Key Features Of Life In First Century Essay

This report will examine key features of life in first century Palestine: Nazareth, the Passover, Pharisees and demoniacs. This report will explain the sociocultural and historical features to help describe the context of when Jesus and his followers lived. This report also aims to highlight the meaning of the New Testament stories The Healing of a Boy with a Demon explaining how outcasts were viewed in first century Palestine. Additionally, the report explores the story from the gospel of Luke chapter 2 verses 39 - 40, explaining how Jesus grew up Nazareth.

Location: Nazareth

Nazareth is a town in Galilee where Joseph, Mary and Jesus lived for 30 years. In first century Nazareth, Christ was referred to as ‘Jesus of Nazareth’. During the time of Christ, Nazareth was held by strict Jews. Nazareth was a tiny rural village, therefore culturally and politically

It was normal for Israelites to have their own altar or sanctuary. Among pagan peoples, the temple would be the home of their god, who would be represented in the form of an idol. Among the Israelites, the Temple was originally viewed as the literal residence of God, but God’s presence was intangible (d), this presence was called “kavod” in Hebrew. Within the temple many sacrifices were made for God (or other gods), including the offering of slaughtered animals. All religious rituals were conducted by priests . If one offered an animal to the Temple, the priest would take it away and bring it back as roast beef or roast lamb for the person/persons to eat. A poulpar temple, both in the time of Christ and currently, is the temple of Herod; the king who wanted Christ killed when Christ was born. The New Testament tells many important stories and encounters in the life of Jesus that took place in temples. An example is the story of the Roman legions destroying Jerusalem's holy Temple, a religious temple to the Jews (John