The historical background of the gospels was first century Palestine, under direct or indirect rule of the Roman Empire. The gospels tell us that Jesus was crucified during the governorship of Pontius Pilate (26-36 CE), so he must have been born during the reign of King Herod the Great, who died in April 4 BCE, as a younger man might have had difficulty in being accepted as rabbi.
Matthew's Gospel says that magi followed a star from the east, to worship the baby Jesus. This star was not mentioned by Luke and there is no historical record of any unusual star or comet around the time that Jesus would have been born. However, there was a star that caused a great deal of interest throughout the Roman Empire in the late 60s CE, not so long before Matthew was written. Some scholars link this star to the story in Matthew's Gospel. The magi were priests of the Zoroastrian religion, and it is also suggested that Matthew wished to show that even the priests of this great religion wished to worship Jesus.
Matthew's Gospel says that Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt out of fear of King Herod, who ordered what is now known as the "Slaughter of the Innocents" - the mass killing of all children in and around Bethlehem under two years old. There is no historical record of this event, although Herod would certainly have been capable of it. The Jewish historian, Josephus, who despised Herod and would certainly have recorded the Slaughter of the Innocents had he known of it, never mentions the event. Some scholars point to a different historical background. They say that Matthew draws parallels between Jesus and Moses, and that the slaughter by Herod of all the infant children copies the Old Testament story of the the slaughter by the Pharaoh of all the infant children.
Luke's Gospel also places the birth of Jesus during the reign of King Herod, who died in 4 BCE, but also at the time of the census of Quirinius, in other words ten years after the death of Herod. In spite of attempts by some to claim that Quirinius might have been governor of Syria on two different occasions, there is no historical evidence to support this. Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) says "The best explanation is that, although Luke likes to set his Christian drama in the context of well-known events from antiquity, sometimes he does so inaccurately."
Both Matthew and Luke provide genealogies of Jesus, back through Joseph and the male line to King David. Apart from the obvious discrepancies between the two family trees, which some Christians believe can be explained, they both call into question the historical veracity of the Old Testament genealogy. Matthew says that King Joatham (Jotham) was the son of King Ozias (Ahaziah), whereas the Old Testament says that Jotham was the great great grandson of Ahaziah, through Jehoash, Amaziah and Uzziah. Luke says that Amminadab was the son of Admin and grandson of Aram, whereas the Old Testament says that Amminadab was simply the son of Aram; that Shelah was the son of Kainan and grandson of Arphaxad, whereas the Old Testament says that Shelah was simply the son of Arphaxad. So, both agree with the Old Testament genealogy, but in different places.
In the gospels, Nazareth is presented as a substantial town, even a city, but some scholars doubt this. They find little evidence for the historical existence of Nazareth before 70 CE and say that it must have been, at most, a small rural hamlet.
All the gospels agree that Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, and the Jewish historian confirms the historicity of John. The gospels indicate that John was executed early in the mission of Jesus, probably around 29 CE, at the request of Herodias. Josephus says that Antipas imprisoned and executed John because of his public criticism of his marriage to his own brother's former wife, and indicates that this took place in 35 CE. So, when Luke 9:7-9 says, "Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him [Jesus]: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead ... And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him," it can only be regarded as mistaken.
When it came time to try and crucify Jesus, he was taken before a night-time court of the Sanhedrin, headed by the high priests Ananas (Annas) and Caiaphas. Caiaphas was formally the high priest, but his father-in-law, Ananas, was held in high regard and treated very much as the equal of Caiaphas, having been deposed by the Romans. However, it is most improbable that the Sanhedrin would go against long-standing custom by holding a night-time court. John's account is rather more convincing than that of the synoptics, suggesting that there was no formal trial, but that Jesus was simply shunted between two high priestly houses, that of Ananas and that of Caiaphas.
The gospels insist that there was a Jewish custom of releasing a prisoner at the time of the Passover, saying that Pontius Pilate offerred to release Jesus or Barabbas, and the Jews chose to release Barabbas. Scholars say that there never was a tradition among the Jews of releasing a prisoner on the day of the Passover. The real tradition was to release one sheep (or goat, the words being synonyms), to take away the sins of the people and to sacrifice a second sheep (the paschal lamb). From the first goat, we get the modern word 'scapegoat' who takes the blame for the wrongdoing of others.
Jesus was placed on the cross at 9:00 o'clock, then at 12 noon there was a great darkness over the whole land. At the time, there were scholars who would record all unusual natural events, not only in Palestine but throughout the Roman Empire, but no reference is made to this darkness outside the Bible. It may simply be that Mark wanted to make this a counterpoint to the betrayal and arrest of Jesus at 12 midnight, twelve hours earlier.
The gospels say that the Sepulchre was sealed with a round stone that could be rolled away. Archaeologists say that this was most unlikely. In the first half of the century, Jewish custom was to use square cut stones. Round stones began to be used around 70 BCE, just when the first of the gospels was being written.
Michael Matthews
A:The 'Sermon on the mount' is in Matthew's Gospel. The equivalent passage in Luke's Gospel is known as the 'Sermon on the plain'. Scholars say the reason for this is that both evangelists relied on sayings material from the hypothetical 'Q' document, but that Q provides no context for the sayings attributed to Jesus. The authors of Matthew and Luke created their own background contexts whenever using sayings from Q.
A born-again Christian may preach the gospel of Jesus Christ if he has read and studied the New Testament in the Bible. Historically, both the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul were the first to preach the gospel after the resurrection of Jesus. Peter preached to the Jews, Paul was sent by Jesus to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (non-Jews). Thereafter, ordinary Christians "gossiped the gospel" throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. Once the church became established in the Roman Empire, preaching of the gospel became the job of the "professional clergy". Nowadays, an increasing number of born-again Christians seek to preach the gospel in their family, workplace and community, since few nowadays attend church, and so will never hear the gospel otherwise.
The Gospel of Luke is the longest gospel in the New Testament. It contains 24 chapters and provides a detailed account of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of John is sometimes referred to as the Ecclesiastical Gospel due to its theological and spiritual nature, focusing on Jesus' divinity and teachings rather than historical events. It is revered in church teachings and worship.
Jewish
A cultural background is the culture of something.
Michael Matthews
Matthew was a Jew.
Maybe
Africans around the world shared a cultural background -Apex
Samurai are not Chinese warriors; they are from Japan and have a distinct cultural background.
The web address of the Alabama Gospel Music Cultural Arts Center is: www.alabamagospelcenter.org
His mom doesn't really care about him that much...
Michael R. Matthews has written: 'The Scientific Background to Modern Philosophy' 'Pyrmont & Ultimo' -- subject(s): History
Matthews Gospel was written by Matthew [also called Levi] for fellow Jews. His account highlights many of the Hebrew messianic prophecies that were fulfilled in connection with Jesus.
I'm not sure of his cultural background, but if somebody answers it that would be great. I'm actually doing a project on him.