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Sara Willis

Discussion Board 1

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When answering Sharon, I would give her examples of how understanding the culture of the Jewish faith helps to understand how Christianity began to evolve. 

Christianity began as a movement in 1st century Judaism.  When we look at this movement, it is important that take a step back and compare our current culture and beliefs with the 1st century Jews.  In studying a different time frame it’s important to understand some staples such as language, customs, celebrations, politics, and over all cultural acceptances.  Scott mentions in his book that the New Testament writers assume that the readers will know the locations and even the significance of the geographical areas.  I think it’s fair to say that most readers in today’s culture are completely unaware of such locations.  (Scott, 18).    Scott also discusses how the Old Testament is not the direct historical, cultural or religious setting of Jesus. (Scott, 18).  It’s important to understand the influences of Rome and Greece. 

The New Testament’s Jewish setting and context are important to understand how Christianity began.  One example is that of the incorporation of baptism.  We know that Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.  So, He didn’t come to have the Jewish traditions and culture totally change, just to share a new covenant with Israel.  Baptism is an outward expression of the Christian faith, but the act of water submersion for cleansing was not a new idea to the Jewish culture.  The Jewish culture had Micvah.  Again, understanding this 1st century Jewish culture is imperative to understanding the transformation of the church.  The Micvah was used for ceremonial cleansing.  The act of the cleansing in the Micvah was in and of itself enough to become ceremonially clean. 

Understanding the traditions of feasts for their culture and the politics of the time lead to a deeper understanding of how the Jewish people developed the early church.  There was not a conversion from Judaism to Christianity in this 1st century there was a transformation of customs and culture. 

Perspective is everything when understanding what someone else has written.  If we do not take the time to understand these 1st century Jews, we lose so much in the context of how and why the wrote what they wrote.  Our perspective is then limited to what we know today which is vastly incomparable to the lives they lived over two thousand years ago. 

 

Robert Wayne Stacy, “The Jewish Setting of the First Christian in Acts, “ course video.

J. Julius, Scott, Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academics, 1995),

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Michele Isom

Case Study DB 1

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There are several reasons and examples for having the knowledge and understanding of the Jewish settings of that time, in order to interpret the New Testament properly. Speaking in terms of culture, the gap between this time and that of the New Testament Jewish people spans over two millennia. And even among different cultures of this era, it is difficult to interpret the exact meaning of phrases, actions, and gestures without immersion into that culture, direct interaction, or intense study. And since immersion and direct interaction are not possible, the best way to more accurately interpret the New Testament is to intensely study the culture from which it was written.

What is important to realize, in short, is the mindset of the Jewish people and the effects the events and changes, of that time, had upon them. Two primary examples of events which caused turmoil were the destruction of the Jewish state, by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., and the rise of the Hellenistic culture of the Greeks during the rule of Alexander the Great, in the 4th century.

The fall of the Jewish state represented a major religious crisis for its people. To fully comprehend the magnitude of the situation one would have to be acquainted with three of their most import aspects of the Jewish way of life, “the land, the monarchy, and Jerusalem with her temple were religious symbols as well as national possessions and institutions” (Scott 1995, 109). Then, to have each one devastated or destroyed places the attitudes and mentalities of the people in an entirely different place. Additionally, the political unrest of the time was another cause for mounting tensions. The power in the land had changed hands on several occasions; from the Persians, to the Greeks, to Maccabees, and finally to Roman rule. And one must also take into account the atrocities committed against the people of Jerusalem and against God during this span of foreign rule.

Unfortunately, as a result of the numerous events during this period, it gave way to a rise in diversity among the Jewish people. Many different religions, cultures, and ways of thinking had infiltrated their way of life. “We know only little about the captivity. The Hebrews spent the period of captivity in scattered locations. Their experiences were diverse” (Scott 1995, 75). Different experiences and different ways of thinking.

Given that so many changes took place and the entire world of the Jewish people had been turned on its side, it would stand to reason there would be a need to study that time and era. And not take lightly that through modern or even Old Testament comparisons one can wholeheartedly and accurately interpret the writings of the New Testament authors, without knowing their history.

 

Bibliography

Scott, J Julius Jr. Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academics, 1995.

 

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