Topic 3 Historical Context of Jesus’ Ministry

1. Topic 3 Historical Context of Jesus’ Ministry Necessity of historical context for proper understanding: • How could we understand Gandhi apart from the Indian caste system and British colonialism? • Or Martin Luther King, Jr., apart from American slavery and its legacy of Jim Crow and racial discrimination? • Or Jesus apart from first-century Judaism in Roman-occupied Palestine, a land that was politically oppressed, economically exploited, and religiously divided?

2. Historical survey (587 BC – 135 AD) Presupposes “Covenant theology”: Israel’s election; obligation to Torah; gift of Land; mission to be Light to the nations. • Babylonian period (587-39 BC) – Exile; Babylonian captivity. • Temple destroyed; homeland in ruins; Jews in captivity. • Prophets promised glorious restoration; new Golden Age. • N. T. Wright: Jews of 1st cent. considered themselves still in “Exile.” • Persian period (539-333 BC) – Return; rebuilding. • Temple rebuilt (516) – “Second Temple.” • Still under foreign control. • Greek period (333-166 BC) – Hellenistic influence; persecution. • Jews divided over Hellenistic influence. • Antiochus IV (167) desecrated Temple; instigated persecution. • Maccabean/Hasmonean period (166-63 BC) –independence • Maccabean Revolt achieved Jewish independence. • Hasmonean dynasty ruled Palestine as kings/highpriests. • Jewish factions appeared (Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes).

3. Historical survey (587 BC – 135 AD) – cont. • Roman period (63 BC – 135 AD) – Jesus and NT. • Indirect rule through the Herods • Herod the Great (37-4 BC) • “King of Judea” – client king appointed by Rome. • Great building campaign – including Temple. • Brutal tyrant; unpopular. • Birth of Jesus set in closing years (cf. Mt. 2). • At Herod’s death, Rome divided Palestine among 3 sons. • Herod Antipas (4 BC – 39 AD) • Governor of Galilee and Perea. • Capitals at Sepphoris (4 miles from Nazareth) and Tiberias. • Executed John the Baptist; suspicious of Jesus. • Philip (4 BC – 34 AD) – governed NE districts. • Archelaus (4 BC – 6 AD) – governed Judea and Samaria. • Brutal; unpopular; protests ag. his rule (cf. Lk. 19:11-27). • Removed by Rome in 6 AD. Click for Pictures of Herodian Palestine Map Click for Pictures of Sepphoris

4. Historical survey (587 BC – 135 AD) – cont. • Roman period (63 BC – 135 AD) – cont. • The procurators (prefects) – Roman governors • 6 AD – shift to direct rule; census; new poll tax. • Sparked uprising of Judas the Galilean (cf. Acts 5:37). • Period of unrest marked by periodic uprisings/protests led by “messiahs” and “prophets.” • Fifth procurator was Pontius Pilate (26-36): • Brought Roman “standards” into Jerusalem. • Raided Temple treasury to finance aqueduct. • Slaughtered a band of pilgrims, assuming they were rebels. • Crucified Jesus (c. 30 AD). • Jewish War with Rome (66-70) • Major conflict; prosecuted by Vespasian and Titus. • 70 AD – Jerusalem sacked; Temple destroyed (Mk. 13:2). Arch of Titus

5. Historical survey (587 BC – 135 AD) – cont. • Roman period (63 BC – 135 AD) – cont. • Council (Academy) of Jamnia (90-100) • Reorganized Judaism around scripture, tradition, synagogue. • Closed Hebrew canon. • Began process of codifying “oral law” of rabbis: Mishnah (200) + Gemara = Talmud (450-500) (written collection (rabbinic (definitive text of of oral law) commentary) rabbinic Judaism) • Banned Christians from Synagogue. • Second Jewish Revolt (132-135) • Led by Simon bar Kochba, an alleged messiah. • Jerusalem leveled, rebuilt as Roman city dedicated to Jupiter.

6. Major Jewish Parties A sampling of Jewish diversity - many parties with diverse beliefs/agendas (“Judaisms”). N. T. Wright: theologically, Jews were still in exile; pagans occupied the Promised Land and ruled the people of God. Many different options for dealing with situation. • Sadducees (“Zadokites”) • Chief priests and other wealthy aristocrats. • Controlled Temple and Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling council). • Cooperated with Rome; high priest appointed by procurator; maintained order; opposed rebellions. • Theologically conservative: only written Torah is binding; rejected oral law, resurrection, afterlife. • Solution to pagan rule: compromise; make the best of it. • Instrumental in arrest and trial of Jesus. • Disappeared after 70.

