I. Roman Rule in Syro-Palestine

Augustus

(63 BCE - 14 CE) First emperor of Rome (27 BCE - 14 CE) He restored order and prosperity to the Empire after nearly a century of turmoil. Grandnephew to Julius Caesar.

Gentiles

In Jewish thought, one who is racially a non-Jew and who, theologically speaking, is not in covenant relationship with God. Typically, gentiles were considered "unclean" by the Jews of Jesus's day.

Ptolemy

His ideas on science influenced Muslim and European scholars from Roman times until the Scientific Revolution. He was a Greco-Roman writer famous as a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet. He lived in the city of Alexandria in the Roman province of Egypt, wrote in Greek, and held Roman citizenship.

B. Roman Rule over Palestine (63 BC to AD 100)

In this section be sure to look at the charts "A Chronological History of Rome" and "A Chronological History of Palestine" in your chart book by House for a complete list of emperors in the historical period and the written period of the New Testament. I would like to do a brief overview of the rulers and Roman emperors that affect the story of the New Testament. Beginning of Roman Rule in Palestine. The Roman general Pompey took control of Jerusalem in 63 BC. During this initial period of Roman rule, Pompey allows the Jews to govern themselves autonomously but to not forget that they are directly under Roman rule. The Herodian Dynasty in Palestine Herod the Great becomes appointed "King of Judea" by Rome as he petitions to the Caesar. He reigned from 37 BC to 4 BC. Herod's father Antipater (an Idumaen "convert" to Judaism) had befriended Rome over a period of years and helped Pompey take control of that region. Herod the Great was a brutal ruler and committed many heinous acts against his family and people; yet he was a savvy political leader and great builder. His most notable building project is the revamping of the Temple, hence called the Herodian Temple (although it is still considered the Second Temple). Keep in mind that this is NOT the same Herod that we encounter in the Gospels during Jesus' ministry.That Herod is Herod Antipas or the tetrarch (Mt. 14:1; Lk 3:1). This is the same one who beheads John the Baptist, and is married illegally to his brother's wife Herodias (her daughter is Salome). Also, he is the same Herod that Jesus stands before he gets crucified (cf. Luke 23). Herod the Great is the king during the birth narratives. When Herod the Great died his kingdom was divided up among his three sons by authority of Caesar. We will discuss this further in the following. Augustus Caesar's (formerly known as Octavian, a general and relative of Julius Caesar) rise to Roman emperorship (27 BC to AD 14) was a result of the war with Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. Cleopatra is the last Ptolemaic ruler. Earlier we discussed how the Ptolemies were in power for quite sometime (since after the division of the Greek Empire) while the Seleucids had ended their rule during the military campaigns of the Roman general Pompey. This Augustus as many of you know is the Caesar that we are familiar with in the birth narrative of Jesus. The proclamation of a census was given under his reign that plays into the story of the birth of Christ. Though we do not know when exactly this was executed it seems likely that the best date is 6-4 BC. Tiberius Caesar began his emperorship in AD 14 and died in AD 37. This period of his emperorship covers two important events for the New Testament story: (1) The ministry of Jesus the Christ begins sometime near AD 30 and ends AD 33. Please turn to the chart "A Genealogical Chart of the Herodian Dynasty" in your chart book again to note that the king of the Jews was Herod the Great during Jesus' birth. As mentioned earlier, the King Herod that you see during the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus is Herod Antipas the tetrarch over Galilee and Perea (hence Pilate sends Jesus during the Passion Week to see Antipas before he gets crucified). I had mentioned earlier that Herod the Great's kingdom was divided up among 3 sons. The reason for this was largely due to the several wills that he had left behind. He just kept changing his mind toward the end of his life regarding who he trusted. This was due largely to suspicions about who was trying to kill him and who wasn't (of course, he really hadn't endeared himself to anyone so it was natural to think that they all wanted him dead). Once he died, the three "would be" heirs all petitioned to Caesar to hear them out about who rightfully should rule the province of Palestine. A compromise was struck and everyone was made "happy". Herod Antipas was given the commercial rich northern Galilee and Perea region; his full brother Archelaus became ethnarch in Judea and Samaria. Archelaus quickly gets replaced by several procurators and prefects because of bad political choices. One most notable event is Archelaus had commanded the slaughter of 3000 Jews during a Passover; and that just didn't fly with the Roman government (and the Jews for that matter). The third inheritor Philip was the half brother of the other two, he was given the northeast area of Galilee called Iturea and Trachonitis. He built the commercial port of Caesarea Philippi. Eventually when he died in 34 AD his area was given to Herod Antipas. (2) The ministry of the Apostles and followers of Jesus begins a few days after his death with Pentecost (after the descending/anointing of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and believers) in AD 33. This is also under the period of Tiberius Caesar. Let's return to the subject of Herod the Great's successors. Again, keep your chart book open. After Herod Antipas died in AD 39 the entire province of Palestine was given to Herod Agrippa I, Herod the Great's grandson (the three heirs we mentioned earlier were his uncles) through his daughter Bernice (her mother was Mariamne I, a Maccabean princess, the descendant of John Hyrcanus). Herod Agrippa I ruled from AD 37-44. He is most noted for having killed the Apostle James. His son Herod Agrippa II inherits the office tetrarch of Chalcis and the northern territories of Palestine. Herod Agrippa II ruled from AD 48-70. This king is noted in the book of the Acts of the Apostles when Paul goes up before him (two years earlier Paul's case was heard by Felix the procurator in Judea who was married to Herod Agrippa II's sister) and the current procurator Festus (who replaced Felix) with Herod Agrippa II's other sister Bernice. Paul then goes on to Rome. Open your chart book to the chart "A Chronological History of Rome." Nero begins his infamous rule AD 54-68. The period of the Apostles continues under his emperorship. You may be familiar with the story of Nero playing the fiddle as Rome burned under his command then blaming the event on the Christians. Whether this is a true story or not, the first Christian Persecution occurs under his reign. The Apostles Peter and Paul were martyred sometime in AD 64-68. After Nero's death there were four short-lived emperorships. The next four emperors do not directly affect the New Testament story; you may look at the chart book to see their names but for our purposes we will skip them. The next three important emperors for the biblical narrative is Vespasian (AD 69-79). During his reign, his son Titus (a Roman general) puts down the First Revolt of the Jews in AD 70 and destroys the Herodian Temple and Jerusalem.

