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The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ

The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ. Review. Intertestamental Period. Today’s Objectives. Provide a review of our Intertestamental study over the past 12 weeks Understand why the Intertestamental Period is critical to understanding New Testament text

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The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ

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  1. The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ Review

  2. Intertestamental Period

  3. Today’s Objectives Provide a review of our Intertestamental study over the past 12 weeks Understand why the Intertestamental Period is critical to understanding New Testament text Review the major empires that influenced life in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas from Babylon to the birth of Christ

  4. Overall Class Objectives • Better understanding of the connection between the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT) • Learn more about the world Christ is born into • Learn about the political, social, economic, cultural, and religious issues during the IT period and its’ influence upon Israel, Judaism, and Christianity • Learn about various nations that ruled over Judea • Learn about religious/political parties existing within Judaism

  5. Reference Material • KJV (w/ Apocrypha) as historical references • 1st and 2nd Maccabbees • Titus Flavius Josephus – The Complete Works • Herodotus – The History • Intertestamental History – Mark Moore • Ancient Rome – Simon Baker • Harding University – BNEW 112 Course Notes – Dr. Thompson • The Intertestamental Period and Its Significance Upon Christianity - Dr. Ekstrand

  6. Apocrypha • These books were not recognized as Scripture (God-breathed writings) during the early years of the church • Jews uniformly denied canonical status to these books, and so they were not found in the Hebrew Bible; but the manuscripts of the seventy authors (LXX) of the Septuagint (that is, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament) included them as an “addendum” to the canonical OT • Likewise, in the second century AD, the first Latin Bibles were translated from the Greek Bible (which included the Septuagint) and so the Latin Bible also included the Apocrypha • Jerome’s “Vulgate” (that was the popular name given to the common Latin version of the Bible) distinguished the libri ecclesiastici and the libri canonici, with the result that the Apocrypha were accorded “secondary status" • Reformers repudiated the Apocrypha as unworthy and contradictory to the doctrines of the uncontroverted canon, which is essentially what most Bible translations follow today

  7. From the Old to New Testament • The Old Testament closes a little over four hundred years before Christ (about 425 BC) with the Jewish people “being partially restored to their land,” and living under the dominion of the Persian Empire • The Jewish people had been living in exile in Babylon since about 605 BC • Beginning in 538 BC, small groups of Jews started returning to their homeland • Seven different prophets ministered to God’s people during this time period: Daniel and Ezekiel ministered to the exiles in Babylon… while Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi ministered to the people who were returning to the land • It was at the end of this era where the children of Israel entered into a period known as the “Intertestamental Period.”

  8. Rulers of Judea • Babylonian • Persian • Greek • Ptolemaic (Egypt-based) • Seleucid (Syrian-based) • Maccabean • Independence • Rome

  9. Babylonian • 612 BC – Babylon captures the Assyrian capital of Nineveh • 605 BC – Nebuchadnezzar reigns over the Babylonian empire and begins Jewish deportation to Babylon • 604 BC – Nebuchadnezzar’s dream – Daniel 2 • Inferior kingdom will replace Babylon • A third kingdom will rise, of bronze • A fourth kingdom will rise, of iron • Prophets are Habakkuk, Ezekiel, Daniel • 539 BC - Persia, under Cyrus, captures Babylon

  10. Persian • 538-537 BC – Cyrus decrees return of the Jews from captivity (Ezra 1:1-4) • 536 BC – 70 year captivity ends (Ezra 1:5-11), temple construction begins • 516 BC – 2nd temple completed in Jerusalem • Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Malachi, Esther • 480 BC - Greek victories over Persia (Dan 11:2) • 331 BC – Alexander gains complete control of the Persian empire

  11. Greek • 331-324 BC – Extension of Greek territory under Alexander • Alexander's desire was to develop a worldwide empire unified by language, custom, and civilization • Under his influence, the entire western world began to speak and study the Greek language — this process, called “Hellenization,” included the adoption of Greek culture and religion in all parts of the world • Hellenism became so popular that it persisted and was encouraged even through the Roman era and New Testament times. • 323 BC – Alexander dies • 316 BC – Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties (Dan 11:4) • 300 BC – Greek empire divided between four Generals (Dan 8:5-8, 11:3-4)

  12. Ptolemaic and Seleucid • 280 BC (prophecy in Dan 11) • Seleucids • Babylonia • Asia Minor • Northern Syria • Ptolemaic • Southern Syria • Egypt • Two religious parties emerged: the pro-Syrian Hellenizing party, and the Orthodox Jews (in particular the Hasidim or “Pious Ones” — the predecessors of the Pharisees) • 260 BC – Rome controls all of Italy • 250 BC – Greek translation of OT begins

  13. Maccabean/Independence • 198 BC – Ptolemies lose control of Judea to the Seleucids • 175 BC - Antiochus IV Epiphanies seizes the Seleucid throne • Pharisees grow in strength, they recognized no king unless he was of the lineage of King David • Those who opposed the Pharisees and supported the Maccabeans were called Sadducees and conflict with Pharisees; formation of other groups (Publicans, Zealots) • Antiochus IV punishes Jerusalem for their rebellion • 167-143 BC - Maccabean revolt • 164 BC – Temple retaken and cleansed • 150 BC – Rome destroys Carthage • 142 BC – Judea gains political independence • 130 BC – Dead Sea Scrolls • 66 BC – Rome occupies Jerusalem

  14. Roman • 63-40 BC – High Priest is under Roman Control • 44 BC – Caesar assassinated • 37-4 BC – Herod the Great is king over Judea (Roman control) • 19 BC – Construction of Herod’s temple • 4 BC – Birth of Christ and death of Herod • 6 AD – Judea becomes a Roman province • 28 AD – Pontius Pilate appointed procurator of Judea • 30 AD – Christ is crucified, birth of the church • 66-73 AD – Jewish revolt against Rome, destruction of Jerusalem, end of Judaism

  15. The IT period and Christianity • Roots of many Judean political and religious movements impacting Christian thought • Roots of various Jewish religious/political groups can be found in the IT period (Pharisee, Sadducee, etc) • Many of Jesus’ teachings can find origin in the IT period • Intricately linked to Jewish religion and society of the IT period • Impact of Hellenism on first century Christians • Earliest interpretations of OT literature began in the IT period • Answers questions not readily available in OT literature

  16. Today’s Objectives Provide a review of our Intertestamental study over the past 12 weeks Understand why the Intertestamental Period is critical to understanding New Testament text Review the major empires that influenced life in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas from Babylon to the birth of Christ

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