1	The Acts of the Apostles Session 1 – Introduction to Ancient Cultures and Literature
2	Documents in Antiquity Prior to printing press Gutenberg – 1450 ce Manuscripts – claims of 600 ce New Testament 27 separate historical works Historical documents NT is comprised of historical documents written in Greek
3	Language Greek critical to understanding Significantly different than English (or other Germanic and Romance languages) Simple language Sparse number of words compared to modern languages Many words describe complex concepts Modern languages tend to use modifiers to differentiate Singular meanings – words of the day Geometric logic
4	Greek words for say/said λέγο - lego ρήμα - rema φημι - phemi λαλώ - lalo επω - epo ερω - eiro προεπον - proepon αντεπον - antipon
5	Greek Language Words and phrases are very specific Example: 8 words for say and said logos - words spoken with logic (truth) to lay out an argument in words (logic) l. “logical words” rhema - flow of words forming a narration, command, or dispute, l. “words poured out” phemi - speak one’s thoughts (opinions), l. “illuminating words” laleo - words forming extended or random harangue epo - words spoken in past, l. “words of the past” eiro - 1st aorist passive, "it was said," proeipon - "to say before" said before, foretell anteipon - "to say against“
6	Literacy and Language These words come out of the nature of early literate culture Early literate/non-literate words always begin with concrete nouns and verbs Move to more abstract terms and meanings Early literate societies can directly trace concrete words to abstractions Post literate vocabulary can be completely separated from the early meaning of the words Non literate societies don’t have abstract terms or concepts
7	Forming the Abstract English example Independence In and dependence – not dependent Dependent De and pendent Pendent is pendaunt ME hanging over hanging Pendant De is down from, off, concerning Meaning hanger-on
8	Language and Culture How important was communication to the Greeks? 8 words that mean the transmission of ideas through words – communication All 8 mean spoken communication, but can imply to a degree written communication—there are other words that specifically mean written communication—graphe Implication is that the quality (category) of the words/communication don’t change when they are written down
9	Greek Words for Say and Said Each meaning and each word is specific logos – logical words - truth rhema – poured out words - story phemi – illuminating words – opinion laleo – unconnected words – small talk epo – past words – things previously said eiro – declaratory words - pronouncements proeipon – foretelling words - prophecy anteipon – opposite words - disagreement
10	Concrete Focus Note the clarity of the definitions and how they identify the value and importance of the speech—each form is found in the NT works Note that the meanings come out of concrete terms and other words Tellos Parabola Hyperbola Pythagorean Theorem
11	Tellos
12	Parabola
13	Hyperbola
14	Pythagorean Theorem
15	Manuscripts
16	Ancient Literature Similar to other ancient manuscripts – grammar is key Mnemonics Has vowels No punctuation No sentences No paragraphs No spaces between words No verses No chapters
17	Literary Form is Critical Focus is logical argument English Intro Body Conclusion Hebrew - parallelism Synopsis Body Greek – logical argument to a tellos Body Use of language is a direct result of culture
18	Ancient Cultures Culture is critical What was the culture? Established oriental monarchy All seven simple machines in use Domestication of animals and plants Established agrarian Established literacy Slavery based Position of women, children Protection Protected Isolated
19	Culture: Numbers What about numbers? Fingers and toes Numerals Greek and Roman numbers 40 days and 40 nights—a long time, euphemism in Hebrew—beyond the numbers commonly available in Hebrew (the number of fingers and toes on two people) 70 times 7—eternity Greek euphemism—cannot accomplish math easily without Arabic base 10 numerals and null (zero)
20	Culture: Time How did people tell time? Sun Concept of a year and day was illusive—Egyptians Sundial—1300 bce 10 hours of daylight 2 hours of twilight 12 hours of night Hours/minutes/seconds from—Babylonians Base 60 (Why?) 300 bce Supported temple sacrifices--Zosternism Past the OT period
21	Culture: Time Concept of time in the NT difficult Hebrews Greeks Romans Each had a different way of measuring the day Water clock in the temple
22	Culture: Fire & Sacrifice What about fire? Belonged to God Kindled in the temple/distributed to the people Leviticus 10:1-2—illicit fire before God (Nadav and Avihu) Greek example – Olympic flame What about sacrifice? Will explore this in depth later Taking the life of anything was viewed as taking from the province of God or gods Meat was unavailable without sacrifice – pagan Hebrews first non-stone age culture to separate butchering from sacrifice
23	Culture: Law What about Laws? Hebrew law - God’s Law - Torah Roman law Means to protect women, children, aged, handicapped requires strength and organization Roman law the freest for women in history Concept of “rule of law” in development
24	Culture: Religion What about religion? The world is a fearful and dangerous place No understanding of how things work—action of spirits Gods are in everything Paganism Pagan man sees spiritual action and forces in all things—therefore these spirits must be placated—back to the concept of sacrifice Slight inking of monotheism—Hebrews almost only monotheists
