Church History, Part 1

The Classical Background of Christianity

Jesus was born in what the apostle Paul called “the fullness of times. Palestine at the time of the birth of Christ existed under the rule of Rome but was immersed in a Greek-speaking culture that we call Hellenistic. It is extremely interesting and significant that there is no time in the history of the world when we can define a culture that so closely resembles our own as the world into which Jesus was born. The Hellenistic world was big business, big government, big entertainment. It was a time of high level social activities, affluent life styles, and the development of science and technology. New ideas, philosophies, and religions abounded. Understanding the Hellenistic/Roman world may be much more than an exercise in history; it may give us important insights into how the church of Jesus Christ may relate to the world with which it has to do!

Lesson Titles

1. The Impact of Greek Civilization
2. The Impact of Greek Philosophy
3. The Impact of Greek Humanism
4. The Impact of Roman Government
5. The Impact of Roman Technology
6. The Impact of Roman Religion