grace

Overview: Knowledge of historical context is crucial to understanding the New Testament. Alexander the Great, in his conquests, spread Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean world. This would shape the structure of city-states, which would share characteristically Greek institutions, such as the gymnasium and the boule . This would also give rise to religious syncretism, that is, the mixing of different religions. The rise of the Romans would continue this trend of universalization of Greek ideals and religious tolerance, as well as implement the social structure of the Roman household. The Pax Romana , and the vast infrastructures of the Roman Empire, would facilitate the rapid spread of Christianity. Reading assignment: Ehrman, Bart D. The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings , pp. 17-35 Introduction to New Testament History and Literature: Lecture 3 Transcript January 16, 2008 << back Professor Dale Martin: Religio...

Overview: The Christian faith is based upon a canon of texts considered to be holy scripture. How did this canon come to be? Different factors, such as competing schools of doctrine, growing consensus, and the invention of the codex, helped shape the canon of the New Testament. Reasons for inclusion in or exclusion from the canon included apostolic authority, general acceptance, and theological appropriateness for "proto-orthodox" Christianity. Reading assignment: Ehrman, Bart D. The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings , pp. 1-16 Introduction to New Testament History and Literature: Lecture 2 Transcript January 14, 2009 << back Professor Dale Martin: What is scripture, and what is canon? These are not necessarily the same thing. When you call something "scripture," what you simply mean is it's some kind of writing that is taken by somebody as holy and authoritative, somehow sacred. Now, differe...