NEW TESTAMENT FOUNDATIONS NT 102

1. NEW TESTAMENT FOUNDATIONS NT 102

2. Introduction • A. Importance of the NT • 1. Status • 2. Content

3. B. OT & NT: Continuity & Discontinuity “The days are coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors the day when I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt … I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people” (Jer. 31:31-33).

4. Moving from an Exiled Israel of the OT  the Reconstitution of Israel (the new Israel to include Gentile believers)  the Redemption of the Cosmos in the New

5. (Dis)continuity with the OT • Differences from the OT: • 1. Cultural situation: • a. Language shifts • b. Hellenism • 2. Political forces • a. From the West • b. Tensions in Palestine

6. 3. Socio-economic affairs • a. Economic realities • b. Travel & multi-cultural environments • c. Cosmopolitan landscape • d. Focus lies outside Israel • 4. Religious tradition

7. C. Text & Books of the NT • i. Language of the NT world • ii. Characteristics of NT Greek • 1. Koiné style • 2. Semitic influence

8. D. The Canon of the NT • i. Preliminary remarks (see B. Metzger, The Canon of the NT) • 1. Canon defined • 2. How did the canon come about? (Why was there a need?) • 3. Why only these books?

9. ii. Authoritative works in the 1st century • 1. The OT • 2. The teachings of Jesus • 3. The writings of the apostles

10. iii. The Rise of the New Testament 1. Major developments contributing to formalizing NT a. Marcion controversy (circa. 150AD) b. a spate of various kinds of Christian writings (see Schneemelcher, NT Apocrypha) c. church’s response

11. 2. Qualifications for canonicity a. apostolicity b. regular reading in church liturgy (lections) c. consistency of theology 3. Muratorian Canon (c. AD 200); Origen (c. AD 250); Eusebius (c. AD 300)

12. 4. Development of the inclusion of NT letters: a. around 150-70, formally certainly authoritative: 4 Gospels, Acts, Paul’s letters, 1 Peter, 1 John (21 books) [Revelation?] b. certainly not authoritative: Acts of Paul, Shepherd of Hermas, Apocalypse of Peter, Epistle of Barnabas, Didache, Gospel According to the Hebrews

13. c. disputed: James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Revelation (authorship issue) 5. Recognition of present 27 books (last half 4th c.)  E. Current Issues

14. Aims of the Course 1. historical & cultural background 2. basic content of the NT 3. coherence of individual books and what issues they address in what settings.

15. Emphases: 1. NT documents as unitary Wholes: a. literary context b. historical context 2. NT as Word of God both to live it & to teach others

16. 1 Tim. 4:16: “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

17. The Graeco-Roman World of the Apostles

18. Introduction I. Roman Caesars

19. Roman Emperors

20. Arch of Titus: Fall of Jerusalem

21. II. The Geography & the Peoples i. Roman Empire & Provinces

22. Roman Empire

23. Roman Provinces in Asia Minor

24. Inscription of Pontius Pilate

25. ii. Travel

26. Via Appia

27. Cargo ship

28. iii. Language III. Everyday Life in Graeco-Roman Society i. Classes in society 3 classes of people: Slaves; Freedmen; Free.

29. 1. Emperor & the imperial household 2. Aristocracy (Honestiores) i. Senate ii. Equestrians iii. Decurions iv. Wealthy landowners & traders v. Examples of wealthy or powerful early Christians

30. 3. Slaves (Humiliores) a. 1/5 of the population b. Reasons for enslavement c. Lifestyle & conditions d. Many were believers

31. 4. Artisans, freedmen & working classes 5. Roman military 6. Roman citizenship 7. Patrons & Clients

32. Inscription honoring a benefactor

33. 8. Marriage & family

34. Marriage

35. i. Husbands/Men • ii. Wives/Women • iii. Children

36. Child’s toy

37. 9. Education • a. Public Gymnasium • b. Rhetoric • 10. Work & leisure • 11. Guilds, clubs & associations

38. IV. Religions • A. Role of religion • 1. pervasive

39. Temple of Hephaestus

40. Temples of Jupiter

41. 2. corporate, civic activity • 3. religion & politics inseparable • 4. bolster political unity • 5. society critical of those who rejected traditional religions

42. B. The gods • 1. classical Greek pantheon with Roman deities • 2. Agricultural activities • 3. Urban matters • 4. Healing figures • 5. Pagan temples

43. Temple housing an image of deity

44. C. Characteristics • 1. Ceremonial, ritual purity & rites • 2. polytheistic • 3. popularity of astrology, magic & occult practice • 4. sense of helplessness before all-pervading Fate • 5. gods as benefactors/patrons of communities • 6. gods subjected to human passions

45. D. Imperial Cult or Emperor Worship

46. Promoting power in coinage

47. Coin Augustus

48. E. Mystery religions Mystery religions appeal to: 1. the emotions 2. the intellect 3. the conscience

49. Varieties of mystery religions: 1. Dionysus 2. Cybele (Great-mother of the gods) & Attis (her consort 3. Isis, Osiris & Serapis 4. Mithraism

50. Common features of mystery religions: i. elaborate secret initiation, revelation of ‘mysteries’ ii. regular fellowship & the sharing of sacrificial meals iii. spiritual ecstasy (in some cases) iv. reputation for immorality v. notions of a dying & rising god?