new testament history - cnbc€¦ · · 2007-10-02new testament history ... zealots f. scribes g....

Knowing the Bible: New Testament

(Preface)

An Army, not an Audience! I am excited about what you will gain in these next few hours. After studying Dr. Mike McGough’s manuscript for this seminar, I became humbly aware of God’s grace toward our church. Many believers will sit in church every Sunday for the rest of their lives and not have the depth of understanding in the background of the New Testament that you will gain in these next hours. God has richly blessed us for His purposes. God’s purposes for Mountain View involve building and equipping the people of God for the amazing things He plans to do. Our commitment is to invest in our people the best possible biblical and theological background to provide the basis for building a solid foundation for each believer’s life-mission. Part of foundation-building is to have a good grasp on the nature of the New Testament. Too many believer’s follow the latest ‘fads’ in Christianity because they have failed to test those ideas against the light of biblical revelation. The objective of this seminar is to provide an understanding of the New Testament as a whole. What you are about to experience is God’s gift to your life and ministry. I do not believe that it is a coincidence that you are here. God is building in your life a strong foundation for the amazing things He wants to do through you. Your responsibility is stated in 2 Corinthians 6:1; “As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.” I know that God will be glorified in your life through what you are about to learn. Onward Christian Soldiers! In Christ, Jeff Christopherson

MOUNTAIN VIEW’S C.L.A.S.S. 401: Discovering and Building My Life Mission “Learning From The All-Stars”: Knowing the Bible – New Testament

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Welcome Home!

(First Base) You have Discovered Mountain View _______________________

(Second Base) You have Discovered the Keys to Spiritual ___________________

(Third Base) You have Discovered Your S.H.A.P.E. for ___________________

(Home Plate) Now you are about to Discover and Build Your Life __________!

(Four Seminars):

1. Understanding the Basics of the Game: Knowing What You Believe

2. Enlisting New Players for the Team: Knowing How to Share Your Faith

3. Walking Through the Hall of Fame: Knowing the Bible: Old Testament

4. Learning From the All-Stars: Knowing the Bible: ________________


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CONTENTS I. New Testament History

A. Important Pre-New Testament History 1. Assyrians 2. Babylonians 3. Persians 4. Greeks

B. Intertestamental History

C. Roman Political History in Palestine

D. Christian History II. New Testament World

A. Greco-Roman World 1. Hellenism 2. Philosophical Schools 3. Religion 4. Mystery Religions/Cults 5. Gnosticism

B. Jewish World 1. Groups a. Pharisees b. Sadducees c. Essenes d. Herodians e. Zealots f. Scribes g. Samaritans h. Common People

2. Jewish Institutions a. Temple b. Synagogue c. Sanhedrin 3. Jewish Literature a. Septuagint b. Apocrypha c. Pseudepigrapha d. Philo e. Josephus f. Mishnah


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III. New Testament Documents

A. Gospels 1. Literary Relationships Between the Gospels 2. Mark 3. Matthew 4. Luke 5. John

B. The Book of Acts

C. Letters 1. The Pauline Corpus 2. General Letters

D. The Book of Revelation IV. New Testament Canon

A. Factors That Slowed the Process of Forming a Canon B. Factors That Led to the Process of Forming a Canon C. Criteria for the Process of Forming a Canon D. Early Collections and End of the Process of Forming a Canon V. New Testament Interpretation

A. Historical Result B. Universal Result

C. Practical Result


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KNOWING THE BIBLE: NEW TESTAMENT by Dr. Mike McGough

I. New Testament History A. Important Pre-New Testament History

722 B.C.-- The Assyrians captured Samaria, the capitol of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. About 27,000 Israelites were deported to places mentioned in 2 Kings:17:6 (modern-day Turkey and Iran). In order to break down culture and squelch nationalism, Assyria imported various peoples into Israel. Intermarriage and cultural meshing occurred. The people were called _________________. 587 B.C.-- The Southern Kingdom escaped capture in 722 B.C. when the Northern Kingdom fell. But 135 years later, in 587 B.C., the southern Israelites were defeated and Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. The walls of the city were torn down and the Temple was destroyed. Between 45 to 70,000 Jews were exiled to Babylon. Mainly the poor people, called the _______________________ were left in the land. While in exile in Babylon the Jews were allowed to gather for worship, which gave rise to the ______________________. The people observed the Sabbath strictly, and also emphasized circumcision and fasting. Worshipping idols, which had been an abiding problem for the Israelites, became a thing of the past. 538 B.C.-- Persians defeated the Babylonians and allowed exiled Jews to return to their homeland. Only about 50 percent of the Jews returned. Some results of this period: 1. Samaritan-Jew tensions increased. Samaritans offered to help rebuild the Temple but the Jews refused their help (Ezra 4:1-3). The Samaritans built their own temple on Mt. Gerazim, completed about 400 B.C. They held to the Pentateuch (first five books of the Hebrew scriptures) and looked forward to a messianic figure called ____________________. 2. Scribism grew and prophecy declined. A tendency to master details and multiply

many new laws developed in order to protect the law. Scribes went to extremes and sought to “build a hedge” around the law. This was later called _______________________.

3. Aramaic language spread among the common people (Nehemiah 8:1-8).


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Aramaic paraphrases of Hebrew called __________________ were given when scripture was read. Even sections of the Old Testament were written in Aramaic: portions of Ezra, Jeremiah 10:11 and portions of Daniel.

333-167 B.C.-- Greeks defeated the Persians and Greek culture spread throughout the Mediterranean region. As Greek culture spread in the Middle East it was modified as it was mixed with Oriental culture. The result was a new culture in which the Greek culture predominated. It was called ______________________. Some results of this period are: 1. Alexander the Great had Greek scholars and scientists in his army. He wanted to spread Greek culture as he defeated various countries. 2. He established Greek cities built with the Greek city-state concept (Alexandria,

Egypt). 3. Following military conquests, Alexander had gymnasiums and theaters built.

He also established associations for professionals and other cultural and religious groups.

4. After Alexander’s death, his empire was divided among six generals. Two of

the generals figure in Jewish history: Ptolemy and Selechus. Ptolemy and his successors ruled Egypt and Palestine from 300-200 B.C. Selechus and his successors ruled Syria and Palestine from 200-164 B.C. At first little influence of Hellenization was felt in Palestine. However by the time of the first century Hellenization was apparent in the country. ________________ was the inroad.

5. Because of these events, the Jews rebelled in 167 B.C. B. Intertestamental History The time between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament is called the _________________________________. The last dateable period mentioned in the Old Testament is the reign of King Darius II of Persia, 423-405 B.C. (Nehemiah 12:22). Malachi was a Hebrew prophet, who prophesied at this time. The New Testament period began 400 years later with the ministry of John the Baptist. Some have termed this span of time as 400 years of _________. However many things did happen during this time, such as the rise of Pharisees, Sadducees, the Sanhedrin and other important events that influenced Palestine in the first century and thus the events of the New Testament. Maccabean Revolt 167 B.C.


