Ethics and Religious Studies | Historical background

Your Guide to the Historical Background of Christianity

Hey there! Welcome to your study notes for the "Historical Background" chapter. Think of this as the "Previously on..." recap before starting a new season of an epic TV show. To really understand the story of Jesus and the beginning of Christianity, we first need to understand the world he was born into. It’s a story full of drama, promises, and big ideas that shaped everything that came next.

In this chapter, we'll travel back in time to explore the history, beliefs, and political situation of the Jewish people. It might sound like a lot, but don't worry! We'll break it all down into simple, easy-to-understand parts. Let's get started!

Section 1: The Story of Israel - Faith in the Old Testament

This is the essential backstory. It's the journey of the Israelites (the Jewish people) and their special relationship with God, as told in the Old Testament.

The Passover: A Great Escape!

Imagine being forced to work as a slave for someone powerful. That was the situation for the Israelites in Egypt. The Passover is the incredible story of how God rescued them.

• The Problem: The Israelites were slaves to the Egyptian Pharaoh.
• God's Action: God acted to save and liberate (free) his people. He sent ten plagues to convince the Pharaoh to let them go. The final plague was the most serious.
• The Escape Plan: God told the Israelites to mark their doors with the blood of a lamb. When God's judgment "passed over" Egypt, he would see the mark and spare the families inside.
• The Result: The Pharaoh's own son was affected, and he finally freed the Israelites. The Passover is a powerful symbol of God's salvation (saving people) and judgment.

Analogy: Think of the Passover as a divine rescue mission. God is the hero who breaks his people out of prison.

The Sinai Covenant: Making a Deal with God

After escaping Egypt, God made a special agreement with the Israelites at a place called Mount Sinai. This agreement is called a covenant.

A covenant isn't just a simple promise; it's a super serious, formal agreement between two parties. Think of it like a treaty between nations or a legal contract.

• God's Invitation: At Mount Sinai, God invited the Israelites to become His "chosen people".
• Their Role: Their job was to be a nation of priests, representing God to the rest of the world.
• The Terms: The most famous part of this covenant is the Ten Commandments, which are the rules for how to live in a right relationship with God and with each other.

The Exile: Hitting Rock Bottom

So, God rescued his people and made a covenant with them. But what happened? Over hundreds of years, the people repeatedly broke the covenant.

• The Reasons for Failure: The two main problems were:
  1. Idolatry: Worshipping other gods or objects instead of the one true God.
  2. Social Injustice: The rich and powerful were treating the poor and weak unfairly.
• The Consequence: As a punishment for breaking the covenant, God allowed foreign enemies to conquer them. The worst moment was when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the holy Temple in 586 B.C. and took the people away to live in exile in Babylon.

Analogy: The Exile was like being kicked out of your home for repeatedly breaking the most important family rules. It was a time of national crisis and deep sadness.

A New Hope: The Promise of a New Covenant

Even during the dark time of the Exile, God didn't give up on his people. He promised a fresh start through a New Covenant.

• Why it was needed: The old covenant was broken by the people. It was written on stone tablets, but it hadn't changed their hearts.
• God's Promise: God promised a new and better covenant that would bring true change from the inside out. It would bring:
  - Purification and forgiveness of sins.
  - A new heart and a new mind, so people would actually want to obey God.
  - A closer, more personal relationship with God.

This promise gave the people hope that their relationship with God could be restored and made even better than before.

Waiting for a Hero: The Messianic Hope

Connected to the promise of a New Covenant was the hope for a special leader sent by God. This figure is called the Messiah (which means "anointed one" or "chosen one").

• Who would he be? The Jewish people hoped the Messiah would be a great king from the family line of their greatest king, David.
• What would he do? They believed he would be empowered by God's Spirit to save Israel from its enemies and rule with justice and peace.

When Jesus was born, many people were eagerly waiting and watching for this Messiah to finally arrive.

Key Takeaway for Section 1

The Old Testament tells a story of God rescuing his people (Passover), making a covenant with them (Sinai), the people breaking that covenant (leading to Exile), and God promising a new start (New Covenant) and a Messiah.

Section 2: Israel's Identity - Covenants and Being "Chosen"

Let's look closer at two big ideas that define who the people of Israel are: being "chosen" and the "covenant".

What does it mean to be "Chosen"?

The idea of being God's "chosen people" (also called election) can be confusing. It's important to understand what it does and doesn't mean.

• It DOES NOT mean the Israelites were better, more powerful, or more special than other nations.
• It DOES mean that God picked them for a specific purpose and mission: to be his representatives on Earth and to be a blessing to all other nations. They had special rights (like God's protection) but also special duties (like obeying His laws).