Samaritians

Resident of a region roughly equivalent to Israel in the Old Testament, lying west of the Jordan River between Galilee to the north and Judea to the south. The Samaritans separated from the other Jews in about 400 BC and had their own Bible (Torah), temple on Mount Gerizim, sacrifices, and worship. They were bitterly resented by the Jews as apostates. Most Jews would have nothing to do with them (John 4:9).

Claudius

Roman Emperor after his nephew Caligula was murdered; servant to brutus

Nero

Roman Emperor notorious for his monstrous vice and fantastic luxury (was said to have started a fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64) but the Empire remained prosperous during his rule (37-68) prosecuted christians

Caligula

Roman Emperor who succeeded Tiberius and whose uncontrolled passions resulted in manifest insanity

Tiberius Caesar

Roman emperor from AD 14-37. Jesus ministered during his reign

Antiochus Epiphanes

Seleucid ruler that provoked a revolt in Judea by his desecration of the Jewish Temple.

Bethlehem

Where Jesus was born

Qumran

Where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found

1. The Pharisees

(also called "the teachers of the Law" in the NT; and closely associated with "the scribes") originated in the 3rd century BC as a reaction against Hellenization of the Jews. The word comes from the Hebrew פרושים prushim or from פרוש parush, meaning "separated," that is, one who is separated for a life of purity. Some characteristics of this group are:a. The Pharisees were, depending on the time, a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flourished during the Second Temple Era (536 BC -AD 70). After the destruction of the Second Temple, the Pharisaic sect was re-established as Rabbinic Judaism--which ultimately produced normative, traditional Judaism, the basis for all contemporary forms of Judaism. b. They were the religious conservatives of their day, and were popular with the common people; they basically controlled the synagogues. Gradually, the Pharisees became proud, self-righteous, and legalistic, with no real heart or faith or devotion thus often criticized by Jesus in the Gospels.

Feast of Tabernacles

(also called the Feast of Booths or Shelters or the Ingathering) is known as Succoth in Hebrew. This feast was celebrated in the autumn, as a time to commemorate the Israelites wanderings in the wilderness for 40 years. It is named after the tabernacles or booths (called sukas, from the Hebrew word Succoth) that are built by the Jews to represent the temporary dwellings their ancestors used when they traveled and lived in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. For 7 days the Jews were to live in these temporary dwellings in Jerusalem. Read Lev. 23:33-44 (cf. Neh. 8:13-18). (The dedication of Solomon's Temple took place during this feast; cf. I Kings 8:2) Although Christians do not celebrate this feast, it is quite pertinent in understanding the story of Jesus. Read the following passages: Matt. 17: 11; John 7:1-21, 37-39; 8:1-12. The metaphors of Jesus that he is the "living water" and the "light of the world" comes from two things that are done during this feast. Water references the celebration of water pouring at the Pool of Siloam performed by priests during this feast. The light references the beauty of the lights from the shelters that stood on the hills of Jerusalem in the evening hours. There were also four great menorahs (large lamp stands) that were lit with olive oil during the feast (somewhat like Hanukkah). These particular features about Judaism will assist us as we read the New Testament Literature (especially the Gospels) by giving us a basic understanding of what Judaism looked like compared to the emergent Christian movement which eventually became the Church.

