The World of the New Testament

Geography-Places of InterestRegions Landmarks-Galilee -Dead Sea-Samaria -Mount Tabor-Judea -Sea of Galilee

- Jordan River

Cities and Towns

-Bethlehem – Jesus’ birthplace-Bethany – Mary, Martha and Lazarus live hereCana – Jesus first miracle -Capernaum – City in which Jesus preaches-Nazareth-Jesus grows in wisdom, grace and age. -Caesarea Philippi – Jesus begins his public ministry here. -Jerusalem – Jesus performs the last supper and His place of death.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=7mWaGzoEwkKNOM&tbnid=ZWo6qeWoHjmlUM:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/16081/from-where-does-the-tradition-come-that-mary-rode-on-a-donkey-to-bethlehem-prior&ei=x3AaUvCWNdD62AXzsoCICw&psig=AFQjCNFrABEijqJ1iUxl7e8RLmK-23hawg&ust=1377550919948183

Judaism

• The Temple of Jerusalem – majorly important to the Jewish faith.

• Sadducees – wealthy elite, had considerable religious and political influence among Jews

• Pharisees – a progressive reforming group of Jewish lay scholars.

• Sanhedrin – Ruling body among the Jews dominated by the Sadducees.

• Remember Jesus and the Apostles were Jewish!

Jews in the Roman Empire

• Seen as second class citizens within the Empire.• “Diaspora” – Greek for dispersion. Jews were

spread out all over the Roman Empire.

Roman Pagan Cults• Polytheistic • Romans borrowed and used Greek

gods and mythology. • Religion provided political and

ideological unity for Roman citizenry. • Romans placated their gods through

sacrifice, this kind of worship is called pietas.

• Romans held public festivals of debauchery and hedonism.

Roman Empire• Rome is established in 753 B.C. by Romulus. • Roman Empire begins 27 B.C., ruled by Augustus.

(previously Rome was a Republic). • Pax Romana – Roman Peace, marked the 200 year period of

peacetime within the Empire.

The Pax Romana is important because it is the culture in which Christianity was introduced.

Roman Empire- How the Stage was set

Pros• Road system• Universal language:

Latin• Lack of war and outside

conflict

Cons• Disregard of

human life.• Lack of Morals• Hedonism • Lame Pagan gods.

Greek Influence- Hellenization

• Hellenization- process by which Greek cultural attributes were transplanted to the East.

• Greece was source of Western philosophy that complimented Christianity and monotheism.– Socrates– Plato– Aristotle • Developing the Logos!

So What?!

The Roman Empire set the stage for a new uplifting, life filled, spiritually satisfying Religion: CHRISTIANITY

Greek and Jewish cultures exists and influence the world into which the Church was born.

God purposefully sent Jesus at this point in history so that Christianity and the Church could effectively spread.