7. Major Jewish Parties – cont. • Pharisees (“Separated ones”) • Devoted to Torah: written and oral law. • Detailed rules for Sabbath, tithing, ritual purity, etc. • Maintained priestly purity in daily life; formed close associations for purity at meals. • Teaching dominated synagogues; influential, though not politically powerful; much admired for devotion. • Theologically progressive: law must be interpreted and applied; oral law; new ideas like resurrection, afterlife. • Believed neglect of Torah was punished by pagan rule and hindered appearance of Messiah. • Solution to pagan rule: devotion to Torah as they interpreted it. • Opposed Jesus for not keeping Torah as they did. • Pharisaism triumphed at Jamnia; developed into Rabbinic Judaism. M. Borg on the Purity System http://www.united.edu/portrait/social.shtml

8. Major Jewish Parties – cont. • Essenes (“Holy ones,” “Pious ones”?) • Sectarian group not mentioned in NT. • Described by Josephus and Philo as living on shore of Dead Sea. • Probably associated with Qumran community and Dead Sea Scrolls. • Protest group c. 150 BC; withdrew to wilderness; organized into a closed community by “Teacher of Righteousness.” • Claimed to be “true Israel;” persecuted by Hasmoneans. • Apocalyptic: expected 2 messiahs (royal, priestly); final war between good and evil (Sons of Light vs. Sons of Darkness). • Devoted to strict discipline and ritual purity; daily bath of purification; sacred meals. • Many parallels with NT (John the Baptist; apocalypticism; baptism; communal meal; etc.) • Solution to pagan rule: withdraw; maintain purity; prepare to fight (did fight in Jewish War; destroyed by Rome). Qumran Pictures

9. Major Jewish Parties – cont. • Zealots (“Fourth Philosophy”) • Militant political revolutionaries. • Not a single party but an ideology of violent opposition to pagan rule and to compromising Jews. • Motivated by zealous devotion to God and Torah. • Solution to pagan rule: fight back. • Forms of resistance (see Ehrman, pp. 114-19): • Silent protest (Passover observance). • Nonviolent uprisings (protest over Pilate’s standards or Caligula’s statue). • Prophetic proclamations (Theudas’ parting Jordan; “the Egyptian’s” collapse of Jerus. walls; both slaughtered by Rome). • Violent insurrections (Judas in 6 ad; Jewish War of 66-70). • One of Jesus’ disciples is called a Zealot (Lk. 6:15); others have been suspected (“sons of thunder;” cf. Lk. 9:54); perhaps many in the crowds hoped Jesus would lead revolt. • Zealot ideology faded after failed revolts of 66-70 and 132-35.

10. Jewish Eschatology (doctrine of “last things”) • Prophetic eschatology: hope for Messiah • Late OT prophecy developed hope for an ideal King to restore Israel and rule over Golden Age of peace and justice. • Grew out of “Davidic theology,” which regarded Davidic kings as God’s chosen rulers, guardians of justice, peace, blessing. • “Messiah” = Hebrew for “anointed one;” anointing designated Davidic kings as divinely chosen to rule. • Messianic hope was basically a nationalistic hope for a human messiah in lineage of David to restore Israel’s independence and glory. • By NT times, concepts of messiah were quite varied: political, military, spiritual. • “Christ” = Greek for anointed one; NT writers assume Jesus fulfilled the hope but transformed the concept.

11. Jewish Eschatology – cont. • Apocalyptic eschatology • Later, more radical type; not restoration of nation within history but the end of history/world and a cosmic transformation. • Apocalyptic literature is mostly non-canonical; appeared in times of crisis/persecution (200 BC – 200 AD). • Basic motifs: • Dualism: Doctrine of “Two Ages;” This Age is corrupt, transient; Age to Come is perfect, eternal. • Pessimism: Satan is in revolt against God and temporarily has upper hand; explains wickedness/injustice of world; will not get better in this age. • Messianic woes: A period of intense Tribulation and suffering precedes the end of the age; end is imminent. • Resurrection: earliest Jewish depictions of final resurrection of dead are found in this literature. • Final Judgment: all are judged according to deeds; wicked are destroyed or punished; righteous are rewarded with eternal life. • Messianic figure: may or may not appear; Davidic messiah does not fit; may be heavenly “Son of Man” as cosmic judge. • New Age: new heaven/earth; kingdom of God; return of Paradise. • Determinism: history is foreordained; end can be calculated.

12. Socioeconomic Conditions • Social stratification – sharp division btw. rich and poor (see “Rich and Poor” in Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels) • Rich (“urban ruling elites” = 10% of pop.; controlled 66% of wealth) • Chief priests (profitted from tithes and sacrifices) • Herods (wealth based on power; taxes) • “Retainers” (lower govt. officials, army officers, rel. leaders) • Absentee landlords • Wealthy merchants • Middle class • Very small (some say none) • Skilled artisans; mid-size farmers; merchants • Poor (“peasants” = 90% of pop.; controlled 33% of wealth) • Small landowners • Tenant farmers • Day laborers and beggars (“expendables”) • Tradesmen – fishermen, carpenters, etc. (status varied) M. Borg on Peasant Society http://www.united.edu/portrait/social.shtml

13. Socioeconomic Conditions – cont. • Absentee landlordism • Wealthy took advantage of hard times to buy up huge estates. • Small farmers were forced to sell ancestral land to pay taxes/debts and avoid debtor’s prison. • Many were only a bad crop or two away from ruin. • Became tenant farmers, having to pay landlord before providing for their own family. • High taxes • Roman: poll tax; land tax; duties on goods; symbolized that people and land belong to emperor. • Jewish: Herodian taxes; temple tax; tithe on produce; sacrifices. • Total obligation might be a third of income – not high compared to our rates but burdensome for peasants living on edge of ruin (rent might take another third). • Tax collectors (mostly Jewish) – despised as traitors and presumed dishonest.