4 min

Bible Basics 10: The Geo-political Background to the Second Testament Befriending the Bible

    • Kristendom

This brief podcast reflects on the Greco-Roman context for the Jesus Movement and the growth of the Second Testament. Its writings emerge from a Jewish context and move into a non-Jewish Mediterranean world.

Herod's death (4BCE) brings about the division of his kingdom between his three sons: Antipas (responsible for Judah and Samaria), Herod Philip (Galilee, Upper and Lowers), Archelaus Transjordan), 
Rome imposes heavy and intolerable taxation on the Jews.
Revolt occurs and Rome, under Titus, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple in 70 CE. A major moment that causes Jewish self-reflection on Israel's survival and future.
A second revolt (132 CE) brings Rome's complete occupation of Israel/Palestine until the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Tumult and revolt becomes the context of Jesus' ministry
The Jesus movement moves from a Jewish world, into the non-Jewish world, expanding north, south, east and west. Its expansion engages the culture and politics of the Greco-Roman world governed by imperial politics and theology. 

This brief podcast reflects on the Greco-Roman context for the Jesus Movement and the growth of the Second Testament. Its writings emerge from a Jewish context and move into a non-Jewish Mediterranean world.

Herod's death (4BCE) brings about the division of his kingdom between his three sons: Antipas (responsible for Judah and Samaria), Herod Philip (Galilee, Upper and Lowers), Archelaus Transjordan), 
Rome imposes heavy and intolerable taxation on the Jews.
Revolt occurs and Rome, under Titus, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple in 70 CE. A major moment that causes Jewish self-reflection on Israel's survival and future.
A second revolt (132 CE) brings Rome's complete occupation of Israel/Palestine until the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Tumult and revolt becomes the context of Jesus' ministry
The Jesus movement moves from a Jewish world, into the non-Jewish world, expanding north, south, east and west. Its expansion engages the culture and politics of the Greco-Roman world governed by imperial politics and theology. 

4 min