Bible

Old Testament Historical Eras and Review Details

• Test and Administrative Requirements:

  • Exam materials required include a Scantron number two and a pencil.
  • Exam two covers the Old Testament sweep; exam three covers the Intertestamental and Gospel material.

• Creation and Fall Era:

  • Key foundational events: Creation of the universe and the Fall of humanity.
  • Core theological truth: Humanity is uniquely created in the image of God.

• Patriarch Era:

  • Key figures: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve sons of Jacob (who become the patriarchs of the twelve tribes/king of Israel).
  • Foundational covenant: The Abrahamic Covenant established with Abraham.
  • Prominence of Joseph: The Book of Genesis allocates more textual space to the narrative of Joseph than to any other individual figure.

• Exodus and Wilderness Era:

  • Central events and artifacts: Moses leading the people, forty years of wilderness wandering, the Tabernacle, the Ten Commandments, and the Ten Plagues upon Egypt.
  • Kadesh Barnea: Defined as a pivotal place of rebellion where the Israelites decided to walk by fear rather than by faith.
  • Leaders of faith: Joshua and Caleb stood apart from the unbelieving majority.
  • Conquest: Joshua oversaw the fall of Jericho and the conquest of the Promised Land; characterized metaphorically as the "Braveheart of the Bible" (referencing the 1995 film).

• Judges Era:

  • The Sin Cycle: Israel repeatedly fell into apostasy, was subjected to oppression, cried out for mercy, and received deliverance.
  • Nature and role of a Judge: Biblically defined not merely as a courtroom arbiter, but as a ruler, military leader, and national deliverer.
  • Notable figures mentioned: Shamgar; the female judge Deborah, along with the historical account involving the defeat of Sisera (the "nail person").

• Foundational Biblical Covenants:

  • Abrahamic Covenant: Unconditional promise of land, seed, and blessing.
  • Mosaic Covenant: Associated with Mount Sinai, the law, and the Ten Commandments.
  • Davidic Covenant: The promise of an eternal lineage and throne.
  • New Covenant: An essential covenant prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament.

• Kingdom Era (United and Divided Kingdom):

  • Considered the most historically complex era of Old Testament history.
  • United Kingdom: Ruled in succession by three kings (Saul, David, and Solomon).
  • The Division: King Solomon died in $933\text{ BC}$; by $930\text{ BC}$, civil war tore the kingdom apart, formalizing the split into two distinct nations.
  • Northern Kingdom (Israel): Its first monarch was Jeroboam. Conquered and deported by Assyria in $722\text{ BC}$.
  • Southern Kingdom (Judah): Its first monarch was Rehoboam. Conquered and exiled by Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar.

• Exile and Return Era:

  • Prophets: Defined as individuals who speak directly on behalf of God. They ministered actively to the people during the dark period of the Babylonian exile, warning against false prophets.
  • Persian Rule and King Cyrus: King Cyrus, ruler of the Persian Empire, officially decreed that the Jewish exiles could return to their homeland.
  • The Return: Marked by significant leaders whose primary focus was rebuilding the temple, the community, and the city walls (Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah).

The Intertestamental Period and Hellenistic Rule

• Chronological Gap and Terminology:

  • The span between Malachi (the final writing minor prophet of the Old Testament) and the Gospel of Matthew spans approximately $400$ years.
  • Designated historically as the Intertestamental Period.
  • Commonly called the "$400$ Years of Silence." This phrase does not mean God was inactive or not speaking, but specifically denotes that divine scripture was not being written.

• Rise of the Grecian Empire:

  • Following Jewish restoration under Persian rule, Alexander the Great rose to power in the West and rapidly expanded his conquest eastward.
  • Alexander's empire swallowed the Promised Land, thoroughly subjecting the Jewish people and surrounding regions to Greek (Hellenistic) influence.
  • Hellenization established Greek culture and made the Greek language the universal lingua franca of the empire, providentially laying the communicative groundwork for the writing and rapid dissemination of the New Testament.
  • Alexander the Great died in Babylon in $323\text{ BC}$.

• Division of Alexander's Empire and the Ptolemies:

  • Following Alexander's death, his vast empire was partitioned among four of his leading generals, fulfilling biblical prophecies recorded in the Book of Daniel.
  • The territory of Israel fell initially under the control of General Ptolemy I Soter.
  • Under Ptolemaic rule, the restored Jewish community inside the Promised Land continued to thrive culturally and religiously.

• The Septuagint ($LXX$):

  • Commissioned during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who reigned until $246\text{ BC}$.
  • A council of $70$ scholars (more precisely $72$ Jewish scholars—six from each of the twelve tribes) assembled in Alexandria, Egypt.
  • They translated the Hebrew scriptures into common Greek (Koine).
  • Known as the Septuagint or designated by the Roman numerals $LXX$ ($70$).
  • Became the primary Bible of the common people across the Mediterranean world, who could no longer read or speak classical Hebrew.

