NT quiz 1: Greco-Roman Context

The culture in the Roman empire was

The OG melting pot - lots of different cultures negotiating life under the imperial authority of Rome. United under some commonalities

Why did Rome succeed?

The already Hellenized eastern half of the empire had common links to Rome (hence Greco-Roman)

• They had common language, currency, city structures, and local deities associated with the Greek Pantheon

What language was spoken in the East? What in the West?

East - Greek

West - Latin

What is Pax Romana and what did it provide?

“Roman Peace” - high value on social order

Benefits:

• Travel

• Safety

• Structure

But this depends on perspective! “…They plunder, they murder, they rape, in the name of their so-called empire”

How did Rome control everything?

They threatened their military

Loyalty to Rome = paying taxes

Roman legions were stationed on the boarders and in trouble spots like Palestine

Imperial, provincial, and municipal elites

3% Ruling elites (senatorial and equestrian classes)

Moderate surplus wealth

17% Some merchants, traders, large landowners, some freedmen, artisans, and military vets

Stable, near subsistence level income

25% Most merchants, traders, artisans, wage-earners, merchants traders, small shop owners

Subsistence level income

30% Small farm families, labourers, artisans, wage-earners, merchants traders, small shop owners

Below subsistence level income

25% Some farm families, unattached widows, orphans, beggars, disabled, unskilled day-laborers, prisoners

How many citizens under the Roman empire were at or below the subsistence level income?

80%

What determined your role in society?

Social class

Was it easy to move up the social ladder?

No

What social class were Christians from

The lower 80%

What was of primary social value?

Connectivity

What were Greco-Roman values?

• Virtue - acting the right way in certain circumstances

• Power under control / modesty and stability

  (lion on a leash)

• Loyalty

• Honor and shame

  • everyone is always watching and competing

  • (bug in a glass)

  • Where the imperial cult came from

  • Even the emperor maintained power by behaving appropriately

What was it like to work in the Roman Empire?

• Husbands and wives would work together in their trade, often connected to the home

• Connectivity between businesses was key

• Greco-Roman associations (working, trading, sacrificing together)

What was it like to be a women in the Roman Empire?

• Men were superior to women

• Men hold most public offices

• Women still have significant social power

• Women can hold property (and slaves), speak in public, be patrons, and were frequently honored publicly

• (Upper-class) women were in charge of the household on the domestic level

• Lower-class women were a lot different

Slaves in the Roman empire made up…

¼ to 1/3 of the population

Slavery was based on..

poverty, war, or being birthed into it. And you could buy yourself out of it

Slaves were viewed as..

property, under complete control of their masters.

Slaves could have influence when…

their masters were powerful.

Slaves were also in charge of educating the masters children and were themselves educated

The Roman empire imposed common religious beliefs like:

• No separation of church and state

• No separation of private and public devotion

• Every family has a household deity

• Emperor was considered a deity

• Mystery deities promised intimacy with the gods

What were the Olympian deities?

Zeus, Hera, Apollo, etc.)

IMPORTANT: Types of beliefs: Atheism

• Didn’t deny gods exist

• Denied that gods cared about humanity and were involved in the world

• Epicureans (“seek pleasure”)

IMPORTANT: Types of beliefs: Superstition

• ”An impious fear of the gods”

• Seek to coerce, or manipulate the supra human realm

• “Magic”

IMPORTANT: Types of beliefs: Piety

• The “proper” way to relate to the gods

• traditions, stories, respect

What did people want out of relationships with the gods? (#1)

• To get divine benefits

  • Health, safety, blessing

  • Focus on this life primarily, but some mystery cults talked about life to come and deliverance from Hades

  • Intimacy and knowledge of the divine

What did people want out of relationships with the gods? (#2)

• Moral transformation

  • A way to transcend being human and gain unity with the divine

  • Stoicism (self-control)

  • Humans are partly divine and the goal is to live in harmony with the divine world principle (the Logos)

  • Dog being pulled by the wagon (just go with the flow of God’s will)

What did people want out of relationships with the gods? (#3)

• To Transend the world

  • Focus on the transcendent, not the immanent

  • Escape from the “material prison”

  • Purify the body from earthy things, ascending to escape the immanent

  • Transcend by ascetism or ecstasy

What did people want out of relationships with the gods? (#4)

• Stable world

  • Correct relationship with the supra human realm provides stability

  • When the supra human realm is misunderstood or wrongly engaged = instability

  • Imperial Cult

When was the NT written?

50 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection

What does it mean when a word has semanic range?

It’s meaning is dependent on its context (ex. “green”)

What are the 3 important elements of the context of the NT?

Land

History

Culture

When did the Romans conquest Israel?

63 BC (Armies of Pompey)

Time of focus of the NT

333 BC (when Alex the G defeated Persia) - 132/135 AD (when the second Jewish war against Rome ended)

Who were the Herodians?

Who were Zealots?

supporters of Rome

Fighters