CHRISTOLOGY AND ITS APPROACHES
" The whole story of the Bible is
OUTLINE
I. Political, Social, & Economic Settings
II. Political Setting at the time before Jesus
III. Political Powers that Ruled Palestine
IV. Post-Exilic Palestine
V. Greek Domination
VI. Roman Empire and Palestine
VII.Herod the Great
VIII. Roman Rule
IX. Fall of Jerusalem
X. Social Strata of the 1St Century
XI. Economic Life of the 1St Century Palestine
POLITICAL, SOCIAL, & ECONOMIC SETTINGS
 Jesus of Nazareth was a product of his Jewish roots and
history.
 To study Jesus requires a brief background of the political,
social and economic settings of Palestine.
- Highlighting the historical events, significant persons
and groups, and the way of life that may have
influenced, directly or indirectly, the person and life
of Jesus
The Exile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSua9_WhQFE
Show transcript from video:
 There is something about being home, where everything
is just right. We are surrounded by people we love and
trust. There's a feeling of stability and safety. While some
people get to experience this kind of home, many do not.
Others might even be forced to leave their home and go
live in a foreign land. We call this "going into exile". Yeah,
in exile, everything is disoriented. You are in the unknown.
 In the story of the Bible, this is where the ancient
Israelites found themselves, conquered by Babylon; living
in exile far from their homeland. So they had to ask
themselves, "How did we end up here?" and "Is there any
BOSQUE, DOBLI, LASALA, LATIP, LUMSOD, REYES, ROMA, SANTILLAN, YU
hope of going home?
designed to address those very questions. The whole
story? Really? Yeah, go back to the first pages of the
Bible.
 Where does humanity live? Okay, they live in this really
sweet garden, their home. They are there on one
condition: that they trust and follow God's one command.
They don't. So the consequence is banishment from the
garden. Ah, they are sent into exile. Exactly. So, this story
has been designed to set you up for Israel's story, how
they were given the gift of the promised land and were
able to stay there on one condition: that they be faithful to
the terms of their covenant relationship with God. They
didn't and they were sent into exile. If you still don't see
the parallel between exile from the garden and exile from
Israel think about this.
 In Genesis, humanity's exile led up to the story about the
building of what city? Oh yeah, Babel. The same place
the Israelites are sent. But that is not the end of either
story. In the first Babylon, God called Abraham to leave
and travel to the promised land. That story was designed
to give hope to the Israelites currently living in the later
Babylon. Eventually, they do get to leave and travel back
to their promised homeland. When they did, it wasn't
"home, sweet home". Oppressive empires were still ruling
over them and the people kept acting in the same corrupt
ways as their ancestors. So the biblical prophets said that
exile wasn't actually over. How could they think they were
still in exile when they are at home? Yeah, this is really
important.
 In the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel's Babylonian exile
became an image of something more universal. It is that
feeling of alienation and longing for something more, no
matter where you live. Yeah, I can relate to this. I have a
great home, but it's situated in a world scarred with pain
and broken relationships, death, tragedy done by others,
but also done by me. In the Bible, exile is the human
condition. We all keep repeating this pattern of human
corruption leading to a Babylon that we can't escape. It
doesn't matter where you live. We are all longing for a
better home. Israel's scriptures held out hope that one
day God would send a king who would rescue the world
from all of the Babylons we have created.
 After many generations pass, we meet this Israelite
named Jesus of Nazareth. He wandered about with no
home, announcing the great restoration, that reality of
home that Israel and all humanity has been looking for.
Yeah, Jesus really cared about people who didn't have
homes. He welcomed in the stranger. He said God's love
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 is shown when you invite in the outcast and throw parties
for people who don't have a place to belong. Jesus also
claimed that Israel and all humanity had lost its way, that
our self-centeredness drives us to create false homes
based on status and power.
