Survey of New Testament History-The Christian Resource Institute
The Symbolism of "Vine" in Scripture Short article examining OT uses of the metaphor of vine and vineyard as background for John's account of Jesus as the true vine.
Tax Collectors and Sinners Short article identifying these two groups in the social background of 1st century AD Judaism.
John The Baptist: The Man And His Influence Short article on John the Baptist and his setting in 1st century Judaism.
Inheritance Practices in the First Century Era Short article providing background for Luke's story of the Prodigal son.
First Century Roman Political Rulers of Palestine A table of Roman Emperors, Procurators, and Kings who governed Palestine in the New Testament era.
The Resurrection: Influence on the Church in the First Decades Short article examining the idea of the resurrection of Jesus in the context of first century thought, and its Christian expression mainly from 1 Corinthians 15.
The Needy in Jewish Tradition Brief look at the development from biblical persepctives of ways of dealing with the poor and needy in Judaism.
The Bible Knowledge Accelerator #4-The Spread of Christianity
DATE AND AUTHENTICITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE HISTORICAL TRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE BIBLE
CONFIRMATIONS OF THE BIBLE
THE VERIFIABILITY OF HISTORY
THE AMAZING SURVIVAL OF THE WORD OF GOD
THE FORMATION OF THE CANON: THE NEW TESTAMENT
TRANSMISSION OF THE BIBLE
John: Jesus, the Son of God - by David Griffiths
Romans: Good News for All
Galatians: Book of Liberty
Ephesians: Living as His Body
Philippians: Shared Secrets of a Happy Fellowship
Colossians: Our Christ Centred Faith
1 Thessalonians: Looking for the returning Lord
2 Thessalonians: Looking for the returning Lord (Part 2)
Philemon: A Practical Letter
Hebrews: All Glorious Saviour
James: Practical Themes
(note: some criticism sites)
Model of Herodian Temple [At St Olaf]
Josephus (37- after 93 CE): Galilee, Samaria, and Judea in the First Century CE, from The Jewish War
Palestine in the Time of Jesus [St Olaf]
The Capernaum Synagogue
Ancient Synagogue Literary Library Contains many texts about the institution of the synagogue in the Second Temple period.
The Aramaic Language [At Aldawood]
Divine Mediator Figures in the Biblical World [At St. Andrews]
The Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7
Parables: Matthew 13:1-30, 36-43, 15:21-28; Luke 10:25-37
Instructions to Disciples: Matthew 10:1-42, 16:13-28, 24:3-31, 25:31-46
In addition to the canonical gospels, see:
Gospel of Peter (2nd century) [At Theological Network] A somewhat expanded account, seen by some scholars (Crossan) as containing stories unknown to the canonical writers. It is an ealry witness to the intense interest in Jesus' resurrection among 2nd cent. Egyptian Christians.
The Pilate Inscription [At St Olaf] An inscription found in Caesarea which first proved the existence of Pilate.
Josephus (37- after 93 CE): Description of Jesus [Antiquities of the Jews 18:3][At PBS] A much debated text. Many think it is all, or in parts, an interpolation.
Josephus (37- after 93 CE): Description of Jesus Antiquities of the Jews 18:3 [At UPenn] With Greek and Arabic versions.
The Gospel Truth, TIME Magazine, April 8, 1996 Volume 147, No. 15 [At Millersville] On the Jesus Seminar and its critics.
Birger A. Pearson: The Gospel According to the Jesus Seminar [At UCSB]
Ancient Jewish Accounts of Jesus [At UPenn] Texts given in full.
Josephus, a Jew writing in Greek, and Tacitus, Suetonius, and Pliny the Younger, are the earliest non-Biblical witnesses to the existence of Christianity. The Didache seems to be a source independent to some degree of the Biblical texts.
Josephus (37- after 93 CE): Description of Jesus [Antiquities of the Jews 18:3][At PBS]. [aka Testimonium Flavianum]
The Flavius Josephus Page [At AOL]
Persecution of the Christians Tacitus (c.55 -117 CE), Suetonius (c.69-after 122 CE), and Pliny the Younger (61/62-113 CE): [At CSUN]
Nero's Persecution of the Christians Tacitus (c.55 -117 CE): Annals 15:47 [At WSU]
Suetonius (c.69-after 122 CE): Life of Claudius 25, Life of Nero 16
The Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) 2nd Cent CE [At American]
The Oxyrhynchus Hymn (2nd Cent CE) in AU Format [At Ariadne] The oldest surviving piece of Christian Music.It will take some time to download.
Ecclesiastical History Eusebius (c.260-340 CE): [At CSUN]
On Jesus Family, the leadership of James, and the New Testament. The tradional historian of the Church, but writing very late.
