Cultural World of the New Testament

Explore Greco-Roman cultural influences on the New Testament, including honor, patronage, kinship, and purity.
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The works of the New Testament were written in a different language, under very different living conditions and circumstances, and in a world that had substantially different cultural knowledge, practices, and priorities than our own. To understand these texts as their authors and their primary audiences heard and understood them, we need to immerse ourselves in the social and cultural “knowledge” of the first-century Mediterranean world. In this course, you will learn about aspects of Greco-Roman culture that influenced the writers and audiences of the New Testament, including honor and shame, patronage and reciprocity, kinship and the household, and purity and pollution.

  1. Interpret the New Testament through the lens of first-century culture with an understanding of honor and shame, patronage and reciprocity, kinship and the household, and purity and pollution.
  2. Integrate a culturally-sensitive reading of the New Testament into your own Bible reading or teaching.
  3. Implement the desirable social values of the early church in your own relationships and faith community.

Course Content

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Course Wrap-Up
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Course Details

  • Low Effort
  • 8 Lessons
  • 17 Min Average Lecture
  • Course Award

Course Resources

Audios Discussion Questions Notes
Lecturer

David A. deSilva, PhD