The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Student Workbook, SW13

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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

1. Pax Romana = the peace of Rome (ruled most of the world)

2. Tension within Palestine whether to obey Roman authority or not

3. Tensions between strong central government and strong local rule

a. Emperor who ruled the entire empire for life with absolute power

b. Province rule: senatorial and imperial provinces (“legates”); Quirinius was legate of Syria

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E. A time of world demoralization (varying degrees of Roman oppression, as well as varying degrees of national allegiance to Rome)

1. Dramatic differences between the have and have-nots

2. No sense of hope for change in some provinces which retained their own fierce national and religious allegiances (Israel)

3. Roman rule for 60 years before Jesus was born

a. Brought benefits but was terribly unpopular in Palestine

b. Oppressive system of taxation on the occupied country

(1) Unofficial scam game of the collaborators (“tax collectors” or “publicans”)