Passage Identification!
“Augustus, whom she has filled with arete for the benefit of humanity, and has in her beneficence granted us and those who will come after us a Savior who has made war to cease and who shall put everything in peaceful order; and whereas Caesar, when he was manifest , transcended the expectations of alI who had anticipated the good news, not only by surpassing the benefits conferred by his predecessors but by leaving no expectation of surpassing him to those who would come after him, with the result that the birthday of our God signaled the beginning of Good News for the world because of him; therefore, with the blessings of Good Fortune and for their own welfare (50) the Greeks in Asia Decreed that the New Year begin for alI the cities on September 23, which is the birthday of Augustus"
- Letter of Paulus Fabius Maximus and the Asian League (9 BCE)
- Fabius Maximus and the Asian counsel agreeing to change their calendar to set Augustus's birthday as the first day of their calendar
- Prime example of Roman elites kissing up to the emperor, promoting imperial ideology, and showing positive acceptance of the Roman rule.
- the use of "good news" (euangelion) here shows how the "gospel" used in the NT is not an original Christian term but a term also common in Roman imperial ideology.
Disputed Letters of Paul
- Refer to the six Pauline letters that are disputed and possibly pseudepigraphical: 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, and Ephesians.
- These letters exhibit different vocabulary and more elaborate rhetoric compared to the undisputed Pauline letters, contributing to doubts about their direct authorship by Paul.
70 CE
Year of the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple which ended the Jewish Revolt. Jerusalem is conquered and the Second Temple destroyed. Significant year as Christianity emerges during this cataclysmic period and multiple parts of the NT, especially the Gospels, reflect upon this event.
ekklēsia
- The root word for "church".
- Its literal translation refers to a deliberative decision-making body or assembly, often carrying democratic connotations.
- In the New Testament, ekklesia does not refer to a church building but rather to a gathering or assembly of Christ-followers.
Pharisees
teachers, interpreters of the law; non-elite setting; artisans, small farmers; almost entirely NOT part of the ruling class; openness to additional teaching or interpretation of Torah; Jesus, especially in the Gospel of Matthew, aligns much closer to the Pharisees, possibly traying to make Jesus look just as good if not better than them.
I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for the long term, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord
- Paul’s Letter to Philemon;
- mentions Onesimus, an enslaved person belonging to Philemon, and urges Philemon to receive him
-the historical reconstruction of Onesimus's identity and the occasion of the letter is a topic of scholarly debate.
- One view suggests that Onesimus was a runaway slave, and Paul is appealing to Philemon to welcome him back as a brother rather than as a mere servant.
- Another perspective posits that during Paul’s imprisonment, he kept Onesimus with him for an extended period, possibly for personal assistance, and is now apologizing as he returns him to Philemon.
Parts of Ancient Letters
prescript
- superscriptio - “from”
- adscriptio - “to”
- salutation - “greeting"
thanksgiving,
body,
ending
Gospel of Thomas
A non-canonial text found in Nag Hammadi;
was circulated, copied, and used in early Christian communities;
consists of saying of Jesus
lacks the narrative part of Jesus's life but includes wisdom sayings
possibly a Gnostic text
ethne
- The Greek term for "nation" or "people".
- In the ancient world, it referred to a group’s collective identity, similar to the modern concept of ethnicity.
- also used to distinguish "the other," sometimes carrying a pejorative connotation to set one's own nation apart.
- In the New Testament, it commonly refers to non-Jews or Gentiles but can also denote ethnic identity more broadly.
Pax Romana
translated as “peace of Rome”, propaganda phrase used during Roman imperial period, emphasizing how Augustus, and the later emperors, are agents of Roman peace and security.
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12
the disciples as so hungry that they eat raw grain, an act condemned by the Pharisees but defended by Jesus.
This passage exemplifies how Matthew uses the Pharisees as a foil to Jesus while simultaneously presenting him as the ultimate Pharisee and interpreter of Scripture.
Jesus's teaching aligns with Mishna Yoma, which prioritizes preserving life over strict religious observance, reflecting a shared rabbinic emphasis on compassion over legalism.