Pentecost

(also called the Feast of the First fruits or Weeks or Harvest) is known as Shavouth in Hebrew. It eventually came to be called Pentecost from the Greek meaning 7 weeks. This feast follows Passover 40 days after. This is celebrated the harvest season of the Spring season; its spiritual commemoration was associated with the giving of the Mosaic Law at Sinai (Exod. 19:1). Read Deut. 16:9-12 (cf. Lev. 23:9-14). Christians celebrate this feast in a different way from the Jewish feast and for a different reason than their Jewish counterparts. This the time when the Holy Sprit (as promised by Jesus) descends upon his disciples and believers in a unique manifestation of power in the New Testament book, Acts of the Apostles.

passover

(also called the Feast of the Unleavened Bread) is known as Pesach in Hebrew. This is celebrated during March/April as the commemoration of the deliverance from Egypt, also called the Exodus. Read Exod. 12 (cf. Lev. 23:4-8). This feast lasted for 7 days (although its preparation could be longer). The Last Supper, as Christians call it, was during this Jewish celebration. Jesus and his disciples were eating the Seder meal of this feast when he instituted what is now called and celebrated as the Holy Eucharist or Communion by Christians. (The Christian holiday Easter (or Pesach) was originally celebrated around the same time as the Jewish Passover. Eventually, the Church distanced itself from the Jewish holiday by assigning a differently time for Easter.)

Sadducees

A group of Jews in Jesus's day comprised primarily of the priestly aristocracy, who relied only on the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch). They rejected the idea of angels, life after death, providence, and the resurrection. They were willing to cooperate with the Romans to preserve the nation.

Zealots

5. Opposite of the group above are the Zealots who were founded by Judas of Galilee (or Gamala) and Zadok the Pharisee. The term zealot is from the Hebrew kanahi means "one who is zealous on behalf of God." These were political radicals who opposed Roman rule in Palestine. They refused to pay taxes or pledge allegiance to the Roman Empire. They were involved in the Jewish Rebellions of AD 66-73, and in AD 132-135. So you can imagine that the Zealots and Herodians did not get along.

Zealots

A Jewish party of extreme nationalism in Jesus's day that advocated armed rebellion to usher in the kingdom of God. Their actions precipitated the Jewish War of AD 66-70, which culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, the Roman general and future emperor. One of Jesus's disciples, Simon, was a former Zealot (Mark 3:18; Acts 1:13).

Aramaic

A Semitic language related to Hebrew commonly spoken in Palestine during Jesus's day and used by him in ordinary discourse. It dates back to ancient Syria (biblical Aram). Part of the Old Testament is written in Aramaic.

Jerusalem

A city in the Holy Land, regarded as sacred by Christians, Muslims, and Jews.

Josephus

A first-century Jewish historian, appointed court historian by the Roman emperor Vespasian, whose works The Jewish War and The Antiquities of the Jews are principal resources for information about life in first-century Palestine.

Essenes

A sect of Judaism at the time of Jesus that emphasized apocalyptic, asceticism, and strict obedience to the law. The Qumran community bythe Dead Sea was probably Essene. See apocalyptic; Dead Sea Scrolls; Qumran.

Who is Josephus? (Why is he important?)

Although this does not directly affect the New Testament, it is important to note this figure of this period. The most notable Roman source on Jews and Judaism is Josephus (AD 37 to sometime after 100 AD). He came to be known as "Titus Flavius Josephus" as a Roman citizen. He was a 1st-century Jewish historian and apologist of priestly and royal ancestry who survived and recorded the Destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. He originally fought the Romans in the First Jewish-Roman War of AD 66 -73 as a Jewish military leader in Galilee. After the Jewish garrison of Yodfat was taken under siege, the Romans invaded, killing thousands, and the remaining survivors who had managed to elude the forces committed suicide. However, Josephus became a turncoat, he and one of his soldiers surrendered to the Roman forces invading Galilee in July AD 67. He became a prisoner and provided the Romans with intelligence on the ongoing revolt. The Roman forces were led by Caesar Vespasian and his son General Titus. In AD 69, Josephus was released (cf. War IV. 622-629) and according to Josephus's own account, he appears to have played some role as a negotiator with the defenders in the Siege of Jerusalem. Josephus' two most important known works are Jewish War (c. AD 75) and Antiquities of the Jews (c. AD 94). Jewish War recounts the Jewish revolt against Rome in AD 66-70. Antiquities of the Jews recounts the history of the world from a Jewish perspective. These works provide valuable insight into the background of 1st-century Judaism and early Christianity Titus becomes emperor in AD 79 after the death of his father Vespasian. Titus has a very short reign, and Domitian becomes the next emperor, followed by Nerva and Trajan. Trajan is the last emperor that relates directly to the New Testament story. The Apostle John (also called the Beloved) is exiled during his reign to the island of Patmos and dies sometime around AD 100. Again, it is important that what we have covered in this section relates to the historical period of the New Testament story. Do you remember when the written period of the New Testament begins? Make sure you remember dates for the written period and of the historical period of the New Testament.

