Extablished himeself as a God like figure

IF people didn't worship him and the Greek God's, then they would be executed.

the spread of Greek language and culture which was initialized by alexander the great.

When taken over by another country, you still speak your original tongue, but have to learn a new system to "trade by"

The Hebrew lose their social cutlure.  They l

Found in the Maccabean's appocryphal book

they were known for being Zealous for honoring the law.

way of expressing their zeal was to take up arms against Antiochus to free Palestine from his control (They succeed)

Big deal because when someone revolts Rome, The Romans will come back and destroy everthing you have (glass)

Rome does "set them straight" by destorying their towns and the Temple (70 AD)

Key Belief: Idea of Resurrection

Key Concern: Maintiing ritual purity

Observed/Followed: Law AND Oral Tradition

Their Goal: Honor God by keeping the Torah

Following Torah:

Theologically a response to God

Socially, a marker of God's people

The Wealthy Ruling Elite

Theologically consercative (Conflict with the Pahrisees)

Reject the idea of resurrection

Followed the law, partucilarly the Pentateuch (First 5 books of the Old Testament)

• Wanted to follow the Maccabees (revolt)
• Not a very big group of Jews
• they were considered extremist by many people
• Lasted until 67 AD

Who Jesus talked to the most

the everyday folk

Dead Sea Scrolls

Looking for 2 massiahs

1. a King
2. A preacher

The Church of the Jewish

There are no scrifices at a Synagogue like there are at a temple

Significant so people can attend a Synagouge if they can't easily get to a Temple

The symbol of God's Presence 

The sign of God's People

While living with another type of people, this is how they keep their culture

They expected:

1. Davidic Promise (An everlasting king)

2. Idea of a messiah (A savior to come)

3. Day of the Lord (Judgement for those who sin and those who don't believe)

They are waiting for a Davidic king who would both

1. Deliever God's people

2. Judge God's Enemies

• Entrance into the cult was through secret initiation rites
• Tended to be private and secretive
• Belief that would experience of the rituals would bring salvating in this life and the next.

Mithras = Sun God

People would visit these cults to receive healing of either spiritual or physical

1. Epicureanism

• leasure as the primary good ot be sought
• Goal: to liberate from fears in order to permit peace of mind to flourish

2. Stoicism

• Everything that happens is fated by the Gods 
• Virture is the highest good
• Goal: Living rationally in accordance with nature (not showing extremes of emotions 

Sources of Information About Jesus:

Pagan

1. Suetonius - 

2. Tacitus - A Roman Hsitorian, while writing about the roman historian he wrote about Pontius Pilate executing Christ.

3. Pliny - 

Wrote a book about The Jewish people back in 1 AD

Was a Pharisee who was a general

also wrote about Jesus and his work was change to make it seem like Josephus was a follower of Christ

He was a jew all his life.  

1. They give each other validity 

2. gives insight into the character of the Gospel Accounts

- 4 different perspectives to give a better character of Jesus

Interpreted History:

John wrote down what

- The gospel writers did not write down everything

- this means they had to choose what to write down

- to choose implies criteria by whcih to make choices

Examine how he utilizes his sources

Ex) Matthew 1 & Luke 3

Luke tells the Story of Jesus as if it is good for everyone

Matthew tells it as 

When: Harod was king when Jesus was born. so around 6 or 5 BC

Signigicance:

Luke: fulfillment of the Promise to Abraham

Matthew: fulfullment of the Prophets

Background: John the Baptist

Who was Jesus?

- a return of the Spirit:                        Messiah

- Ps. 2:7 "my son":                             Son of God

- Isaiah 42:1, whom I am well pleased: Suffering Servent

Key Question:

What kind of Son is he?

Both Adam and Israel had fallen to sin, would Jesus also?

Key issue of Obedience

Key Question: What kind of ministry will Jesus have?

Key text: Isaiah 61

- a ministry of grace and lessing, not judgment,

(The 'Day of the Lord)

Proclaimed the good news about the Kingdom

Jesus went around teahing a healing

- Sermon on the Mount

Significance:  He teaches with authority

Focus: Kingdom of God

Power Over:

8:1-ff: disease 

8:23-ff: Nature

8:28-ff: Spirits

9:1-ff: Sin

9:18-ff: Death

Significance: Luke 11:20-22

Signs of the presence of the Kingdom

1. Crowds

2. Disciples (at least 70)

3. The twelve Apostles (12 tribes)

4. Peter, James, John

Significance: Extensions of his ministry

1. John The Baptist

2. Elijah

3. The Messiah

1. a command to silence so no one freaks out

2. The Son of Man - a way of talking about yourself in 3rd person

3. He must suffer 

predicts his death 3 times (Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10: 32)

Shocking concept: 

The Messiah will die!?!?

Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15): The prophet/deliverer

Elijah (Mark 9:12): "last days prohpet of restoration

Cloud: Sybolizes God's presence 

Subject of discussion: Jesus departure in Jeruseleam (Exodus of slavery to sin)

Voice (compare baptism): Divine approval & a command

(Listen to my son, Jesus)

Riding a Donkey (Zech 9:9) Messianic

Response: The crowd hails its Davidic King

some reject the idea that he is the messiah

Significance:

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers

Messiah cleanses and claims HIS Temple

Discredit him - tried to make him say that he was on human volition 

Grounds for charges - Tried to get him to say not to pay taxes

Jesus' Response - I am the God of Abraham and Isaac

How could Judas Betray Jesus?

Judahs a Jewish Nationalist and Jesus is trying to restore the people,

But the last few days, he seems to be leading a revolt against the romans

To stop Jesus from starting the revolt, he turns him in Jesus to protect Israel

Significance: 

- It symbolizes the forgiveness of sins

- a new covenant between God and his people

- The 2-fold aspect:

1. remembrance 
2. anticipation

Key concept: 

Jesus prayed and wanted a different way out of it, but finishes it with ,"nevertheless, not my will but yours be done."

Luke 4:13, Satan tried to tempt him to run.

- Jesus turns out to be a faithful son.

Key Charge: 

Charge with Blasphemy from the Jews

Charge with Treason from the Romans

Are you the Messiah?

Jesus: "I am"

• According to Jewish Leaders: he was a fraud and blasphimest
• According to Roman Leaders: Rebel, disturbed the peace, and a traitor
• According to his followers: Wouldn't admit that they believe in Jesus, and they would believe he was a lier, disapointment 
• According to other Jews: Also believed he was a fake, didn't believe he was anymore
• According to God: The Messiah, he ressurected him

Resurrecion was the Justification of Jesus

He had all authority = Lordship

So: Jesus is both Massiah and Lord

1. He never really died
2. people came and grabbed his body
3. stunt double

John talks a lot with side explitives

Theology is different from the others

Synoptics:

dualism

A lot of "I am" Statesments

Not a big deal to pray and repent

He prevers the keys to life (Light and darkness 

To make people believe

and give people faith

1. entrance requirements to heaven
2. a new Torah
3. guidelines for society

He was talking to his disciples when speaking, telling them guidelines to live by for kingdom people (not just a society)

of course not....
things that might be used

1. golden rule "Treat others as you want to be treated
2. Mark 12:29 - 31"Love the lord your God, love thy neighbor as yourself"

It is the second part of a two-part work"

- Theophilus: Acts 1:1 and Luke 1:1

- Acts 1:1-11 recapitulates Luke 23:44-53

History: but kind of history?

interpreted history .... (Like the Gospels)

- selected episodes

- not a countinuous narrative 

Significant Themes of Acts:

the Acts of Jesus  through the disciples

Emphasis on Continuity:

people would go out preach and heal, just like Jesus did

significance for understanding the church:

- an extension of the ministry of Jesus

- Means through which Jesus still works

one difference between Acts and the Gospels:

In the Gospels, Jesus told people what to do, in Acts the Holy Spirit would lead the disciples

Significant Themes of Acts:

The Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit

- The promise (1:8)

- The beginning (Pentacost)

1. a form of magic
2. greek mythology
3. greek philosophy
4. judaism
5. a threat to the Roman Empire

1. acting like a Jewish fellowship group
2. People hang around the JewishTemple
3. Fellowship at home

1. The Temple 
2. The Torah

Preaches Jesus is messiah in the Synagoges

- the Jews accuse Stephen of attacking Moses and God also Temple and Torah

- in defense speech he attacks the Temple, and is sentenced to being stoned

Significance: if Jesus is Messiah, then he is more important that either the Temple or Torah

1.  Peter and Cornelius 

Cornelius gets a vision saying, "Go find Peter"

- The two tell each other their visions and it makes sense that God doesn't pick favorites

- Anyone is allowed to follow Jesus

- Peter teaches to Cornelius' family and they all feel the Holy Spirit

 2. Antioch

- the new development: outreach to Gentiles

- the consequences: Jewish converts & Gentile converts together in the same congregation (what do you call them)

- The first time people were called Christians AD 45

- Went out and started Churches just like Antioch with diverse members

Who is the argument between?