Amanuensis
- Refers to a person who transcribed letters on behalf of an author; a scribe
- In the ancient world, letter writing was often dictated to a trained scribe, who could also play a role in editing or refining the text.
- Several of Paul’s letters contain references to scribes
- The use of an amanuensis implies a multi-person context in letter construction that is co-written and orally performed
Nag Hammadi
a site in Egypt where a significant collection of codices was discovered. The findings included mostly Gnostic treatises, Plato’s Republic, and notable texts like the Gospel of Thomas.
euangelion
- translated as "good news" "good message" or "gospel"
- used in Roman imperial propaganda to express caesar as the bringer of "good news"
- used in the NT as "gospel" and is later understood as a genre (but the exact form of this genre is still an ongoing question; teachings + life of Jesus; bioi; etc.)
Qumran
ascetic community withdrawn from Jerusalem into the Dead Sea because of their dislike otward the Hasmoneans, thinking total cooruption, waited for God’s intervension; does not make it past 70CE;
But Philo, the principal of the Jewish embassage, a man eminent on all accounts, brother to Alexander the Alabarch, (30) and one not unskillful in philosophy, was ready to betake himself to make his defense against those accusations; but Gaius prohibited him, and bid him begone; he was also in such a rage, that it openly appeared he was about to do them some very great mischief. So Philo being thus affronted, went out, and said to those Jews who were about him, that they should be of good courage, since Gaius's words indeed showed anger at them, but in reality had already set God against himself.
Josephus *Antiquities* 18.1
Story about Philo by Josephus
The conflict in Alexandria arose from tensions between Jews and locals, fueled by Apion’s anti-Jewish rhetoric.
This reflects one of the many coping mechanisms and strategies of people living under the empire: education and advocation may not always work and one way to cope is to imagine divine judgment.
Passage Identification:
9 Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, 12 **so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one
1 Thessalonians 4
Paul telling the congregation to not stir up trouble and draw attention. Reflects another coping strategy of living under the empire: keep it low!
Also shows a common fear of neighbors and the possibility of calling the Roman cops on them.
refers to non-Jews (Gentile) who were sympathetic to Judaism and participated in Jewish religious practices. They are mentioned in sources like Acts.
Paideia
Apocalyptic genre
genre of JEwish and their contemporary literature, meaning “unveiling” or “revealing”, a genre characteristic of divine revelation, explanation, messenger, cosmic visionand battle; less about future prophesy but more present reflection and critique of present happenings;
An anonymous document was published containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ--none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do--these I thought should be discharged. Others named by the informer declared that they were Christians, but then denied it, asserting that they had been but had ceased to be, some three years before, others many years, some as much as twenty-five years. They all worshipped your image and the statues of the gods, and cursed Christ.
Pliny-Trajan Correspondence
Pliny is writing to Emperor Trajan of his interrogation of suspected "Christians", detailing the processes of forcing emperor worship and cursing Christ.
A non-Christian evidence from 2nd century of the word "Christian" implying that Pliny and Trajan knew of communities that call themselves Christians.
Also implies how the Christian identity formed under the anxiety and fear of torture.
Passage Identification:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel[a] from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!
10 Am I now seeking human approval or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1
Prescript of Paul's letter to the Galatian assembly, but unlike typical ancient letters, it omits the customary thanksgiving section.
While Paul includes thanksgiving in letters like 1 Thessalonians, here he skips it entirely and immediately launches into sharp criticism of the Galatians for turning to a "different gospel." This omission highlights his urgency and frustration with their situation.
Gospel of the Lots of Mary
A Christian divination book, something like tarot cards, with quotes from the New Testament.
Evidence of "gospel" as a physical object;
"gospel" is not a fixed thing nor a fixed genre
Sōtēr
"savior"
imperial ideology: Caesar as Rome's savior
NT: Jesus the Savior.
Mishnah vs Midrash
Mishnah - oral torah; collection of the teachings of the Torah
Midrash - a way of interpreting scripture; centering on expanding the meaning of the text beyond and beside the text.