discipline. The course stresses competency in thinking through issues rather than ability to memorize information. (3) approach both the New Testament and its Jewish heritage sympathetically. The Following Books Are Needed for Required Readings: Emil Schuerer. THE STUDY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN THE AGE OF JESUS CHRIST Vol. II revised edition. (Vol. I is highly recommended. It discusses primary sources and surveys the history 175 B.C. - A.D. 135.) Volume I on reserve. Vol. II on N.T. reserve. Lucian. HOW TO WRITE HISTORY. THE MISHNAH. Josephus. JEWISH ANTIQUITIES. Books XVIII-XX. THE APOCRYPHA. THE MANUAL OF DISCIPLINE or THE SCROLL OF THE RULE and THE GENESIS APOCRYPHON. William David Spencer, MYSTERIUM AND MYSTERY (1 chapter) Philo. THE EMBASSY TO GAIUS or approved alternative Th.M. elevated students / extra credit for M.Div. students who are in-between grades.
Assignments: 1. Complete a chart (@4-8 pp.) reconstructing the history of Israel 175 B.C. - A.D. 135 (30%). Include the most important dates, events, and rulers in Israel and in Syria, Egypt and Rome, the main contributions or distinctions of each ruler in Israel especially in relation to NT events. Organize according to general periods such as "Maccabean Period" (175-136 B.C.), "Hasmonean Period" (135-63 B.C.), "Roman Herodian Age" (63 B.C. - A.D. 135). Make some mention of the "Hellenistic Period" preceding 175 B.C. (336 B.C. Alexander the Great A.D. 330). See "Chronological Outline of Roman History." Use at least 2-3 books or articles. Begin with I Maccabees. Josephus Wars Book I is good, as is Schuerer I, the "History & Culture" Bibliography, and Josephus Antiquities Bks 12-17. Due Week 3 (9/28, grace 10/2, professor s home 9 a.m.). 2. Write one succinct paper (@ 2-5 pp. double-spaced) on some aspect of first century Judaism and show how it enlightens a New Testament passage (30%). You may learn more about a practice which illuminates a text or which gives a new understanding to a text. Include a brief application and bibliography of helpful books and articles. M.Div. and Th.M. students who know Greek should translate N.T. passage and use Greek to elucidate passage. The higher grade will be recorded. Brief summaries of the findings will be presented to the class. The paper is due Week 8 (Nov. 2, grace 11/6, professor s home 9 a.m.). You may re-write the paper and chart after receiving comments from the professor or write a second integrative paper, if completed by week 11 (Nov. 21). 3. Maintain a succinct chart/loose-leaf binder (40%) with all the helpful insights to the New Testament you discovered by yourself or through the class (insights into the N.T. background or the N.T. itself; similarities or dissimilarities to the N.T.). Organize the notebook according to the New Testament letter or group of letters. Quote or summarize the extrabiblical reference and if not your own cite the person who discovered it, and whenever possible, its significance. At least 1 finding is required from every ancient primary source book or tractate read as an assignment. Indicate any repetitions in a smaller or different font or in brackets. The notebook should have at least 50 developed notations. Due Week 12 (11/30). Grace period (12/4, professor s home 9 a.m.). Show sample by Nov. 2 to professor. Assignment 3 may be omitted for a C grade if all the other work is excellent, including completion of all required reading. 4. Completion of all reading assignments by the class discussion or presentation is absolutely necessary. On the final class day required and extra reading will be listed on a "self-evaluation" form. Excellent attendance, required and optional reading, and extra effort will aid border grades. For extra credit in border grades read an additional primary Jewish reference and cite in notebook or read and do a brief book review of any secondary book in the bibliography. Th.M. elevated students must do an additional book review. The assignments will be evaluated in terms of succinctness, accuracy, comprehensiveness, insightfulness, depth of perception, clarity, and integration.