 These inevitably exclude others. We live in an exile of our
own making. But Jesus said the true way home is one of
weakness, of service, and of forgiveness. Then Jesus
went into exile alongside us to show us the true way
home. Which is...? Well, Jesus said he is the way.
 His life and self giving love proved more powerful than
humanity's failure. He opened up a pathway to our real
home. As Jesus' followers committed themselves to him,
they discovered this new way of being human. They
believed that the real return from exile had begun. So
they would call themselves sojourners or wanderers. Oh,
right, they would say things like, "The world isn't our
home," and, "We are citizens of heaven." So Jesus'
followers remain exiles as they wait for that day when
Jesus returns to transform this world into a true home.
The Way of Exile:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzWpa0gcPyo
Show transcript from video:
● In the year 587 BC, the city of Jerusalem was
attacked by the Babylonian empire. A year later the
city and the temple were plundered and burned.
Thousands of Israelites were taken from their homes
and relocated all over ancient Babylon. They became
exiles. So now, they are a minority, surrounded by a
new culture with new gods. Some Israelites chose to
resist Babylon by revolting or withdrawing. Others
gave in, adopting the Babylonian way of life and
accepting these new gods as their own. You might
think those are your only two options. But the prophet
Jeremiah told them to do something totally different
and surprising: to settle in, build houses, plant
gardens, grow families and most surprisingly, to seek
the well-being of Babylon and pray to the Lord on its
behalf.
● So, this is like a third way. Yeah, it is not compromise
or revolt. What does it look like? There is a whole
book of the Bible that explores that question. It is the
story of Daniel.
● Daniel was one of the Israelites taken into the
Babylonian exile. Because Daniel had a royal heritage
and education, he was recruited along with some
friends to work in the high court of Babylon. Work for
the enemy? That would be a compromise. Or, they
could gain the king's trust and take him down from the
inside. That is what you might expect.
● Instead they take Jeremiah's advice and choose the
third way. They serve the king of Babylon, taking on
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babylonian names and even clothing styles. So, they
seek Babylon's well-being... But, by doing so, aren't
they just giving up their heritage? It could seem that
way, but actually they are not.
● As you read on, the story focuses on moments where
they draw the line. They choose faithfulness to their
God and resist the influence of Babylon. So, for
example? Like when they are commanded to bow
down to the idol of Babylon, and give allegiance to the
king as if he is a god. Wow, they won't go that far.
● This is where you see their true loyalty. It requires
them to critique Babylon's idolatry of power, its
arrogance, its injustice. But, they do it non-violently by
laying down their lives. So God vindicates Daniel and
his friends for their faithfulness. So, they would serve
Babylon, seek its well-being, but their loyalty was
always to God. Yeah! This is what Jeremiah was
envisioning. The way of exile is a combination of
loyalty and also subversion. So, they are still exiles.
● But, don't Daniel and his friends long to go home?
Yes. In fact, Daniel believed that God was going to
send a ruler to bring down Babylon and create a true
kingdom of peace. Wow! When did he think this ruler
would come? Well, at first he thought within his
lifetime. But, then he had a dream where he found out
that after Babylon would come another oppressive
empire. Then another... then another. So, Babylon did
fall. And Israel did get to go back home.
● But, now they are ruled by Babylon's successors. So
they maintained the mindset of an exile, waiting for
their true home to come to them. They continued the
same practice of loyalty and subversion to any new
versions of Babylon that came along. This leads us to
the time of Jesus.
● The empire of his day was Rome, ruled by Caesar.
Some Israelites wanted to resist, while others gave in
and adopted Roman culture and its gods. But, watch
Jesus carry on the subversive loyalty of Daniel. Like,
when he said: "It is fine to pay taxes to Caesar. Give
him back his coins." But, then he said, "Do not
mistake Caesar for God! God is the one who
deserves your total life and allegiance". So, the way of
Jesus is the same mix of loyalty and subversion.
Yeah!