The First Christians [At PBS Jesus to Christ Site]
Review of John Dominic Crossan The Birth of Christianity (1998) [At Globe and Mail]
Missionary Activity: Acts of the Apostles
Athens, Acts 17:16-34: Acts 17, [At Northpark]
Corinth, Acts 18:1-11
Undisputed Letters by Critics: I Thessalonians, Galatians, I and II Corinthians, Romans, Philippians, and Philemon
Letters in Question By Critics: Colossians and II Thessalonians
(approximate Dates)
| 333 B.C.E. | Conquest of east by Alexander the Great (336--323) | |
| 323 | Ptolemy I in Egypt 323-200 Ptolemies rule Palestine Seleucus I in Syria (312) | 1st Punic War (264-41) 2nd Punic War (219-01) |
| 200-142 | Seleucids rule Palestine Ben Sirach Antiochus IV (175-164) 167 Desecration of Temple | Rome defeats Macedonia (168) |
| 167 164 | Maccabean Revolt Rededication of Temple (Hanukkah) | |
| 152-14 | Hasmonean Period Jonathan High Priest (154) Essene Separation (?) (146) Dead Sea Scrolls (thru 1st CE) Jubilees Simon King and High Priest (142-135) John Hyrcanus (134-105) | Rome sacks Corinth (146) Death of T. Graechus (132) |
| 103-76 | Alexander Jannaeus Tensions with Pharisees 1 and 2 Maccabees | |
| 76-67 67-40 | Alexandra Salome Hyrcanus, Aristobulus [Antipater] | |
| 63 | Pompey in Near East - end of Seleucids Psalms of Solomon Cicero - Roman Consul and Orator | First Triumvirate in Rome (Pompey, Caesar, Crassus) 58-50 Caesar in Gaul |
| 37 | Herod the Great (37 - 4 B.C.E.) | 31 Battle of Actium: Antony & Cleopatra - End of Ptolemies in Egypt |
| 27 | Vergil Ovid Horace | Roman Principate Octavian/Augustus Caesar (27 B.C.E. - 14 C.E.) |
| c. 6 B.C.E. 4 B.C.E. | Birth of Jesus (? ) Herod Antipas tetrarch of Galilee & Perea 4 B.C.E. - 39 C.E. Archelaus, Ethnarch of Judaea (4 B.C.E.-6 C.E.) Philip tetrarch (4 B.C.E. - 34 C.E.) "Parables of Enoch" Wisdom of Solomon Philo of Alexandria (2O B.C.E.-4O C.E.) | Links to other sites for Roman Emperors: Chronological Listing of Roman Emperors |
| 14 C.E. 26 34 | P. Pilate Procurator of Judea (26-36 ) Death of Jesus (c. 30 C.E.? ) Conversion of Paul | Tiberius Caesar (14-37 C.E.) |
| 37 | Paul's escape from Damascus The statue of Gaius c. 39-40 | Gaius Caligula (37-41) |
| 41 48 49-51 | 1 Thessalonians (?) Apostolic Council (Acts 15) | Claudius Caesar (41-54) Rome invades Britain (43) Seneca becomes tutor of Nero (49) |
| 52 52-56 c. 56-59/60 | M. Antoinius Felix Procurator of Palestine (52-60) Paul's "Second and Third Journeys" 1 Corinthians letters composing 2 Corinthians Philippians (3 letters) Philemon, Galatians Romans Paul under Arrest in Caesarea | Claudius expels Jews from Rome c. 54 Nero (54-68) |
| 60 64 | Porcius Festus Procurator of Palestine (60-62) Paul in Rome Paul executed (?) Gospel of Mark (?) | 64 Fire in Rome - Nero blames Christians |
| 66 68 | 66-73 Jewish Revolt Titus leads campaign in Palestine | 68-69: Year of Three Emperors: Galba, Otho, Vitellius |
| 69 70 73 | Fall of Jerusalem Fall of Masada - end of First Jewish Revolt Josephus, Jewish War 1-2 Timothy, Titus | Vespasian (69-79) Eruption of Vesuvius (70) |
| 79 81 | Matthew, Hebrews James, 1 Peter, Gospel of Thomas (?) Luke-Acts | Titus (79-81) Domitian (81-96) |
| 90 96 98 | "Council" of Javneh (Jamnia) Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, Life, Against Apion John, 1-3 John 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, Jude, 2 Peter, Revelation (?) 1 Clement Jewish Apocalypses: 4 Ezra, 2 Baruch | Nerva (96-98) Trajan (98-117) |
| Pliny the Younger corresponds with Trajan about Christians in Bithynia (c. 112) death of Plutarch (c. 120) | ||
| 132-135 | Second Jewish Revolt (Bar Kokhba) |
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