1. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
Vocabulary
Isagogics: The study of the historical context of the events of the books of the Bible or of their writing.
Reversionism: An act or the process of returning (as to a former condition). An act or instance of turning the opposite way.
Pharisees: A Jewish sect that fought the Hellenizers in the days of the earlier Maccabees. The name Pharisee, means separated one and was probably given to them by their enemies because their strictness separated them from their fellow Jews as well as from the heathen. Their “loyalty to the truth” and addition of numerous rules which produced pride and even hypocrisy was the perversion that was denounced by Jesus. (Paul was a Pharisee.)
Legalism: adding to the Word of God (Pharisees).
Isagogics is the history of an event, i.e. how were the living conditions during the time of Christ, from the type of government to climate and living conditions.
Reversionism means returning to a formal condition and/or turning away from a condition.
Pharisees were a Jewish group of religious leaders. Who felt that they were much better than the common man. The added many rules as to how one was to worship; rules that God did not give them to follow. Adding traditions of men and not of God. Paul was a Pharisee.
Legalism is adding to the WOG, which is what the Pharisees did.
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2. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
Vocabulary
 Sadducees: Denied the authority of tradition and looked with suspicion on all revelation later than the Mosaic Law. They denied the doctrine of resurrection, and they did not believe in the existence of angels or spirits (Acts 23:8). They were largely people of wealth and position, and they cooperated gladly with the Hellenism of the day. In NT times, they controlled the priesthood and the Temple ritual.
Liberalism: taking away from the Word of God (Sadducees).
Hellenism: devotion to or imitation of ancient Greek thought, customs, or styles.
Hedonism: the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life.
Paganism: following foreign gods, or no religion at all, and/or delighting in sensual pleasures and material goods.
Septuagint: The Greek translation of the Old Testament during the intertestmental period. Name stems from 70 (approximate number of its translators).
Sadducees denied the authority of tradition—had problems with the Pharisees adding a bunch of rules that were not in he Mosaic Law. They didn’t believe in the resurrection, angels or spirits as seen in Acts 23:8. They were very wealthy and controlled the priesthood and the Temple ritual.
Liberalism is talking away from the WOG (Sadducees)
Hellenism is living by the ancient Greek thought and customs.
Hedonism is that pleasure and happiness is the best thing or chief good thing in life.
Paganism is basically following foreign gods, many gods or having no religion at all. Also delighting in pleasure and material goods. Hinduism is paganism as they worship many gods.
Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament which was written in Hebrew and Aramaic. This was done during the time between the OT and NT. The name stems for approx. 70 people that translated the OT.
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3. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
Overview
The word isagogics is used for the study of the historical context of the events of the books of the Bible or of their writing.
The two greatest isagogic factors in the life of Christ were the control of the land of Israel by the Roman Empire and the legalistic distortion of working for salvation of the Jews.
The principal language of the Jewish people had changed from Hebrew to Greek under the Greek and Roman influences. Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek were all spoken in the first century.
The Septuagint was available for the Greek speaking population so they were able to study the scriptures of their ancestors.
Overview of the Life of Christ.
Isagogics is the study of the historical context of the events of the Bible and their writing. What was it like during the time of Christ while he was on the earth. Putting the Bible in its historical context.
Two of the greatest isagogic or historical factors during the time of Christ was that the control of the land of Israel where Jesus lived was by the Roman Empire and that the legalistic distortion of salvation for the Jews was by accomplished by works and not faith alone in the Messiah.
The main language of the Jewish people changed from Hebrew to Greek because of the Greek and Roman influences. Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek were all spoken during the century when Jesus was alive. The Septuagint was available for the Greek speaking population so they could study the scriptures.
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4. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
The Roman Empire
At the time of the birth of Christ, the land of Israel was under the control of the Roman Empire.
The Roman Empire had been in existence for over 400 years when Jesus was born. Romans were pagans and worshiped many gods.
The Empire had begun as a Republic with the Senate of Rome being the central governing force.
By the time of Christ’s birth, Rome was ruled by an Emperor, but the Senate still had some power.
Jerusalem had been conquered by the Syrian ruler Antiochus IV in 168 B.C. causing a revolt, the war of the Maccabees.
The Roman leader Pompey captured Jerusalem and annexed Palestine (Israel) in 64 B.C.