● He taught his followers to love and even bless their
enemies. But he also got arrested for speaking out
against the corrupt leaders of Jerusalem and Rome.
He critiqued their idolatry of power and it cost him his
life. But, God vindicated him by raising him from the
dead as the true King of the nations. The King that
Daniel had hoped for.
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 ● And, Jesus promised that one day, his kingdom would
prevail. So, until then his followers are living in a type
of exile. This is why the apostle Peter calls followers
of Jesus "foreigners" and "exiles". He told them to
respect the authorities of whatever place you happen
to live, to honor and love all people.
● But then he reminds them that this is not their true
home. They are still living in Babylon. But, well, they
are not living in Babylon. Babylon does not exist
anymore! Or, does it?
● In the Bible, Babylon has become a symbol that
describes any human institution that demands
allegiance to its idolatrous redefinitions of good and
evil. Okay, so we all live and work in Babylon. How do
I seek the well-being of Babylon while my allegiance
is to someone greater? Yes, Jesus' followers are
called to live in that tension between loyalty and
subversion. That is the "Way of the Exile".
POLITICAL SETTING
AT THE TIME BEFORE JESUS
What was Palestine look like prior to the birth of Jesus?
1. Post-exilic Palestine
- The return of the Diaspora Jews
- What do we mean by home, especially in the
context of the Old Testament, and the
different stories of the Israelites regarding
the invasion and the foreigners wanting to
conquer their lands.
2. Greek Domination
- Conquest of Alexander the Great
- The legacy coming from Alexander the Great.
POLITICAL POWERS THAT RULED PALESTINE
(prior to the fall of Jerusalem)
● GREEK DOMINATION
● HASMONEANS
● HEROD AND SONS
● ROMAN RULE
POST-EXILIC PALESTINE
(The return of the Dispora Jews)
Political Powers that Ruled Palestine prior to the fall of
Jerusalem:
1. Greek Domination
2. Hasmoneans
3. Herod and Sons
4. Roman Rule
 When diaspora Jews returned to Judah, the people of
Israel, after learning the hard lessons from their infidelity
and disobedience to God, resolved to keep their identity
BOSQUE, DOBLI, LASALA, LATIP, LUMSOD, REYES, ROMA, SANTILLAN, YU
by observing the commandments, and avoiding
contamination from any foreign and pagan worship.
GREEK DOMINATION
(Conquest of Alexander the Great)
What was Palestine look like prior to the birth of Jesus?
- But their collective resolution to solidify their religious
identity was bound to be challenged. The Greeks at
the reign of the young conqueror Alexander the Great
advanced to the Near East invaded lands, subjected
its territories to Greek rule, and spread Greek culture
on the entire Mediterranean world.
- Greek domination happened because of the
leadership of Alexander the great
- Alexander the Great − he is one of the great
conquerors.
- Palestinians were the one being ruled by Greeks.
- If there are invasions tho who invade the land has
also brought their cultures, and practices and one of
these are their philosophy
Hellenistic Influence
1. ANCIENT GREEK THINKERS
- In the history of thought, the Greeks were known for
their intellectual giants like Socrates, Plato and
Aristotle. They are dedicated in finding universal truth.
- Socrates
- Plato contributed the allegory of the cave
- Aristotle - became one of the tutors of Alexander the
great (Philosophers)
2. UNIVERSAL INFLUENCE
- The Greeks left the Romans and Jews a system of
“Polis” or an alternative political system and Latin
language.
- There is an established structure (ex. The people are
called citizens, procurator - those who are influential
to the society, some have the position to become the
local tax collector)
- Latin was spread by Alexander the Great (considered
as a dead language)
- Most words in English are coming from “latin”
- People as citizens
- Some are local tax collectors
- Plato: The allegory of the cave
- Aristotle was one of the teachers of Alexander the
great
- Greeks have brought Latin language and spread by
Alexander the Great, Pope and people use Latin.
