BB 10203

1
BB 102-03

• OT Intertestamental Backgrounds to the NT

2
Objectives

• Review OT history as a precursor for
  understanding the Intertestamental and New
  Testament historical settings.
  
• Introduce the student to the dynamics that led to
  various factions within Judaism Pharisees,
  Sadducees, Herodians, Sanhedrin, Zealots,
  Essenes
• Introduce the social, political, cultural and
  religious context surrounding the birth of
  Christ.
  

3
OT Background for the NT

• Creation/Fall, Genesis 1-3
• Broken relationship between the human person and
  God.
  
• Broken relationship between the human person and
  others
  
• Broken relationship with self
• Broken relationship with creation
• Grace Expelled from the Garden reminded of their
  dependence the Creator.

4
OT Background for the NT

• Abrahamic Covenant, Gen 1512-16
• Election of Israel, Deut. 77-11 94-6
• Faith, Obedience Evangelism in the life of
  Israel, EX 20
  
• Responsibility, Deut. 6 the failure, Judges
  210 the desire to be like other nations, Judges
  2125

5
OT Background for the NT

• The Divided Kingdom, c. 931/930 B.C.
• N. Kingdom (Israel) falls to Assyria in 722 B.C.
• S. Kingdom falls to Nebuchadnezzar, 587/586 B.C.
• Persia conquers Babylon, Cyrus decrees the return
  of the Jews rebuilding of the temple, 537 B.C.

6
OT Background for the NT

• The rebuilding of the Temple is completed in 515
  B.C.
  
• Walls of Jerusalem are rebuilt under Nehemiahs
  leadership and completed in 445 B.C.
  
• OT History draws to a close.

7
OT Background for the NT

• Summary
• The expectations of the Messiah during the latter
  portions of Israels history in the OT begin to
  take on political overtones which were fueled by
  the exile and return to the land. They desire to
  be freed from foreign oversight.

8
Intertestamental History

• The Intertestamental period is the time between
  the close of the OT and the coming (advent) of
  Christ. It provides information about the
  political, social and religious background of the
  NT
• 332 BC, Alexander the Great marched through
  Samaria and Judea and by October 331 BC conquered
  the Persian Army. Greece now dominated the
  world

9
Intertestamental History

• Alexander the Great attempted to advance Greek
  culture (Hellenism). Many of the practices of
  Hellenism were offensive to the Jewish people.
  
• 323 BC, Alexander the Great died and the empire
  was divided.
  
• Ptolemy's - Their rule was centered in Egypt and
  included the area of Judea. They ruled the
  region from 320-198 BC. This period was rather
  peaceful for Judea for they were ruled by a
  Jewish High Priest under Egyptian lordship. It
  was during this period that the OT was translated
  into Greek, Septuagint (LXX).

10
Intertestamental History

• Seleucids - Their rule was centered in Syria,
  they gained control of Judea in 198 BC and
  maintained it until 64 BC when the area became a
  Roman province. The Seleucids were apostles of
  Greek culture. This was a period of great
  turmoil, tension and conflict, only a few
  instances will be highlighted.

11
Intertestamental History Israel

• One of the main issues among the Jews was
  adoption of Greek culture. The Seleucids were
  pro-Greek, this led to the development of the
  Hasidim, which means "Pious Ones," they resisted
  hellenization.

12
Intertestamental History Israel

• 167 BC, Antiochus (IV) Epiphanes attempted to
  take Egypt and was turned back by Rome. Rumor of
  his death reached Jerusalem and a revolt took
  place. Antiochus crushed the revolt, entered the
  Holy of Holies of the Temple and offered a pagan
  (Zeus, 2 Maccabees 61-11) sacrifice. He also
  attempted to destroy all copies of the OT,
  outlawed the practiced circumcision, suspended
  the Temple rituals, abolished the strict food
  laws, outlawed the observance of the Sabbath and
  other religious holidays.

13
Intertestamental History Israel

• A revolt was started by Matthias, the followers
  were known as the Maccabeans. The revolt was
  started with the words, "Let every one who is
  zealous for the Lord and supports the covenant
  come out with me." in Moden. The revolt was
  successful and religious liberty was, in part,
  secured by 164 BC and is remembered in the
  celebration of Hanukkah. Two groups then
  developed within Judaism.
• Sadducees, satisfied with religious freedom but
  also wanted political independence.
  
• Pharisees, satisfied with religious independence
  and content with Seleucid rule.

14
Intertestamental History Israel

• Due to internal problems among the Seleucids,
  Hyrancus II sought Roman aid to deal with
  internal feuding in 64 BC, Pompey arrives in 63
  BC and claims the area for Rome, it becomes a
  tributary of Rome and must pay taxes to Rome.
  Pompey enters the Holy of Holies. Native rulers
  were permitted until 40 BC.

15
Intertestamental History Israel

• Herod the Great was made King in 40 BC and
  established his rule by 37 BC. He was Edomite.
  He rebuilt the temple, was a ruthless ruler who
  killed two of his wives, three of his sons and
  order the killing of the babies recorded in
  Matthew. He died in 4 BC. It is claimed that he
  had all the Jewish leaders put in an arena in
  Jericho in order to be killed when he died so
  that there would be morning when he died in
  Judea. The kingdom was divided between his
  sons

16
Intertestamental History Israel

• Archelaus - Samaria, Judea Idumea. He was a
  cruel ruler with an evil reputation. Slaughtered
  over 3,000 people in a rebellion. He was deposed
  by Rome in 6 AD (cf. Matthew 222)
• Herod Antipas - Ruled over Galilee and Perea. He
  is the one who had John the Baptist beheaded and
  who Jesus stood before at his trial.