New Testament

New Testament Overview

  • 27 books

  • Written in koine Greek

  • Composed over a period of about 70 years beginning in 50 AD.

  • Types of writings = narratives and letters

  • Canon confirmed largely by the 200s Ad and officially by 367 AD

 

Testament

  • Means covenant

  • Open ended contract of love with God and humanity

  • Jesus's death and resurrection sealed God's new covenant of love for all time

  • New Testament proclaims that God established the new covenant for all people

 

New Testament

  • The climax of salvation history, the coming of Jesus, the fullness of God's revelation

  • About Jesus

  • For everyone

  • Fulfills OT, doesn't contradict it

  • Reveals that a loving God has extended his loving kindness and salvation to all people

 

4 Gospel Writers; Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

  • Each Gospel Writer was a uniquely talented author

  • Each writer wrote about Jesus for a particular people

  • Spoke to the needs and experiences of his audience

 

 Formation of the Gospels

Stage 1: The Public Life and Teaching of Jesus (4-6 BC-AD 30-33)

Stage 2: Oral Tradition (AD 30-50)

Stage 3: The New Testament Writings (50-120)

 

Oral Tradition

  1. Kerygma-preaching to the unbelievers

  2. The Didache

  • Catechetical instruction to converts

  1. The Liturgy- worship or way people reflect their beliefs in Eucharistic Celebrations

1st Century-ordinary way of teaching and learning was through oral transmission

But, it became important to write down the teachings of Jesus

 

Jesus' Life and Teachings Needed To be Written Down

  1. The end of the world was not coming as quickly as the early Christians thought it would

  2. Distortions were setting in

  3. More instruction was needed

 

Criteria for Inclusion in the Canon

Apostolic Origin - Inspired by witness of the Apostles

Widespread Acceptance - widely spread

Conformity to the Rule of Faith -Source Criticism

  • Analyzes sources that the Gospels and the New Testament writers use to compose their works

 

Synoptic Gospels

  • Synoptic means to present a similar or common view

  • Share a let in a common how they portray Jesus and his life

 

Synoptic Problem - not popular hypothesis among scholars

  • Mark was 1st

  • Later Luke and Matthew used Mark as a source

  • Our source of saying Jesus used by Evangelist Matthew and Luke, not Mark

  • M and L materials that were unique to each them

 

 Lowest point of dry land

 

Palestine

  • Greeks called the area Palestine after the Philistines

  • Since the Philistines were great enemies of Israel, Jews hate the name

  • Crossroads for Egyptian, Syrian, and Persian expansion

 

Galilee

  • Fertile, rolling hills

  • Popularity = many Jews

  • Non-Jews also lived there = made Galileans more cosmopolitan  in outlook

  • Farmers and shepherds prosperous

  • Sea of Gal, provided livelihood for fisherman

  • Aramaic - main language

  • Jesus and most apostles were Galileans

  • Jesus grew up in the Nazareth in Galilee

  • Performed first miracle in Cana

 

Samaria

Samarians

  • Recognized Abraham as their father, just like Jews

  • Accepted only Law of Moses

  • Rejected Temple of Jerusalem as central place of worship

  • Jews viewed Samarians as foreigners and worship as false

  • Hate between the groups increased

  • Galileans avoid Samaria on pilgrimages to Jerusalem because of fear of being attacked

 

Judea

  • Main inhabitants = Jews who returned to Holy Land after captivity in Babylon

  • Jewish leaders settled there

  • Jerusalem = political, economic, and religious center of Judaism

  • Southern Judah contained a barren wilderness Jesus retreated after Baptism

  • Dead Sea - lowest point on earth

 Political Climate in Judea

  1. Roman Expansion

  • Romans considered their empire to be civilized

  • Roman Empire - large geography (outsiders = barbarians

  1. Centuries of Foreign Occupation

  • For almost 6 centuries under Babylonian, Persians, Greeks, then Romans

  1. Hope in a coming Messiah

  • Jesus were waiting to be freed from the rule by Messiah… King or warrior that was described in OT

 

People to Know: Players in 1st century Palestine

Romans -  Emperors: Caesar Augustus, Tiberius

  • Governor: Pintus Pilate

  • Centurion

Herod the Great and the Herodians - Herod the Great

  • And his children and grandchildren

  • Herod Antipas ( or Tetrarch)

  • Herod Archelaus (Philip Tetrarch)

 

Political Climate in Roman Empire

  • Extended period of peace and security

  • A common language

  • Intricate road system

  • Fair and legal system

  • Strong military force

  • Subordinate to Roman leaders

 

Languages of the Bible

Aramaic - Spoken all across Palestine

koine Greek - the common language of trade and commerce

Hebrew - spoken in the synagogue

Latin -  spoken among the roman officials

 Judaism and New Testament

Friday, February 28, 2025

8:19 AM

Judaism and New Testament

  • New Testament is deeply rooted in the Jewish people, their religious beliefs, practices, affiliations, and expectations

  • Jesus was a pious Jew who had many beliefs in common with his fellow Jews

  • Christians = their acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah set them apart from the other Jews

  • Jewish Christians considered their 1st missionary task to preach the Gospels to other Jesus

 

Criteria for being a Practicing Jew

  1. Circumcision

  2. Temple Worship

  3. Study and follow the Law of Moses

 

Jewish Practices

  • Worship in Synagogue and in Temple

  • Celebrate Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacle, and Yom Kippur

 

Synagogue

  • House of prayer where scriptures were read and Yahweh was worshipped

  • Place of discussion for legal settlements

  • Local School

 

Synagogues

  • Built whenever Jewish communities lived

  • Contained a special cabinet call the ark where the scrolls of the Torah were kept

  • Place of worship and Prayer

  • Most important day was the sabbath (Saturday)

  • No sacrifices and no priests, ordinary townsfolk conducted service with a leader of rabbi

  • Key part was careful reading of the Torah in Hebrew

 

The Temple in Jerusalem

  • 2nd temple build around 500 BC

Temple of Jerusalem

  • Herodian Renovations

  • Started in 20 BC by Herod

  • Finished 64 AD

  • Sacrifice Rituals, priests of the temple, special dwelling place for God

  • AD Jews were make a pilgrimage there every year

 

Jewish Holidays

Passover

  • Celebrate Exodus from Egypt

  • Pilgrimage made to Jerusalem for sacrifices and the temple

  • Sader Meal

 

Pentecost

  • Celebrates the first fruits of the harvest as well as the reception of the law by Moses

  • Celebrates 50 days after Passover

  • Greek for 50

 

Tabernacles

  • Fall Harvest Celebration

  • Commemorates the wandering of the desert and reminders of ones reliance on God's protection

  • Jesus will build huts out of branches in their yards