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New Testament History

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General

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

Book Studies

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

A Chronology with Historical Links

(note: some criticism sites)

Jesus of Nazareth (c.4 BCE-c.30 CE)

Backdrop

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]

Teaching

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

Claims to to be God

Death

Resurrection

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.

Historical Evidence

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.

Early Church: First Century

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.

The Earliest Christians

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]

Paul of Tarsus (d.c.65 CE) and the Pauline Churches

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

New Testament Chronology

(approximate Dates)

333 B.C.E. Conquest of east by Alexander the Great (336--323)
323Ptolemy I in Egypt
323-200 Ptolemies rule Palestine
Seleucus I in Syria (312)
1st Punic War (264-41)
2nd Punic War (219-01)
200-142Seleucids rule Palestine
Ben Sirach
Antiochus IV (175-164)
167 Desecration of Temple

Rome defeats Macedonia (168)
167
164		Maccabean Revolt
Rededication of Temple (Hanukkah)
152-14Hasmonean 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)
103-76Alexander Jannaeus
Tensions with Pharisees
1 and 2 Maccabees
76-67
67-40		Alexandra Salome
Hyrcanus, Aristobulus [Antipater]
63Pompey 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
49 Caesar crosses the Rubicon: Roman Civil War
48 Battle of Pharsalus: Julius Caesar Dictator
44 Death J. Caesar
Second Triumvirate (Octavian, Antony, Lepidus)

37Herod the Great (37 - 4 B.C.E.)
31 Battle of Actium: Antony & Cleopatra
- End of Ptolemies in Egypt
27Vergil
 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
De Imperatoribus Romanis (with images)
A Visual Compendium of Roman Emperors (with images)

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.)
37Paul'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)
132-135Second Jewish Revolt (Bar Kokhba)

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