Transcript Greco-Roman Background of Christianity.html

The Greco-Roman and Jewish
backgrounds of Christianity
Where does the story begin?
• To understand conflicts that arose within
Christianity in its earliest stages, we need to look
back into Jewish history before the time of Christ.
• Christianity began during a time of Hellenization.
– After Alexander the Great conquered the
Jews, Greek culture became the dominant
culture
• Some Jews took Greek names and
adapted Judaism to Greek culture. They
became known as “Hellenistic Jews” or
Hellenists.
– Greek culture is known as Hellenism
• Hellenism means to speak Greek
Roman Empire
• The Roman Empire conquered
the Greeks
– Strong army (at this
time)
• People entered the
empire by being
conquered
– They lost their
independence but
were protected by the
empire and often
gained greater
political stability
– The Jews continue to
be the chosen people
but are no longer the
rulers in in their own
homeland
– The heart of the empire was
the city of Rome
Greco-Roman world
• Jesus was born in a GrecoRoman world
• Greco-Roman world refers to
the areas conquered by Rome
but influenced by Greek
culture
– Most Jews during this time spoke
Greek only.
• Hebrew Scriptures were translated to
Greek.
– This translation was called Septuagint
• Jews did not know how to read
Hebrew
The Greco-Roman influence on
Judeans
 Hellenism influenced Judeans in the following
ways:
 Greek philosophy
 Greek education – body and mind
(gymnasium)
 the term “gymnasium” is used for
educational institutions
 Greek religion
 God and goddess worship (animal and
grain sacrifices, rituals and feasts)
 Greek culture
 Social customs (women and men often
dined separately)
Roman religious practices and their impact on the
Judeans
 Romans believed that
polytheism provided some
answers to life’s questions of
why things don’t go as people
want them to:
 the gods are dysfunctional!
 People need to please them
and if the gods aren’t happy
– smite.
 Judaism offered an alternative
– an entirely good God, and
just One, at that.
 Thus, Judaism was in direct
conflict with Greco-Roman
polytheism.
State Religion
• Romans required obedience to the
State Religion
– Refers to the worship of the
Roman gods and emperors
 Public sacrifices were not just to
Roman gods and goddesses;
they were a sign of loyalty to the
State and the Emperor.
 Anyone who did not do so was
considered a traitor
• Concentrated on order in society and
in the cosmos, but did not give
meaning or purpose to life
Mystery religions
• Since the State Religion did not
provide a spiritual aspect to the
people, the practice of mystery
religions was allowed.
• Common during the 1st century
• Kept their rituals secret, revealing
them only to people who initiated
into the religion
• Provided the kind of emotional
connection to divinity that Roman
state religion had no interest in
providing
Characteristics of mystery religions
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Characteristics of a mystery cult
included:
 An initiation
 Baptism
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Secret rituals
Secret knowledge
A god, often foreign, who
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Had died but resurrected or
reincarnated
Or had gone to the underworld
and come up again
Followers would also overcome
death and find new life in the
community of believers and
their god
Roman religious practices and their impact
on the Judeans

Mithraism was one of the most
popular mystery religions
 Mithraism
 Had a Persian god, Mithra
 Initiates were baptized
 Bread and wine was ritually
shared
 Mithra had a miraculous birth
celebrated on the Roman
equivalent of Dec. 25
 Shepherds brought gifts to the
newborn god
 Christianity was considered a
mystery religion by the Romans
early on
Roman religious practices and their
impact on the Judeans
 For the most part, the
Romans let the Jews
practice their religion.
 The Romans respected
the fact that the Jews
had an ancient Holy
Book and that their
religion was already
1,000 yrs. old.
 Therefore, Jews were
exempt from being
required to publically
offer sacrifices to
Greco-Roman gods
Jesus is born
•
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Jesus was born and grew up in
the Greco-Roman world
During Jesus’ time:
– 2nd temple is being rebuild
• Still had priests
•
Animal sacrifices to God
• Pilgrimage to Temple in
Jerusalem
– Synagogues are established
• were places for the reading and
preaching of scripture
– Judaism was full of groups:
• Interpretation of the Law
• Desire to kick the Romans out of
their land
• There were four main groups
1. Sadducees, 2. Pharisees,
3. Zealots and 4. Essenes
Jesus’ movement: Background of the 12
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In this Greco-Roman world, Jesus
formed a community of disciples to
preach the KoG
Disciples = followers
Were not wealthy or powerful
– John was a member of the priestly
class
But most of the twelve were members
of the working class and not leaders
Peter and Andrew were fishermen
– Middle-class occupation
Matthew was a tax collector
– Working for the Roman government
Some of the disciples had some
education and others were illiterate
Death of Jesus: Why did he die?