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In 168 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes IV, ruler of Syria and Palestine, determined to Hellenize Judea. He marched on Jerusalem and occupied the city. He banned Jewish law, forbade circumcision and desecrated the Temple by offering a pig on the altar. Jews had to tolerate the Greek way of life even if they rebelled in their hearts.. In a small town several miles from Jerusalem an old priest named Mattathias refused to accept Hellenization by killing a turncoat Jew and a messenger of Antiochus. This was the spark that started the Jewish revolt against the Syrians. Mattathias and his sons were joined by a group of orthodox Jews who were anti-Hellenistic, called the ____________ or Pious Ones. This group of orthodox Jews were the forerunners of the Pharisees. They fought valiantly for the Jewish way of life and many were killed in battle. They continued to resist the Syrians until they won religious freedom in 164 B.C. Jews cleansed and rededicated the Temple that year and celebrated the victory with a feast of lights, better known as _________________________. Political Freedom and Jewish Independence

Not until 142 B.C. were the Jews able to gain political freedom from Syria. The only surviving son of Mattathias, Simon, achieved this victory. Documents were dated from 142 B.C., coins were struck, and the grateful people made him High Priest and ______________________ (ruler of the people). From this point on Judea was ruled by members of the Hasmonean family until Rome conquered the area in 67 B.C. One of these rulers was John Hyrcanus (135-105 B.C). He fought in battles outside Palestine and forced Judaism on the conquered peoples. One of the areas defeated by Hyrcanus was Idumea (i.e. Edom, in Old Testament). This was significant for New Testament history because this is the area where ____________ was born, which meant he was not a true Jew. Also during John Hyrcanus’ rule, the Pharisees, a new group, opposed him. He responded by removing them from responsible positions and replacing them with ___________. Ironically, they were the pro-Hellenists that the Maccabees had fought so heroically. Alexander Janneus (104-78 B.C.) extended the borders of Jewish territory to what it had been in the days of David and Solomon. In addition a complete rupture occurred between the king (Janneus) and the Pharisees. Civil war broke out which lasted six years. Janneus overcame the resistance and to celebrate his victory had ________ Pharisees crucified in front of banqueting guests. Janneus was a tyrant and one of the truly evil men of Jewish history. Some have conjectured that he might be the Wicked Priest mentioned in the _____________________________. When Janneus died, his wife took political control and made one of her sons High Priest.


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Alexandra Salome ruled from 78-69 B.C. and had a peaceful reign. One of the things she did was to make peace with the Pharisees and for the first time they were admitted to the _______________________ and soon controlled it. The age of Alexandra was called the second golden age of Judaism. During her reign the Pharisees established a good educational system in connection with the _______________________.

When Alexandra died , factions scrambled for control of the government and to choose a new High Priest. Sadducees and Pharisees were on opposing sides. ______________, the governor of Idumea, entered into the political scene in Palestine and involved the Nabateans. Jerusalem was under attack by the Nabateans when a Roman army led by __________________ intervened in 63 B.C. This marked the end of Jewish independence and began a long period of domination by the Romans. Palestine was under Roman control during the entire period of New Testament history. C. Roman Political History in Palestine

At first Rome governed Palestine through local leadership. _____________ of Idumea, son of Antipater, was appointed King of Judea by the Roman senate in 40 B.C. It took him three years to establish full control. He ruled until his death in 4 B.C. His reign can be divided into three periods: consolidation, prosperity, and decline (or domestic trouble). Herod was a great builder. He built the beautiful city of Caesarea, theaters, hippodromes, fortresses and palaces throughout Palestine. His greatest building accomplishment was rebuilding the Temple for the Jews. Begun in 20 B.C., it was completed in 64 A.D., long after his death. Jesus was born near the end of Herod’s life (Matthew 2:1-19).

When Herod the Great died his son Archelaus ruled in his place. ________________, the Roman emperor, confirmed Archelaus’s position but changed his title from Ethnarch to Governor. Another son of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, was made Tetrarch over Galilee and Perea and his brother, Philip, was given territory northeast of the sea of Galilee. Archelaus ruled until 6 A.D. when he was deposed due to cruel and ineffective leadership. From this point on, Palestine was no longer a _______________________ but was placed under direct Roman control through procurators. The most important procurator for New Testament readers was _________________ who ruled from 26-36 A.D. Jesus was crucified during his rule.

Judea was returned to client kingdom status from 37-44 A.D. under the rule of Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great. However, he died in 44 (Acts 12) and Palestine again was ruled by Roman procurators. Two, Felix and Festus, are mentioned in the book of Acts. They played a part in Paul’s life and ministry (Acts 24-26). Roman procurators were in charge of peacekeeping, final judicial authority, and collecting taxes for Rome. Some were fair while others were harsh (like Pilate) and not above bribes (like Felix). Because Judea was classified as an ________________________ for most of the first century, a Roman army was posted in Judea. In Palestine, the major portion of the Roman army was posted in Caesarea with smaller detachments scattered in other locations.


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The Rebellion Against Rome

The Jews rebelled against Rome in 66 A.D. At first the rebellion went in favour of the Jews. However the Romans laid siege to Jerusalem in the spring of 70. The siege lasted five months. The city was sacked in September of 70 and the Temple destroyed. Jesus had predicted this (Matthew 24:1-2) but it broke his heart when he told of it (Matthew 23:37-39). Pockets of resistance continued until 73-74. The most famous resisters were at ___________________. These Jewish defenders chose to commit suicide rather than fall into Roman hands. Two further rebellions were launched by the Jews (115-117 A.D. and 132-135 A.D.) but both failed. In 135 A.D. Roman Emperor __________________ had Jerusalem rebuilt as a pagan city, erected a shrine to Jupiter, and forbade Jews to enter the city. Roman Emperors in the New Testament

Augustus 30 B.C.-- 14 A.D. Luke 2:1

Tiberius 14 A.D.-- 37 A.D. Luke 3:1

Claudius 41 A.D.-- 54 A.D. Acts 11:28 and Acts 18:2 Roman Procurators in the New Testament

Pontius Pilate 26 A.D.-- 36 A.D. John 18:28

Antonius Felix 52 A.D.-- 59 A.D. Acts 24:22

Porcius Festus 59 A.D.-- 62 A.D. Acts 24:27 D. Christian History

Birth of Jesus approximately 6-4 B.C. Matthew 2:1 Beginning of ministry approximately 26-27 B.C. Luke 3:1 Length of ministry approximately 3 years John 2:23; 6:4; 12:1 Death of Jesus approximately 30 A.D. John 19:1ff. Paul’s conversion 32 A.D. Acts 9:1ff. 1st trip to Jerusalem 35 A.D. Gal 1:18; Acts 9:26 Peter imprisoned 44 A.D. Acts 12:1-5 Famine in Judea 44-48 A.D. Acts 11:27-30 2nd trip to Jerusalem 46 A.D. Gal 2:1; Acts 11:27-30; Acts 12:25


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1st missionary journey 46-48 A.D. Acts 13:4-14:28 Jerusalem Conference 49 A.D. Acts 15:4-29 2nd missionary journey 49-51 A.D. Acts 15:41-18:22 3rd missionary journey 53-56 A.D. Acts 18:23-20:3 Arrest in Jerusalem 57 A.D. Acts 21:17ff. Caesarean imprisonment 57-59 A.D. Acts 24:27 Roman imprisonment 60-62 A.D. Acts 28:30 Beyond the New Testament Period

Early church tradition states that Peter and Paul were executed in Rome prior to the death of Emperor Nero. Nero committed suicide in 68 A.D. Paul was released from his first Roman imprisonment in about 62 A.D. He made the journeys mentioned in 1&2 Timothy and Titus. During the next few years he was arrested once more and sent to Rome, tried and executed. Early church tradition holds that the apostle John lived up to the time of Domitian, Roman emperor from 81-96 A.D. The book of Revelation and the three epistles of John may have been written during Domitian’s time or earlier. If an earlier date for these four books is assumed, then all of the New Testament documents and the history contained in them are dated prior to 70 A.D. Not one book in the New Testament mentions the ______________________. Other Christian documents written after 70 A.D. mention the fall of Jerusalem and give as the reason Jewish rejection of Jesus. There is none of this in the New Testament, which is evidence that the 27 books of the New Testament were written fairly close to the events they describe.


