CHAPTER ONE

THE INTER TESTAMENTAL PERIOD

 PREAMBLE
• The New Testament is truly believed to be a
fulfillment of the Old Testament Prophesies.
• What the Old Testament was not able to
accomplish, is accomplished in the New
Testament.
• The New Testament makes creation complete
through the gift of God: Jesus Christ
• It opens new gates to new life by transforming
the Old Testament religious systems.
 INTRODUCTION
• This is a period between the Testaments which
seem to be silent, but was crowded with a lot
of social and religious activities that impacted
the Jewish people and Nation.
• Many events took place which gave Judaism
its later distinctive ideology and also prepared
the way for the coming of Christ and
proclamation of His Gospel.
 OBJECTIVES
• To narrate the various power shifts from the Persians to
the Romans.
• Describe the major activities during this period that had
direct influence on the religious life of the Jewish people.
• Outline the life and Ministry of Jesus in a way that will
serve as a reference point as this work book goes on to
look at Jesus through the eyes of many different NT
authors.
• List five themes to look for throughout the New
Testament.
• At the close of the Old Testament, we see Judah
living in Babylon as captives 587 B.C (For 48 years)
• Until 539 B.C when the Persians over threw the
Babylonians and subjected all Persian captives to
their authority including the Jews.
• From 539 – 336 B.C (203 years) the Persians
dominated in this region.
• Under King Cyrus the Jews were permitted to
return to their homeland.
• On their return from exile, the Jews rebuilt the
Temple (that was formerly destroyed by
Babylonians) and dedicated it during the reign
of King Darius the Great
• The work of rebuilding the Temple and
rededicating the community and the worship
of God was encouraged and championed by
Ezra and Nehemiah
• The Jews were at liberty to settle any where
they liked in the Empire.
• Even after Nehemiah, some Jews chose to
remain under Persian rule, and were given
freedom of worship, including the right to
choose their own Priests though they were
ultimately answerable to the Persian
authorities.
 SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENTS
• Due to lack of the Temple, Jews began to worship in
Synagogues that were spread throughout the Persian
empire.
• Originally Priests served in the Temple and performed
the required sacrifices.
• However, worship in Synagogues centered more on the
study of the law and this elevated the position of
teachers of law to become the influential preservers and
interpreters of the law.
• People with questions about God became more likely to
turn to a teacher of the law than a Priest
 CONFLICTS
• On the return of exiles, Israelites came into religious
conflicts with the Samaritans (the descendants of the
Israelites who were left behind during exile and had
intermarried with other tribes)
• Their intermarriages led them to loose their social and
spiritual identity and led these Samaritans to have a
syncretistic worship that incorporated elements of
Pagan religion and the worship of Yahweh, the God of
Israel.
• The returnees therefore denied Samaritans access to
the rebuilt Temple.
• While the Jews rebuilt the Temple in
Jerusalem, the Samaritans built a rival one on
Mount Gerizim in the North.
• This led to religious and ethnic strife between
Jews and Samaritans that proved to be long
lasting that made it all the more amazing
during Jesus time (c.f. Jesus and the Samaritan
woman, and The Good Samaritan)
 THE GREEK DOMINANCE
• In 336 B.C the Greeks over threw the Persians, just 203 years
of Persian rule.
• Alexander of Macedonia, a heir of the Greek culture brought
the Persian rule to an end.
• The Greek rule lasted up to 165 years.
• Besides Alexander being a dictator/tyrant, he was also a
keen pupil of Aristotle, one of the great Greek philosophers.
• He was convinced that the Greek culture was the only force
that could unify the world.
• He quickly and mercilessly conquered all the land of the
former Persian Empire, (from Med. Sea to W. India)
 GREEK CULTURE
• Alexander erected five public buildings: a
gymnasium for games, open- air theatre in every
city he conquered, encouraging elements of Greek
life throughout the Empire.
• He Built Alexandria in Egypt and many Jews were
encouraged to live there.
• All individuals were encouraged to take Greek
names, adopt Greek dress, and speak the Greek
language
• This Greek culture was called Hellenism
 HELLENISM
• Hellenism attracted a large number of people
including Jews. To be Hellenized meant to be
civilized and it resulted in;
• Trade and commerce that brought wealth.
• Libraries and schools that brought literacy.
• Better housing and food that raised the standard of
living.
• As idolatry became the great stumbling block to
Israel in pre-exilic period, Hellenism became the
great post-exilic temptation.
• Nude nature of competing in sports made some
Jews to reverse their circumcision to avoid
embarrassment.
• To have more time for Greek sports and leisure,
many Jews started to abandon Temple and
Synagogue services.
• Some Jews adopted Greek names.
• Others began to pay homage to Greek gods and
goddesses such as Poseidon, Zeus, Jupiter, Artemis
and Aphrodite
• Alexander’s reign ended shortly at the age of
33 years due to a lot of worries, over drinking
and ill- health.
• After his death there was power struggle and
caused the great empire to fall into the hands
of generals, of whom two became prominent
 JUDEA
• Judea fell under the hands of Antigone, who was
eventually defeated by Ptolemy who was surnamed
Soter or deliverer.