Feast of dedication

An eight-day Jewish festival, beginning on the twenty-fifth of Kislev (November/December), commemorating the rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabeus in 164 BC and the relighting of the temple candles (1 Macc. 4:52-59). It was also called the Feast of Lights and today is known as Hanukkah. Jesus attended this feast (John 10:22-39).

Samaria

Capital of Israel

Talmud

Collection of Jewish traditions that forms the basis of Judaism's life and thought. It developed over several centuries and was codified in two collections, the Palestinian and the Babylonian, in the late fourth and fifth centuries AD. The Babylonian is by far the longer and more complete. Both versions consist of two main parts: (1) the Mishnah, interpretations of the Torah, and (2) the Gemara, commentaries on the Mishnah, as well as other tractates, or chapters.

Titus

Conduct Manual for the Church

This rebuilt Temple is called the Second Temple or Zerubbabel's Temple

Cyrus the Great allowed the Jews (as well as other people groups) to return to their former countries from their exiled existence in the Media and Persian Empire. He also allows the Jews to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem (and its city's walls) and returns the various religious articles of the Temple to its proper place. (Alas, no Ark of the Covenant.) This rebuilt Temple is called the Second Temple or Zerubbabel's Temple (he was in charge of the rebuilding project). The Herodian Temple is the same as this Second Temple. The Second Temple was "super-sized" by Herod the Great as part of his numerous building projects (hence, Jesus' time is also called the Second Temple Period by scholars and Jews). The work began in AD 19 and was completed just before its second destruction by Titus in AD 70. (Talk about "doomed"!) By the days of Jesus, the Temple had greatly declined in importance as a central element of all Jewish life. Although Jews were to come to Jerusalem for three great feasts every year, there was only one time when they came in larger numbers, Passover. Three possible reasons for the decline:

Alexander the great

Cyrus's Persian Empire began to crumble and European might was felt for the first time in Middle Eastern history. It came in the form of ALEXANDER THE GREAT. A century earlier, the Persians had attempted to extend their borders into Greece. A seemingly invincible force, they burned and pillaged Athens; a disastrous naval defeat at the Sea of Salamis in 480 BC, however, forced their withdrawal back into Asia Minor. To avenge the desecration of the temple of Athena, Alexander pushed east to establish the rule of Greek civilization in what was formerly Persia's domain. He died in 323 BC, and it was left to his military successors, called the Diadochi,

Pharisees

During New Testament times one of the dominant groups of Jewish thought. The Pharisees accepted both Scripture and tradition as authoritative; affirmed the traditional theological doctrines of God's providence, angels, resurrection, and the afterlife; held to a strict observance of Jewish legal rules (their name means "separated"); and opposed Jesus and early Christianity, for, among other reasons, the Christians' apparent disregard of key Jewish rules. AlthoughAlthough small in number (estimated at six thousand) their influence was widespread and in many ways typified Jewish thinking at that time.

Vespasian

Emperor of Rome and founder of the Flavian dynasty who consolidated Roman rule in Germany and Britain and reformed the army and brought prosperity to the empire

Judaism

General term denoting the religious system upheld by the Jews: their theological, ethical, and social beliefs and practices based on their authoritative writings, which currently includes the Old Testament and above all the Talmud. Judaism began during the captivity in Babylon/Persia (586-539 BC). There were many divergent forms of Judaism during New Testament times. See also Jamnia.

