The Moral Lost (2 of 26)
Series: Romans
Zach Terry
Romans 2
INTRODUCTION: Two broad cultures made up the Roman church. The Jew and the Greek.
Jew is used to refer specifically to ethnic Jews, while Greek is a broader term used to refer to those who were raised up in a Greco-Roman culture. Everyone in the Roman church was either Jew or Greek.
While Paul made explicitly clear in Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
There were serious and persistent differences that continually separated the two groups. As a matter of fact, the prejudices that developed between the Jew and the Greek was the greatest sources of conflict experienced by the early church. I would submit to you that, understanding that controversy and it's implication is one of the keys to understanding every letter of the NT.
ILLUSTRATION: You remember the first controversy that arose in the early church (Acts 6) was between these two distinct cultures. There were Hellenistic Jews (those influenced by a Greek culture) and native Hebrews (where were distinctly more Jewish at least in their behavior)
Why such prejudice between the two groups? It all went back to how they were raised.
• JEWS - Those from a jewish background were learning the law of Moses from their earliest years. The Psalms were their bedtime lullabies. The commandments of God were drilled into their minds so that they could recite them perfectly.
• GREEKS - Were taught all manner of worldly philosophy mixed with pagan mythology. They were taught that their lives should reflect that of their pantheon of gods. Lasciviousness was a virtue that brought the favor of their deities. Boys were taught that consorting with the temple prostitutes was among their civil duty. They believed it would ensure the blessing of the gods.
At the same time ethnic superiority was a virtue in both camps. So yo ...
Series: Romans
Zach Terry
Romans 2
INTRODUCTION: Two broad cultures made up the Roman church. The Jew and the Greek.
Jew is used to refer specifically to ethnic Jews, while Greek is a broader term used to refer to those who were raised up in a Greco-Roman culture. Everyone in the Roman church was either Jew or Greek.
While Paul made explicitly clear in Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
There were serious and persistent differences that continually separated the two groups. As a matter of fact, the prejudices that developed between the Jew and the Greek was the greatest sources of conflict experienced by the early church. I would submit to you that, understanding that controversy and it's implication is one of the keys to understanding every letter of the NT.
ILLUSTRATION: You remember the first controversy that arose in the early church (Acts 6) was between these two distinct cultures. There were Hellenistic Jews (those influenced by a Greek culture) and native Hebrews (where were distinctly more Jewish at least in their behavior)
Why such prejudice between the two groups? It all went back to how they were raised.
• JEWS - Those from a jewish background were learning the law of Moses from their earliest years. The Psalms were their bedtime lullabies. The commandments of God were drilled into their minds so that they could recite them perfectly.
• GREEKS - Were taught all manner of worldly philosophy mixed with pagan mythology. They were taught that their lives should reflect that of their pantheon of gods. Lasciviousness was a virtue that brought the favor of their deities. Boys were taught that consorting with the temple prostitutes was among their civil duty. They believed it would ensure the blessing of the gods.
At the same time ethnic superiority was a virtue in both camps. So yo ...
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