Group A: Believers in Jesus, 

Jewish Background

From Judea

(ex) Pharisees

Group B: Believe in Jesus

Jewish Background

From Judea (Barnabas)

 (ex) Pharisee (Paul)

Group A's Answer:

Keeping the Torah

- The Gospel is tied to a specific culture

Group B's Answer:

Holy Spirit

- the Spirit is transcultural (doesn't tie to a specific culture)

- The problem:

They were uncomtable people and thier cultures clashed in small ways.

- Councils answer to the theological issue (v 19):

Torah is not necessary

Holy Spirit is sign of God's people

- implications, significance:

Christianity is trans-cultural

- Their answer to the practical issue (v 20.)

Avoid "trigger" issues

Things like Adultry to the Gentiles

Judiasm:

- Temple

- Torah

Christianity

- Messiah

- Holy Spirit

From Peter to Ethiopia

From Paul to Rome

- Born sometime between 1 - 10 AD

- Parents were Jewish 

- Family had wealth

- Going to look low status, but is a Roman Citizen

- He was "more extremely zealous" for God

- He was a Pharisee (follow Torah)

- Killed Christians because of Blasphemy

- Saul changes has encounter with Jesus and changes his views "called and commissioned"

- Ananias 

- Old friends are now out to get him

- Saul hides in Tarsus for 10 years

- "interned" under Barnabus

1. Why did Paul Write Letters?

2. Why not visit them and help out?

3. Why are the letters so different?

4. What do we need to know about each letter?

5. How are the letters arranged in the NT?

6. What would be a better arrangement?

1. Basic: Paul wrote letters because churches had problems

2. Paul was a church planter, pastor, spent time in jail

So he sent a letter to substitute himself

3. Churches had different problems, so he had to answer different questions.

4. its context

5. They are arranged by length

6. Their historical order, that way we could follow his life easier.

Self Centered 

Praise oneself instead of God

Everyone (Both Jews and Gentiles)

All who believe

Abraham 3:30

The one to whom the proimes was given is a;model of faith for all who trust in the one who fulfills the promise

What are the consequences for being justified by faith?

Romans 5: 1-11

1. Peace with God

   a. positively, the 'restoration of relationships'

2. Grace

3. Hope

4. Suffering

5. Love

6. Holy Spirit

7. Justifiaciton

8. Salvation

9. Reconciliation

Even though we shall die someday, God will someday raise us up from the dead.

As Children of God, because of the spirit, we can live with Him forever

We still live in a state and time of Sin. 

Sin Kills 

He has hope because God gets the last word. After sin has killed you, God will raise us up. 

The restoration of Glory! what was lost as a result of sin will be fully restored.

Central Purpose:

to envourage Christians to live out their faith

Key Themes:

• actions speak louder than words
• "faith" = "trust in action"
• cultural conformity vs. Biblical values
• Respect for the poor, & a warning to the rich
• wisdom, patience, prayer

Central Purpose:

to encurage Christians facing persecution & hard times

Key Themes:

• looking to the future in hope, for the resurection
• living as God's people in the meantine
• When persectuion comes hang in there and don't forget to live as Gods people.

It's a letter

     7 short letters in chapter 2, 3

Significance

     1. intended to be read at worship services like other            NT letters, thus practical in nature not theoretical            or speculative.

     2. Intended for specific people, places, and times;                   addresses particular needs of original audience. 

Prophecy 

        - prophecy is primarily pastoral in character:

               - its goal is to build up the church

significance:

        An interpretation of Revelation that would not have         made sense to its first readers is off-target

people facing a life-altering choice:

"Jesus Christ is Lord"

or 

"Caesar is Lord"

More of a political act than it was religious

Their question:

"Are we making the right choice?"

- the book's goal is to uild up the body of Christ

- To encourage Christians to a way of life worth of their crucified yet victorious Lord.

Evidence:

"Blessed are those who hear and obey what is written"

"blessed is the one who obeys the words of this prophecy

parenthetical asides to the reader, calling for obedience

Key Theme:

In the End, God Wins!

-Relevance to the original readers, facing that choice between "Lord Jesus" or "Lord Casear"?

In the End, God Wins! not Casear