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II. The New Testament World

A. Greco-Roman World

1. Hellenism

By the first century Hellenism (the Greek way of life) had made a profound impact on Palestine. Evidence such as buildings erected in Greco-Roman architecture, mile markers and gravestones written in Aramaic and Greek in Galilee, adoption of Greek personal names (like Alexander), undergoing surgery to undo circumcision (due to influence of exercising nude in gymnasiums) and other matters demonstrated the spread of Hellenism in Palestine. Although resisted by groups like Pharisees, Essenes and Zealots, Hellenistic culture was a reality in Palestine.

From another perspective, Hellenism made several contributions to Christianity. The establishment of a ______________________, first by Alexander the Great and then by Rome, created an atmosphere and an attitude favourable to the spread of a world religion. Secondly, the existence of a _________________________, Greek, permitted missionaries to preach anywhere without having to learn a new language. Third, the preservation of _____________________ (Pax Romana) for the first 200 years of Christian history facilitated the spread of the Gospel. A fourth contribution was a rapid and safe means of ______________________ on both land and sea which helped spread the Gospel and aided communication between Christian communities. Paul could not have been more astute when he wrote “But in the fullness of times, God sent forth His son...” (Galatians 4:4). 2. Philosophical Schools

The earliest followers of Jesus had been nurtured in Palestinian Judaism. When they carried the message of the Gospel throughout the Mediterranean world they encountered different kinds of philosophies. In Athens Paul encountered Epicureans and Stoics (Acts 17:18). In Thessalonica, Paul had to contend with those who interpreted Christianity from a philosophical contemplative perspective (1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13). Epicureans-- This philosophical school was founded in 310 B.C. by Epicurus. He made sensation the standard of truth. He declared that internal feelings and the perception of the senses are always true and trustworthy. Man’s wisdom lies in the pursuit of pleasure (he meant happiness not sensual enjoyment). He was a practical __________________. The gods, if they exist, he believed, live in serene detachment and have nothing to do with human existence. Stoics-- The Stoics were founded by Zeno in Athens around 300 B.C. Stoicism emphasized that perfect ______________ was the aim of life. Stoics viewed events as decreed by providence, thus inevitable, and felt that the universe was to be accepted, not changed.


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Cynics-- The founder of the Cynics was Diogenes. He was influenced by Antisthenes, a devoted follower of Socrates. The Cynics taught a simplicity of life and practiced frugality. They wanted to become independent of all externals. They taught that man’s salvation lies in a return to ______________. Contemporary critics of Cynics said they left their jobs, sponged off people, contributed nothing to society, and meddled in other people’s business. 3. Religion: Gods and Goddesses

In Ephesus Paul clashed with the devotees of the religion of Artemis, who was sometimes called Diana (Acts 19:23-41). The culture of first century Greco-Roman world was marked by the worship of many gods and goddesses on the one hand and great skepticism on the other. Someone has described this as the secret ______________ of the age. The adherents to the cults believed yet they did not believe. They wanted to think that the promises of the priests, cultists and astrologers were true, but their lives were still empty despite their relation to these religions and cults. Some of the ways used to connect with the pantheon of deities included horoscope analysis, flight of birds, reading the intestines of a sacrificial animal, human and animal sacrifices, dreams, unusual births, lightning and thunder, feeding of chickens, and various forms of magic.

Emperor Worship-- In the first century the Roman senate moved gradually to claim the Roman emperor was a god. This practice was influenced by long-standing traditions from the Greek East. Emperor worship represented an attempt to combine ___________ and religion. Augustus refused to accept divine honors, although he did permit his genius (a kind of guardian spirit) to be worshipped in the provinces provided that such worship was combined with that of the goddess Roma. Other Roman emperors such as Caligula, Nero, and Domitian manipulated circumstances to produce such expressions of adoration and worship. Christians _______________ to practice emperor worship and were fiercely persecuted. (1 Corinthians 8:6; 12:2-3; Revelation 2:13; 17:14).

Artemis (Diana)-- When the Greeks conquered Asia Minor they encountered female _____________ with elaborate worship practices connected with them. One of these female deities was located in Ephesus, one of the largest cities in the world at that time. The temple honouring Artemis was one of the “Seven Wonders of the World” and covered an area larger than a modern football field. It had 127 massive columns holding up a huge roof, under which thousands of priestesses served the goddess. Images of Artemis picture her as multiple-breasted (a symbol of fertility) and wearing a crown on her head (a symbol of her role as protector of the city). Artemis worship was based on _______________. Devotees believed Artemis watched over animal and human childbirth. One of the features of the worship of Artemis was that it was deeply associated with the occult and with magic practices of many kinds. Paul’s preaching in Ephesus threatened the worship of Artemis (Acts 19:23-41). Paul’s statement to Timothy in1 Timothy 2:11-15 is best understood against this background. 4. Mystery Religions/Cults


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Some religions have been called mysteries because their rites were kept secret and revealed only to the initiates. Most of them were of oriental origin and then became popular throughout the Roman Empire during the first three Christian centuries. Most of them reflect the ___________________________ and the corresponding changing of the seasons. In this connection, most of them have a dying and rising god (personal salvation is obtained by means of identification with the dying and rising god). They were popular because they provided a personal type of religion, hope of immortality, an emotional element, and an impressive ritual. Mystery religions and cults were voluntary, evangelistic, and universalistic in outlook. The greatest difference in Christianity and the mysteries is that Christianity has an ________________ base; the mystery religions, a mythical one. Dionysius-- Dionysius was one of the Olympian deities and god of vegetation, especially of the vine. The primitive Dionysiac rites included dancing, singing, drinking wine and finally catching and eating the raw flesh of a goat or fawn which was suddenly pounced upon and torn to pieces. By means of drinking wine and eating bloody flesh, the worshippers attempted to take the god into their body and have communion with him. The worshippers were said to be _______________________. Mithra-- More archaeological remains of Mithraism have been found than of any other cult. Mithra worship was restricted to _______________. The devotees met in small chapels or sanctuaries located in caves or partially underground chambers. In the center was a statue of Mithra clad in a cape and pointed cap in the act of slaying a bull. Mithra’s left knee is astride the bull and he has plunged a short dagger into the neck of the bull. From the wound are three stalks of grain. There is a dog licking the blood flowing from the wound, a serpent in the foreground, and a raven bringing a message to Mithra. Probably the devotee saw in the central act of slaying the bull Mithra’s overcoming of evil and the bringing of life and vegetation to mankind. The most elaborate rite of this cult was called the ________________________, or blood bath. The initiate, naked, crouched in a pit covered with grating, over which a bull was slaughtered. As the warm blood streamed over the devotee he would eagerly drink some of it. The initiate believed he was _______________ for at least twenty years by this ceremony. Eleusinian Cult-- This was the most highly regarded cult in the ancient world. Its primary teaching had to do with Peresephone, the daughter of the goddess _________________ (giver of goodly crops). The daughter was carried off to the underworld by Pluto. Distracted with grief Demeter refused to allow crops to grow. Finally an agreement was reached with Pluto to allow Peresephone to visit Demeter for a part of each year. During that portion of the year, Demeter allowed crops to grow. This story provided an explanation for the changing seasons. The elaborate rituals were held in September and March. Devotees first bathed in the sea then sacrificed a pig on the beach (blood was sprinkled on the initiates). A procession to the sanctuary followed and the participants drank an alcoholic beverage along the way. The ceremony was held at night and the sanctuary was filled with torches and smoke. A religious drama was then


