THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE CHURCH:

 ITS HISTORY AND CULTURE

 

An approximate 400-year gap divides the evens in the Old Testament and the birth of Jesus in the New Testament. The Old Testament ends around 400 B. C. when many Jews returned to rebuild the city and the Temple.

 

This 400-year gap is known as the Intertestamental Period (meaning “between the testaments”) or the Second Temple period (referring to the time after the temple was rebuilt). We learn about this era through a few important sources: the Apocryphal and the Pseudepigrapha books, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the writings of Josephus.

 

The APOCRYPHA – The Apocrypha, which in Greek means “the hidden books,” are not considered inspired by God, and were written during the Intertestamental Period, often in Greek, though some might have been written in Hebrew. These books – like Tobit, 1-2 Maccabees, and 1-2 Esdras – reveal a great deal about this period even if they are not part of the divine revelation.

 

The PSEUDEPIGRAPHA – The word means “false name,” and it is used for books written in the Intertestamental Period whose authors falsely attribute the books to famous names, like Moses, Enoch, and Isaiah.

 

The DEAD SEA SCROLLS – Discovered in the mid-twentieth century near the Dead Sea, these writings contain the oldest copies of portions of the Old Testament, and also include other writings that give us insight into the religious and cultural life of the Intertestamental Period and the time of Jesus.

 

JOSEPHUS – he was a first-century Jewish historian who wrote extensively on the history of the Jewish people and the struggles between the Romans and the Jews. His writings provide us with a portrait of first-century Judaism during the time of Jesus.

 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

 

When dealing with the background to the New Testament, it is impossible to avoid important changes in the culture, politics, religion, and language in what had once been the kingdom of Israel. In the 500s BC when the Jews left Babylon to return to Jerusalem, the Persian Empire ruled from the boarders of India to the eastern Greek islands. However, the Persian dominance did not last very long.

 

Alexander the Great, from Macedonia, a small kingdom to the North of Greece, began a campaign of expansion that overtook Greece and moved to the east to the very borders of India. In a few years, Alexander established an enormous kingdom. However, he died at the peak of his power and abilities in 323 BC. The kingdom was divided among four of his generals. However, the cultural Greek influence was long-lasting. That was the beginning of the Hellenistic Period (331-146 BC).

 

Greek became the language of education and trade. As Greek expanded its influence, Greek culture also influenced and changed many other cultures; this became known as Hellenism. Alexander founded many cities, such as Alexandria in Egypt and Bactria in Central Asia – modern day Afghanistan – that became centers of Hellenic culture and influence.

 

Jerusalem and its surroundings were also under the influence of Hellenism. Both Ptolemies from Egypt and Seleucid from Syria dynasties (323-166 BC) – descendants of Alexander’s generals – ruled the area. The Second temple Period, especially the history that the Maccabean books narrate, occurred under the Seleucid kings, most notably Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The title Epiphanes means “god manifest,” which shows his increasing megalomania during his rule (175-164 BC).

 

The Jews revolted and sought independence, which they achieved under the Maccabees and the Hasmonean dynasty, which ruled from 164-63 B.C. As it was in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Jews and their faith were once again under siege from the powerful and pervasive Hellenic influence. Under these difficult cultural conditions, the people of the land developed a tough and often legalistic understanding of religion. It became a fight for their cultural and religious survival.

 

PHARISEES, SADDUCEES, AND ESSENES

 

From this time, three distinct groups emerged (there might have been more groups, but these three have survived the passing of time):

 

Pharisees: The name probably means “set apart, be separated.” The group appears to have merged during the religious and social reforms under the Maccabees. Without a king, the temple was even more important for the religious practices of the Jews. However, besides the temple, Judaism was practiced and studied in smaller houses of worship, the synagogues. Whereas the priests controlled life at the temple, the synagogues became the province of scribes and teachers of the Law, the Pharisees.

 

Saducees: The name means “the righteous ones,” and probably was a way to connect the group with Zadok the priest (2 Samuel 8:17). This group was in charge of the temple. The temple became the most important political symbol, and the group in charge of the temple dominated the political life of the region.

 

Essenes: The name might be connected to self-description in the Dead Sea Scrolls as “observers of the law.” Not much is known about this group. It appears that they followed a communal life, with a severe self-discipline and abstinence, daily cleansing rituals, and dedication to study the law.

 

THE ROMAN EMPIRE

 

This period, the Hasomonean period, ended when the Romans conquered the region and imposed a regional government (63 BC – AD 324). The Romans governed the region first through Kind Herod and his successors, then through prefects (such as Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem). In time, the Jews revolted against the Roman yoke in AD 66, but this resulted in Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70.

 

LOOKING FOR A MESSIAH

 

The events in the New Testament take place in a time of political difficulties. The Roman Empire had tightened its fist around regions like Judea, with people unwilling to bow down to the Roman emperors. many Jews hoped  and prayed for a liberating Messiah to come and drive the Romans away from Jerusalem and rebuild the kingdom of David. God did send the Messiah, but He was not the Messiah they were expecting. He is much more than a political leader: He is the Savior who conquered death, defeated evil and sin, allows us a direct relationship with God, and offers eternal life. The New Testament tells us the story of this Messiah, Jesus Christ, His life, teachings, death, and resurrection.

 

In the Old Testament, we find God’s revelation through His works of creation and redemption of Israel, as well as through the law and the prophets. In the new Testament, God “has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” (Hebrews 1:2).

 

In Jesus, God reveals the fullness of His plans for humanity. God also establishes a new way of relating to people. This new relationship does not occur through the Sinai covenant but through the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. This new covenant, as God promised through the prophets, is now written in our hearts and sealed by God Himself, the Holy Spirit. Through the ministry of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, God has created for himself a people, the body of Christ, the Church.

 

THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH

 

The New Testament also tells the story of this new people, the church. It gives guidance, instruction, exhortations, and encouragement for the long journey home, for the mission that Jesus gave to His disciples, and for the times of persecution and trials.

 

In the New Testament, we find what it means to be God’s people – the body of Christ, the purpose of our existence as Christ’s body, and the ultimate goal of each believer and the whole creation. In the New Testament we learn about God’s final solution to rescue humanity from sin and death.

 

BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

 

The New Testament consists of twenty-seven books. The four Gospels narrate the life of Jesus Christ and Acts tells the story of the first Christians. The twenty-one epistles are letters from early church leaders to churches and believers. Letters from the apostle Paul make up most of the epistles in the new Testament. The book of Revelation is unique in the New Testament because it is the only book that is written in an apocalyptic style; in other words, the book relates its message through signs, symbols, dreams and visions.