2.0 The World of the New Testament
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(Last revised: 2/22/05)
2.0.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7


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2.0.1 The Geography of the Mediterranean World
2.0.1.1 The Roman Empire
---Map of ancient Roman Empire----
2.0.1.2 Palestine
---Land of Israel at the beginning of the Christian era----Palestine in 33 AD----
2.0.1.2.1 The Roman Provinces in Palestine
---Ministry of Jesus----
2.0.1.2.2 The Major Towns in Palestine
---Jerusalem in 33 AD----
2.1. Historical Perspectives
H:3:29-31; NOSB:nt:416; F:3-14; NOSB3:essays:519-525
2.1.1. Alexander the Great
F:3-5;Alexander's rise to power described in Perseus project materials.----Alexander's hopes for power described in Perseus project materials.----Alexander's attack on Persian Empire described in Perseus project materials.----Alexander's seige of Tyre in Palestine described in Perseus project materials.----Alexander's conquest of Egypt described in Perseus project materials.----Alexander's conquest of Persia described in Perseus project materials.----Alexander's march to the East described in Perseus project materials.----Alexander's march into India described in Perseus project materials.
2.1.1.1. War strategy
2.1.1.2. Hellenism
H:3:31-32; NOSB3:essays:515-519;----Alexander's aims described in Perseus project materials.
2.1.1.2.1. The language
F:9-10 (refer to topic 1.4.1)
2.1.1.2.2. The culture
F:10-14; Graphics demo of daily life in ancient Greco-Roman world
2.1.2. Alexander's Successors
NOSB3:essays:515-519
2.1.2.1. Ptolemies
2.1.2.2. Seleucids

2.2 Antiochus IV and the Maccabean Revolt
H:4:53-54; NOSB:nt:416-417; F:5; NOSB:essays:518-519----The Maccabeans and the Hasmoneans
2.2.1. Judas Maccabee
NOSB:nt:416----The revolt in 1 Maccabees 1:1-5:68----The revolt in Josephus' Antiquites of the Jews 12.6.1-4
2.2.2. Hasmoneans
NOSB:nt:416-417----Rule of Jonathan in Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews 13.1.1 - 4.9----Hasmonean era texts from the In His Own URL by Mahlon Smith

2.3. Roman domination of Palestine
Picture of daily life in the Roman empire.----Map of ancient Roman Empire----Land of Israel at the beginning of the Christian era----NOSB3:essays:519-524; F:5-6 ----NT Time Lines---Gateway to articles on Judaea
2.3.1. Herod the Great and his sons
H:4:54-55; NOSB:nt:417-419; F:6-9----Chart of the House of Herod
2.3.1.1. Herod the Great
F:6-9;Brutality of Herod in Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews 15.7.1-10--------
2.3.1.2. His successors
F:8; Critically evaluate the 'Christian interpolation' described in Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3----Compare Herod's death account between Acts 12:20-23 and Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews 19.8.2-&Compare Herod's death account between Acts 12:20-23 and Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews 19.8.2---
2.3.2. Roman emperors
H:4:55-57; F:5-6, 33-34;Summary of Roman rulers.----NT Time Lines----Map of Roman Empire at beginning of Christian era.----Chart of the Roman emperors in connection to Palestine
2.3.2.1. The Julio-Claudian Dynasty
2.3.2.1.1. Augustus (30 B.C.E. - 14 C.E.)
Life of Augustus on De Imperatoribus Romanis site----
2.3.2.1.2. Tiberius (14 - 37 C.E.)
Life of Tiberius on De Imperatoribus Romanis site----
2.3.2.1.3. Gaius [=Caius/Caligula] (37 - 41 C.E.)
Life of Gaius on De Imperatoribus Romanis site----Life of Gaius on Crazy Caesars of Rome site----
2.3.2.1.4. Claudius (41-54 C.E.)
Life of Claudius on De Imperatoribus Romanis site-----
2.3.2.1.5. Nero (54 - 68 C.E.)
Life of Nero on De Imperatoribus Romanis site----Nero's reign in Philip Schaff's The History of the Christian Church, Include the sections 'Nero' thru 'The Apocalypse on the Neronian Persecution'----
2.3.2.2. The Four Caesars and the Flavian Dynasty
NT Time Lines----
2.3.2.2.1. Galba (68 - 69 C.E.)
----
2.3.2.2.2. Otho (69 C.E.)
----
2.3.2.2.3. Vitelius (69 C.E.)
----
2.3.2.2.4. Vespasian (69 - 79 C.E.)
Life of Vespasian on De Imperatoribus Romanis site----
2.3.2.2.5. Titus (79 - 81 C.E.)
Life of Titus on De Imperatoribus Romanis site----
2.3.2.2.6. Domitian (81 - 96 C.E.)
Life of Domitian on De Imperatoribus Romanis site----Biographical summary of Domitian
2.3.3. The Roman Procurators
F:8 ----NT Time Lines----Chart of the Roman rulers in Palestine in connection to Roman emperors----
2.3.4. Jewish revolts
H:4:57-61; NOSB:nt:419; F:9
2.3.4.1. First Jewish war against Rome 66-73 C.E.
Ancient texts on the first Jewish war.----
2.3.4.2. Second Jewish war: bar Kochba [Bar Kokba] (132-135 C.E.)
Brief summation of this second Jewish war against Rome.