3. GREEK RELIGION
- The Greeks worship a variety of Gods (polytheism) −
such as Zeus, Hera, Hermes and Poseidon. Such
religious tradition ran into conflict with the Jewish
people’s core monotheistic belief of their God, YHWH.
- Monotheistic means they only believe in one God.
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4. GREEK CONQUEST
- After Alexander the great’s death, his empire was
divided into various territories among his leading
generals. The Seleucids rule Syria known as Syrian
Greeks.
- They are disrespectful of the Jewish identity and
worship the Syrian Greeks sacked Jerusalem and
desecrated their beloved Temple.
- During that time, the Israelites were invaded and
offended. They have faith as the Syrian Greeks do not
respect their belief and the way they worship their
God.
- This is because the Greeks have already established
and built their monuments of their gods and
goddesses.
5. TEMPLE DESECRATION
- They even went so far as to build the Greek god Zeus
in the holy of holies, the most sacred part of the
Temple
- Others have altars as their blessed sacrament that is
being stored.
- Greeks established monuments of their gods and
goddesses.
6. MACCABEAN REVOLT
- Offended and insulted beyond words because of the
Greek’s desecration, the Jewsih people collectively
responded in the revolt against the Greeks, a war
remembered in history as the Maccabean Revolt
- Named after its courageous Jewish leader, Judas
Maccabeus and recalled in the Book of Maccabees).
- History favored the Jews, and enabled them to
redeem the temple, their pride and independence.
- Because of their experiences, they revolted against
the Greeks
- This revolt was successful which was lead by Judas
Maccabeus
- (Name after its courageous Jewish leader, Judas,
Maccabees, and recalled in the Book of Maccabees.
- The experience of the Jews about their successful
story about the revolt was short lived because the
Romans entered in the scene.
ROMAN EMPIRE AND PALESTINE
 But the long awaited independence from the Greek rule
which the Jews regained after the Maccabean revolt
became a short-lived freedom.
 The Romans entered into the scene to settle a rivalry with
the Hasmonean.
Palestine under Roman Rule
- Led by Pompey, the great military rival of Julius
Caesar, Roman legions arrived in Palestine as
ostensible peacemakers, invited to settle a dynastic
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dispute between two brothers contending for the
Hasmonean throne.
- John Hycarnus II appealed to Rome for help in
ousting his younger sibling Aristobulus II, who have
made himself both priest and king.
- After overthrowing Aristobulus, Pompey installed John
Hycarnus II as high priest and ethnarch (provincial
governor) over a Jewish state.
- Due to this compromise made by Hycarnus II,
Palestine from that time on, made itself a mere
subject, and territory of the mighty Roman Empire.
- That is the beginning why the Romans are part of the
lives of the chosen people of God.
HEROD THE GREAT
Herod Rose to Power in Palestine
- Appointed by Rome and took the throne after John
Hycarnus’ death. Herod is an Idumean and this had
displeased the Jews. for them, Herod the Great is a
foreigner. Since he came from the land of Idumean.
- For them, an Idumean is unworthy to rule due to
negative past historical perception (Idumeans whos
resorted to pagan, worship in the past, thus, they
were labeled as ritually unclean and unfaithful people.
- The Jews have also biases with King Herod and they
look at him as unclean and unfaithful.
- Herod the Great is part of the gospels especially
during the Christmas Season where Herod the Great
commanded his soldiers to kill all newly born sons,
foreigners from Idumea where people practice pagan
worship.
Temple Restoration by Herod
- Herod has no choice but to win the favor and
acceptance of his people (the Jews). He attempted to
appease the Jewish rejection by forging an apparent
stability of peace.
- And by offering the Jews a magnificent structure. The
restoration of the great temple of Solomon.
Massacre of the Innocents
- But his greed for power and cruelty became more
evident. Whenever a group of people becomes a
threat to his throne Herod had them under suspicion
or worse executed (Matthew 2:16-18).
