open source theology

This is the historical-archaeological element of the atonement discussion. The intention of discussion here is to work towards an understanding of the elements of the first-century Jewish worldview that framed understandings of the atoning nature of Israel’s anticipated messiah, from the history of Israel through the First Testament age and the inter-testimental period. This should then provide the basis for informed discussion on Jesus’ mindset vis a vis the atonement as both a variation of and contradiction to that worldview.

Some questions to tackle here, as previously mentioned, might be…

First Testament canvas

1. How can the Law and the Prophets be harmonised effectively with each other - the Law which describes the necessities of ritual purity, and the Prophets which criticise the limitations of ritual purity for it’s lack of expectations or ‘standards’ for ethical and moral uprightness? How was this done by Israel in the time running up to the exile, during the exile, and as the exiles began to return during the time of Ezra-Nehemiah?
2. How did Israel/Judah’s experience of imminent and then eventual domintation by pagan nations give rise to and frame their expectation of the Day of the Lord and a coming Messiah/Suffering Servant who would liberate or vindicate them? What did they expect the Day of the Lord to look like during this period? What would the role of the messiah be in it?
3. How did the perspectives of the prophets and those of the religious authorities and kings of Israel/Judah differ? What is the nature and significance of those differences?
4. When the Law and the Prophets are held in creative tension with each other, what perspective(s) could have arisen for Israel’s messiah?

1. What was impact of the intentions, actions and consequences of the Maccabean revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes for the messianic expectations of Israel?
2. What gave rise to the Pharisaic movement, the Temple cult and Sadducean sect, the Zealots and other religious sects such as the Essenes in the inter-testamental period, and (how) did these vary the messianic hope of Israel?
3. What impact did the above have on the worldview of first century Palestinian Judaism and what was the latitude for mindsets of individuals within it? Was the apparent mindset of Jesus a logical variation, a creative innovation, a radical revolution or complete alternative to the mindsets on offer?