06.03. Introduction

Introduction To really understand the New Testament, we need to go back a long way to set the stage. History, culture, religion and world views all play into an understanding of the world of the New Testament. The Bibliography lists a number of resources that provide a more in-depth look at various subjects. The book of Genesis really sets the stage and provides the background information for much of the New Testament. Virtually all of the foundational doctrines stem out of Genesis, either directly or indirectly. Here we have established who God is, who man is, and because of man’s rebellion, the need for Jesus to come and redeem mankind. At the tower of Babel dispersion, the emergence of the various people groups and languages started. With this dispersion there emerged the variety of religious beliefs and gods. People were generally polytheistic in their beliefs. This polytheism therefore allowed for all sorts of deities and beliefs, as polytheism is generally non-exclusive. This philosophy haunted the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob throughout history as they struggled with the reality of there only being one God. The exclusivity of monotheism also put them into conflict with their polytheistic neighbors and especially when rulers demanded worship. For example, the Pharaohs of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Greek rulers starting with Alexander the Great, and consequently some of the Roman emperors, especially Gaius and Domitian. The Greek culture and Roman rule set the stage for the New Testament.