A lot of us approach the New Testament unlike we approach the Old. We approach the Old Testament with the attitude of, ‘it was written to them for us’ which is correct and the New Testament with the attitude of ‘it was written to us for us’ which is wrong. We can’t get much out of the New Testament with such approach. It is therefore good that we have a background understanding of the world which includes people, history, ideologies, geographical location and systems that made up the New Testament to be able to interpret it properly. I hope this little study will aid your understanding.

There were important developments which formed the political, religious and cultural background of the New Testament. The political history of that time falls into several periods of governmental dominion by foreign powers and it is therefore essential that we gain knowledge of these developments to accurately understand the New Testament.

The Political History: In 332B.C, the Persians governed the Jews from the time of the return of the Babylonian captivity having triumphed over the Babylonian Empire.

In 301 BC, the Grecians brought the Jews under domination with the conquest of the Persians by Alexander the great. This then opened up Palestine, the dwelling place of the Jews to the effects of Greek culture (hellenization). The Greek language became generally accepted and was the common tongue among that world at large.

In 63 B.C, Rome conquered Palestine and ruled the land by procurators or rulers such as Herodias. During the Roman period, great power was concentrated in the hands of the high priest who for all practical purposes was the political leader of the Jews.

‘‘And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the entire world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. Luke 2:1-6

‘‘IN THE fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene--In the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the Word of God [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] came to John son of Zachariah in the wilderness (desert).’’ Luke 3:1-2

At the time of the birth of Jesus Christ, God's Providence had prepared the world for His coming, and this was the fittest time in all its history: the entire civilized world was subject to one government, and was at peace, travelling was easy, and there was a common language: the news about the message of his death and resurrection could spread quickly through the vast Roman Empire. The world including the Israelites was under the influence of the Roman Empire, which took over the lands by military campaigns, and was the world power at that time due to its conquest.

In that time, was Herod king over the Province of Galilee and....

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