I. Judaism in the First Century

In this section we will overview relevant ideas and practices of Judaism in the First Century AD as it relates to the New Testament story. Why is this important? Some scholars say that in order to have a good understanding of the New Testament you need to be able to read it like a First Century Jew. Although most of us could definitely say that we are either from the first century AD nor even Jewish, it would behoove us to try to "get into the mind" of a Jew living in Palestine in the Roman Empire. As an attempt to do this, we will discuss some vital points that will assist us in "becoming a native" (so to speak) of this era. After all, Jesus and his disciples were all Jewish men. Though this is NOT a class on Judaism, there are main points where we will discuss its influence and continuum in Christian theology. One could almost say that you can't have a class on Christianity unless you first study Judaism.

chart identifying jewish religious political groups

Jewish Religious and Political Groups of the First Century Please refer to the chart in your chart book "Identifying Jewish Religious-Political Groups of the First Century" and "Jewish Sects of the First Century" for this section. We will cover the main ones that affect the New Testament story (i.e. Jesus and the Apostles). Again, there was not a unified consensus as to how Judaism was practiced among its adherents, and still less is a consensus as to some theological beliefs. This was clearly seen in these groups:

Heriodians

Jewish party of Jesus's day that sought to keep Herod's dynasty in power. Their theological views weresimilar to the Sadducees', but they aligned with the Pharisees in trying to discredit Jesus with the question of paying taxes to Caesar (Matt. 22:16; Mark 12:13). Some actually wished to kill Jesus after a miracle in Galilee (Mark 3:6).

Synagogue

Local place of worship and teaching in Judaism. Synagogues developed during the intertestamental period, beginning after the destruction of the temple in 587 BC, as places where Jews could study the law, meet together, worship God, and administer justice according to the law. When the temple was rebuilt during Herod's reign, synagogues continued to exist because many people could not travel to the Jerusalem temple to worship. There were numerous synagogues throughout the Roman Empire, with many in Palestine itself. Early Christian worship paralleled the synagogue service in many respects.

Maccabees

Nickname meaning "the Hammer" that was applied to Judas, son of Mattathias, who led his brothers and others in a successful war against their Syrian oppressors in about 167 BC. Their family, called the Hasmonean dynasty, ruled in Judah until the Roman occupation of Palestine in 63 BC. See also Hasmonean.

Pseudepigrapha

Often fanciful religious books written between 200 BC and AD 200 falsely ascribed to well-known figures of the past, such as Elijah, Moses, or Enoch. Such books sometimes have points of contact with the Old or the New Testament but were never accepted as part of the Bible.

Apocrypha

Specifically, a collection of fourteen Jewish books written mainly between 200 BC and AD 100, not found in the Hebrew Old Testament but included in the Roman Catholic Bible. These books are sometimes called the deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament. More generally, the term means "inauthentic" or "false" and refers to a large body of writings, both Old and New Testaments, such as the Psalms of Solomon (OT) and the Gospel of Thomas (NT). See also apocalyptic; pseudepigrapha.

Vulgate

Term derived from the Latin vulgatus, meaning "common" or "popular." It refers to the Latin translation of the Bible made by Jerome near the end of the fourth century AD that became the authorized Roman Catholic version.

Second temple judaism

Term used to describe the society and culture of the Jews after they returned from exile in Babylon and built the second temple. This era ended with the temple's destruction in AD 70.

Law

Term with several meanings in the New Testament. It can refer to the legal and moral teachings of the Old Testament (John 7:19) or to the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch (Matt. 7:12). It can denote a general principle or standard at work within people (Rom. 7:23, 25; James 2:12) or Jewish rules generally (Acts 25:8).

Diaspora

Terms designating those Jews who were living outside Palestine, scattered or dispersed among the gentiles.

Jewish Identity: Who were the Jews in the First Century?

The Basics: Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people, based on principles and ethics embodied in the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible (also called Tanakah in Judaism) and the Talmud. According to Jewish tradition, the history of Judaism begins with the Covenant between God and Abraham (ca. 2000 BCE), the patriarch and progenitor of the Jewish people. Judaism is among the oldest religious traditions still in practice today. Jewish history and doctrines have influenced other religions such as Christianity, Islam and the Bahá'í Faith. Some unique features (beliefs) of Judaism compared to other religions are as follows: 1. While Judaism has seldom, if ever, been monolithic in practice, it has always been monotheistic in theology. It differs from many religions in that central authority is not vested in a person or group, but in sacred texts and traditions (that is the Old Testament canon and the Levitical laws). (Now that looks like a good quiz question!) 2. Throughout the ages, Judaism has clung to a number of religious principles, the most important of which is the belief in a single, omniscient, omnipotent, benevolent, transcendent God, who created the universe and continues to govern it. The Lord of Israel (name transliterated from the Hebrew letters YHWH) is NOT a distant god or a force of nature or the world. He is a personal being with his own thoughts, actions and goals.

