Divine preparation came through 3 different cultures:
Preparation through the Jew: affected the religious climate; 400 years
Preparation through the Greeks:
language & world speech
Preparation through the Romans:
Pax Romana & system of roads
The 3 categories of the NT
Historical, Epistolary, & Prophetical
Prior to the OT, what 3 cities had the most impact on Judaism?
Babylon, Alexandria, Jerusalem
Explain who the Sadducees were:
- They were a political party of the Jewish aristocratic priesthood
- they did not believe in the existence of angels, devils, or spirits
- they did not believe in the resurrection of the body or afterlife
- they did not believe that man was master of his own destiny
Explain who the Pharisees were:
- Religious leaders often identified with the scribes, most influential & popular with the people, they also set the religious policy
- they believed that salvation came through obedience to the law
- believed Christ would come & establish an earthly kingdom
Explain what the Sanhedrin was:
Jewish council of supreme authority, governed civil affairs, and tried certain criminal cases under Roman authority
Portraits of Christ
Matthew - The prophesied king
Mark - the obedient servant
Luke - the perfect man
John - the mighty God
Style of the gospel authors
Matthew - teacher
Mark - preacher
Luke - historian
John - theologian
Culture of original readers
Matthew - Jews
Mark - Romans
Luke - Greeks
John - church
Explain the meaning of the synoptic gospels
To stress the humanity of God
How many times does Jesus appear in the gospels after His resurrection & before His ascension?
10
Which disciple wrote 5 NT books?
John
Who was the first apostle to be martyred?
James
Who became Judas’ replacement?
Matthias
The first martyr of the church?
Stephen