The Roman Empire was a Republic from its early history until Julius Caesar declared himself Emperor in 49 B.C.
Explain this page.
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5. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
This map shows the Roman empire during the life of Christ. It was a very large and powerful empire that ranged from the Caspian sea in the east to where present day Spain is located in the west. Point out Israel and Jerusalem on the map.
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6. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
The Roman Empire
Julius Caesar ruled the Empire until his assassination in 44 B.C.
After a brief struggle for power, Caesar’s grandnephew, Octavian, became emperor in 31 B.C.
Octavian was given the semigodly name Augustus by the Senate of Rome and is known to history as Caesar Augustus.
Caesar Augustus ruled from 31 B.C. until 14 A.D. and was the Roman Emperor at the time of the birth of Christ (Luke 2:1-5).
Caesar Augustus put an end to the civil wars and local feuds that existed in the Empire, thus establishing a stable environment for the ministry of Christ.
Caesar Augustus was the Emperor at the time of the birth of Christ as seen in Luke 1:1-5.
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7. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
A Census Was Decreed
Luke 2:1–5 (NASB95)
1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
4Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
See maps on pages 20 and 21 to see where the cities of Nazareth and Bethlehem are located and how far the journey was (Probably 60+ miles).
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8. Caesar Augustus
This is a sculpture of Caesar Augustus who was the Emperor of Rome when Jesus was born.
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9. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
The Time of Jesus’ Birth
Caesar Augustus was the emperor during the time of Jesus Christ’s birth. He sent out a decree (order) that a census was to be taken. Joseph and Mary that was pregnant with Jesus went to Bethlehem for the census.
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10. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
The Roman Empire
Tiberius the stepson of Octavian (Caesar Augustus) ruled from A.D and was the Caesar during Christ’s ministry.
During the reign of Augustus and Tiberius the provinces, like Palestine (Israel), prospered.
Each province had a Roman governor who reported directly to Caesar. Pilate was governor during Christ’s ministry.
The primary job of the governor was to keep the province peaceful and prosperous, which would, in turn, keep Rome peaceful and prosperous.
The Governors used the local residents to collect taxes and serve in the government. Matthew was a tax collector.
Most importantly, Rome allowed the conquered provinces to continue practicing their former religion, so long as they didn’t cause trouble.
Tiberius the stepson of Caesar Augustus ruled during Christ’s ministry.
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11. Tiberius Caesar
Sculpture of Tiberius Caesar who was the emperor during Jesus’ ministry.
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12. The Time of Jesus’ Ministry
Explain this page. Tiberius Caesar was the emperor during the time of Jesus’ ministry. Pontius Pilate was the Governor of the province of Judea. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas both were the high priests in the temple. 9/13/15
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13. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
Jewish Reversionism
During the early history of the nation of Israel the Jews had a tendency to get involved with the pagan, Hellenistic, hedonistic and phallic cult practices of the neighboring Canaanite tribes.
This activity eventually led to the nation being destroyed in two phases in 721 BC (the Northern 10 tribes were conquered by Assyria) and 586 BC (Babylon conquered the Southern kingdom and took the Jews captive).
By the time of Christ, Israel had not been a sovereign nation since 586 BC and had not had a prophet for over 400 years.
The Jews that were left in the land under foreign rule had developed a different type of reversionism - religious reversionism.
In general, there are two categories of religious reversionism: liberalism and legalism.
Liberalism subtracts from the word of God: there is no hell, there is no resurrection, God does not judge or discipline people, etc.
Explain this page.
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14. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
Jewish Reversionism
Legalism adds to the word of God: drinking is a sin (rather than drunkenness), forbidding certain foods, forbidding marriage, etc.
Both of these types of reversionism were present in Israel at the time of Christ.
The Sadducees were the liberals and the Pharisees were the legalists.
Throughout Christ’s ministry he was constantly engaged in verbal battle with one or both of these sects. Matthew 15:1-11, 16:1-4.
They (Jews) were jealous of Jesus’ popularity with the people and also afraid of what the people might do if they harmed Him. Matthew 21:23-27.
Of the two, the more numerous and powerful sect was the Pharisees.
Their reaction to the hedonism of Israel’s past was to add more rules to the Mosaic Law in hopes of keeping the populace (people) from failing in that way again.