Septuagint

The Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. It appeared between approximately 250 BC and AD 50. It was used by diaspora Jews who no longer spoke Hebrew as their native language. It is sometimes called "The Seventy" (hence LXX) because, according to tradition, seventy (or seventy-two) scholars translated it in seventy-two days. See also Apocrypha; Diaspora, dispersion; Jamnia.

The LORD of Israel.

The LORD of Israel. Who is the LORD? Usually written as YHWH or YHVH, the Sacred Name appears in the Hebrew Scriptures as four Hebrew letters יהוה which sound like the following: Yud, hey, vav, hey, they are represented by the letters that are transliterated in English as YHWH. This format is known as the Tetragrammaton (tetra is from another Greek word, tetartos meaning four; it refers to the four letters YHWH). According to Jewish tradition it is regarded as a title that is not to be uttered in order never to profane it in any way. In Judaism it is therefore pronounced as "Adonai," meaning "Lord." Whenever you see the words "Jehovah" or "Yahweh" it is simply wrong because in the Hebrew Scriptures there are no consonants attached to this word; also there is no "j" sound or "w" sound in Hebrew. According to traditional Jewish belief, the God who created the world established a covenant with the Israelites (the nation of Israel would be governed as a theocracy; that is, God being the ruler over the Israelites once they possessed the "Promised Land" of Palestine). God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of the Torah (the first five books of the OT). The Jewish people are the descendants of the Israelites. (They are called Jews because they are the remnant descendants of the citizens of the Southern Kingdom of Judah after the Exile.) Hence, there is a relationship between God's chosen people and Himself that is both intimate like a father to a son and yet also as a king to his people. It is for this reason, one usually thinks of God's kingship over His people Israel before anything else. We will talk about this more in the next sections. The traditional practice of Judaism revolves around study and the observance of God's laws and commandments as written in the Torah (mostly in the first five books of Moses, also called the Pentateuch) and expounded later on in the Talmud (the tradition of the Elders of Rabbinic Judaism). This is not with regard to the modern practices of Judaism. We are discussing what we know of Judaism as practiced in the immediately before and in the First Century. It is a monotheistic religion, yet heterodox in the way it is practiced, that is somewhat like modern Judaism there are different ways it was practiced by its adherents yet the traditions that we have today are not the same necessarily. Likewise, Christianity is a monotheistic religion, but its practices and traditions are varied.

Pontius Pilate

The Roman governor of Judea. Although he found Jesus guilty of nothing, he sentenced him to death by crucifixion.

Seleucid empire

The dynasty founded by Alexander the Great's general Seleucus after Alexander's death in 323 BC. It ruled Syria from approximately 312 BC until Roman times. The Seleucids' capital city was Antioch. They controlled Palestine in the second century BC until they were driven out by the Maccabees after the defeat of Antiochus IV.

Hasmoneans

The family name of those Jews (the Maccabees) and their descendants who instigated the revolt against the Syrians in 167 BC (1 Macc. 14:25-45; Josephus, Ant. 20.8.11). See also Maccabee(s).

The Sanhedrin:

The word "Sanhedrin" is from the Greek word synedrion meaning "sitting together," hence "assembly" or "council." (Are you getting tired of the Greek words yet? Sorry! Just think of this as like the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" where the father is always lecturing people on the importance of the Greeks.) 1. This council is said to have originated c. 300 BC as a type of Supreme Court and judicial body for the Jews in the Diaspora communities as well as Palestine since they were allowed by their Gentile overlords to handle many of their own religious and domestic matters. 2. The size of the Sanhedrin in any place depended upon the size of the Jewish population in that area. It usually required 23 men. 3. The Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem was the final court of appeal in matters regarding Jewish practices; it was composed for 70 men chosen from among the leaders of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and was presided over by the high priest; it became the most important legislative and judicial body of all Jewry.

Synagogue:

The word synagogue is from the Greek synogooge meaning "assembly"; in Hebrew: בית כנסת‎ (beit knesset) meaning "house of assembly." The Knesset in modern Israel is similar to our Congress, it is a ruling body for the state of Israel. This localized religious center for Jews possibly originated during the Babylonian captivity, when there was no Temple to have worship. It was the meeting place of Jews in the Diaspora communities. It usually required 10 men to establish a synagogue. This body of meeting remained popular after the rebuilding of the Second Temple and the re-establishment of the temple ritual.

Phonecia

This nation was the precursor to Carthage, and its alphabet served as the basis for that of Greece

Rabbis

Title of respect meaning "Teacher" or "Master," given in Jesus's day to those who excelled in the law of Moses and were qualified to teach it. Jesus was referred to as "Rabbi" by his followers (Matt. 26:25; Mark 11:21; John 3:2). Jesus at one point told his followers not to seek such titles of honor (Matt. 23:7, 8).