• The Maccabean Revolt:

  • A Jewish family known as the Maccabees launched a widespread military revolt against Greek rulers.
  • The catalyst for the revolution was the desecration and mistreatment of the Jewish Temple by Greek imperial forces.

Jewish Sects and Political Factions in the First Century

• Origins and Josephus' Classification:

  • The various political and religious parties present during the life of Jesus did not exist in the Old Testament; they formed entirely during the Intertestamental Period.
  • First-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus provided a famous classification simplifying Judaism into three major religious sects, along with additional political factions:

• The Pharisees:

  • Extremely conservative, traditionalist religious group (analogized to the cultural stance of conservative modern media).
  • Nationalistic in orientation ("Make Israel Great Again").
  • Rigid devotion to the Torah: Demanded not only rigorous study of Scripture, but that it be studied according to their strict legal interpretations.
  • Added extensive oral traditions, hedge laws, and external rules beyond biblical requirements, demanding that all people conform to them.
  • Theology: Affirmed the supernatural, the resurrection of the dead, and the continued existence of the human soul into eternal life.

• The Sadducees:

  • Theological and political opponents of the Pharisees.
  • Held a radical perspective on absolute human free will: Denied divine determinism, believing nothing was predestined and that humans possessed total liberty to conduct their lives as they pleased.
  • Culturally elite and socially permissive compared to the separatism of the Pharisees.

• The Essenes:

  • The strictest, most radically sectarian and isolationist faction within ancient Judaism.
  • Withdrew entirely from mainstream society to live an ascetic life in the wilderness desert.
  • Refused to reside within territory occupied by non-sectarians, viewing society as deeply defiled and impure.
  • Regarded the Jerusalem Temple of the first century as completely compromised, corrupt, and illegitimate compared to biblical antiquity, cutting off all participation in its ceremonies.

• The Zealots:

  • Located on the violent, anti-Roman political extreme, directly opposed to groups like the Herodians.
  • Functioned as an armed underground militia.
  • Instigated regional uprisings and guerrilla warfare to violently overthrow Roman occupation.

The Gospel Era: Definition, Early Life, and Betrothal Customs

• Comprehensive Definition of the Gospel Era:

  • "Jesus comes in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies of a savior and offers salvation and the true kingdom of God. While some accept him, most reject him, and he is crucified, buried, and resurrected."

• The Annunciation and Virgin Birth:

  • A devout young Jewish teenage woman named Mary was visited by an angel.
  • The angel announced she would conceive and bear a son whose name would be Jesus (derived from the Hebrew Joshua, meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "he will save his people from their sins").
  • When Mary questioned how this could occur given her virginity, she was told that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, resulting in a miraculous, non-human conception.

• Ancient Jewish Betrothal and Marriage Customs:

  • Betrothal was legally binding and carried the weight of a marriage, although the couple did not live together or consummate the union.
  • A suitor negotiated with the bride's father; an engagement was established based on family reputation, character, and work ethic.
  • The betrothal period lasted for at least one full year.
  • During this year, the young man was tasked with building an independent house or constructing an addition to his father's family estate.
  • Joseph's true trade: Biblically described as a carpenter (Greek: tekton). Culturally, this was not an artistic woodworker building small stools or tables in a wood shop, but a physical contractor, roofer, builder, and heavy construction laborer working with rough materials on job sites.
  • Legal requirements for breaking a betrothal: Because betrothal was legally binding, terminating it required a formal, legal certificate of divorce approved by a religious court. A formal divorce was required to protect the woman's reputation, as informal abandonment would render her an outcast whom no one else would marry.

Jesus' Ministry: Popularity, Discipleship, and Conflict

• Early Popularity and Initial Acceptance:

  • Jesus experienced overwhelming popularity during his early public ministry.
  • Thousands gathered to follow him because of miraculous signs: Multiplying bread and fish to feed the hungry, walking on water, and healing physical illnesses.
  • He publicly authenticated himself as the prophesied Messiah.

• Challenging Religious Hypocrisy:

  • Jesus condemned religious leaders for their superficial righteousness, calling them "whitewashed tombs"—beautiful, pristine, and white on the outside, but inwardly full of rot, corruption, and dead men's bones.
  • He demanded genuine, inward righteousness rather than mere external conformity to human traditions.
  • Warning concerning ministry: Ministry is not meant for individuals driven by a desire for human approval or popularity.

• The Radical Demands of Discipleship:

  • Christianity is inherently not a call to personal comfort.
  • Requirements: "If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me."
  • The command to "hate" father and mother: A Semitic idiom emphasizing relational priority rather than literal malice. It requires placing devotion to God above all family attachments.
  • Scriptural counter-evidence that Jesus was not anti-family:
    • He deeply loved and cared for his mother Mary.
    • His first miracle—transforming water into wine at Cana—was performed at the direct request of his mother.
    • While dying on the cross, he demonstrated filial devotion by delegating Mary's care to the Apostle John ("Woman, behold your son"; "Behold your mother").