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enacted in which initiates participated by asking questions and sacred cries of women were heard. Paul’s seemingly harsh and restrictive statements in 1 Corinthians 14:34-36 are best understood in light of this background. A plaque excavated from the sanctuary of Demeter at ________________ is dedicated to the sacred cries of women, evidence that the cult was active in Corinth. 5. Gnosticism

One of the heresies that challenged orthodox Christianity from very early times is referred to as Gnosticism. It was so called because Gnostics emphasized that one must possess a certain ______________ (knowledge) in order to have a right standing before God. Though the name gnosticism was not applied to this speculative system of philosophy until the mid-second century of the Christian era, this system of thought or world view existed earlier, the seeds of which were already present in the latter half of the first century. There are certain things which are common to all Gnostic groups:

1. An inner _______________ of those “who know”. 2. Secret ________________ of teachings and rituals.

3. The concern with knowledge as the primary means of ______________. 4. The identification of ____________ with a knowledge of God (the god within). 5. _____________________, which defined all matter as inherently evil and spirit as inherently good. Early church fathers in the second century vigorously refuted gnosticism and defended Christian faith found in the scriptures. In 1946 a library of Gnostic documents was found in Egypt. These documents are written in the Coptic language (a combination of Greek and Egyptian) and are dated to the middle of the second century. The most important work is the ________________________________. This so-called gospel strings together a variety of statements attributed to Jesus without a narrative framework. It is riddled throughout with Gnostic thought. These documents were never believed by the early church to be inspired by God and so were not accepted into the canon of scripture. New Testament passages that may refute gnostic thought are:

• 1 Corinthians 12:3 • Colossians 1:15-20; 2:8-23 • 1 Timothy 1:3-4; 4:1-5; 6:20-21


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B. Jewish World 1. Groups

Judaism was not _____________________ in the first century. Jews demonstrated unity when they first returned from Babylon. But this unity began to break down due to the influence of Hellenism and the turbulent Maccabean years. As a result groups within Judaism once again disagreed with each other. The population in Palestine in the first century was between one and two million people. About 500,000-- 600,00 of these were Jews, most of whom lived in Judea. Jerusalem had a population from 25,000-- 90,000, depending on time of the year (Jewish festivals such as Passover swelled the numbers). The northern part, Galilee, was mostly non-Jewish and was often called “Galilee of the Gentiles.” Pharisees-- In the days of Herod the Great, only about __________ adult males belonged to the Pharisees, but their influence exceeded their numbers. Pharisees were the spiritual descendants of the Hasidim (Pious Ones) of the early Maccabean period. They opposed the Hellenizing influence of Antiochus Epiphanes and many lost their lives during the conflict. The Pharisees were open to change and attempted to incorporate the Law into everyday living, not just confining it to public worship and purity of the priests. Pharisees had a reputation of _______________ among Jews but most either could not or would not follow their scrupulous efforts to keep the Law. Although many Pharisees deserved Jesus’ strong denunciations (see Matthew 23), others were virtuous, as seen in the example of Nicodemus (John 3:1-17). Sadducees-- The word Sadducee may have been derived from _______________, the High Priest in Solomon’s kingdom. The high priesthood remained in this family until the political confusion of the Maccabean era. These men had always been leaders of the Hellenizing party of the Jews. In Jesus’ time, they were a small group in number, but they had widespread influence in politics and religion. They were educated and mostly men from prominent positions. Some were aristocrats whose families were wealthy landowners. Beliefs of Pharisees and Sadducees

• The Pharisees held to the doctrine of ____________________ and held it to be consistent with man’s free will. Sadducees insisted on individual freedom to direct one’s own life, and history itself.

• The Pharisees believed in the __________ of the soul, as well as resurrection of the

body. They held that man is rewarded or punished according to how as he has lived in this life (the reward or punishment coming in the next). Sadducees denied these. For them, the afterlife was not a literal continuation of physical human existence.


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• Pharisees held highly developed views of __________ and ____________. Sadducees rejected the doctrine of two kingdoms with their hierarchies of good and evil spirits.

• Pharisees believed all ________________ written sayings and tradition of the elders

were divine authorities. Sadducees had highest regard for the Pentateuch, less regard for the rest of the Hebrew scriptures and none for the oral tradition.

See passages Mark 12:18-27; Acts 5:33-39; 23:6-10.

Essenes-- Although not mentioned in the New Testament, Essenes are mentioned in other sources in the first century. They held similar views with the Pharisees but unlike the Pharisees, they chose to withdraw from society and live in communes in deserted areas. Their origins go back to the Maccabean era and probably emerged as a resistance effort against the political and religious confusion of the Hasmonean rulers over the issue of proper priesthood. They took in orphans and lived in a simple manner. The more strict Essenes were celibate. The ______________________________ discovered in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s give us a gold mine of information about the Essenes and increase our knowledge of messianic beliefs and worship practices of Palestinian Judaism. Herodians-- The Herodians were not a religious group or political party. They are mentioned in Mark 3:6; 12:13 and Matthew 22:16. The term refers to those Jews of influence who supported the rule of the _____________. Zealots-- This group was founded by Judas the Galilean (not to be confused with the disciple Judas Iscariot). He led a revolt against Rome in 6 A.D. (Acts 5:37). Even though Judas the Galilean was killed, members of his family kept the movement alive. About the middle of the first century, a patriotic Zealot from Egypt gathered a group of 4,000 militant Jews around him (Acts 21:38). These patriots armed themselves with concealed weapons (short swords) and were known as ______________. They were active throughout the Jewish-Roman War, 68-73 A.D. At least one of Jesus’ disciples, Simon, was a Zealot, (Luke 6:15). Judas Iscariot also may have been a Zealot. Scribes-- Origins of this group go back to the time of Ezra. They were people who practiced the art of writing. Development of a scribal profession took place in the encounter and conflict with Hellenism. Scribes decided theological and legal questions and became official scholars of Torah. Many assumed the Greek style of question and answer in their discussions. According to the Mishnah, scribes were to be deliberate in judgment, raise up many disciples, and make a fence around the law. Jesus was ___________________ of Jewish oral tradition and often in conflict with scribal interpretations of Torah. However, Jesus had some positive things to say about some scribes (Mark 12:28-34) and their understanding (Mark 9:11-13).


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Samaritans-- Hostility between Jews and Samaritans went back to 722 B.C. Samaritans were considered by the Jews to be ____________ and therefore to be avoided. Sometimes Jesus used a story about a Samaritan to illustrate a positive truth (Luke 10:29-37) and even went out of his way to speak to a Samaritan (John 4:3-42). Common People-- The vast majority (about 90 percent) of Palestinian Jews were not affiliated with any particular group. They were known as the ____________________, “people of the land.” So deep was the Pharisees disdain for them that they would not touch them because they thought they were unclean. The fact that Jesus was friendly with them angered the Pharisees. Jesus referred to the common people as sheep without a shepherd. Common people responded well to Jesus (Mark 12:37). 2. Jewish Institutions

The Temple-- The temple was the focal point for Jewish ________________. The first temple was built by Solomon about 1,000 B.C. It was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. A second temple was built in 516 B.C. under the leadership of Zerubbabel at the insistence of Haggai and Zechariah, two Old Testament prophets. The restored temple was far less magnificent than Solomon’s temple had been (Ezra 3:12). Herod the Great offered to expand and beautify the temple in 19 B.C. The inner courts were completed in a few years but construction continued and was not completed until 64 A.D. The whole complex covered about 26 acres. There were four major courts constructed in a rectangular fashion. The court of the priests surrounded the Holy of Holies, next was the court of the Jewish men, then the court of the Jewish women, and finally the court of the Gentiles. Each court was separated by a low wall. The court closest to the Holy of Holies was the most prestigious, the court of the Jewish men was next in importance, and so on. The wall separating the court of the Gentiles from the court of Jewish women had ____________________________ embedded in it written in Greek and Latin. The stones read: “Any foreigner caught trespassing beyond this point will be responsible for his own death which will immediately ensue.” In the court of the Gentiles Jews had set up tables for money changing purposes and brought in sacrificial animals to sell. This practice drew Jesus’ anger and resulted in cleansing the Temple (Mark 11:15-19). Paul, speaking figuratively, said that in death, Christ, tore down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:13-14). Synagogue-- The synagogue’s influence on first century Judaism was great, yet there is an almost ______________ silence about information concerning its origin. There is no clear mention of synagogues in the Old Testament or in intertestamental literature. A possible allusion to synagogues is Psalm 74:8. Most feel the beginning of synagogues was during the Babylonian exile. At the beginning of the Christian era, synagogues were found in almost all Palestinian cities as well as in many cities throughout the Mediterranean world.


