1. New Testament Survey Class #2 The Gentile World
the glory that was Greece
the grandeur that was Rome

2. To Helen Helen, thy beauty is to me Like those Nicean barks of yore
That gently, o’er a perfumed sea,
The weary way-worn wanderer bore
To his own native shore.
On desperate seas long wont to roam,
Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face,
Thy Naiad airs have brought me home
To the glory that was Greece,
And the grandeur that was Rome.
- Edgar Allen Poe

3. Emphasis on Beauty Helen and Homer’s Illiad
Art, Architecture, Drama, Athletic competition
1 Cor 9:24-25

4. Emphasis on Truth Philosophy & the Big 3
Science, Physics, Math, Geometry, Medicine, History, Ethics, Politics
Acts 17:16-21
1 Cor 1:18-25

5. Alexander the Great (photo by Andrew Dunn)
Impact of Greek culture on the Jews
Acts 18:24-25 (Apollos)
Universality of the Greek Language (John 19:20)
NT written in Greek

6. Grandeur that was Rome Pax Romana (27BC – 180 AD)

7. Temple of Artemis (photo by Zee Prime @ cs.wickipedia)
Religion in the Roman Empire
Greek gods
Acts 19:23-28
Greek Philosophy
Epicureans (pleasure)
Stoics (reason)
Cynics (nonconformity)
Platonists (ideals)
Mystery religions
Temple of Artemis (photo by Zee cs.wickipedia)

8. Moral conditions in the Roman Empire
Example of the Emperors
Divorce, abortion & infanticide
Greeks and homosexuality
Roman stage & debauchery
Roman arena & violence
Rom 1:18-32

9. Conclusion
The Roman Empire was a place full of people in desperate need of good news and mercy in a society with a universal language, political stability and good transportation across a large area of many nationalities at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. -Rom 5:6