Read Matthew 5:11-11 and 16:1-4. Explain that the tradition of man is (legalism, adding to the word of God). Read Matt. 21:23-27 and explain. Hedonism is that pleasure is the most important thing in life. (If it feels good do it).
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15. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
Liberalism
Legalism
Two Types of Jewish Reversionism
Sadducees
Pharisees
WOG
This page shows the two types of Jewish reversionism that the Jews had at the time of Christ. Reversionism is turning away from something or turning back to a place where you were.
Take away from
the WOG
Add to the WOG
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16. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
Jewish Reversionism
They wrote a book of law known as the Talmud which gives detailed rules governing every realm of life.
The Talmud has two parts: the Mishnah, a book of law, and the Talmud (or Gemarah), a summary of discussion of the Mishnah.
In his book, The Essential Talmud, Adin Steinsalz say the following about the Talmud:
“The Talmud is the repository of thousands of years of Jewish wisdom, and oral law … It is a conglomerate of law, legend, and philosophy, a blend of unique logic and shrewd pragmatism, of history and science, anecdotes and humor.”
The Talmud added to the Law of Moses (Legalism) found in the Torah in hopes that it would make it harder for the Jews to fall into the type of reversionism that led to the two captivities in 721 and 586 B.C.
For example, they added so many rules to the Law of the Sabbath that it became oppressive, rather than the simple day of rest from your job that God had intended.
Explain this page.
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17. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
Jewish Reversionism
Here is another quote from The Essential Talmud regarding the Sabbath Laws:
“In the most general sense, the numerous Sabbath laws are an expanding network of minute details derived from several basic concepts, which eventually create an almost Gothic structure made up of thousands upon thousands of tiny and meticulously fashioned details clustered around the original form.”
Because of this they had reached a point of legalism where they even accused Christ of violating the Law when he healed someone on the Sabbath. Mark 3:1-6.
They read the Bible constantly, but had grown so spiritually dull that they could not understand what they were reading (many were unbelievers). Matthew 13:15
Therefore, they did not know the times in which they lived, nor did they recognize the need for a suffering Messiah to precede (come before) the conquering Messiah.
They read in the scriptures about the eternality of the nation of Israel and their coming King, but they were ruled by the Romans.
What they were looking for was a Messiah who would run the Romans out of Israel and re-establish the Throne of David in Jerusalem for all eternity.
What they got was the Lamb of God whose death on the cross would take away the sins of the world. Jn. 1:29
Explain this page and look up verses.
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18. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
The Geography of Israel
In the New Testament the land of Israel is broken into three geographic regions: Judea, Samaria, and Galilee.
Judea was the southernmost of the three regions and consisted of the land between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
The cities of Bethlehem, Bethany, Jericho, and Jerusalem were located in Judea.
The Temple, which was the center of Jewish life, was located in Jerusalem.
Samaria was between Judea in the south and Galilee in the north. They were considered outcasts by the Jews in Judea and Galilee.
Galilee was the northernmost of the three regions and had the city of Nazareth, where Jesus was raised.
Explain this page by the map on the next two pages.
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19. The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
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The Isagogics of The Time of Christ
The Geography of Israel
Most of Jesus’ ministry occurred in Galilee, with occasional trips to Judea.
The Sea of Galilee (a.k.a. Sea of Kinnereth, Sea of Gennesaret, and Sea of Tiberius), which is actually a large, freshwater lake, is in this region and figures prominently in many events in the life of Christ.
Samaria was the central province and contained a group of people related to the Jews, but with a distinct and slightly different culture. These were the Jews that intermarried with the Assyrians and were considered by full-blooded Jews as half-breeds.
Another prominent geographic feature of the region is the Jordan River, which flows from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea.
It was at the Jordan River that John the Baptist and Jesus began their ministries.
Explain this page by looking at the maps.
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20. The Geography of Israel
Explain map.
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21. The Life of Christ (1) The Geography of Israel Explain map.

22. The Temple
The temple was the center of Jewish worship located in Jerusalem.
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23. Jerusalem During The Ministry of Christ
Review this page showing where the temple was.
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24. The Geography of Galilee
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25. The Life of Christ (1) Before Christ After Christ BC—AD Time 2000 BC
Explain this chart.
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