- Herod’s leadership is stained with regards to the
massacre of the innocents.
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 - Holy family (Joseph, Mary and Jesus) escaped this
massacre of innocents.
Herod the Great and his Sons
Herod the Great
 Ruled over Palestine, taking the throne after John
Hyacarnus II’s death.
 After his death, he had his three sons taking over his
throne.
 All his territories were divided by his sons.
1. Herod Archelaus
 He ruled the territories of Judea, Idumea, and Samaria.
2. Herod Philip
 The one who ruled Caesarea Philippi (North of Galilee)
and Bethsaida Julias (End of Galilee).
3. Herod Antipas
 He governed the central Galilee and Perea.
The sons of Herold the Great failed the Expectation of the
Romans
- Archelaus was known to be cruel like his father, had
his enemies executed. This caused widespread
resistance among the people. He was later deposed
by the Roman Emperor Augustus.
- At this point, Rome took the lead in ruling and
governing Palestine. A Prefect or Procurator was
appointed by Rome. At the time of Jesus, Pontius
Pilate was the Roman Procurator
- Pontius Pilate as a procurator
- Incharge of taxes
ROMAN RULE
- According to Historians, the Roman rule in Palestine
represented by Pontius Pilate has command of
auxiliary military units, full powers of criminal and civil
jurisdiction, and charge of the collection of imperial
taxes.
- Another is the Sachedrin which is the Highest Jewish
Council. The publicans as local tax collectors and
Levites as Temple tax collectors.
The Zeal of the Zealots
- Rome was naturally suspicious of a leader or group
who might start an uprising. In fact, Romans captured,
hanged, crucified and executed hundreds of Zealots.
- Rome was naturally suspicious during that time that
who might start appraising or there will be another
revolt.
- Zealots are also called the Jewish Freedom Fighters
- Fed up with foreign domination, insulted by pagan
Roman worship, and driven by the thirst for
independence, the Jewish people spearheaded by the
Zealots, revolted against Rome. They are also called
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as “Daggers” (because they used daggers in
attacking the Roman soldiers) and made their last
stand in the fortress of Masada (their strategic
location which is a part of the mountain where they
can easily watch and monitor if ever they were
attacked by the Roman soldiers).
FALL OF JERUSALEM (70 AD)
- The revolt only lasted 4 years.
- Rome was Rome. Its military power proved to be
superior against the band of Zealot nationalists.
Hundreds of Zealots were captured and crucified
reinforcing the brutal end of the Jewish rebellion.
- Zealots do not want to be captured alive.
- Knowing that Romans would certainly defeat them,
Zealots eventually committed mass suicide as their
blatant way of condemning, and refusing Roman rule
in Palestine—even to their last breath.
SOCIAL STRATA OF THE 1ST CENTURY PALESTINE
Rich Upper Class (The Privilege Few)
1. The Roman Procurator
 Had all the civil and criminal power at his discretion.
 Elite people.
2. Herod and His Family
 Amassed power and wealth from their subjects.
 They have all the treasures, not only coins/money but
also the influence and power.
 Herod and his family had all the treasures and powers.
3. Ruling Sanhedrin
 Took part in the sharing of power and influence.
 Religious aspect of the Jews.
 The story of Zaccheus - one of the famous tax
collector
Marginalized Lower Class (The Suffering Majority)
1. Women and Children
 Women are discriminated and deprived of
fundamental rights.
 Unlike today, women had power equally with men.
 Before, women were only in their houses taking care
of their husbands and children, and they did not
have any position in society unlike now.
 Ketubah – is a written document that indicates that a
man can have the only right to divorce a woman.
Children are deemed as properties of their fathers.
 Mary experienced this when she was married to
Joseph at the age of 14 years.
 Scholars say that arranged marriage is happening at
that time.
2. Sick and People with Diseases
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  A sick person is viewed as someone who was
punished by the God for their sinfulness.
