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Series: Gospel According to Luke Week 1 Thursday Evening Class: Return to God Scripture: Luke 3:1-­‐20 Weekly Reading Plan: Luke 1-­‐3:1-­‐20 Genre and Interpretation: • Hermeneutics—the art and science of interpretation. • Genre determines interpretative expectations: o “Gospel” accounts are theological narratives written to particular audiences, for particular purposes. o Gospel in context—the Roman Gospel and the Pax Romana. Author: • Luke, the physician, is mentioned in Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:11, and Philemon 1:24 as a companion of Paul towards the end of his ministry. • Luke also wrote Acts as a sequel to Luke. Within it, Luke addresses himself in the second person plural pronoun, “we.” (Acts 16:10-­‐17, 20:5-­‐15, 21:1-­‐18, 27:1-­‐28:16) • Luke was a first generation disciple— companion of the eye witnesses of Jesus. Historical Context: • 200 BCE Alexander the Great conquers Judea • 167 BCE Antiochus IV Epiphanese erects statue of Zeus in temple and sacrifices pigs • 167-­‐160 BCE Maccabean Revolt • 140 BCE Hasmonean Period begins • 63 BCE Emperor Pompey conquers Judea • 47-­‐38 BCE Julius Caesar loses control of Imperial frontiers • 37 BCE Herodian Dynasty begins with Herod the Great appointed as Vassal King of Judea, begins executing/exiling the priestly class, and appoints Egyptian Ananelus as High Priest • 27 BCE Caesar Augustus ushers in the Pax Romana • 23 BCE Simon ben Boethus (pro-­‐Roman Sadducee) is appointed High Priest • 1 BCE Latest possible date for the birth of Jesus • 14 AD Tiberius becomes Caesar of Rome • 29 AD Ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ of Nazareth • 32 AD Death of Jesus? • 43 AD Gospel spread to Gentiles (Acts 11:19-­‐30) • 44 AD Death of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:19-­‐24) • 57 AD? Paul before Sanhedrin and imprisoned by Roman Governor Felix for 2 years • 59 AD Festus reigns as Roman Governor and keeps Paul imprisoned (Acts 25) and Paul appeals to Caesar (Acts 26) •
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61 AD Paul on house arrest in Rome for 2 years (Acts 28) 63 AD James the brother of Jesus and Paul martyred 64 AD Rome burns under Nero’s reign, and Christians are blamed/persecuted 66 AD Jewish Revolt and Battle of Beth Horon 67 AD Vespian invades Galilee 68 AD Zealot and Galilean refugees flood into Judea and ignite conflict against pro-­‐Roman aristocrats 70 AD Titus destroys Jerusalem Date of Composition: • 61-­‐63 AD Earliest Range • 90-­‐110 AD Latest Range (If written in 90-­‐110 AD, why does Luke-­‐Acts not mention anything about the persecution of Christians under Nero, the martyrdom of James and Paul, or the Fall of Jerusalem?) Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-­‐3 “Wilderness” and “the country around the Jordan” • Map Slide • Essene— priestly Jewish sect that inhabited Qumran • Qumran Essene Hypothesis (Qumran Slide) • Caves Slide— 972 texts found in 11 caves Luke 3:7-­‐20 Repentance—turning and shifting allegiance Children of Abraham (Galatians 3:1-­‐14) Baptism with Holy Spirit and Fire (John 3:1-­‐21)