Romans 1-8

Extra Slides

The Judeo-Christian Historical Consciousness vs. the Greco-Roman Worldview

The Greco-Roman mindset was mythical

The Judeo-Christian Historical Consciousness

The Judeo-Christian Historical Consciousness vs. the Greco-Roman Worldview

The Greco-Roman mindset was mythical, not historical. History was characterized as Eternal Return.

The Judeo-Christian Historical Consciousness Sharply Broke from the Classical World.

The A-Historical Nature of Greco-Roman Mythology, Mysticism & Philosophy

Greco-Roman historians may have understood history itself as linear, but never goal-orientated,

eschatological or even meaningful.

Meaning would always be found outside of history through various forms of mysticism & philosophy & ancient forms of existentialism

– very unlike Judaism & Christianity.

The Judeo-Christian Historical Consciousness has a remarkable interior attitude toward history, precisely of its strong emphasis

on historical promises, prophecies – and especially

because of the Incarnation of the Son of God. Even at the 2nd

Coming, Jesus Christ will Break into history to consummate it.

PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY

JOURNEY

Secular Dates & the Book of Acts

Acts 1-12 = 30-47 ADActs 11:28 = Reign of Claudius = 41-54 ADActs 12:20-23 = Death of Herod = 44-48 ADActs 13-18 = 48-50 ADActs 18:1-11 = 50-51 ADActs 18:2 = Claudius Expel Jews /Rome = 50-51 ADActs 18:3 = Proconsul Gallio = 51-52 ADActs 18:12-24:27 = 52-59 ADActs 25-28 = 59-62 AD Acts 24:27 = Procurator Festus = 59 AD

NEW TESTAMENT DATES

JAMES 45 TESTING OF FAITH ACTS 8-12 1 THESS 50 RAPTUREACTS 17:1-18:52 THESS 50 DAY OF THE LORD ACTS 17:1-18:5GAL 49-53 LIBERTY ACTS 14-18MATT 50-60 JESUS IS MESSIAH ACTS 14-251 COR56 CHURCH MATTERS ACTS 19:1-20:32 COR56-57 RECONCILIATION ACTS 20:1-2ROMANS57 JUSTIFICATION ACTS 20:1-3LUKE 60-62 HISTORICAL JESUS ACTS 28ACTS 60-62 CHURCH HISTORY ACTS 28EPH 60-62 CHURCH IN CHRIST ACTS 28PHIL 60-62 RESURRECTED LORDACTS 28COL 60-62 CHRISTOLOGY ACTS 28

EPISTLE DATE EMPHASIS HISTORICAL

NEW TESTAMENT DATES

COL 60-62 CHRISTOLOGY ACTS 28PHILEMON60-62 EXCAPED SLAVEACTS 281 TIM 63-65 CHURCH AFFAIRS BEYOND ACTSTITUS 63-65 TROUBLESHOOTING BEYOND ACTS2 TIM 65-68 PAUL’S DEATH SOONNERO PERSECUTION

HEBREWS 65-68 CHRIST DIED ONCE NERO PERSECUTION

1 PETER 65-68 SUFFERING NERO PERSECUTION

2 PETER 65-68 FALSE TEACHERS NERO PERSECUTION

JUDE 65-68 FIGHTING FOR FAITH NERO PERSECUTION

MARK60-70 CHRIST’S MINISTRY JEWISH WARJOHN 80-100 GOSPEL TO WORLD DOMITIAN PERSEC

1-3 JOHN80-100 FELLOWSHIP DOMITIAN PERSEC

REV 80-100 APOCALYPSE DOMITIAN PERSEC

EPISTLE DATE EMPHASIS HISTORICAL

Dr. Charles Ryrie

By General Revelation, we mean revelation that is simply general in its extent.

General revelation is exactly that—general. It is general in its scope; that is, it reaches to all people (Matt. 5:45; Acts 14:17). It is general in geography; that is, it encompasses the entire globe (Ps. 19:2). It is general in its methodology; that is, it employs universal means like the heat of the sun (vv. 4-6) and human conscience (Rom. 2:14-15). Simply because it is a revelation that thus affects all people wherever they are and whenever they have lived it can bring light and truth to all, or, if rejected, brings condemnation.

General revelation comes to mankind in a number of ways (creation, order and design, the nature of man as an intelligent being), but the most obvious and powerful means of general revelation is nature or creation. As powerful and universal as this is, however, it is inadequate or has certain limitations. It cannot tell us about the love and grace of God nor of His perfect holiness. Furthermore, creation does not tell us of God’s plan of salvation nor how man may procure that salvation. Still, general revelation “is nonetheless an important antecedent to salvation. General revelation is God revealing certain truths and aspects about His nature to all humanity, which revelation is essential and preliminary to God’s special revelation.”

Classic Arguments for God’s ExistenceCosmological Argument argues the existence of the cosmos demands God as Creator to explain its very

existence.Teleological Argument

argues that design in

nature reflects an Ultimate

Designer.

Moral Argument

argues that without God there can be no morality.

Ontological argument argues that the very idea of a Perfect God suggests that God actually does exist

because perfection without existence is an impossibility.

Historical Argument argues that most people in human history have almost always generally

believed in a God or gods.

Greek Paganism

Homer/Hesiod (850-650 BC) – Greek Gods & Heroes

Thales/Pythagoras (624-495 BC) –

Greek Science & Math

Herodotus/

Thucydides (484-

395 BC)– Greek

History

Socrates/Plato/

Aristotle (469-322

BC)– Greek

Philosophy &

Reason

Democritus/ Epicurus – Greek Physics (460-270

BC)

Pericles/Alexander

the Great (495-

322 BC) – Greek

Politics/Tyrants

Epicureanism was an Early form of Evolutionary Thought

Evolutionary Materialism

Origin of Life

was Accident

of Moving

AtomsNo AfterlifeVirtual

Atheism as

gods are

Indifferent

No Moral Universe

Pleasure that is

free from Pain

is Morality –

not Duty

Stoicism was a Form of Ancient Pantheism

Materialistic PantheismPantheistic Providence

Soul was Material

Live in Harmony with

Nature/Reason

Self-Sufficiency & Asceticism –

No Need to Help Others

Condemned Idolatry but Ancient gods

were not Repudiated

Yet Athens – the Smartest Academic Town in the Greco-Roman World – was Idolatry Grand Central Station

Greco-Roman Pantheon of Major gods & goddesses

Lets examine some important definitions:

FAITH = Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith

means being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. It means to trust God and/or His

revealed word.

GRACE = The undeserved and

unlimited love of God expressing itself in

immeasurable blessings upon us (Rom. 11:5-6;

4:1-8; Eph. 2:8-9; 4:20).

REDEMPTION = Human beings are delivered out

of the slave market of sin by being purchased via the cross (Romans

3:24-26; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Psalm 32:1-2).

JUSTIFICATION = Divine Declaration that because Jesus Christ has paid

the penalty for sin, anyone who believes is credited with God’s

righteousness apart from his own works. Justification is not a

process, but is an instantaneous declaration from God (Romans

3:24-28; Galatians 2:16).

PROPITIATION = God was satisfied with the work of

Jesus Christ on the cross so that His wrath against sin

was pacified (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; Isaiah 53:11).

RECONCILIATION = The barrier between God and man was

removed through the work of Christ on the cross so that we

are connected with God, or are at peace with Him (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21;

Romans 3:22-26).

Why These Words/Definitions Matter

AssurancePeace & ComfortEncouragement for You & Others

ConfidenceGod Loves you!