 Nowadays, it is a very different perspective.
 For example, leprosy. When a person has leprosy,
everyone will avoid that person and even let other
people know about that person with leprosy.
because they believed that a person with leprosy
was being punished by God.
3. Public Sinners: Prostitutes and Publicans
 Society looked down on them as sinful, undeserving
of God’s mercy
 The ministry of Jesus simplifies the concern and love
for the poor. On many occasions, Jesus
mingled with them, dined with them, and healed
them.
 For example, the story of Zaccheus, one of the
famous tax collectors in the bible. Jesus granted his
invitation to dine with him.
The gap between the rich and the poor even widened because
there was no middle class as we know them today. There were
very few rich people who acquired land and power through
trade and political influence.
ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE 1ST CENTURY PALESTINE
(What was their sources of income or livelihood)
1. Agriculture and Farming
○ Palestine during this time produced 3 main crops:
wheat grain (staple food), olives (for lamp and
cooking), vines (for wine making).
○ Some work as tenants to their landlord. Farming also
involves tending the sheep.
2. Artisana and Carpenters
○ Greek and Roman culture gave Palestine leaders like
Herod the love for making monumental buildings. He
hired hundreds of carpenters and artisans to build
the Temple of Jerusalem and other buildings
dedicated to the Romans and their Gods.
○ They hired hundreds and thousands of artisans and
carpenters to build buildings and statues.
○ Romans and Greeks get their money and other
finances to build their buildings from the taxes that
they impose on the Jews.
○ Heavy taxes imposed by the Roman government
make the life of the Jews harder and more difficult.
3. Fishing
○ Fishing was the main source of livelihood for the
settlers near the sea of Galilee.
○ In Mark 1:16-20 Jesus passed by Simon, Andrew,
James and John while they were fishing at the sea of
Galilee and called them to be his disciples.
4. Trade and Commerce
BOSQUE, DOBLI, LASALA, LATIP, LUMSOD, REYES, ROMA, SANTILLAN, YU
○ Palestine is geographically placed at the center
among powerful cities and nations. Trade played an
important roles in the economic lives of Palestine.
○ They hired hundreds and thousands of artisans and
carpenters to build buildings and statues.
○ Romans and Greeks get their money and other
finances to build their buildings from the taxes that
they impose on the Jews.
○ Heavy taxes imposed by the Roman government
make the life of the Jews harder and more difficult.
CONCLUSION
❖ With the political, social, and economic setting
favoring the few rich and powerful, Jesus openly
criticized them for their hypocrisy. Jesus manifested
his love for those who are poor and marginalized.
❖ Jesus seek for their conversion and faith even with
the watchful suspicion and criticism of the authorities.
He preferred to be misunderstood for the sake of
doing what is most just and loving.
❖ Such example, then leaves a striking legacy that
invites readers of his story to do the same, to be like
him-an alter Christus in word and deed!
❖ Today we are still confronted with the same horror of
poverty and social injustice. There are few elicited
and the great majority of the poor. The spirit of
volunteerism and heroic citizenship are proven
effective alternatives.
❖ Our challenge is to really have the spirit of
volunteerism and heroic citizenship, which are proven
effective and alternatives to do the same as what
Jesus did to them during that time.
SUMMARY
● Post-Exilic Palestine and Greek Domination
○ Remember the contributions and legacies.
For example: Philosophy and language. Also
the Polis or the system that is being run
towards the people
● Hellenistic Influence
○ Ancient Greek Thinkers, Universal influence,
Greek conquest, temple desecration,
Maccabean revolt
● Roman Empire and Palestine
● Herod the Great
● Palestine under Roman Rule
○ Zeal of the Zealots
● Roman Rule and Fall of Jerusalem
● Social Strata and Economic life of the First Century
Palestine
● Reach upper class and marginalized lower class.
● Economic life e.g. trade, agriculture, farming, fishing,
carpenters, and artisans.
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