• Under his reign, Centered in Egypt, Jews fared well.
• Many Jews continued to settle in Alexandria where
they eventually translated their Scriptures into
Greek.
• Jews became prosperous and had high Priests as
their religious and political leaders.
• The office of the high priest became
prestigious and attracted competition with
struggle.
• Later the Ptolemies were defeated by
Seleucids under Selucus 1 whose
Headquarters were at Antioch.
• Where as the Ptolemies were tolerant of
Jewish institutions, the Seleucids determined
to enforce Hellenism on the Jews.
• Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, desecrated the
Temple by forbidding sacrifices to Yahweh, he
outlawed circumcision, forced Jews to eat pork and
cancelled Sabbath and feast days.
• Copies of Scriptures were ordered to be burned.
• A statue of Jupiter was erected in the Temple.
• Some Jews resisted this tyranny, while others
succumbed.
• The office of the high priest was corrupted by
Antiochus.
 JEWISH REVOLT
• The Jews became more discontented when Antiochus
sent emissaries to force the Jews to offer a pig (an
unclean animal to Jews) as a sacrifice on the Holy altar.
• Mattathias an old priest from Median, killed the
official and the Jew who attempted to offer the
sacrifice.
• He together with his five sons organized a guerrilla war
known as the “Maccabean Revolt” after Judas son of
Mattathias who was nick named Maccabeus meaning
“the hammer”.
• John Maccabees the 3rd son of Mattathias followed
his brother’s fight for Jewish liberation and led a
successful war that helped them to recapture
Jerusalem and rededicate the worship of Yahweh
• John was succeeded by his brother Jonathan after
his death in the battle
• He was not a military genius, but used diplomacy to
gain power.
• He was able to become a high priest and leader of
the Jews.
• When Jonathan died, his brother Simon took
over power
• However Simon and his two sons were
assassinated by his son in law.
THE EMERGENCE OF THE JEWISH SECTS
• Sadducees
 These supported the off shoots of the
Maccabbees who were known as the
Hasmoneans. They ruled as both Kings and
Priests.
 The Pharisees supported that a true king could
only be a descendant of David, and a priest a
descendant of Aaron.
 The Essenes (preservers of the “Dead sea scrolls”)
• The Essenes are believed to have founded the
Qumran community around this time in
reaction against the Hasmoneans.
• Successive rulers became more and more
unpopular. Alexander Jannes propelled people
into pelting him with stone as he attempted to
perform a priestly duty.
• In reaction he killed 6000 Jews.
• The country became increasingly unstable.
• In 64 B.C, the Roman empire turned its attention
towards Israel, a nation that offered little resistance.
• Pompey sacked Jerusalem, and soon the Jews were
once again under the command of a foreigner, an
Idumean named Antipater who was installed by the
Romans.
• Later he was followed by his son, Herod the Great
who became the King of the Jews.
• It was under his rule that Jesus was born, and ordered
all male children in Bethlehem to be killed.
 JESUS LIFE AND MINISTRY IN OUTLINE
• What we know about the historical Jesus comes
from the four Gospels accounts.
• There are two Gospels that offer a description of
the events surrounding Jesus’ birth.
• Luke offers some account of Jesus’ childhood,
preparation for ministry which was proclaimed by
John the Baptist.
• Jesus preparation ends with the death of John the
Baptist who was imprisoned and later beheaded by
Herod.
 JESUS’ TRAVELS AND MINISTRY
• Jesus spent a good time travelling by foot around the
region of Galilee, calling Disciples, teaching, healing and
training.
• Towards the end of his three years, Jesus moved with his
Disciples and a band of his followers towards Jerusalem.
• During the religious festival of the Passover, despite the
thrilling welcome he received at the beginning of the
week, he was betrayed and handed over for crucifixion.
• This was not the end of his ministry but rather the
beginning.
• The New Testament authors reflect on the
significance of Jesus’ actions and promises as
they describe the situation of Jesus’ followers
after his death, resurrection, and ascension
into heaven.
• Jesus’ death became the crucial message of
the disciples and succeeding generations of
disciples, to this day.
 JESUS IN THREE TYPES OF LITERATURE
• There are three types of literature through
which Jesus is expressed. Each literature has a
different way of portraying Jesus and his works.
• There is another type of literature known as
“Historical Narrative” that has not been
mentioned here, but which is also very
important to note because of its importance in
giving the highlights of the birth and expansion
of the church.
 THE GOSPELS
The Gospel
• Gospels are stories of a special kind, revealing Jesus
story in which heaven and earth intersect in real time.
• Christians believe that events described in the Gospels
really happened. They convey God’s message. They are
more than stories.
• In the Gospels Jesus demonstrates his power and
authority to heal and forgive sins.
• Jesus shows his concern about peoples’ physical and
Spiritual needs (Mk.2:1-12; Matt. 9:1; Luk.5:17-26)
 EPISTLES
• These are mainly letters written to different
churches and Christian communities of the 1st
century A.D.
• There are 21 Epistle and all of them aim at
explaining the work of Jesus among believers
as reconciling us to God, where the death of
Christ has paid for our sins.