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Israel in the First Century 
a study of the land, the languages, and the people
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Lesson 1 - Introduction - Questions and answers.
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1 - Why undertake such a study?
“One of the keystones of any evangelical hermeneutic today is the grammatical historical approach to the Scriptures.  Scripture must be seen in context.  That context is the linguistic and historical context in which it was written.  For the evangelical, the meaning that the scriptures held for those to whom it was written (or to whom the events happened) is foundational to any interpretation and application of the scriptures today.  For this reason, studies of the backgrounds of early Christianity are essential.  These studies enable the contemporary student to get in touch with the actual world of the Bible and can be a preventative to an anachronistic interpretive framework.” L. Loden, p 29

2 - Discussion starting points: 
– the text contains no superfluous words
– not looking for “secret meanings”, but a deeper understanding
– context, context, context 

3 - How will this be accomplished?
By studying many historical and modern sources, including: The Bible, Talmud, Josephus (complete works), Juvenal (Satires), Suetonius (The Twelve Caesars), and Tacitus (Annales). 

4 - Examples of fruits of a deeper understanding.
A. Alas, Old Lad 
     (click here for mp3 audio) (click here for transcript) 
     Isaac at 37 (Genesis 22:12) and Joshua at 57 (Exodus 33:11), the status of a na'ar

B. Defile Me Not 
     (click here for mp3 audio) (click here for transcript) 
     Law-abiding Priest and Levite vs. the Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37, Numbers 8:5-7, 13-16, 21, Numbers 19:11 
     as well as here, here and also here for more concerning ritual uncleanliness and defilement) 

C. The Unbearable Nearness of Being Far 
     (click here for mp3 audio) (click here for transcript) 
     Prodigal son was never out of his Father’s sight (Luke 15:11-31)

D. Climbing Mount Sycomorus 
     (click here for mp3 audio) (click here for transcript) 
     Zacchaeus risked red, raw rashes with help from friend(s) (Luke 19:1-10)

posted 12 September 2007
 
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