Download Historical and Cultural Setting

Introduction to the Christian Scriptures
Session 2
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4thc BC
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Alexander the Great
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coin from Maccabean
Revolt
Time of Christ
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Julius Caesar
Herod the Great
70 AD
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Emperor Trajan
Arch of Titus showing
sack of Jerusalem
Effects of Alexander's Conquest
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Building of Greek cities throughout Empire
Establishment of Greek as the common
language
Adoption of Greek religion and philosophy by
conquered cultures
Traits of Hellenistic Judaism
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Infiltration of elements
Hellenistic philosophy into
Jewish thought
Significant additions to Wisdom
literature
Translation of Hebrew scriptures
into Greek (Septuagint)
Universal Torah education
A new phase of concern for
Temple purity as Hellenistic
leaders attempt to add pagan
statues to the Temple and to
synagogues

Mosaic from
Sepphoris
Signifcant People and Events
Birth of Christ through the 1st Century A.D.
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Roman Empire
Caesar Augustus
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Judea
Herod the Great
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Quirinius
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Caiaphas and Annas
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Pontius Pilate
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Hillel and Gamaliel
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Festus
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Philo and Josephus
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Vespasian
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Emperor Trajan
Destruction of the
Temple
The Temple in Jerusalem
Herodian Model
Sects within 1st Century Judaism
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Sadducees (Zadokites):
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closely concerned with Temple
ritual,
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accepted only written Torah,
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did not accept idea of immortality
of the soul
st
1
Sects within
Century
Judaism
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Pharisees
(Perushim):
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from term
'separate'
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accepted the oral Torah
traditions
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concerned
'mitzvah'
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forerunner of rabbinic
Judaism
meaning
with
Sects within
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st
1
Essenes
 rejected Temple authority
as corrupt
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had apocalyptic beliefs
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Dead Sea Scrolls
Century Judaism
Sects within
st
1
Century Judaism
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Zealots:
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nationalistic
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violent
Rome
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Masadah
against