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Elders supervised their local synagogue. To be counted as a congregation, at least 10 male heads of families had to be present. No priest or Rabbi conducted services; instead one of the men of the congregation served as ruler of the synagogue. The order of service was in four parts:

1. an invitation to prayer, sometimes done antiphonally (like a chant, with one side of the congregation answering the other). 2. lifting up of hands, consisted of a prayer by a single individual chosen by the ruler. The congregation responded with “Amen” in appropriate places. 3. reading a Scripture passage from the Mosaic Law. At least seven people took part. The Pentateuch was divided so that it would be read through once every three years. After the Law came a reading from the Prophets which was chosen by the reader (Luke 4:16-20). Aramaic paraphrases, called ___________________ were given after so many verses. If a visitor was present, the ruler would ordinarily invite him to say a word. Paul took advantage of this practice to proclaim Christ as Messiah (Acts 13:15). 4. a closing prayer, often the Aaronic benediction (Numbers 6:24-26). Sanhedrin-- This institution probably dates back to the time of Ezra, but first century Rabbis claimed that it went back to ______ elders who aided Moses. The earliest mention of a group with the name Sanhedrin is during the time when Herod the Great was governor of Galilee. By the first century, this group had absolute religious authority over the Jews in Palestine and almost absolute political authority. Their civil authority was subject only to the ratification of the Roman procurator (John 18:31). The Sanhedrin had 70 members, plus the High Priest. When judging a case, they sat in a semi-circle. The accused stood in their midst so that everyone could look him in the eye. The Sanhedrin was made up of Sadducees and Pharisees, as well as Scribes. To reach a verdict of innocent, only a simple majority was needed (36); to reach a verdict of condemnation required a 2/3 majority (46-47). The Sanhedrin was weighted on the side of mercy. However in the case of Jesus, there was no ___________ (Matthew 26:57-65).


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3. Jewish Literature

The Hebrew Scriptures (what Christians call the Old Testament) were the most important Jewish writings. Septuagint-- The Septuagint (LXX) is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Septuagint originated in 250 B.C. Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt requested a Greek copy of the Hebrew Scriptures for the library in Alexandria. Seventy-two Jewish scholars from Jerusalem were sent to begin the work of translation. The Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament) was completed quickly but the Prophets and Writings took longer to translate. This version became the ________________ of the early church. Apocrypha-- This term refers to the books, generally from the intertestamental period, containing history, fiction, and wisdom literature. Protestants do not recognize these books as canonical, but the writings do contain useful historical information and some fine moral teaching. Catholics accept them and refer to them as “Deutero canonical.” Interestingly when the _______________________________ of the Bible was published in 1611, it contained the Apocrypha with a preface warning punishment if published without it. The Puritans in England disobeyed the injunction and began to publish Bibles without the Apocrypha. The book of _____________________ bears a remarkable similarity to the book of Revelation in the New Testament. Pseudepigrapha-- Books in this group falsely claim the name of an authoritative Old Testament personality (like Enoch) as author in order to gain a degree of acceptance. _________of these books were considered canonical among the Jews. However they are important for insights into certain Jewish beliefs during the intertestamental period. The book of 1 Enoch and The Assumption of Moses share similar wording and theology with the book of Jude in the New Testament. Philo-- Philo was a Jewish writer who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, between 30 B.C. and 50 A.D. He explained the Hebrew Scriptures, especially the Law, in light of Greek philosophy. He allegorized much of the Old Testament. His use of the word ________________ (word) approaches the meaning of the term as it is used in the Gospel of John. Josephus-- He was a Jewish historian in the first century. His writings provide much of the information we have about the __________________________ period. He was not a Christian but gives brief information about John the Baptist, Jesus, James, and early Jewish Christianity. Mishnah-- The Mishnah was the compilation of what was known as the oral tradition or ______________________________ mentioned in the New Testament (Mark 7:3). This material was put into written form about 200 A.D. under the direction of Rabbi Judah.


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III New Testament Documents

A. Gospels

1. Literary Relationships Between the Gospels

When the four Gospels are compared with one another, it is evident at once that three of them (Matthew, Mark and Luke) have much in common and in general present the life and teachings of Jesus from the same point of view. They are usually called the _____________ Gospels (from the Greek word synopsis which means seeing together). In many particulars these three differ from John’s Gospel:

a) The synoptics take for their chief theme the ministry of Jesus in Galilee. The Gospel gives prominence to his work in Judea.

b) Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection are reported

by all four Gospels. The only other incident recorded in detail by all four is the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.

c) The synoptics contain much about the Kingdom of God whereas John

refers to the Kingdom of God only once (3:3) and includes no examples of Jesus’ parables.

The Synoptic _____________ derives from the observation that Matthew, Mark and Luke contain:

a) a high degree of verbal agreement between them b) the order of the material in each is in large measure the same

c) yet, there are significant differences between them.

The Synoptic Web attempts to explain how this situation came to be. Most New Testament scholars see a literary relationship between Matthew, Mark and Luke. Luke, the writer of the third Gospel, stated that he was aware of gospel writings that preceded his attempt and that he had interviewed eyewitnesses to the life of Jesus. What were the literary relationships between the Synoptic Gospels? Most New Testament scholars have come to the following observations:

a) Mark was the first Gospel written. b) Matthew and Luke followed Mark’s basic narrative sequence of the life

and ministry of Jesus.

c) Matthew and Luke added and modified material in presenting their stories of Jesus.


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d) Matthew and Luke had access to another source (most likely written)

that contained about 235 verses (sayings of Jesus) shared in common between them but not found in Mark

(see Matt 11:16-19 and Luke 7:31-35). 2. MARK-- Early church tradition holds that Mark was with Peter in Rome sometime during the reign of Claudius (41-54 A.D.) and that he wrote down Peter’s sermons. The reason for Peter’s visit to Rome was to counter the negative influence of Simon Magus. This man, who had been rebuked by Peter in Samaria (Acts 8:9-25), went to Rome. He performed magic rites and was worshipped as a god. His activity troubled the Roman Christians. Peter preached about the __________ of Jesus and emphasized the sufferings of the son of God. Also, Claudius had expelled certain Jews (and unknowingly, Christians like Aquila and Priscilla mentioned in Acts 18:1-2) from Rome in 49 A.D. due to disturbances in the synagogues over Christ. After Peter left Rome, the Christians urged Mark to write down the preaching of Peter for present and future instruction. This Gospel was probably written in the early 50’s A.D. It was written in Rome in a setting of unrest and confusion. It presented the good news about Jesus, his authority and nature, and described him as the suffering son of God. Themes in Mark:

a) The _______________ of God. It does not refer to a political concept or geographical area. It is the rule of God expressed in the life and ministry of Jesus. The messianic kingdom of God was inaugurated when Jesus came and had both present and future connotations. The key passage is Mark 1:14-15.