2.4. Greek Philosophy
H:3:32; H4:41-44; F:40-46; NOSB3:essays:525 ---- Links to aspects of ancient philosophy----Type in the word 'philosophy' in order to retrieve a definition
2.4.1. Plato and Socrates, dualism
H:3:32-33; F:45----Type in the word 'dualism' in order to retrieve a definition ---- Socrates' life; go to sections 14.6-14.9 in the Perseus Project URL ---- Plato's life; go to sections 15.1-15.9 in the Perseus Project URL--------
2.4.2. Stoicism
H:3:33-34; F:43 ---- Stoicism on the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy ---- Stoicism on the Ecole Initiative URL ---- Type in the word 'Stoic' in order to retrieve a definition
2.4.3. Epicureanism (Hedonism)
H:3:34-35; F:44 ---- Epicurus on the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy---- Stoicism on the Ecole Initiative URL ---- Type in the word 'Hedonist' in order to retrieve a definition
2.4.4. Cynicism (Skepticism)
H:3:35-36; F:43--------
2.4.5. Sophists
Sophists on the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

2.5. Greco-Roman Religions
F:14, 40-46; H4:44-55--------
2.5.1. State Religion
H:3:36-42; NOSB3:essays:523-524
2.5.1.1. The Twelve Olympians
----
2.5.1.1.1. Asclepius
----
2.5.1.1.2. Dionysus (Bacchus)
Gateway to links on the study of Dionysus
2.5.2. Mystery Religions
H:3:42-45; F:46----
2.5.2.1. The Greek Mysteries
F:46
2.5.2.1.1. Dionysus and Orphism
Gateway to links on the study of Dionysus----
2.5.2.1.2. The Eleusinian Mysteries
The Eleusinian Mysteries summarized on the Ecole Initiative URL
2.5.2.2. The Near Eastern Mysteries
F:46
2.5.2.2.1. Mithra and Mithraism
The Mithraism summarized on the Ecole Initiative URL----Links to the study of Mithraism
2.5.2.2.2. Isis and Osiris
The cult of Isis summarized on the Ecole Initiative URL

