1. Foundations of Christianity
Section B

2. The Holy Land Palestine is the country where Jesus lived all his life.
There were 3 provinces Galilee, Samaria and Judea.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He grew up in Nazareth and He died in Jerusalem.

3. The Roman Empire In 63BC, the Romans invaded Palestine.
The Jews did not accept Roman rule.
Roman rule caused a lot of tension and political problems in Palestine.

4. Life in Palestine Houses in Palestine were small, they had one room.
Houses were divided into two levels.
1. The family lived on the upper floor The animals stayed on the ground floor at night.
Women worked in the home cooking and cleaning.
Men worked at the markets or as fishermen or carpenters.

5. Jewish History. Abraham Slavery in Egypt Moses Return to Promised Land
David
Jerusalem Destroyed
Jews sent to Babylon
Romans take over
The Messiah

6. Jewish Religion
At the time of Jesus the Jews had two main religious places of worship:
The Temple
and
2. The synagogue

7. The Temple It was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE
The Temple was located in the Jerusalem
The Temple was the most sacred building at the time of Jesus
It was a very big building and could hold thousands of people.
It was at the heart of Jewish life.
Jews believed it was the dwelling place of God.
The Temple was built to hold the Ten Commandments
It was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE

8. Image on page 100

9. Once a year during the Jewish festival of ‘Passover’ every Jewish family tried to visit the temple to pray and worship God.
When they were at the Temple they changed their roman money to temple money and the bought animals like birds to have sacrificed in the Temple.
Then the priests would sacrifice the animals in the Court of Priests.

10. Areas of the Temple Court of Gentiles Court of Israel Court of women
Everybody allowed
Court of Israel
Jewish men only
Court of women
Jewish women only
Court of Priests
Jewish Priests and High Priest only
Sanctuary
Holy of Holies
High Priest only

11. The Synagogue
The synagogue was a plain, two story building. It was small.
Woman and men were separated in the synagogue.
There were two doors. Men entered through one door which kept them on the main floor while the women went upstairs.
At the time of Jesus there was a synagogue in every town and village in Palestine.
The synagogue was the meeting place for Jews.
Jews went to the synagogue every Sabbath.

12. Questions
Page 101
Questions 4 5 6 8
Understanding 1 2

13. Religious Groups. The Sadducees Accepted Roman Rule.
They were rich and powerful temple Priests.
“Roman rule best for all, new roads, law and order”

14. The Pharisees
Rejected Roman rule.
They were laymen but they were religious leaders in the local synagogues.
They did not follow Roman law because it was not God’s law.
“God’s law not Roman Law”

15. The Zealots
Rejected Roman rule and refused to co operate with them.
They were revolutionaries, they wanted freedom.
They used violence to try and force and Romans out of Palestine.
“Romans out, No Surrender!!”

16. The Messiah
Many Jews expected that the Messiah would be a wealthy and powerful king.
Others expected a great warrior.
They could not believe that Jesus was the Messiah because he was neither a powerful king nor a warrior.
Today Jews believe that the Messiah has not yet come.

17. The New Testament Gospel = “Good News”.
There are four Gospels in The New Testament
The Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Mark
The Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of John

18. The Evangelists
These Gospel writers are known as the Evangelists because the spread the Good News of Jesus.
His suffering Side…Mark
His teaching side…Matthew
His caring side…Luke
His spiritual side…John

19. Matthew
Wrote for Christian in Antioch.
He emphasised the human/teaching side of Jesus.
Matthew was a rabbi (teacher)
Mark
Wrote for the persecuted Christians in Rome.
He emphasised the suffering side of Jesus.

20. Wrote for Christians in Ephesus.
Luke
Wrote for Christians in Corinth.
He emphasised the caring side of Jesus.
Luke was a doctor
John
Wrote for Christians in Ephesus.
He emphasised the divine side of Jesus

21. The Gospel Stages.
2. The Oral stage (33-70CE) When the apostles travel all over the Roman Empire to TELL the Good News, that Jesus is the Messiah.
The Life stage (30-33CE)
The three years of Jesus’ life when he teaches, performs miracles, is crucified and dies
3. The Written Stage 70-95CE) When the Evangelists WRITE down the story of Jesus in the four Gospels.

22. The Synoptic Gospels. Synoptic means to be alike or similar.
The Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke are so alike that they are known as Synoptic Gospels.
They agree on:
The main event’s of Jesus’ life.
The order in which they occurred
Jesus’ words on those occasions.

23. Mark’s gospel was written first.
Similarities
Mark’s gospel was written first.
Matthew and Luke borrowed from Mark’s Gospel
Difference
Matthew and Luke used other sources in addition to Mark’s account.
“Where did this information come from?”
Bible experts say it came from a document called “Q”, which contains earlier records of Jesus’ sayings.

24. John
John did not use Mark’s Gospel nor did he use the “Q” document.
He used other sources to tell the story of Jesus.
John’s Gospel is poetic.
He focuses on who Jesus was rather than what he did.
There are no references to Jesus’ parables in John.