The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG13

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T H E N E W T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

A. A time of world centralization (commerce within the empire itself, political organization, overall governmental and military oversight)

B. A time of world cultural unity (Graeco-Roman influence, koine Greek used as the universal business language)

1. Thin coating of cultural uniformity

2. “ Lingua Franca :” Greek as the language of commerce and business

a. Aramaic spoken in Palestine; Hebrew was used in rabbinic circles.

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b. Most ordinary folk in Galilee would have probably known Greek.

C. A time of world trade and intercourse (interaction and inter-connection among provinces in terms of finance, commerce, trade among representative cultures, nations, and peoples)

1. Much prosperity in Rome; huge number of slaves (great difference between aristocrats and slaves)

2. Sea lanes with important ports (Alexandria, Black Sea, Carthage, etc.)

3. Land routes (famous for building roads)

D. A time of world peace (the conquest of Rome of the then-known world)