Gospel Context in Ancient Israelite Culture and History
The Gospel, meaning "good message" or "good news" [6], emerged from a specific cultural and historical context within ancient Israel. The people of Israel, also known as Hebrews or Jews, were descendants of Abraham, divided into twelve tribes [2]. Their identity was deeply rooted in their covenant relationship with God, symbolized by circumcision [2]. They were chosen and loved by God and separated from other nations [2].
Jerusalem, an ancient city also known as Salem or Jebus, held significant religious and political importance for the Israelites [3]. It was eventually made the royal city by King David and was specially chosen by God as the seat of government [3]. The temple, a central place of worship, was built on Mount Zion, or Moriah, in Jerusalem [9].
The history of Israel involved periods of both faithfulness and unfaithfulness to God. The people often engaged in idol worship, sometimes in "groves" on hilltops, which were to be destroyed according to God's commands [4]. Prophets like Samuel played a crucial role in leading Israel, particularly in transitioning from the era of judges to that of kings, and in delivering them from enemies like the Philistines [13].
The Gospel message was initially sent to the children of Israel [8]. The Apostle Matthew, whose authorship of the Gospel bearing his name is widely accepted, wrote his account of Christ's life and teachings with a particular focus on this Jewish audience [1, 5]. While the exact original language of Matthew's Gospel is debated, early Church testimony suggests it may have been written in Hebrew [1]. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark were likely composed before the destruction of Jerusalem, with Luke's around A.D. 64 and John's towards the end of the first century [6].
The New Testament frequently reinterprets Old Testament concepts and applies them to the new covenant era. For instance, descriptions of the Israelites in the Old Testament, such as those found in Exodus 19:5-6, are applied to Christians, including primarily Gentile audiences, indicating that they are now considered God's people [12]. The "spiritual Israel," comprising the elect Church, is seen as a fulfillment of the promises made to the previously disunited kingdoms of Israel and Judah [11]. This spiritual understanding extends to the concept of an "holy mountain," which, while alluding to Mount Zion, is interpreted as representing the Gospel church in the latter days [9]. Even "strangers" who sojourn among the Israelites are included in the division of inheritance, signifying the inclusion of Gentiles in the blessings of the Gospel [10]. The "Jews' religion" refers to the nationality of the Jewish people, distinct from Gentiles, while "Israelite" signifies the religious privileges of being part of the theocracy [7]. The Gospel preaches peace through Jesus Christ, embracing both Jew and Gentile under His lordship [8].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Matthew, Gospel Of — + Its authorship .--That this Gospel was written by the apostle Matthew there is no reason to doubt. Seventeen independent witnesses of the first four centuries attest its genuineness. + Its original language .--The testimony of the early Church is unanimous that Matthew wrote originally in the Hebrew language. On the otherhand doubt is thrown over this opinion, both statements of by an examination of the fathers and by a consideration of peculiar forms of language employed in the Gospel itself. The question is unsettled, the best scholars not agr”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Jews, The — Descended from Abraham -- Isa 51:2; Joh 8:39. Divided into twelve tribes -- Ge 35:22; 49:28. Called Hebrews. -- Ge 14:13; 40:15; 2Co 11:22. Israelites. -- Ex 9:7; Jos 3:17. Seed of Abraham. -- Ps 105:6; Isa 41:8. Seed of Jacob. -- Jer 33:26. Seed of Israel. -- 1Ch 16:13. Children of Jacob. -- 1Ch 16:13. Children of Israel. -- Ge 50:25; Isa 27:12. Jeshurun. -- De 32:15. Chosen and loved by God -- De 7:6,7. Circumcised in token of their covenant relation -- Ge 17:10,11; Ac 7:8. Separated from all other nations -- Ex 33:16; Le 20:24; 1Ki 8:53. Described as A”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Jerusalem — The ancient Salem -- Ge 14:18; Ps 76:2. The ancient Jebusi or Jebus -- Jos 15:8; 18:28; Jdj 19:10. The king of, defeated and slain by Joshua -- Jos 10:5-23. Allotted to the tribe of Benjamin -- Jos 18:28. Partly taken and burned by Judah -- Jdj 1:8. The Jebusites Formerly dwelt in. -- Jdj 19:10,11. Held possession of, with Judah and Benjamin. -- Jos 15:63; Jdj 1:21. Finally dispossessed of, by David. -- 2Sa 5:6-8. Enlarged by David -- 2Sa 5:9. Made the royal city -- 2Sa 5:9; 20:3. Specially chosen by God -- 2Ch 6:6; Ps 135:21. The seat of government under”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Groves — Antiquity of -- Ge 21:33. Often on tops of hills -- 1Ki 14:23; Ho 4:13. Often used as resting places -- 1Sa 22:6. Idols were worshipped in -- De 12:2. Not to be planted near God's altar -- De 16:21. Of Canaanites, to be destroyed -- Ex 34:13; De 7:5; 12:3. For idol worship planted By Ahab. -- 1Ki 16:33. By Manasseh. -- 2Ki 21:3. By Israelites. -- 2Ki 17:16. Fondness of Israel for -- Jer 17:2. Punishment for