Christian Scriptures 4

I. Intertestamental Period (400 BCE – 0 CE)

Empires in Order:

  • Assyria → Babylon → Persia → Greece → Rome

  • These empires successively ruled over Israel and shaped Jewish culture, language, and politics.

What happened during the Intertestamental Period?

  • Time between the Old and New Testaments.

  • Known as the “400 silent years” (no prophetic books), but major events occurred:

    • Rise of synagogues, sectarianism, and scriptural canonization.

    • Strong cultural tension due to Hellenism (Greek influence).

Reaction to Hellenism:

  • Adoption: Some Jews embraced Greek customs (e.g., gymnasium, language, clothing).

  • Resistance: Others fought against it, leading to...

    • Canonization of sacred texts.

    • The Maccabean Revolt.

Maccabean Revolt (167 BCE):

  • Triggered by Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrating the Jewish temple.

  • Mattathias led rebellion → sons (esp. Judas Maccabeus) continued.

  • 164 BCE: Temple rededicated → Hanukkah.

  • Resulted in Hasmonean Dynasty (142–63 BCE) – Jewish self-rule before Rome.

Jewish Sects (Second Temple Judaism):

  • Diaspora: Jews living outside Israel.

  • Sadducees: Temple elite, no resurrection belief, conservative.

  • Pharisees: Torah experts, oral law, believed in resurrection.

  • Essenes: Separated from society, likely wrote Dead Sea Scrolls.

  • Revolutionaries (Zealots): Anti-Roman rebels.

  • Samaritans: Seen as heretics by Jews; had their own temple at Mount Gerizim.

Apocrypha & Septuagint:

  • Apocrypha: Jewish writings not in the Hebrew Bible but included in some Christian Bibles.

  • Septuagint (LXX): Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures, used by early Christians.

Canonization of OT:

  • Torah (Law) – Canonized ~400 BCE.

  • Prophets – ~200 BCE.

  • Writings – ~100 CE.

II. Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Divisions of the New Testament:

  • Gospels (4): Life of Jesus.

  • Acts (1): History of the early church.

  • Letters (21): 13 Pauline + 8 General.

  • Apocalypse (1): Revelation.

Gospel Dates:

  • Mark (65–70 CE): First written.

  • Matthew & Luke (70–80s CE).

  • John (80–90s CE).

Synoptic Gospels:

  • Matthew, Mark, Luke – Similar structure/content.

  • Synoptic Problem: How are they related?

    • Most scholars say Mark was written first.

    • Four-Source Hypothesis: Matthew and Luke used Mark, a common source “Q,” and their own material.

Gospel Characteristics:

  • Mark: Earliest, urgent tone, no birth story, ends at empty tomb (16:8).

  • Matthew: Jewish focus, Jesus as new Moses, Sermon on the Mount, genealogy from Abraham, OT quotes.

  • Luke: Gentile audience, social justice themes, genealogy to Adam, Mary-focused birth narrative.

  • John: Highly theological, Jesus as Logos, “I am” statements, signs, divinity-centered.

Women in the Gospels:

  • Key role in witnessing Jesus’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, especially when male disciples fled.

III. Acts, Paul, and Pauline Letters

Day of Pentecost (Acts 2):

  • Holy Spirit descends on disciples.

  • Birth of the Christian Church.

First Church in Jerusalem:

  • Shared possessions, strong community, apostles’ teaching, persecution began soon after.

Who is Paul?

  • Former Pharisee (Saul), persecuted Christians.

  • Converted after vision of Jesus.

  • Became “Apostle to the Gentiles.”

  • Authored 13 letters in NT.

Paul’s Life Highlights:

  • Conversion → Partnered with Barnabas

  • 3 Missionary Journeys

  • Jerusalem Council

  • Wrote letters from prison

  • Imprisoned and later executed in Rome (~64–67 CE)

Jerusalem Council (Acts 15):

  • Main issue: Must Gentile converts follow Jewish law?

  • Conclusion: No, salvation by grace through faith.

Letter Authorship Issues:

  • Amanuensis: Scribe who wrote on behalf of an author.

  • Pseudonymity: Letters written in a famous apostle's name.

Pauline Letters & Theology:

  • Personal, situational, theological.

  • Themes: grace, faith, unity in Christ, justification.

Galatians Overview:

  • Structure: Chs. 1–4 (Theological), 5–6 (Practical).

  • Tone: Urgent, emotional.

  • Issues: Judaizers (promoting circumcision), faith vs. law.

  • Influenced Martin Luther’s doctrine of justification by faith

IV. General Letters & Revelation

General (Catholic) Letters:

  • Non-Pauline; addressed broadly (e.g., James, Peter, John, Jude).

  • James: Faith must be shown in action.

    • Contrasted with Paul? Not really—different focus.

Revelation:

  • Apocalyptic genre: symbolic visions of cosmic struggle.

  • Written under Roman persecution.

  • Likely refers to Rome as Babylon.

  • Message: Hope in Christ’s ultimate victory.

Canonization Timeline:

  • Pauline Letters: Early 2nd century.

  • Gospels & Acts: Late 2nd century.

  • General Letters: By 3rd century.

  • Full NT list: Athanasius’s Easter Letter (367 CE).

  • Final canon solidified ~400–500 CE.

V. Important Dates

Use these for date flashcards:

  • 332 BCE: Alexander the Great conquers Judea (start of Hellenistic rule).

  • 167 BCE: Maccabean Revolt begins.

  • 164 BCE: Temple rededicated (Hanukkah).

  • 142–63 BCE: Hasmonean Dynasty rules Israel.

  • 30 CE: Jesus’s crucifixion/resurrection.

  • 46–49 CE: Paul's first missionary journey.

  • 50s–60s CE: Paul writes letters.

  • 64 CE: Great Fire of Rome, persecution under Nero.

  • 70 CE: Destruction of the Second Temple by Rome.