25	Culture: Thinking How did people think? Greek Rationalism – scientific & legal-historical method Geometric based Roman – Hellenized rationalism with law Hebrew – Torah Law with Rabbinic focus Our thinking about human culture of the past must wrap around the concept of ignorance and not lack of intelligence or wisdom Humans were motivated similarly to those today Thinking and concepts of logic in development
26	Geography is Critical What is the climate of the Middle East? Changed radically over time Much due to human action Cedars of Lebanon—no more Spain and Greece were denuded of wood for building fleets Warfare Water depletion - Herodotus writes of Xeres’ army depleting rivers Population—inheritance
27	History is Critical 400 bce to 0 ce Greeks City-state – each with a different political system Athens only democracy Constant war with each other and with outside enemies Greeks - not generally defeated or subjugated
28	History is Critical Most important invention in thinking “Greek philosophy” Not separate from theology Direct separation from Paganism Direct separation from pagan way of thinking Key date 399 bce – death of Socrates Alexander - ushered in a new era in politics 336 bce takes kingship of Macedonia 323 bce dies in Babylon of illness City-states under outside dominion
29	History is Critical Alexander Alexander sparked the imagination of so many cultures his empire became model for the world City-states modeled themselves after Greeks (Hellenism) Adopted Greek language Greek culture Greek philosophy Greek science (same as philosophy) Greek religion
30	History is Critical Alexander Greek religion Paganism Temples Oracles Mystery religion Generals Seleucus - Asia (Persia), Seleucid empire Ptolemy - Egypt Antigonus - Macedon
31	History is Critical Socrates Ushered in a critical change in thinking Death was the turning point of the Greek culture in moving from Paganism to Mysticism Difference in Socrates and the other Greek philosophers is they did not focus their knowledge in religion Step toward Mystery religion
32	History is Critical Mystery religion (Greek) Focus on a leader Revelation of a mystery Initiation rites Steps of knowledge to the full revelation Example: Pythagorean Leads directly to Gnosticism – next step in religion Separation from a physical revelation
33	History is Critical Socrates Greatest addition was not mystery religion, but a look at the world from a position of rationalism Peshat vs. Derash Concept of the world as rational Legal-historical-legal method (Herodotus 484–424 bce) Scientific method (Aristotle 384-322 bce) Greek rational thought – Greek rationalism
34	History is Critical Romans 509 bce Republic established City-States with Rome as a part Not a world power until 200 bce 1st Punic war 264-241 bce defeats Carthage 2nd Punic war 218-201 bce defeats Hannibal Defeats Macedon 197 bce Defeats Syria 190 bce 3rd Punic war 149-146 bce Carthage raised 49 bce Caesar crosses the Rubicon – beginning of the end of the Roman republic
35	History is Critical 200 bce to 0 ce Following Alexander’s death Seleucid empire - Seleucus Controlled the Levant back and forth with Greek Egypt at this time Seleucid empire was in control Goal was Hellenization
36	History is Critical 175 bce Jason high priest – political controlling influence Antiochus IV head of the Seleucid empire Jason was open to Hellenization: built gymnasiums, encouraged priests to go to the sporting events Jason rebelled against Antiochus IV and Antiochus sent in troops
37	History is Critical Antiochus began a heavy program of Hellenization of the Jews Defiled the temple with swine Did not allow circumcision Prevented temple worship Built an alter to Zeus in the Temple– abomination of desolation (interpreted by the Rabbis) Precipitated Maccabean revolt, 167 bce
38	History is Critical The Maccabean revolt Started by Mattathias (priest) and his sons Beginning of the Hasmoneans Successful because Romans eating away at Seleucid empire
39	History is Critical Simon proclaimed by people to be their leader and high priest Significant because (according to Josephus) Simon was not of the line of Aaron and not entitled to be high priest Simon and prior to him, his brother Jonathan were proclaimed both high priest and king of Israel Line of Hasmoneans through Simon
40	History is Critical Proclamation of Simon as king and high priest caused a split into Jewish sects Essenes Pharisees Sadducees Zealots
41	History is Critical Essenes Jewish tradition: may have been started by the ex-high priest prior to Jonathan Strictly interpreted Law rejected many elements of Jewish “tradition” Separated from sacrificial Law Resurrection of dead Reward and punishment after life
42	History is Critical Pharisees Like Essesens disagreed with Hasmodeans as high priest and king Oral Torah along with the Torah Advocated greater leniency in punishments Believed in resurrection Believed in eternal punishment for wicked Supported by the people Paul (Saul) was a Pharisee
43	History is Critical Sadducees Held only Torah as basis for Law No resurrection No punishment after death Generally controlled Temple and high priest
44	History is Critical Zealots 6 ce founded by Judas of Galilee Basically Pharisees with an extremist bent Violently opposed the Romans and Hellenization
45	Why study Acts? Question will answer with this class Cultural framework of the early church Incorporates logos and tellos <argument and goal (message) of early church> First interactions of Christianity with cultures other than Hebrew/Hellenistic Basis of future interaction of Church Origin of the concept of Church
46	Conclusion Understanding the Acts allows us to understand the basis of original Christian culture Ancient cultures are different Modern cultures are different Understanding the culture is the beginning of historical and literary understanding
47	Next Time Historical-legal evaluation of the Acts Historical validity and veracity How it came to us How it was viewed in history