Historical Background at the Time of Jesus

4 Main Beliefs at the Time of Jesus

• Platonism
• Stoicism
• Epicureanism
• Imperial Cult

In each of these worldviews, we see a common thread.

1) There is no actual creator, only universal principles we should apply to life.

2) Since there is no creator, everyone is responsible for themselves and constructs a life that pleases them individually.

3) Thoughts of moral responsibility to others are encouraged so far as it brings a civil society but has no further benefit than my own ease of life free from fear.

4) The mind/soul are viewed as just parts of matter which are repurposed. (There are various views on how this happens)

5) There is no thought of bodily resurrection. The body is of no value once dead.

6) In the case of Imperial worship as the Roman leader was declared Ceasar, Lord, this caused direct conflict with the Christians calling Jesus Lord. We will explore this point later.

Hebrew World View & The Three Leading Groups

• The Sadducees

• The Pharisees

• The Essenes

The Exodus story held profound importance for first-century Jewish thinking and identity for

several reasons:

• National Identity

• Divine Redemption

• Covenantal Relationship

• Ethical Imperatives

• Eschatological Hope
• Liturgical and Ritual Practices

Overall, the Exodus story held multifaceted significance for first-century Jewish thinking, shaping their identity, theology, ethics, and hope for the future. It provided a powerful narrative through which Jews understood their past, present, and future relationship with God and the world.

Jewish views on the afterlife varied somewhat during the first century AD, but some common themes existed. It's important to note that there was no single unified Jewish belief regarding the afterlife during this time, as different sects and schools of thought held diverse perspectives. However, some general ideas can be identified:

• Resurrection

• Sheol

• Judgment

• Reward and Punishment

• Influence of Hellenistic Thought

• Apocalyptic Expectations

“A cultural fuse was burning, preparing antiquity for whatever would eventually initiate the Common Era. The Roman Empire had unified much of the known world, adopted a popular language, provided a shared alphabet, established peace, constructed roads, developed the world's best postal service, and embraced just enough religious tolerance to detonate an explosion. Even before the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth, it ought to have been apparent to any careful student of history that events within the Roman Empire were aligning for someone special to arrive and for something special to happen.”― J. Warner Wallace, Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the

Bible.

What was the popular view of a coming Messiah?

The difference between the Messianic figure the Jews expected during the time of Jesus and

the life and death Jesus presented is a complex matter shaped by various factors, including

theological interpretations, cultural expectations, and historical context. Here are some key

distinctions:

• Expectations of Political Deliverance vs. Spiritual Redemption

• Messiah's Identity and Role

• Response to Opposition

• Eternal Salvation vs. Temporal Liberation

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