making and serving -- 1Ki 14:15; Isa 1:28,29; Mic 5:14. Destroyed by Gideon. -- Jdj 6:25-28. Hezekiah. -- 2Ki 18:4. Asa. -- 2Ch 14:3. Jehoshaphat. -- 2Ch”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Matthew, Gospel according to — The author of this book was beyond a doubt the Matthew, an apostle of our Lord, whose name it bears. He wrote the Gospel of Christ according to his own plans and aims, and from his own point of view, as did also the other "evangelists." As to the time of its composition, there is little in the Gospel itself to indicate. It was evidently written before the destruction of Jerusalem (Matt. 24), and some time after the events it records. The probability is that it was written between the years A.D. 60 and 65. The cast of thought and the for”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The name Gospel (from god and spell, Ang. Sax. good message or news, which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion) is applied to the four inspired histories of the life and teaching of Christ contained in the New Testament, of which separate accounts are given in their place. They were all composed during the latter half of the first century: those of St. Matthew and St. Mark some years before the destruction of Jerusalem; that of St. Luke probably about A.D. 64; and that of St. John towards the close of the century. Before the end of the second century, t”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 1:13: heard--even before I came among you. conversation--"my former way of life." Jews' religion--The term, "Hebrew," expresses the language; "Jew," the nationality, as distinguished from the Gentiles; "Israelite," the highest title, the religious privileges, as a member of the theocracy. the church--Here singular, marking its unity, though constituted of many particular churches, under the one Head, Christ. of God--added to mark the greatness of his sinful alienation from God (Co1 15:19). wasted--laid it waste: the opposite of "building it up."”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 10:36: the word . . . sent unto the children of Israel--for to them (he would have them distinctly know) the Gospel was first preached, even as the facts of it took place on the special theater of the ancient economy. preaching peace by Jesus Christ--the glorious sum of all Gospel truth (Co1 1:20-22). he is Lord of all--exalted to embrace under the canopy of His peace, Jew and Gentile alike, whom the blood of His Cross had cemented into one reconciled and accepted family of God (Eph 2:13-18).”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 20:39: For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God,.... Alluding to Mount Zion, or Moriah, on which the temple was built, on the highest part of the land of Israel, as Kimchi and Ben Melech observe; here the Gospel church is meant, comparable to a "mountain" for its firmness and durableness; said to be a "holy" one, because consisting of holy persons, performing holy worship to a holy God; and represented as "high", being established, as it will be in the latter day, upon the top of the mountains, and be very visible and glorious:”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 47:22: And it shall come to pass,.... In the last days, under the Gospel dispensation: that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you; who were Israelites, both by natural descent, and by the Spirit and grace of God: the Gospel was first preached to Israel after the flesh, and made effectual to the conversion of many of them; and the first churches were made up of them, and they shared all the blessings and privileges thereof; as they also will in the latter day, when converted: and to the strangers that sojourn among them; not such as were strangers to spi”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 8:10: make with--Greek, "make unto." Israel--comprising the before disunited (Heb 8:8) ten tribes' kingdom, and that of Judah. They are united in the spiritual Israel, the elect Church, now: they shall be so in the literal restored kingdom of Israel to come. I will put--literally, "(I) giving." This is the first of the "better promises" (Heb 8:6). mind--their intelligent faculty. in, &c.--rather, " ON their hearts." Not on tables of stone as the law (Co2 3:3). write--Greek, "inscribe." and I will be to them a God, &c.--fulfilled first in the out”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 2:9: 2:9 Peter applies descriptions of the Israelites in the Old Testament (see, e.g., Exod 19:5-6) to his primarily Gentile audience, indicating that they—like all Christians—are truly God’s people in the new covenant era.”
- 1 Samuel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Samuel 1 (introduction): I. History of the People of Israel Under the Prophet Samuel - 1 Samuel 1-7 The call of Samuel to be the prophet and judge of Israel formed a turning-point in the history of the Old Testament kingdom of God. As the prophet of Jehovah, Samuel was to lead the people of Israel out of the times of the judges into those of the kings, and lay the foundation for a prosperous development of the monarchy. Consecrated like Samson as a Nazarite from his mother's womb, Samuel accomplished the deliverance of Israel out of the power of the Philistines, which had”