A. The Maccabean Revolt (167 BC) and Hasmonean Rule

You have already read something of this in your text, so I will not try to repeat everything the text has mentioned. However, I would like to emphasize again the important points that we will need to keep in mind for our coursework. The Jewish Revolt against the Seleucid king Antiochus IV (called Epiphanes) undoubtedly was a tremendous political gain for the Jewish nation. It is referred to as the Maccabean Revolt. What precipitated this local war in Palestine? Most of you are already familiar with the traditional Hanukkah story of the priest named Matthias who killed a Seleucid solider when he was commanded by that same solider to offer a pagan sacrifice. There is also another familiar story/event of Antiochus IV who desecrated the temple (that is, the Second Temple rebuilt by Zerububbel) by re-consecrating the temple for his own temple worship and slaughtering pigs (a non-kosher sacrifice to the Lord) on the altar. This recalls the vision/dream of the prophet Daniel who foretells of this act of desecration by a coming foreign king. It would be this king that sets up the "abomination of desolation". It should also be mentioned that there is also some background of political instability of Palestine before Antiochus came to power (and even after the Roman period there were problems). Palestine lay in between the kingdoms of the Ptolemies and the Seleucids (the two remaining inheriting political kingdoms from Alexander's former consolidated Greek Empire). As a result of the commercial viability of this area both powers were constantly at war for this small plot of land. Please be sure to look at the chart "A Chronological History of Palestine" as you read this section. Here are two important items that you should keep in mind with regard to this period, Selecuid rule and the following Maccabean rule. 1. The Seleucid king in this period was Antiochus IV (who originally was named Mithradates, he assumed the name Antiochus either upon his accession to the throne or after the death of his elder brother Antiochus). He successfully conquered Egypt in 170 BC and even captured the king Ptolemy; and then agreed with Ptolemy's brother to joint rule of the Ptolemic kingdom. However, he tried to capture it again in 168 BC, but the Romans intervened on behalf of the Ptolemies (so we begin to see that the Romans were a force to be reckoned with that this time). He then sought to strengthen his kingdom through the common worship of Zeus - which he identified, through the syncretism common in the Hellenistic world; with the chief god of each of his subjected peoples (hence the God of Israel was equated with the Greek Zeus). While others were able to accommodate themselves to this idea, to the Jews it was anathema. As a result of the abuse of Palestine by Antiochus IV Epiphanes--so called "god made manifest" (the Jews called him "Epimanes," meaning "The Mad One"), the Jews revolted and won their independence from Greek Seleucid rule in 164 BC (thus establishing the Feast of Hanukkah/Festival of Lights). The family that lead the revolt was called the Maccabees (or Hasmoneans), which Matthias was the father of Judas, Jonathan, Simon, and several other sons. This Jewish ruling family stayed in power until it was subjected to Roman rule in 63 BC; this is considered the beginning date of Roman rule over the Jews. 2. Also equally of importance is the Maccabean, or Hasmonean family in Jewish history. There are two significant reasons for understanding their role in Judaism and the nation of Israel: (1) These Jewish rulers held offices of both high priest and king (which was NEVER done throughout Israel's history); thus setting a new president different from the teaching/tradition of the Old Testament. Also though they were of the tribe of Levi (as all Jewish priests were suppose to be), they were not descended from the first high priest Aaron and his clan. Many considered them as usurpers of the high priest's office. Also, they were not descended from the tribe of Benjamin (and hence David the second king of Israel/Judah). They were not entitled by blood to hold the office of king as well. Though many Jews were content with this new regime, others were not and left Palestine, or retreated to places without direct contact with the local government (like the Essenes). (2) The Kingship of Herodian Family. Please keep in mind the persons included in this Jewish dynasty. Look at the Chart "A Genealogical Chart of the Herodian Dynasty in your chart book by House. There is an interesting twist that happens later in with regard to the political and blood lines of the Maccabean dynasty and the ruler Herod the Great (the same king of the Christmas story). Herod the Great marries Mariamne I who is the grand-daughter of John Hyrcanus, one of the Maccabean rulers, to legitimize his claim to the throne of Palestine. Be sure to make the distinction in your mind that another Herod (a son of Herod the Great) also later marries a Mariamne II who is the daughter of Simon the high priest. However Simon is not a Maccabean descendant. Herod appoints Simon as high priest in 25/24 BC thus removing the Maccabean element from the high priesthood. I know this tends to be confusing, just look at the chart and it can help clarify these persons. The important point is that we now see how the transition from the rule of the Selecuids moves to the Jewish Maccabean/Hasomean family then on finally to Herod the Great. Herod himself was not Jewish but Ideumian (his family were converts to Judaism). He had no blood ties to the Jewish monarchy. He was appointed by the Romans to be the regional king of Palestine. We will return in a moment to discussing Herod the Great.