• Growing Opposition and Shift to the Twelve:

  • Religious leaders grew envious of Jesus' influence and mounted intense, escalating opposition.
  • In response, Jesus redirected his focus away from the massive crowds to invest intensively in his twelve chosen disciples.
  • Typological connection: The twelve disciples directly correspond to the twelve sons of Jacob and the twelve tribes of Israel.
  • Jesus' strategic intentionality: He focused on mentoring the twelve leaders who would take the baton of ministry after his earthly departure, actively planning his departure from the world.

The Passion, Resurrection, and Gospel Perspectives

• The Passion and Resurrection:

  • Extreme polarization among the Jewish populace: People were driven either to follow Jesus as disciples or to seek his death.
  • Arrest and Trial: Subjected to illegal arrest, unlawful detention, and a series of corrupt night trials operating on fabricated, trumped-up charges.
  • Crucifixion: Died on the cross on a Friday, historically designated as Good Friday.
  • Resurrection: Rose bodily from the dead on the third day, celebrated as Easter Sunday.
  • Ascension: Ascended bodily into heaven following his post-resurrection appearances.

• The Need for Four Distinct Gospels:

  • The Traffic Accident Analogy: Four separate groups witnessing a car collision at the intersection of Okeechobee Boulevard and Dixie Highway (near El Camino restaurant). Observers on four different corners note different aspects—one sees a driver running a red light, another sees a phone being used for texting. None of the witnesses are lying; rather, multiple valid angles yield a comprehensive picture of the event.
  • The Diamond Analogy: A gemologist (such as J.C. Martin) places a diamond on a black velvet cloth under store display lighting, constantly turning it. As the light refracts and reflects, it flashes varying colors—oranges, blues, reds, and yellows. It is one diamond examined from multiple distinct angles.

• The Four Portraits of Jesus:

  • Matthew:
    • Portrayal: Jesus as the King (the Messiah, the anointed ruler fulfilling the Davidic Covenant).
    • Target Audience: Written primarily to a Jewish audience.
  • Mark:
    • Portrayal: Jesus as the Servant (fulfilling the Suffering Servant prophecies of Isaiah).
    • Target Audience: Written primarily to a Roman audience (who understood imperial authority, labor, and servitude).
    • Authorship Background: Mark was a close disciple and companion of the Apostle Peter.
  • Luke:
    • Portrayal: Jesus as the Man (the Son of Man, emphasizing his full humanity).
    • Target Audience: Written primarily to a Greek audience.
    • Authorship Background: Luke was a Gentile physician.
  • John:
    • Portrayal: Jesus as God (the eternal, divine Word).
    • Target Audience: Written to the entire world.

• The Synoptic Gospels:

  • Matthew, Mark, and Luke are classified as the Synoptic Gospels.
  • Etymology: Derived from two Greek words meaning "with sight" or "seeing together" (viewing the narrative through a similar lens and sequence).
  • The Gospel of John is not synoptic; it stands distinctly apart in theological structure, timeline, and presentation.

Classroom Questions, Discussion, and Review Interactions

• Interaction on Upcoming Test Materials:

  • Question posed: What items are required for Friday's exam?
  • Class response / Confirmation: A Scantron number two and a standard pencil.

• Interaction on Patriarchs and Genesis:

  • Question posed: What is the Patriarch era about?
  • Class response / Confirmation: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, his twelve sons, the Abrahamic Covenant, and Joseph (noting that Genesis contains more text about Joseph than anyone else).

• Interaction on Kadesh Barnea and Conquest:

  • Question posed: What happened at Kadesh Barnea, and who were the faithful leaders?
  • Class response / Confirmation: It was a place of rebellion where the people walked by fear instead of faith. Joshua and Caleb stood faithful; Joshua later led the conquest of Jericho.

• Interaction on the Office of a Judge:

  • Question posed: What is a judge according to the Old Testament narrative?
  • Class response / Confirmation: Not modern courtroom legal judges, but national rulers, military commanders, and deliverers raised up to break the sin cycle.

• Interaction on the Divided Kingdom:

  • Question posed: What were the names and conquerors of the two kingdoms after the civil war?
  • Class response / Confirmation: The North was named Israel, first ruled by Jeroboam, and conquered by Assyria. The South was named Judah, first ruled by Rehoboam, and conquered by Babylon.

• Interaction on Prophets:

  • Question posed: What do we call an individual who speaks directly on behalf of God?
  • Class response / Confirmation: A prophet.

• Interaction on Multi-Perspective Testimony (The Intersection Analogy):

  • Hypothetical scenario posed: A group splits up at the intersection of Dixie Highway and