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New Testament Survey: ST ND RD TH

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New Testament Survey: ST ND RD TH

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송은미
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY

Lesson 01 - The Silent Years

The Old Testament ends around 435 B.C. with the book of Malachi. About 430 years
will pass before the inspired narrative resumes with the New Testament. During these
“silent years”, many events will occur that have considerable impact on the life and times
of Jesus, the Apostles, and the early church. The questions below will require
considerable research outside of the Bible, so plan your preparation time accordingly.

A. Since this time period is not recorded in the Bible, we have to rely on other historical
documents.
a) What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? When were they written and what were their
relationship to this time period?
b) What does “apocrypha” mean?
c) Briefly summarize the contents of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Maccabees.
d) How should we view apocrypha books today?
e) Who was Josephus? What was his relationship to this time period?

B. After the book of Malachi was written under Medeo-Persian rule, the next world
empire prophesied in Daniel 2:39 as the “bronze kingdom” came to power.
a) Which empire was it?
b) When did the land of Canaan fall under its control?
c) Who was Alexander the Great and what did he do?
d) Who were the Ptolemies and the Seleucids? How did their attitudes toward
Judaism differ?

C. During this time, the “Septuagint” was written.


a) What is it?
b) Who wrote it?
c) Why was it written?
d) What significance does it have for New Testament times?

D. Beginning around 175 B.C., a series of historically significant events happened in the
land of Canaan.
a) Who was Antiochus Epiphanes (a.k.a. Antiochus IV)?
b) Who were the Maccabees?
c) What did they do?
d) What is Hanukkah?
e) What was the Hasmonean dynasty? How long did it last?

E. During the time of the Maccabees, the next world empire prophesied in Daniel 2:40-43
as the “iron/clay kingdom” came to power.
a) Which empire was it?
b) When did the land of Canaan fall under its control?
c) Who was Pompey and Marc Antony? What roles did they have regarding
Canaan?
F. Beginning in 47 B.C., Julius Caesar appointed Antipater to be procurator of Judea.
a) Who was Antipater (also known as Antipater the Idumaean)?
b) His son went on to be first the governor of Galilee and later the “King of the
Jews”. Who was he and what role did he have in New Testament times?

G. A number of terms absent from the Old Testament appear suddenly in the New
Testament. For each of the terms below: 1) define the term, 2) try to find out its origin,
and 3) find one occurrence in the New Testament.
a) Synagogue
b) Sanhedrin
c) Hellenists (NKJV)
d) Pharisees
e) Sadducees
f) Zealots
g) Herodians
h) Caesar
i) Publicans
j) Legion
k) Centurion
l) Praetorium
m) Denarius
n) Crucifixion

H. Galatians 4:4 talks about “the fullness of time”. A number of political, economic,
cultural, and religious influences existed at the close of “the Silent Years” that facilitated
the rapid spread of early Christianity. Review the material at the following website and
come prepared to discuss at least seven of these influences.
http://mason.gmu.edu/~ddonald/typeassignment/index3.htm

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