reasons for decline at passover

a. Ill feeling on the part of the common people toward the Sadducees and aristocratic priests who controlled the sacrificial ritual. b. Terrible and blatant corruption of the priesthood, which was utilized primarily to make merchandise of worshippers for the profit of the priests. (Most Essenes were reactionaries to the priesthood because of this.) c. The emergence of the synagogue, which provided an alternate place of gathering and religious expression for the Jews.

synagogue basic 3 purpose

a. Instruction in the Law (that is the teachings of Judaism as set down by the Mosaic law); education for young boys/men. b. Prayer and worship (non-ritual); also electic in the way they did this, may not have been the same practices in each synagogue. c. A convenient rallying point for Jews in cities outside of Jerusalem. (I think this would be a great quiz question too!)

Sadducees (zadokites)

a. They were religious liberals who favored an attitude of acquiescing to the Romans in order to avoid any trouble; they were willing to compromise Jewish tradition for economic and political benefit. b. They held to the letter of the Mosaic Law, but denied the validity of the entire OT except the Pentateuch. They also rejected the doctrine of resurrection and/or future blessing or punishment. c. The Sadducees represented the aristocratic clan of the Hasmonean high priests, thus controlling the Temple precincts and high priesthood.

Caesar

an ancient Roman emperor

3. The Sadducees (possibly from Hebrew word tsdoki צדוקי, also called Zadokites)

began around the 2nd century BC; possibly as a political party. They ceased to exist sometime after the First Century AD. None of their writings have been preserved in antiquity although we have somewhat of an idea of what they believed through other writers including the New Testament (primarily, the Gospels). (Many ministers have jested in the pulpit that the reason why Sadducees got their name is because "they were sad, you see?" Although, humorous—its quite inaccurate. "Sadducees" was the Greek transliteration of "Zadokites", hence in Greek "Saddoukaioi."

Bar Kochba

the leader of the 2nd jewish revolt against rome, many considered him the messiah

The First Temple

was built by King Solomon c. 900 BC in Jerusalem, on the area called Mt. Zion (formerly a threshing floor for wheat purchased by his father King David). This temple was completely destroyed by the Babylonians c. 700 BC after a siege; thus the Southern Kingdom (Judah and Benjamin) were deported and not allowed to return until the decree of Cyrus the Great.

2. The "scribes"

were a group that seemed to be attached closely to the Pharisees. Three things they are noted for: (a) They were men educated in copying documents, religious or letters, etc; (b) They were given responsibility of copying and explaining the OT; (c) They were highly trained and gave meticulous care to preserving the exact text of the originals they copied.

6. The Essenes

were different sects who separated itself from society. There may have been different groups that come under this category; one of those being the community in Khirbet Qumran near the Dead Sea. This particular community produced the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. Some things that they were notable for were: ritual purity (through a mikvah, a type of bath where a Jew would perform a ritualize bath), repudiation of war, anti-slavery, monastic living, against the Temple controlled by the Sadducees, unique messianic and apocalyptic beliefs. A word about the so-called Essenes of Qumran: Khirbet Qumran is about a 1 ½ from the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. The discovery of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls is a well-known event in modern history. When few nomadic shepherd boys found some unusual caves while grazing their sheep they had no idea the kind of archeological wealth they had stumbled upon! They threw stones into one of the caves for fun which resulted in a large noise from inside. Fearing about some demons within, the boys ran back home screaming and returned with the elders from their clan. They ventured into one of the caves and got some scrolls but did not realize the archaeological value and importance of their new possession. Bishop Gregorios of Jerusalem Church (Orthodox) heard about the scrolls, realized their importance and purchased them from the nomads. He safely went to the US with his new treasure. Carbon dating was done and they were found to be more than 2000 years old. (These scrolls are house in an Israeli Museum at present and some have toured the US and other countries in recent years). The first archaeologist to excavate at Qumran was Father Roland de Vaux of the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem. De Vaux excavated Cave 1 in 1949, and began excavating the site of Qumran in 1951.

4. The Herodians

were not a religious group, but a party or individuals from various elements of Palestinian society who simply endorsed and supported the rule of the Herodian Dynasty in Palestine. They were composed for a relatively small number of influential Jews, who most likely were motivated by a desire to stay in their position with political support. Most were affiliated with the Sadducees.

Caesarea philippi

where Peter first calls Jesus "Christ" and Jesus predicts the passion; turning point of Mark