b) ___________________. Jesus is the son of God (see 1:1 and 15:39). Mark shows that Jesus is also the suffering son of God (8:27-38). Mark’s Gospel has been called “A passion narrative with an extended introduction.” c) Discipleship. The disciples of Jesus are presented as hard of heart (6:52), spiritually weak (14:32-42), and dim-witted (8:14-21). Mark shows the disciples as both __________________ and ___________________. 3. MATTHEW-- Matthew’s Gospel was written to Jewish Christians to show them that Jesus is Messiah (1:1), especially in his role as ________________. This Gospel is arranged around five major discourses (teachings) of Jesus (7:28, sermon on the mount; 11:1, mission of disciples; 13:53, parables; 19:1, church discipline; 26:1, eschatology). According to early church tradition (and Jesus’ prophecy, Matt 24:15-21) Jewish Christians were warned to leave Jerusalem prior to the Jewish revolt against Rome in 66 A.D. They went to ________, a Hellenistic city in the Transjordan area. Here, Matthew


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probably wrote this Gospel in Greek due to the Greek speaking population of the city and surrounding areas. Themes in Matthew:

a) ______________. Matthew has a unique combination of Messiah, Son of Man and Suffering Servant. The title of Messiah was generally rejected by Jesus because of political overtones given to it by the interpretation of his day. He did receive the title in Matthew 16:16-20, however he immediately reinterpreted it in terms of the Son of Man and Suffering Servant. b) Particularism / Universalism. Jesus commanded that the disciples go only to

Jews and he limited his ministry almost completely to Jews (15:24). However, the coming of Magi from the east (2:1) and the Great Commission to all nations (28:19)

demonstrate a masterful ______________ of this theme in Matthew’s Gospel. c) Corporate ________________. Matthew, being a Jew and writing to fellow

Jews, reflects the Jewish concept of corporate solidarity. Jews, like many other oriental peoples, have a group mentality rather than one of individualism. This concept is assumed in passages like 2:3; 12:45; 27:25; and 28:11-15.

4. LUKE-- Luke is the only gospel writer who explained how he obtained his material and to whom he wrote. He wrote that he was aware of other gospel narratives of Jesus and that he had interviewed eyewitnesses of Jesus. He addressed his gospel to Theophilus, who was probably a Roman official (1:1-4). Theophilus was either a new believer or had been exposed to the Christian gospel and needed more information. Theophilus could possibly have served as Luke’s patron and supplied the money needed to have his work published and circulated. Luke presents Jesus as the Universal ___________________. Luke was with Paul when he was arrested in Jerusalem and sent to Caesarea in 57 A.D. For two years Paul was a prisoner in Caesarea which was less than 50 miles from Jerusalem (Acts 24:27). Luke had time to do extensive investigation and interview people like _______________ (1:26-80) and others like Zacchaeus (19:1-10). This would not have been possible after about 64 A.D. since Jewish Christians fled from Jerusalem at that time. The most likely date for writing this Gospel was between 57- 62 A.D. The place of writing is uncertain.


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Themes in Luke:

a) Christianity’s loyalty to Judaism. Luke’s book opens and closes with activity in the Temple in Jerusalem (1:5ff ; 24:53). He is careful to show the _____________

between Judaism and Christianity. He is aware that at the time this Gospel was written Christianity enjoyed political protection from Rome under the umbrella of Judaism. However, that was soon to change in 64 A.D. when Nero accused Christians of starting a fire in Rome. Luke writes to show that Christianity is not a threat to the political authority of Rome. Even the Roman centurion responsible for crucifying Jesus proclaimed his innocence (23:47). b) Importance of __________________. Luke gives all the basic information

about the women who are also presented in the other Gospels. In addition he tells about 13 women not named in the other three (for example 8:1-3).

c) Social concern. This Gospel has a social concern for those who were

___________________ by religious leaders in Jesus’ day. Tax collectors, lepers, a “good” Samaritan, a “sinful” woman, and the humble poor all receive the ministry of Jesus.

5. JOHN-- Although not named in the book itself, “_______________________” (21:20) is most likely the apostle John. Early church tradition places the writing of the Gospel in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), probably in Ephesus. The date of writing for the Gospel of John is in dispute. Many date it in the early 90’s but some scholars give a date prior to 70 A.D. John states his purpose as leading people to believe that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ), the son of God (20:30-31). John has structured his book around ____________ signs of Jesus: turning water into wine, 2:11; healing an official’s son, 4:54; healing a crippled man, 5:9; feeding 5,000, 6:14; walking on water, 6:19; healing a blind man, 9:7; and raising Lazarus from the dead, 11:43-44. The first half of the book is about these signs and all point to a certain aspect of Jesus’ person and work. The second half of the book (chapters 12-21) tells about the greatest of Jesus’ signs; his death on a _________________. Themes in John:

a) ________________. Jesus is the divine son of God. He is the word of God; co- eternal, co-equal, and of the same nature as God (1:1). Jesus is God in the flesh (1:1,14; 20:28). Theologians call this incarnation. b) _______________. Jesus fulfills the institutions and festivals of Judaism and

brings forth the new wine of the Christian faith (2:1-11). c) Salvation. Salvation is life (3:16), light (8:12), and lift (12:32). Salvation is a

present reality (5:24) with a future __________________________ (5:28-29).


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B. THE BOOK OF ACTS

The book of Acts is classified as a work of __________________. It tells the story of the Christian movement from its origins in Palestine with its advancement and progress to the capitol of the Roman Empire. However, Luke was selective in his account, he did not tell about Christianity in its eastward or southern development. His purpose was to show how Christianity, emerging from Judaism, reached Rome the most influential city in the world. Luke structured his historical account around words which Jesus told his followers after he was raised from the dead: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Chapters 1-7 tell of the Christian movement in _______________. Chapters 8:1—11:18 record Christian activity in Judea and Samaria. Chapters 11:19—28:31 show the development and progress of the gospel to Rome, which to people in that day was “the uttermost part of the earth.” The same themes mentioned in the Gospel of Luke are continued in the book of Acts. The time frame of events recorded in Acts is from ____________ A.D. Luke probably wrote the final entry soon after Paul’s two-year term as a prisoner in Rome (28:30-31). Interestingly, the last word of Acts in Greek manuscripts is the word ________________. The gospel crossed religious, racial, political and other barriers and was not stopped. C. LETTERS

Although no letters are a part of the Hebrew Scriptures, almost ________________ of the New Testament consists of letters. Letters in the New Testament follow for the most part the general pattern of letters in the first century: opening greeting, body of letter, and closing wishes. This type of literature in the New Testament is divided into two sections; the Pauline corpus and General letters. 1. THE PAULINE EPISTLES

The Pauline Corpus has thirteen letters which are arranged in the canon according to ______________ and not according to when they were written. Ten letters are written to churches: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Three are written to individuals: 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. Paul’s ministry covered about 30 years. In that period he went on three separate missionary journeys (Acts 13:4- 14:28; 15:41- 18:22; 18:23- 20:3). His letters reflect the joys, struggles, and wide ranging thought of a missionary church planter. He is not to be viewed as a solo performer. He had with him a ____________________ of co-workers consisting of men and women.


