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Sunday Morning Introduction and Background Class #2 The Jews of the Early First Century (part 2). Book recommendations : New Testament Survey Merrill Tenney New Testament History F.F. Bruce Website: christianbook.com. I. Political Arrangement Intertestmental period
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Sunday MorningIntroduction and Background Class #2 The Jews of the Early First Century (part 2)
Book recommendations: New Testament Survey Merrill Tenney New Testament History F.F. Bruce Website: christianbook.com
I. Political Arrangement • Intertestmental period - Seleucids (Greek rulers in Syria) - Maccabean revolt (166-143 BC) - Hasmoneans • Priestly family who assumed governing authority • Eventually claimed kingship • Became very corrupt
Romans - Judea a province by 63 BC - Jews were granted religious freedom - Jews were granted internal self-rule - Named Herod king of the Jews
Herod the Great - Idumean (Edomite descent) - Claimed to be a follower of Judaism - Pagan in his practices - Firm rule from 37 BC – 4 AD - Effectively played the middle between Romans and Jews - Economic prosperity - Extensive building projects (the temple)
Model of Herod’s Palace in Jerusalem Model of Herod’s Temple
Herod the Great - Suspicious, jealous, brutal (killed wife, three sons) - Matthew 2
The Herods and the Governors - Herod’s Kingdom was divided among heirs but none proved as able - Eventually territories administered by his descendants and Roman governors
N.T. listing of Herodian rulers - Herod Archelaus – son of Herod the Great, ethnarch over Judea and other territories (Joseph and Mary return to Nazareth because of his rule in Judea). - Herod Antipas – son of Herod the Great, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea (ruled during days of John the Baptist and Jesus)
- Herod Agrippa I – grandson of Herod the Great, king of Judea and Samaria (put the apostle James to death – Acts 12) - Herod Agrippa II – son of Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, ruler of Galilee, Iturea, Trachonitis (Paul made a defense before him – Acts 26)
The Sanhedrin - Official ruling Jewish council with Roman approval - Composition: Chief Priests: politically connected, power brokers, wealthy Elders: aristocracy around Jerusalem Scribes: respected for knowledge of the Law and general piety
II. Religious Life • Synagogue - Required 10 men - Center of Jewish society: worship, school, community meetings - Service • Read the Law in an annual cycle; other readings complimented • Prayers, exhortation
Temple - Herodian temple - 24 divisions of priests - It was a complex with courts that allowed different groups closer access to the temple building
Festivals - Three pilgrimage feasts: • Passover • Pentecost • Tabernacles (booths) • Proselytes – converts to Judaism • God-fearers (devout Greeks) – Gentiles who had come to believe in the one, true God and hallow the scriptures
III. Economic Life • Commerce was dynamic because of the Greco-Roman advances
Galilee: - General farming - Olive and olive oil - Fishing, fish sauce - Carpentry (stones) Olive Press • Palestine was a complex money economy