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The World of the New Testament

Like the Old Testament world, the New Testament world was still very different from our own.

Travel didn't change much...

Then and Now

Then...
Travel by camel, horse, and boat

Now...
Travel by car, motorcycle, bus, plane (plus camel, horse, and boat!)

History was changing, though.

Other Things Affecting the New Testament World:

• Diverse cultures (Jews, Persians, Romans, Ethiopians, Samaritans, etc.)
• Roman occupation
• Greek philosophy
• Many religions
• Wars
• Geography
• Migration
• Exile

Take the Highway

Learn about Ptolemaic (TOL-a-may-ik) cosmology. What's Ptolemaic cosmology? Read the next page.

Choose a Byway

1. Read these articles about today's world and reflect on the similarities between then and now.

• "Uprooted: Refugees and Global Migration"
  article from Response magazine linking the migration issues of today with the issues of Biblical times.
• "Resettling in a New Land"
  article from Response magazine that looks at the issues people face when settling in a new land because of forced migration.
• "Haitian Refugees: The Last in Line"
  article from Response magazine on the issues and discrimination faced by Haitian refugees.
• Refugee and Global Migration Resources
  a list of internal and external links on migrant issues and resources produced by the General Board of Global Ministries.

2. Explore these outside links for more information on worldviews that affected people of the New Testament. Make sure you click the BACK button to return to our site.

• Resource Pages for Biblical Studies
  These pages focus on early Christian writings and the social world in which they were written.
• Egyptian Antiquity Information
  This site offers resources and also includes a History.

  Next Page: New Testament Cosmology
  An Earth-Centered Universe

   

  
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  This study is a resource from: The Women's Division General Board of Global Ministries The United Methodist Church E-mail: umw@gbgm-umc.org. Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/

     Disclaimer: Some links jump to outside sites for further information on the Bible, interpretations, the canon, translations, manuscripts, resources, and other perspectives. Links do not constitute an endorsement by the Women's Division of the information on other web sites. External web sites offer us diverse perspectives; afford us an opportunity to compare them to United Methodist positions; and, encourage us to critically analyze the issues raised by The Bible: the Book that Bridges the Millennia web pages.