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A CHRONOLOGY OF ACTS AND PAUL’S LETTERS

AD 30 Death and Resurrection of Jesus AD 32 Paul’s conversion and commission AD 35 Paul’s 1st trip to Jerusalem AD 44 Death of Herod Agrippa I AD 44-48 Famine in Judea AD 46 Paul’s 2nd trip to Jerusalem AD 46-48 Paul’s first missionary journey—south-central Asia Minor

(Galatia)

AD 48 Galatians written by Paul in Antioch AD 49 Jerusalem Conference Edict of Claudius expelling Jews from Rome AD 49-51 Paul’s 2nd missionary journey—Macedonia, Achaia AD 50 Paul arrives in Corinth

AD 50-51 Thessalonians written by Paul in Corinth AD 51 Proconsulship of Gallio began AD 52 Paul strengthens churches in Galatia/Phrygia AD 53-56 Paul’s 3rd missionary journey—western Asia Minor (Ephesus)

AD 54 Corinthians written by Paul in Ephesus

AD 56 Romans written by Paul in Corinth AD 57 Paul and others arrive in Jerusalem for Pentecost AD 57-59 Paul’s Caesarean Imprisonment Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon written by Paul AD 59 Festus succeeded Felix as procurator of Judea Paul appealed his case to Rome AD 60-62 Paul’s Roman Imprisonment Philippians written by Paul AD 62-66 Paul released and goes on journeys 1 Timothy and Titus written by Paul AD 66-67 Paul arrested again and sent to Rome and then executed 2 Timothy written by Paul


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OCCASION AND PURPOSE OF PAULINE LETTERS:

Galatians-- Soon after Paul and Barnabas established churches in the province of Galatia (modern-day Turkey). Jewish-Christian conservatives from Jerusalem arrived and caused confusion among the new believers. They said that in order for Gentile Christians to become full __________ of the people of God they had to submit to circumcision, Sabbath observance and food laws. Paul refuted this teaching in his letter. He also shared with them that the people of God consist of Jews and Gentiles who place their faith in Jesus Christ (3:26-29). Thessalonians-- After Paul and his companions left Thessalonica, Paul sent Timothy back to the Thessalonians to encourage them in their faith. When Timothy returned to Paul with news of the church, Paul answered their questions and gave further instructions about Christian living and Christ’s return. He also emphasized the importance of making a living with the right Christian ____________________. Corinthians-- 1 Corinthians is a response by Paul to _____________________ the church had raised (7:1; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1; 16:12). 2 Corinthians deals with problems between Paul and the church. He expressed thanks for the majority (chapters 1-10) and rebuked a minority who still questioned his authority (chapters 11-13). He also wrote to encourage a completion of the collection for Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Romans-- Paul wanted to spread the gospel in Spain. He asked the Christian community in Rome to support him in this effort (15:22-24). Since he had never been to Rome, he wrote them about his understanding of the gospel. The gospel is God’s power for salvation for believing Jews and Gentiles. In the gospel, the _______________________ of God is revealed (1:16-17). Ephesians-- ____________ between Jewish and Gentile believers had hurt Paul’s ministry for some time. Paul realized that this issue must be resolved. He wrote this letter to demonstrate that Christ had broken down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles in the death of Christ (2:11-22). Believing Jews and Gentiles are now one body in Christ. Paul also wrote to instruct them how to live worthy of the gospel in a pagan environment. Colossians-- This letter was written to help believers in Colossae deal with a __________ that threatened their understanding of Christ and the Christian life (2:8-23). Paul told the Colossian Christians that following Christ is not to be reduced to submitting to certain rules and regulations made by misguided human achievement. Philemon-- This is a personal letter written to a slave owner, Philemon, and to the church that met in his house. Paul had won to Christ Philemon’s runaway slave, Onesimus. Paul requested Philemon to free him in order for Onesimus to become part of Paul’s traveling missionary team. This letter is important for its influence on the institution of slavery as well as its teaching on ___________________________ in relationships.


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Philippians-- The Philippian Christians sent gifts to Paul when he was in prison. He wrote to thank them as well as provide news about his situation. He wanted to let them know that his imprisonment had actually advanced the gospel. He also wrote to deal with a problem of disunity between two leaders in the church (4:2-3). Unity through the __________________(attitude) of Christ is offered as an answer to the problem (2:5-11). 1 Timothy & Titus-- These two personal letters deal with _____________ instructions to trusted partners of Paul. Aware they were serving in difficult situations, Paul wanted to encourage them as well as give them practical help. 2 Timothy-- Paul’s final letter was addressed to Timothy, his missionary partner. Paul was facing death at the hands of ___________, the Roman emperor. He encouraged Timothy to train local leaders in order to carry on the work in Ephesus. Paul wanted Timothy to come to him in Rome. His final request was for his cloak, books, and parchments (scriptures, notes, letters?). 2. THE GENERAL EPISTLES

The General Epistles are eight letters addressed to Christian communities in unspecified or general localities. The letters are: Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, and Jude. As with the Pauline Corpus, the General Epistles are arranged according to _________________ and not as to when they were written. A CHRONOLOGY OF THE GENERAL EPISTLES

James middle 40’s A.D.

1 & 2 Peter early-mid 60’s A.D.

1, 2 & 3 John mid- 60’s A.D. or 85-95 A.D.

Jude late 60’s A.D.

Hebrews late 60’s A.D. OCCASION AND PURPOSE OF THE GENERAL EPISTLES:

James-- Due to the persecution of Stephen in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-4; 11:19) Jewish Christians scattered throughout Palestine and places north of Palestine. They were living out their faith in new places. They were facing things that all ___________________ face when coming into a new culture and environment. James wrote to them to give pastoral instruction in meeting these needs. The instructions are fairly general which would explain the seeming lack of logical expression of thought and basic information. Not much theology is given because the readers needed more basic advice.


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1 & 2 Peter-- These letters were intended for Christians living in the provinces of Asia Minor which are listed in the opening verses. They are called aliens and exiles (1 Peter 2:11) which means they were the working-class of the Roman Empire with few privileges. They were facing trials but this appears to be more social suspicion and ____________________ than a state persecution. Peter wrote to encourage his readers to stand firm amid the persecution which was coming upon them.

1, 2 & 3 John-- 1 John was written to an unspecified congregation. 2 John is addressed to “the elect lady” who was either an individual house church host or a congregation as one unit. 3 John was intended for Gaius, who could be Paul’s acquaintance from Macedonia (Acts 19:29), a person by the same name from Derbe in Galatia (Acts 20:4), Paul’s friend in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14; Romans 16:23), or even another unknown person named Gaius. These letters were written to warn readers about a splinter group of “so-called Christians” who were teaching ___________________ regarding the person of Christ, ethics, and social concern (I John 2:18-19).

Jude-- The brief letter by Jude, a half-brother of Jesus, was written to an unspecified Christian community to deal with a heresy promoted by false _________________ which threatened the common life and salvation shared between genuine followers of Christ.

Hebrews-- The letter of Hebrews was written by an anonymous author to an unidentified Jewish-Christian congregation. The readers had undergone persecution (10:32-36) and were beginning to flag in devotion and commitment (12:3-11). Some even refused to fellowship with others (10:25). The author wrote to demonstrate the ______________ of faith in Jesus over everything found in Judaism. He warned them not to return to the old ways which emphasized priesthood, sacrifices, law observance, temple worship, etc. The writer of Hebrews explains that Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant that brings to completion all things Jewish. (9:15-28).

D. THE BOOK OF REVELATION

The final book in the New Testament is Revelation. The name means _______________. It reveals Jesus Christ (1:1). The Greek word is apocalypse. Apocalyptic literature became popular between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D. Suffering at the hands of Syria and later Rome, Jews and Christians wrote about their persecutions using figurative images like beasts, dragons, talking birds, and flights into heaven. The book of 2 Esdras in the Apocrypha is similar to the book of Revelation. Revelation is unique in that it has three kinds of literature: apocalypse, prophecy, and letter (1:1,3,4). The first three chapters contain of messages to seven churches in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). The remaining chapters encourage believers to stand firm against ______________________. Scenes alternate between earth and heaven with ultimate power residing with God and Christ. The book of Revelation has been the happy hunting ground for interpreters. Any helpful interpretation of this book must take into account its genre, first century readers, and abiding principles. Themes in Revelation:


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1. A vivid sense of the ________________ of God and the centrality of Jesus Christ who triumphed through his sacrifice on the cross.