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Members of the Sanhedrin feared that Jesus’ followers would try to proclaim him
the Messiah
– The King who would throw off the yoke of Roman rule
– Could provoke a Roman crackdown on Judea
The Sanhedrin denounced Jesus to the Roman governor -Pilate
– Who had Jesus executed for treason
• For claiming to be the “King of the Jews”
The Romans simply put to death a troublemaker who could potentially threaten
their rule
Fear
• After Jesus’ crucifixion
and burial, his
followers were
devastated.
– Lost their beloved
teacher
– Felt the fear of being a
known associate of
someone executed as
a criminal
• They were hiding
• Fear led Peter to deny
Jesus three times
Quiz –Greco-Roman world
Quiz – Greco-Roman world- p.2
Word bank: (you will not use all the words nor will you use
them twice) Jews, Palestine, State religion, Hellenism,
mystery religions, gymnasium, Septuagint, Roman
citizenship, Greco-Roman world, Christians
1. __________ provided the emotional connection to
divinity and a purpose in living
2. The Hebrew Scriptures translated to Greek are known as
_________.
3. The areas conquered by Rome with Greek influence are
referred to as _________.
4. The decree that everyone must worship Roman
god/goddess and emperors is called __________.
5. Which is the only group exempt from the State Religion
duties?
Quiz – Greco-Roman world
Word bank: (you will not use all the words nor will you use
them twice) Jews, Palestine, State religion, Hellenism,
mystery religions, gymnasium, Septuagint, Roman
citizenship, Greco-Roman world, Christians
1. ________ provided the emotional connection to divinity
and a purpose in living- mystery religions
2. The Hebrew Scriptures translated to Greek are known as
_________. Septuagint
3. The areas conquered by Rome with Greek influence are
referred to as _________. Greco-Roman world
4. The decree that everyone must worship Roman
god/goddess and emperors is called __________. -state
religion
5. Which is the only group exempt from the State Religion
duties? - Jews
Quiz –Greco-Roman world
Quiz – Greco-Roman world
Word bank: (you will not use all the words nor will you use
them twice) Jews, Palestine, State religion, Hellenism,
mystery religions, gymnasium, Septuagint, Roman
citizenship, Greco-Roman world, Christians
1. The Hebrew Scriptures translated to Greek are known as
_________.
2. Which is the only group exempt from the State Religion
duties?
3. ________ provided the emotional connection to divinity
and a purpose in living
4. The decree that everyone must worship Roman
god/goddess and emperors is called __________.
5. The areas conquered by Rome with Greek influence are
referred to as _________.
Quiz – Greco-Roman world
Word bank: (you will not use all the words nor will you use
them twice) Jews, Palestine, State religion, Hellenism,
mystery religions, gymnasium, Septuagint, Roman
citizenship, Greco-Roman world, Christians
1. The Hebrew Scriptures translated to Greek are known as
_________. Septuagint
2. Which is the only group exempt from the State Religion
duties? - Jews
3. ________ provided the emotional connection to divinity
and a purpose in living- mystery religions
4. The decree that everyone must worship Roman
god/goddess and emperors is called __________. -state
religion
5. The areas conquered by Rome with Greek influence are
referred to as _________. Greco-Roman world
Quiz –Greco-Roman world
Quiz – Greco-Roman world
Word bank: (you will not use all the words nor will you use
them twice) Jews, Palestine, State religion, Hellenism,
mystery religions, gymnasium, Septuagint, Roman
citizenship, Greco-Roman world, Christians
1. Which is the only group exempt from the State Religion
duties?
2. ________ provided the emotional connection to divinity
and a purpose in living
3. The areas conquered by Rome with Greek influence are
referred to as _________.
4. The decree that everyone must worship Roman
god/goddess and emperors is called __________.
5. The Hebrew Scriptures translated to Greek are known as
_________.
Quiz – Greco-Roman world
Word bank: (you will not use all the words nor will you use
them twice) Jews, Palestine, State religion, Hellenism,
mystery religions, gymnasium, Septuagint, Roman
citizenship, Greco-Roman world, Christians
1. Which is the only group exempt from the State Religion
duties? - Jews
2. ________ provided the emotional connection to divinity
and a purpose in living- mystery religions
3. The areas conquered by Rome with Greek influence are
referred to as _________. Greco-Roman world
4. The decree that everyone must worship Roman
god/goddess and emperors is called __________. -state
religion
5. The Hebrew Scriptures translated to Greek are known as
_________. Septuagint