Source: “When Christians Were Jews: The First Generation”, by Paula Fredriksen, 2018.
1. When Christians Were Jews.pdf
This topic explores the historical context of early Christianity, specifically focusing on the beliefs and practices of Jesus's first followers in Jerusalem and the role of the temple. It highlights that these initial adherents, including key figures like Paul, were Jewish and fervently believed in the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God, expecting Jesus's return and the establishment of divine rule to happen in their lifetime. The author uses various sources, including the Apostle Paul's letters and the works of the Jewish historian Josephus, to reconstruct this period and analyze the Gospels' sometimes conflicting accounts of Jesus's mission and his relationship with Jerusalem and its temple, ultimately arguing that the earliest Jesus followers were likely positively oriented toward the Jerusalem Temple and its cult.
When Jesus and his followers went up to Jerusalem in the early first century, it was "probably the largest and the most beautiful city that any of them had ever seen." At the center of this magnificent city stood an even more impressive structure: the Jerusalem Temple. More than just a building of stone and gold, the Temple was the absolute center of the Jewish world—a place of profound religious significance, political power, and bustling economic activity. This document explains the Temple's vital roles in religion, politics, and society, revealing why it was the "beating heart" of the city and why understanding it is essential for grasping the key events of the era.
The Temple that stood in the first century was a marvel of the ancient world, an ambitious project built by King Herod the Great. Its sheer scale and beauty were legendary, designed to display power and inspire awe. Centuries after its destruction, rabbis would still recall, "Whoever has not seen Herod's temple has never seen a beautiful building."
Its grandeur can be understood through its key architectural features: