TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.
APPROVAL PAGE i
DECLARATION ii
CERTIFICATE iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vii

INTRODUCTION 1-4
Statement of Problem
Elaboration of Problem
Purpose of Study
Hypothesis
Scope and Limitation
Previous Research
Method of Research
Sources of Study

CHAPTER ONE
BACKGROUND OF POST EXILIC COMMUNITY 5-19
Introduction
1.1. Historical Background
1.2. Political Setting
1.3. Economic Setting
1.4. Multiple Social Groups
1.5. Various Religious Groups
1.5.1. Local Community
1.5.2. Yahweh Community
1.5.3. Priestly Community
1.6. Critical Issuesof Post Exilic Community
1.6.1. The Law of the Moses
1.6.2. Religio-Cultural Conflicts

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 1.6.3. The Temple Reconstruction
1.7. Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem
1.8. Two Community
1.8.1. Jewish Community in the Post Exilic Period
1.8.2. Yehud Community and People of the Law
1.9. The Reorganization of the Jewish Community under Nehemiah and Ezra
Summary of Findings

CHAPTER TWO
BOOK OF EZRA AND NEHEMIAH: AN OVERVIEW 20-36
Introduction
2.1. Authorship of Ezra and Nehemiah
2.2. Unity with 1st and 2nd Chronicles
2.2.1. The Date of the Chronicler
2.2.2. The Nehemiah Memoirs and their Relation to the Chronicler’s History
2.2.3. The Chronicler’s Narrative of Ezra and Chronological Order.
2.3. Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel
2.3.1. The Return of Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel come to Jerusalem
2.3.2. The Relationship between Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel
2.3.3. The Return to the Land and the Construction of the Temple
2.4. The Law of Moses
2.5. Ownership of the Land of Judah
2.6. Administrative of Status of the State of Judah
2.7. Theology of Ezra and Nehemiah
2.7.1. Theology of Obedience
2.7.2. Theology of Leadership
2.7.3. The List of Sacred Vessels
2.7.4. List of People
2.7.5. Returnees
2.7.6. Genealogical Record
2.7.7. Faithful and Unfaithful Members
2.8. Facts behind the Tension in Ezra and Nehemiah
2.8.1. Prohibition of Intermarriage

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 2.8.2. Women in Ezra 9-10
2.8.3. Identity and Attitude of the Samaritans
2.8.4. Concept of People of Yahweh
Summary of Findings

CHAPTER THREE
THE ROLE OF PEOPLE OF YAHWEH IN EZRA AND NEHEMIAH 37-57
Introduction
3.1. Ezra Narrative
3.1.1. Structural Projects
3.1.1.1. King Cyrus Order
3.1.1.2. Work on the Altar
3.1.1.3. Work on the Temple
3.2. Religious, Social and Cultural Reforms in Ezra
3.2.1. Ezra’s Prayer of Confession
3.2.2. Celebration of the Passover
3.2.3. Marriage Reforms
3.3. Nehemiah Narrative
3.3.1. King Artaxexes Order
3.3.2. The Work of Nehemiah
3.3.3. Nehemiah’s Reform
3.3.4. Nehemiah’s Administration
3.4. Work on the City Wall
3.4.1. The North Wall (3:1-5)
3.4.2. The West Wall (3:6-12)
3.4.3. The South wall (3:13-14)
3.4.4. The East Wall (3:15-31)
3.5. Religious and Social Reforms in Nehemiah
3.5.1. Confession of Sin
3.5.2. Signing an Agreement
3.5.3. The Law of Moses
3.5.4. Sabbath Reforms
3.5.5. Marriage Reforms

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 Summary of Findings

CHAPTER FOUR
IMPLICATIONS TO THE CHURCHES IN ODISHA 58-68
Introduction
4.1. History of Christianity in Odisha
4.2. Activities in the Churches
4.2.1. Unskilled in Administration
4.2.2. Lack of good Relationship
4.2.3. Lack of Unity
4.3. Implication to the Churches in Odisha
4.3.1. Christian Marriage
4.3.2. Abiding Divorce in Odisha
4.3.3. Faithful in God
4.3.4. Work in unity
4.3.5. Worship
4.3.6. Reading the Bible
4.3.7. Prayer
Summary of Findings

CONCLUSION 69-71
BIBLIOGRAPHY xiii-xviii
APPENDIX xix

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