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NT301: Introduction to the New Testament

New Brunswick Theological SeminaryVirginia Wiles

The Greco-Roman World

Introduction

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Social Institutions

A social institution is --a grouping of persons within a

society in order to…• provide and maintain personal

identity• provide meaning and purpose for life• maintain and perpetuate society

Such groupings are --artificialappear to be “natural”

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Categories of Social Groupings

Family and Sexual Relationsprimary socializationperpetuation

Educationsecondary socializationperpetuation of culture

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Social Groupings (continued)

Religioussecondary socialization“cosmic” identitymeaning and purpose

Socialsecondary socializationfriendshipsocial maintenance: behaviorsocial mobility

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Social Groupings (continued)

Economicbusiness and trade

• exchange of goods and services

• training and maintenance

other economic relations• slavery• client/patron

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Patronage

Patron

Client

Client

Client

Client

Client

Client Client

Client Client

Client

Client

Client

Client

Patron Patron

Patron

Patron

Patron

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Family and Sexual Relations

The HouseholdBasic building block of the

stateAristotle

• Husband/Wife -- Father/Children -- Master/Slave

• The “Household Codes”

Patriarchal Paterfamilias

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Education

in the

Ancient World

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General Education

Advanced Scholarship: Science, Geology, History, Pedagogy, Mathematics, Medicine, Art, Music, Literature and Oratory

Early Education

Gymnasium

Higher Education

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The Philosophical Schools

PlatonismSeneca

EpicureanismLucretius

StoicismEpictetusMusonius Rufus

CynicismSkepticism

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Religion in the Ancient World

Pluralistic and Syncretistic

The Greek Mysteries

Official Cult

Judaism

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The Religionsof the

Greco-roman World

The religious environment of the Greco-roman world was

pluralistic syncretistic and inclusive

The Goddess Isis

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Pluralistic FeaturesMultiple Gods and Goddesses

“populated by deities”

Assumption of multiple loyaltiesinclusive

In general -- Religion was not identified with moralitycontrast Ethical Monotheism

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Greco-Roman WorldTemples in Rome

ca. 30 BCE

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Syncretistic Features

Identification or combination of deities of different origins

Oriental religions hellenized

Inherited ancient concepts reinterpreted to fit into new world culture

Creation of new religions out of Greek and non-Greek elements

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The Greek Mysteries

Demeter cult in Eleusis

Dionysian Cult

Sarapis and Isis

Mithras

Asclepios

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Demeter cult in Eleusis“Mother of Grain”

Most significant of the mystery religions

RitualInitiationConsecrationHigher Consecration

Each stage consisted of demonstrations, actions, and words

Destroyed in 5th c. C.E.

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Dionysian Cult (=Bacchus)

Thracian == “Son of Zeus”

Originally only women -- orgiastic feasts in middle of winter

Widely accepted Common meal and

drinking of wine Myth of the dying and

revivification of Dionysius

Observances of ritual purity and rules of abstention

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Sarapis and Isis Egyptian -- most

Hellenized oriental religion

Isis = the goddess of the royal throne

Horus = the mythical representation of the living Pharoah (=Isis’ son)

Osiris = the mythical embodiment of Nile’s fertile lands, also God of the dead Pharoahs

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Imported from Persia

Popular with military

Exclusive for menStrong competitor with Christianity

Mithras

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A Temple of Mithras

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God of

Healing

Temples =

Hospitals

Strong

Devotion

Asclepius

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Thanksgiving for Healing of the Ears . . .

...and the Feet

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The Emperor Cult

Especially popular in Asia Minor & Macedonia

Pertained to Civic duty

Emperors proclaimed divine after death

Caesar Augustus

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Civic Religion

Greek Roman Characteristic Function

Zeus Jupiter FatherHera Juno Guardian of MarriageAres Mars War

Athena Minerva Wise Warrior – MaidenAphrodite Venus Goddess of LovePoseidon Neptune Sea

Hephaestus Volcanus Fire, Smith, TechnologyHermes Mercury Messenger of the Gods and Goddesses

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Summary of Key Terms

Household Code

Patronage

Syncretism

Mystery Religion

Emperor Cult