2. A realistic statement of the reality of good and ____________. 3. A strong implication that the Christian churches should take a

________________ against forces of evil. 4. An emphasis on the fact that _________________ in the world is the reverse side of fellowship with Christ in glory. 5. The sovereignty of God over forces both natural and ___________________. 6. The __________________ that will come upon those who refuse to follow the

Lamb. 7. Everlasting ___________________________ for those who belong to the Lamb.

IV. New Testament Canon


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The word _____________ refers to the 27 books that make up the New Testament. Originally, the word meant a measuring reed. Later it came to mean a standard, principle or rule. Finally, the term canon was used to describe decisions made by early church councils. It is in this context that we use and understand the word canon now. Exactly how these 27 books came to be viewed as canonical is an interesting historical development. Writings of early church ________________ are the major source for this information. These sources show that canonization of the New Testament documents was a combination of divine and human elements. A. Factors That Slowed the Process of Forming a Canon

1. Acceptance and usage of the Hebrew __________________ by Jesus, early Christian preachers, apostolic fathers (100-150 A.D.), and widespread influence and usage of the Septuagint (LXX). 2. Many people had actually seen and heard ____________. People did not need written documents when they could hear first-hand testimony. 3. Early preaching about Jesus focused on a promise and fulfillment theme from the Hebrew Scriptures. Collections of ____________ of Jesus could have developed during this early period. 4. The nature of many of the writings, being _______________ types of correspondence, would not lend themselves to widespread distribution. 5. The presence of strong _______________________ expectations did not provide an atmosphere for a written rule of faith. 6. Jesus said that the ________________ would guide the disciples into all truth and made no mention of “writings” that would guide other than the Hebrew Scriptures. B. Factors That Led to the Process of Forming a Canon

1. The ______________________ of the Hebrew Scriptures. They pointed to Christ but stopped short of a fulfillment. Even Jesus seemed to point beyond them when he said “You have heard it said by men of old, but I say unto you.” For the early Christians Jesus’ authority was highly respected. 2. The eventual _______________ of the eye-witnesses of Jesus led to a decline of first hand testimony. 3. The rise of ___________________ with groups such as Gnostics and individuals like Montanus in the second century influenced the church to seek a written rule of faith.


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4. The presence of so many types of biblical books led to ________________. Various Gospels (Thomas, etc.) and Revelations (Peter, etc.) appeared in the second century. 5. The use of the ___________________, instead of scrolls, in the second century by Christian scribes made it possible to put several documents into one volume. Usage of the codex format helped to hasten the fixing of the limits of the canon, as well as to promote the sense of its unity. 6. ___________________ against Christians by Roman authorities in the second century also contributed to defining the canon. When copies of scriptures were demanded and burned, Christians would give “other” books. 7. When ________________ became a Christian in 313 A.D., he made an official

request for the Scriptures. Fifty copies of Scripture were sent to him in Constantinople. However, none of these copies have been recovered.

C. Criteria for the Process of Forming a Canon

The early church was evidently guided by five basic principals in determining canonicity of New Testament documents. 1. The document had to be written by an ______________ or closely associated with an apostle. 2. The ________________ of the document was taken into account. 3. _____________________. Emphasis and harmony among the documents was deemed essential. 4. Reception by a wide number of churches and usage in public ______________ was also considered. 5. The _________________ value of the document was crucial. The voice of God spoke in these writings. People felt confronted by God.

D. Early Collections and End of the Process of Forming a Canon

1. 2 Peter 3:15-16 admits to an awareness of letters of Paul, however it is doubtful if this is a reference to __________ of them.


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2. Historically, the first collection of documents resembling a canon was made by _______________ in 140 A.D. His compilation included 10 letters of Paul and an abridged version of Luke’s Gospel. 3. The first orthodox canon of scripture as a “rule of faith” is found in the writings of __________________ (180 A.D.). He listed 22 documents as accepted by all and 5 that were disputed by some (James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John). His list is best termed as provisional. 4. Other church fathers and councils discussed these matters. The Council of Laodicea in 363 A.D. considered 26 documents as canonical. Some concern over the book of _________________ was raised (due to authorship and 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth). 5. In 367 A.D. in his Easter letter, ___________________ (Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt) listed all 27 books as canonical. The Councils of Hippo and Carthage list all 27 as canonical. 6. Summary. The process reveals development: canonicity was historically conditioned. Local usage and widespread acceptance was vital along with apostolicity. Councils were at the end of the process and acted more like ___________________ rather than creators of the canon. These 27 books are in the canon because of their spiritual value. The Holy Spirit not only was instrumental in the writing of the documents but also in __________________ the process of canonization. V. New Testament Interpretation No study of the New Testament would be complete without giving attention to its


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interpretation. How one goes about interpreting the Bible is called _________________. There are three guidelines that should be a part of any interpretation of the New Testament. The ______________________ result focuses on what the Bible passage meant to the readers in the first century. The ______________________ result draws principles from the passage that are as true now as they were in the first century, and relate to our culture as much as the culture of Jesus’ surroundings. The ______________ result addresses the question of what a passage means to present-day readers. John 2:1-11 serves as an example of this three-fold approach to New Testament interpretation. A. HISTORICAL RESULT

Weddings in first century Israel were major celebrations and were known to last a week or more. Presents were given, and those in charge were expected to supply plenty of food and wine. Jesus’ mother approached her son about the lack of wine which indicates she was one of the people in charge, perhaps because she was related to the bride or groom. Jesus’ response to her (v.4) demonstrates male and female roles in public versus private matters. These clearly defined roles were often merged at weddings. Jesus was not being ______________________ to his mother by answering as he did (cf. John 19:26). The purpose of stone water pots (v.6) was for ritual _______________ (see Mark 7:3-4). Handwashing and washing of eating utensils took on religious significance for Jews. Also, the number 6 was symbolic for that which was incomplete. The word “draw” in verse eight means to draw from a _____________ (see John 4:7,11). The water drawn from a well was the water that Jesus turned into wine, not the dirty water in the stone pots. The word “wine” in this passage was alcoholic wine. However, it must be remembered that modern day ________________ processes make wine more alcoholic than wine made in the first century.

B. UNIVERSAL RESULT

1. Jesus was not ______________ by his mother but by his relationship to the Heavenly Father and his purpose.


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2. Jesus knew the _______________________ between major and minor issues. 3. Jesus ___________ the old forms of religion and brings forth the new wine of Christian faith. 4. What Jesus offers ______________________ with age. 5. Those who _______________________ with Jesus experience his power and glory. C. PRACTICAL RESULT

The practical result is found by answering these questions: What does this text mean to me? What am I going to do about it? In light of the five principles described in the universal result, list ways you can apply this passage to your life: 1. 2. 3.

where do I go from here?


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Mountain View’s C.L.A.S.S. 501 The Coaching Series

DISCOVERING SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

(Four Seminars):

1. Learning to Lead: -How to sharpen your leadership skills.

2. Building a Winning Team:

-How to effectively build and facilitate healthy small-groups.

3. Throwing the Change-Up: -How to become a creative thinker and communicator.

4. Lasting the Season: -How to manage your time and resources to accomplish the significant.


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