Hamilton Reformed Hamilton Reformed Church 2010Church 2010

New Testament SurveyNew Testament Survey

Session 1 - BackgroundSession 1 - Background

New Testament SurveyNew Testament Survey

1.1. BackgroundBackground

2.2. The Synoptic Gospels and ActsThe Synoptic Gospels and Acts

3.3. The Writings of JohnThe Writings of John

4.4. Paul’s LettersPaul’s Letters

5.5. The Other New Testament LettersThe Other New Testament Letters

BackgroundBackground

HistoricalHistorical PoliticalPolitical GeographicalGeographical LanguageLanguage ReligiousReligious Important DatesImportant Dates

Foreign powers - AssyriaForeign powers - Assyria

Fall of Samaria 722BCFall of Samaria 722BC Defeated most of Judah Defeated most of Judah

around 700BC (Isaiah around 700BC (Isaiah 36:1)36:1)

Besieged Jerusalem but Besieged Jerusalem but forced to withdraw by forced to withdraw by God’s intervention (Isaiah God’s intervention (Isaiah 36,37)36,37)

Went into decline end 7Went into decline end 7thth C C BCBC

Nineveh fell 612 BCNineveh fell 612 BC

Foreign powers - BabylonForeign powers - Babylon

Invaded Judah around Invaded Judah around 603BC carried captives 603BC carried captives into exile including Daniel into exile including Daniel & Co & Co (2 Kings 24:1; Daniel 1:1ff) (2 Kings 24:1; Daniel 1:1ff)

Invaded again around Invaded again around 597BC carried Jehoiachin 597BC carried Jehoiachin and 10,000 others into and 10,000 others into exile (2 Kings 24:12ff)exile (2 Kings 24:12ff)

Returned again and Returned again and destroyed Jerusalem & destroyed Jerusalem & temple in 586BC (2 Kings temple in 586BC (2 Kings 25:8ff)25:8ff)

At the height of its power, At the height of its power, Babylon is overcome by Babylon is overcome by Persia in 539BC (Daniel 5)Persia in 539BC (Daniel 5)

Foreign powers - PersiaForeign powers - Persia

Control of Israel from Control of Israel from 539BC to around 331BC539BC to around 331BC

Had policy of returning Had policy of returning exiles to own land, exiles to own land, reinstituting religionreinstituting religion

As a result many Jewish As a result many Jewish exiles able to return exiles able to return (Ezra 1:1ff)(Ezra 1:1ff)

Cyrus, God’s anointed, Cyrus, God’s anointed, financed building of 2financed building of 2ndnd temple (Isaiah 45:1,13; temple (Isaiah 45:1,13; Ezra 1)Ezra 1)

Conquered by GreeceConquered by Greece

Foreign powers - GreeceForeign powers - Greece

Alexander the Great Alexander the Great defeated Persia – very defeated Persia – very successful generalsuccessful general

Empire extended Empire extended around to Indiaaround to India

Imported Greek culture Imported Greek culture wherever wentwherever went

Empire lasted from Empire lasted from 331-323BC 331-323BC

No apparent successor No apparent successor when Alexander died at when Alexander died at age 32age 32

Empire eventually Empire eventually divided in four.divided in four.

Foreign powers – Ptolemies & Foreign powers – Ptolemies & SeleucidsSeleucids

Israel caught in tug of Israel caught in tug of war between two war between two kingdoms kingdoms

Ruled by Ptolemies Ruled by Ptolemies from 323BC till 198BCfrom 323BC till 198BC

Bible translated into Bible translated into Greek in Alexandria Greek in Alexandria around 250BC (LXX)around 250BC (LXX)

Foreign powers - Ptolemies & Foreign powers - Ptolemies & SeleucidsSeleucids

Seleucids gained control Seleucids gained control in battlein battle

Held Israel from 198BC Held Israel from 198BC till 165BCtill 165BC

Antiochus Epiphanes Antiochus Epiphanes abolished sacrifices, set abolished sacrifices, set up altar to Zeus in up altar to Zeus in temple 168BC (Daniel temple 168BC (Daniel 11:31ff; 12:11)11:31ff; 12:11)

Gave rise to successful Gave rise to successful Maccabee rebellionMaccabee rebellion

Temple rededicated Temple rededicated 165BC (Hannukah – John 165BC (Hannukah – John 10:22)10:22)

Independence!Independence!

Maccabees under Judas Maccabees under Judas Maccabeus gain control Maccabeus gain control of Jerusalem in 165BCof Jerusalem in 165BC

Expand territory over Expand territory over period that followsperiod that follows

John Hyrcanus John Hyrcanus deliberately settles Jews deliberately settles Jews in far North to surround in far North to surround SamariaSamaria

Hasmonean kingdom falls Hasmonean kingdom falls to Romans in 63BC to Romans in 63BC

Last Hasmonean king Last Hasmonean king executed in 37BCexecuted in 37BC

Foreign powers - RomeForeign powers - Rome

Hasmoneans fall to Hasmoneans fall to Pompeius in 63BCPompeius in 63BC

(Note that NT (Note that NT mainly chronicles mainly chronicles growth of Gospel in growth of Gospel in Roman Empire)Roman Empire)

Political SituationPolitical Situation No Israelite king / corrupt PriesthoodNo Israelite king / corrupt Priesthood Under foreign rule – RomanUnder foreign rule – Roman

Several “layers” of governmentSeveral “layers” of government One national language – Greek!One national language – Greek!