WEEKLY SESSIONS Week 1 (Sept 14) A. Need for topic: Jewish World of the New Testament. Course procedures and requirements. b. FOUNDATIONAL CONSIDERATION: HISTORIOGRAPHY "Significance of Trends in Historiography for the Study of the New Testament Background"* Problem 1: Problem 2: Are the N.T. records reliable and historical? How is the N.T. related to its context? Assignments for the next session: 1. Begin assignment #1 "History of Israel" and prepare notebook of insights for assignment #3. Choose possible topics for short paper. 2. Read: Ernst Troeltsch, "Historiography" in James Hastings' ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION AND ETHICS VI: 716-723, 1951 (Ref. BL 31.H27); *Lucian VI. HOW TO WRITE HISTORY, Loeb Classical Library. Begin notebook of insights with Lucian. Samuel Sandmel, "Parallelomania," JOURNAL OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE, LXXXI: 1-13, March,1962 and A. Besancon Spencer, Parallelomania & God s Revelation, AFRICANUS JOURNAL 1:1 (April 2009):31-40. Week 2 (Sept. 21) A. The Rise and Development of New Testament History "New Testament History has developed from the Question: 'How is the N.T. related to the N.T. world?'"* Areas of study: Western Hellenism vs. Eastern Hellenism OR Roman Hellenism, Hellenistic Judaism, and Palestinian (or Judean or Rabbinic) Judaism. Problems of Definition. B. Illustration from I Cor. 2 "The Jewish World in Israel, 200 B.C. - A.D. 200," slide presentation Assignments for next session:
1. Read "The Cultural Setting" (Sect. 22) in Schuerer Vol. II and "The Jewish State in the Hellenistic World" by W. D. Davies in PEAKE'S COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLE (Ref. BS 491.B57), 686-692 (xerox also available) 2. Complete historical chart (assignment #1) by Week 4. 3. Read "Aboth" tractate in THE MISHNAH and "Torah Scholarship" in Schuerer II (Sect. 25). Continue notebook of insights. Optional: Read "Rabbinic Literature," Schuerer I (Sect. 3E). Bring Mishnah to class. Week 3 (Sept. 28) LITERATURE A. Introduction to Rabbinic and Hellenistic Jewish Literature. Definition of terms. Dating of Rabbis.* B. Rabbinic Transmission and the Accuracy of the New Testament (or week 12) Assignment: Begin the integrative paper (Assignment #2). Week 4 (Oct. 5) HISTORY A. Class Discussion: Reconstruct Overview of Historical Events Affecting Judea 336 B.C. - A.D. 135. B. Caesarea. Assignments for next session: 1. Read Josephus ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS Book XVIII and Ezekiel ch. 44. Jot down all insights which enlighten the N.T. Optional: read WAR Bk. II and Philo EVERY GOOD MAN IS FREE (12-13) and ON THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE. Read optional secondary articles: "Pharisees," "Sadducees," and "Essenes"in Schuerer II (Sects. 26 and 30) and in THE INTERPRETER'S DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 2. Continue notebook insights. Week 5 (Oct. 9-13) Reading Week Week 6 (Oct. 19) OVERVIEW OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS A. How did the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes begin?* B. What distinguishes each First Century Religious Grouping? What are the differences and similarities in doctrines between the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes?* Assignments:
1. Read I Maccabees. (opt. II Maccabees) Carefully look for information helpful for the study of New Testament. Bring findings to class. 2. Complete the integrative paper for next class session. Xerox 1 copy of paper for class reserve. Bring 1 Maccabees to class. Week 7 (Oct. 26) A. Example of how to integrate background and N.T. Interpretation: The Possible Meanings for "Friends" in John 15:13-16* B. Class Discussion: Amalgamation of insights from I Maccabees which aid the study of the New Testament. Summary of findings from papers. Assignments 1. Read Josephus ANTIQUITIES Bks. 19-20. Bring to class insights from Books 18-20. Book 19 may be skim read. 2. Begin (optional) second integrative paper. 3. Read THE SCROLL OF THE RULE (or THE MANUAL OF DISCIPLINE), chapter III in Dupont-Sommer. Look for information helpful for the study of the N.T. Bring findings to class. 4. Optional: Read chs. 1 and 2 by Dupont-Sommer. Week 8 (Nov. 2) A. Class Discussion: Amalgamation of insights from ANTIQUITIES Books 18, 19, 20. B. Introduction to the Comparison of Religions and to Astrology* Presentation of insights from THE SCROLL OF THE RULE. Assignments: 1. Read Berakoth in the Mishnah and "School and Synagogue" in Schuerer II (Sect. 27). 2. Read Philo THE EMBASSY TO GAIUS and jot down all insights to N.T. Especially look for illustrations which enlighten N.T. metaphors. Week 9 (Nov 6-10) Reading Week Week 10 (Nov. 16) No class-evangelical Theological Society
Assignments: 1. Redone papers are due week 11. 2. Read in the Apocrypha Susanna and Bel and the Snake. Read Mysterium and Mystery, ch. 1. The first clerical detective thriller in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition 3. Read in the Pseudepigrapha Jubilees 4. Complete the notebook of insights for week 12. Week 11 (Nov. 23) thanksgiving-no class Week 12 (Nov. 30) HELLENISTIC JUDAISM A. The Role of the Synagogue in the Diaspora* Synagogue Practice and Its Relation to Christian Worship* RABBINIC JUDAISM B. Introduction to Early Jewish Exegesis* Assignments: 1. Read The Genesis Apocryphon. Optional read chs. 1 & 6 in Biblical Interpretation Then and Now. 2. Read for class discussion Sanhedrin, Makkoth, Shabbath, Erubin "The Fusion of Sabbath Limits," Yadaim "Hands," Ketuboth, "Marriage Deeds," and Kiddushin "Betrothals" in The Mishnah. Bring Mishnah to class. 3. Optional: Read "Life and the Law" in Schuerer II (Sect. 28) Week 13 (Dec. 7) A. Class Discussion: Amalgamation of Insights from The Mishnah. (Rabbinic Transmission and the Accuracy of the New Testament) B. Helpfulness of The Mishnah and other early Jewish sources for understanding Paul's teachings to women on "silence" (20 min.).* For more information see Beyond the Curse: Women Called to Ministry. Summary of course Evaluation *tape available 2001 3/2017