Analogy: Think about being chosen for the school's debate team. You're not chosen because you're a better person than everyone else, but because you've been given a special role to represent the school. It comes with both privileges and responsibilities.

God's Covenants: The Special Promises

The relationship between God and Israel was built on several key covenants. The most important thing to remember is that God always takes the initiative to set them up. The people's job is to obey.

Quick Review: Key Covenants

1. The Abrahamic Covenant:
- Who: God and Abraham (the "father" of the Jewish people).
- Promise: God promised Abraham many descendants, a special land, and that through him, all the world would be blessed.
- Sign: Circumcision became the physical sign of this covenant for all males.

2. The Mosaic Covenant (at Sinai):
- Who: God and the nation of Israel, through their leader Moses.
- Promise: God would be their God and protect them, and they would be his "chosen people".
- Condition: They had to obey God's Law (the Ten Commandments and others).

3. The Davidic Covenant:
- Who: God and King David.
- Promise: God promised that a descendant of David would always be on the throne, and his kingdom would last forever.
- Connection: This is why the Jews expected the Messiah to be from David's family line!

Key Takeaway for Section 2

Israel's identity is shaped by being chosen by God for a special mission and living in a relationship with Him defined by a series of covenants (special agreements), especially with Abraham, Moses, and David.

Section 3: Setting the Scene - Palestine in the First Century A.D.

Now, let's zoom in to the exact time and place where Jesus lived. It was a tense and complicated world.

Who's in Charge? Roman Occupation

In the first century, Palestine (the land of the Jews) was controlled by the powerful Roman Empire. The Jews were not free. This created a lot of tension.

• The Roman Boss: The main Roman leader in the region was the Procurator (or governor). A famous one was Pontius Pilate. He had the real military and political power.
• The Local "King": The Romans allowed local rulers to manage daily affairs. The most famous was King Herod. He was known for being cruel and for his ambitious building projects (like renovating the Temple). He was a "puppet king" who ultimately answered to Rome.

The Different Groups: Who's Who in Jewish Society?

Jewish society wasn't united. There were many different groups with different ideas about how to live under Roman rule and how to follow God. It's super important to know these groups!

Memory Aid: "Some People Hate Zealous Essenes" (SPHZE)

- Sadducees: The wealthy and powerful priests who controlled the Temple. They were politically cooperative with the Romans to keep their power. They only accepted the first five books of the Bible and did not believe in resurrection or angels.
(Simple trick: They are "sad, you see" because they don't believe in the afterlife!)

- Pharisees: The religious experts who were popular with the common people. They were very strict about following every detail of God's Law and their own traditions. They believed in resurrection, angels, and the afterlife. Jesus often debated with them.
(Simple trick: They were "fussy" about the rules.)

- Herodians: A political group, not a religious one. They were supporters of King Herod and his family, which meant they also supported Roman rule.
(Simple trick: They were on Team Herod.)

- Zealots: The revolutionaries! They hated Roman rule and believed in using violence to kick the Romans out and achieve independence for Israel.
(Simple trick: They were "zealous" or passionate about fighting.)

- Essenes: A super-strict group that believed the Temple and mainstream society were corrupt. They often withdrew to live in remote communities, like monks in the desert, focusing on purity and waiting for God's final judgment.
(Simple trick: They "escaped" from society.)

- Sanhedrin: This was the supreme Jewish council and court in Jerusalem. It was made up of 71 members, including both Sadducees and Pharisees. It was the highest Jewish authority on civil and religious matters.

A Devastating Event: The Destruction of the Temple (A.D. 70)

This event happens after Jesus's life, but it's a crucial part of the historical background. The Jewish people, led by the Zealots, finally revolted against Rome in A.D. 66. The Romans fought back hard.

• What happened: In A.D. 70, the Roman army captured Jerusalem and completely destroyed the Second Temple.
• The Consequence: This was a catastrophe for the Jewish people. The Temple was the center of their worship and their national identity. Its destruction changed Judaism forever.

Did you know? The Western Wall (or Wailing Wall) in Jerusalem today is a remaining part of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount, which is why it is the most sacred site in Judaism.

Key Takeaway for Section 3

Jesus lived in a land occupied by Rome, with a complex society full of competing groups (Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, etc.). This political and religious tension is the backdrop for everything in the New Testament.

Great job! You now have the essential "backstory" needed to understand the life and teachings of Jesus. You can see how ideas like the covenant, the hope for a Messiah, and the tension with Rome all create the perfect stage for one of history's most important stories to unfold.