Bible used is SeptuagintBible used is Septuagint Greek thought still dominatesGreek thought still dominates Time of peace / stabilityTime of peace / stability Travel easy throughout empireTravel easy throughout empire 4,000,000 Jews in empire only 700,000 in 4,000,000 Jews in empire only 700,000 in

Palestine (more in Alexandria than Palestine (more in Alexandria than Jerusalem)Jerusalem)

Jewish synagogues throughout empireJewish synagogues throughout empire

RomanRomanRuleRule

A A complicated complicated picture!picture!

The The HerodsHerods

Herod – family name several Roman Herod – family name several Roman rulersrulers

Herod the Great known for building Herod the Great known for building projects – commenced rebuilding of projects – commenced rebuilding of temple around 19BC. Had been under temple around 19BC. Had been under construction for 46 years in Jesus’ timeconstruction for 46 years in Jesus’ time

Interesting family dynamics!Interesting family dynamics!

Land of the Land of the New New

TestamentTestament Different rulers over Different rulers over

various provinces various provinces (Luke 23:7)(Luke 23:7)

Samaria had been Samaria had been repopulated (2 Kings repopulated (2 Kings 17:24ff)17:24ff)

East of Jordan now East of Jordan now GentileGentile

Distances / Distances / DimensionsDimensions

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

• Dan

• Beersheba24

8 km

s

100 kms

80 kms

112 kms

64 kms

Jordan ValleyJordan Valley

Jordan ValleyJordan Valley

LanguageLanguage

GreekGreek Not “Holy Ghost” Greek but Koine Not “Holy Ghost” Greek but Koine

(common)(common) AramaicAramaic Hebrew confined to religious Hebrew confined to religious

purposespurposes Latin – legal language of empire, Latin – legal language of empire,

mostly spoken in Westmostly spoken in West

Religious BackgroundReligious Background

Pharisees (separated ones)Pharisees (separated ones) Flourished during 2Flourished during 2ndnd temple period temple period Some connection to Hasidim (faithful) who Some connection to Hasidim (faithful) who

arose in response to Antiochus Epiphanesarose in response to Antiochus Epiphanes Held to authority of Scriptures Held to authority of Scriptures andand

traditions of the elders (Mark 7:5,8,13) or traditions of the elders (Mark 7:5,8,13) or “oral law”“oral law”

Went on to form basis of Rabbinic JudaismWent on to form basis of Rabbinic Judaism

Religious BackgroundReligious Background

SadduceesSadducees From Aaronic line – High Priests typically From Aaronic line – High Priests typically

SadduceesSadducees Held only to the Law of MosesHeld only to the Law of Moses Rejected oral traditionsRejected oral traditions Did not believe in the resurrection of the Did not believe in the resurrection of the

dead nor in angels or spirits (Matt dead nor in angels or spirits (Matt 22:23ff; Acts 23:8)22:23ff; Acts 23:8)

Formed majority of SanhedrinFormed majority of Sanhedrin Largely disappeared after 70ADLargely disappeared after 70AD

Important DatesImportant Dates

10BC to 90AD – Period covered by NT10BC to 90AD – Period covered by NT 8BC – approximate date of Jesus’ birth8BC – approximate date of Jesus’ birth 27-30AD – Jesus’ ministry (temple rebuilding 27-30AD – Jesus’ ministry (temple rebuilding

began 19BC)began 19BC) 46-57AD – Paul’s missionary journeys46-57AD – Paul’s missionary journeys 65-67AD – Nero’s persecution (Peter & Paul 65-67AD – Nero’s persecution (Peter & Paul

probably martyred then)probably martyred then) 70AD – Fall of Jerusalem / temple destroyed (only 70AD – Fall of Jerusalem / temple destroyed (only

wailing wall remains)wailing wall remains) 100AD – John dies on Patmos100AD – John dies on Patmos 49-90AD – Writing of New Testament49-90AD – Writing of New Testament

Unanswered QuestionsUnanswered Questions

Where is this promised king and his kingdom?Where is this promised king and his kingdom? Where is the greater glory God promised for Where is the greater glory God promised for

the new temple? (Haggai 2:9)the new temple? (Haggai 2:9) What has happened to God’s covenant with us?What has happened to God’s covenant with us? Why have we not heard from God for 430 Why have we not heard from God for 430

years?years? Has God in his anger forgotten to show mercy? Has God in his anger forgotten to show mercy?

(Psalm 77:9)(Psalm 77:9)

There is an answer to all these questions …There is an answer to all these questions …

The King has come!The King has come!