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The New Testament Churches in Context

The New Testament Churches in Context. NT301: Introduction to the New Testament New Brunswick Theological Seminary Virginia Wiles. The New Testament Churches “in Context”. What did the churches look like to the surrounding population? What was the structure of the House Churches?.

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The New Testament Churches in Context

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  1. The New Testament Churches in Context NT301: Introduction to the New Testament New Brunswick Theological Seminary Virginia Wiles

  2. The New Testament Churches “in Context” • What did the churches look like to the surrounding population? • What was the structure of the House Churches?

  3. What did it “look” like? • Synagogue • Voluntary Association • Professional collegia • Religious collegia • Burial collegia

  4. The Structure of the “House Church” • a. “Founder” • b. Location • c. Meetings -- see, e.g., 1 Cor. 11, 14 • songs e.g., Phil. 2:6-11 • stories about Jesus, e.g., oral tradition • ”prophecy” -- exposition of stories about Jesus • Use of LXX • The “Meal” -- Agape/’Eucharist’

  5. The Communities and Their Literary Representations

  6. The “Great Tradition” and the “Little Tradition”

  7. “Great Tradition” = Translocal 10% • The world of the scholars, writers, orators • The “official” policy--philosophy, ethics, governance, religion • Ideas -- Words -- Interpretation

  8. “Little Tradition” = Local 90% • The world of the “common folk” • The unofficial, operation practices--beliefs, morals, justice, religion • Actions -- Folk art and narrative -- “Common sense”

  9. Basic Social Requirements for the “Local Tradition” • an attachment to the land or a relationship to nature • an attachment to a local community and its organization • family cohesiveness • a need for moral authority and precision • ceremonial marking of key-season and life-process days

  10. Outline • Social Institutions • The Hellenistic Church in Context • The Communities and Their Literary Representations

  11. The Geographic Distribution of the Early Churches of the Roman Empire

  12. Map of the Roman Worldof the First Century C.E. 2

  13. Antioch of Syria

  14. Antioch • Pauline missionary group, originated in Antioch • The birthplace of gentile Christianity • Gentile -- Jewish continuing contact and debate • Literature -- Matthew, not Antioch but Syrian • 2nd c. == Ignatius (==Johannine)

  15. Asia Minor

  16. Asia Minor -- Ephesus and other cities • religious • Artemis • Cybele • active cult of the emperor, cf. 1 Peter, Revelation • Paul, cf. Acts 19-20 • John

  17. Ephesus

  18. Artemis Cybele

  19. Macedonia

  20. Macedonia • Philippi • Thessalonike

  21. Corinth

  22. Achaia -- Corinth • immense political and economic power, most important in Greece • Isis, women • very cosmopolitan, urban, known for low morals

  23. Corinth

  24. Rome • Capital of Empire • Peter and Paul

  25. Rome Temple of Antoninus Pius Vestal Virgin

  26. Alexandria, Egypt

  27. Alexandria • no NT, unless Hebrews is placed there • influential in 3rd century • philosophical Xny

  28. Summary of Terms, cont. • Voluntary Association • Map of Roman Empire and Palestine • Antioch of Syria • Jerusalem • Asia Minor -- Ephesus • Macedonia -- Thessalonica and Philippi • Achaia -- Corinth and Athens • Rome • Alexandria

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