2.6. Jewish setting for early Christianity
F:15-32, 47-50; H4:36-40----
2.6.0.1 Hellenistic Judaism and Hebraistic Judaism
F:104-105
2.6.0.1.1 Hellenistic Judaism (in Diaspora Judiasm)
Map showing Diaspora Judaism in first Christian century----Study of Second Temple Judaism ---- Gateway to Diaspora Judaism---Acts 6:1-7 NRSV
2.6.0.1.2 Hebraistic Judaism
Acts 6:1-7 NRSV
2.6.1. Unifying beliefs
H:4:47-51
2.6.1.1. Monotheism
F:17
2.6.1.1.1 Definition
Type in the word 'monotheism' in order to retrieve a definition----Isaiah 45:5 NRSV
2.6.1.1.2 Implications
2.6.1.2. Torah
2.6.1.2.1 Definitions
Type in the word 'Torah' in order to retrieve a definition
2.6.1.2.2 Implications
2.6.1.2.2.1 Covenant
Type in the word 'covenant' in order to retrieve a definition----
2.6.1.2.2.2 Sabbath
Type in the word 'sabbath' in order to retrieve a definition
2.6.1.3. The Promised Land
Map of Palestine around 33 AD
2.6.1.3.1 Definition
2.6.1.3.2 Implications
2.6.1.4. The Temple
F:28-29;
Map of Jerusalem around 33 AD----Discussion of Jewish temples----
2.6.1.4.1 Definition
2.6.1.4.2 Implications
2.6.2. Divergent beliefs
H:5:63-72; F:23-28----
Brief description of the major parties of ancient Judaism.----Gateway into study of ancient religious parties in Judaism
2.6.2.1. Sadducees
H:5:63-64; F:24; NOSB:nt:417 ----
Brief description of the major parties of ancient Judaism.----Concordance listing of the word Sadducees in the NRSV New Testament----Wikipedia: Saducees
2.6.2.1.1. Origin
2.6.2.1.2. Belief System
2.6.2.1.3. Influence
2.6.2.2. Pharisees
H:5:64-66; F:23; NOSB:nt:417 ----
Brief description of the major parties of ancient Judaism.----Concordance listing of the word Pharisee in the NRSV New Testament----Wikipedia: Pharisees
2.6.2.2.1. Origin
2.6.2.2.2. Belief System
2.6.2.2.3. Influence
2.6.2.3. Jamnia and developing Rabbinic Judaism
H:5:66----
Wikipedia: Jamnia
2.6.2.4. Essenes and Dead Sea Scrolls
H:5:67-72; F:24-27; NOSB3:essays:519----
Brief description of the major parties of ancient Judaism.----Wikipedia - Dead Sea Scrolls
2.6.2.4.1. The Essenes
F:24-25----
Wikipedia - Essenes
2.6.2.4.2. Qumran
The communal lifestyle at Qumran
2.6.2.4.3. The Dead Sea Scrolls
Map of the caves around the Dead Sea where the scrolls were found.----Discussion of the Dead Sea Scrolls
2.6.2.4.3.1 The Literature
Discussion of the three types of writings in the Qumran library.
2.6.2.4.3.2 Importance to Christian studies
2.6.2.5. Zealots
H:5:72; F:28----
Concordance listing of the word Zealot in the NLT New Testament----Wikipedia - Zealots
2.6.3. Messianic expectations
F:19----Ancient texts of Jewish Messianic hope----Wikipedia - Messiah----Type in the word 'Messiah' in order to retrieve a definition----Concordance listing of the word Messiah in the NLT New Testament
2.6.3.1. History of Jewish Messianic pretenders
H:5:72-77
Wikipedia - Messiah----
2.6.3.1.1. Diversity of Views about the Messiah
H:5:72-75----
Type in the word 'Messiah' in order to retrieve a discussion in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology.----Wikipedia - Messiah----
2.6.3.1.2. Jesus and Apostolic Christianity
H:5:75-77----
Wikipedia - Messiah - Jesus----

2.7  Culture and Society
NOSB3:essays:519-525;Ancient Pompeii as important source of understanding ancient Roman society.----Picture of daily life in the Roman empire.
2.7.1  People and Languages
F:9, 35
2.7.2  Schools and Education
F:10, 36; NOSB3:essays:523-524

2.7.3  Society and Economic Conditions
F:11, 37-39; NOSB3:essays:522
2.7.4  Women in the Ancient World
F:30-31, 50

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