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The Troubled World Into Which Jesus Was Born


  1. Key Topics/Themes
    1. The division of Alexander's empire after his death
    2. The influence of Rome in Palestine

  2. Alexander and His Successors
    1. The conquests of Alexander
    2. The Diadochi: Alexander's successors
      1. The Ptolemies
      2. The Seleucids

  3. Antiochus's Persecution and the Maccabean Revolt
    1. Palestine and the Hellenistic kingdoms
      1. The Seleucids gain control of Palestine from the Ptolemies
      2. The rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-163 B.C.E.)
        1. Forced Hellenization
        2. Outlawing of the traditions of Judaism
        3. Antiochus desecrates the Jerusalem Temple
        4. The martyrdom endured by the Hasidim ("pious ones")
    2. Torah loyalism, martyrdom, and the reward of future life
      1. Torah loyalism and martyrdom in 2 Maccabees
      2. Torah loyalism in the Book of Daniel
    3. The Maccabean Revolt
      1. The defiance of Mattathias
      2. Judas Maccabeus
      3. The Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah)
      4. The Hasmonean dynasty (142-40 B.C.E.)
    4. The domination of Rome
      1. Rome's general Pompey marches on Palestine
    5. The Herod family
      1. The career of Herod the Great (37-4 B.C.E.)
        1. Political expansion
        2. Building projects
    6. Herod's successors
      1. Herod Philip (4 B.C.E.-34 C.E.)
      2. Herod Antipas (4 B.C.E.-39 C.E.)
      3. Herod Archelaus (4 B.C.E.-6 C.E.)
      4. The rule of Roman procurators (prefects) in Judea after 6 C.E.
      5. Herod Agrippa I (41-44 C.E.)
      6. Herod Agrippa II

  4. The Roman Emperors
    1. The Beginnings of Imperial Rule
      1. Augustus (27 B.C.E.-14 C.E.)
      2. Tiberius (14-37 C.E.)
    2. New Testament Attitudes Toward Rome
      1. Negative attitudes toward Rome in the words and deeds of Jesus
      2. Key roles of Roman soldiers in the Gospels' Jesus stories
      3. Accommodating attitudes toward Roman power in Paul's writings
      4. The Book of Revelation: Rome as an evil "harlot"

  5. The Jewish Revolt Against Rome
    1. The First Revolt (66-73 C.E.)
      1. Incited by Jewish nationalists
      2. Crushed by Roman general (and later emperor) Vespasian and his son Titus
      3. Jerusalem and its Temple destroyed (70 C.E.)
      4. Chief historical source: writings of Flavius Josephus
    2. The bar Kochba Revolt (132-135 C.E.)

  6. Summary








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