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121:2.1 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] were a part of the older [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semite Semitic race], which also included the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonians Babylonians], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia Phoenicians], and the more recent enemies of [[Rome]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Carthage Carthaginians]. During the fore part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Century first century] after Christ, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] were the most [[influential]] group of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semite Semitic peoples], and they happened to occupy a peculiarly [[strategic]] [[geographic]] position in the world as it was at that time ruled and [[organized]] for [[trade]].

121:2.1 The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] were a part of the older [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semite Semitic race], which also included the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonians Babylonians], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia Phoenicians], and the more recent enemies of [[Rome]], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Carthage Carthaginians]. During the fore part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Century first century] after Christ, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] were the most [[influential]] group of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semite Semitic peoples], and they happened to occupy a peculiarly [[strategic]] [[geographic]] position in the world as it was at that time ruled and [[organized]] for [[trade]].

121:2.2 Many of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_road great highways] joining the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Near_East nations of antiquity] passed through [[Palestine]], which thus became the meeting place, or crossroads, of three [[continents]]. The [[travel]], [[trade]], and [[armies]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonia], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyria], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_egypt Egypt], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria#Antiquity_and_early_Christian_era Syria], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece Greece], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia Parthia], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome Rome] successively swept over [[Palestine]]. From time immemorial, many caravan routes from the [[Orient]] passed through some part of this region to the few good seaports of the eastern end of the [[Mediterranean]], whence ships carried their cargoes to all the maritime [[Occident]]. And more than half of this caravan [[traffic]] passed through or near the little town of [[Nazareth]] in [[Galilee]].

121:2.2 Many of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_road great highways] joining the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Near_East nations of antiquity] passed through [[Palestine]], which thus became the meeting place, or crossroads, of three [[continents]]. The [[travel]], [[trade]], and [[armies]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonia], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyria], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_egypt Egypt], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria#Antiquity_and_early_Christian_era Syria], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece Greece], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia Parthia], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome Rome] successively swept over [[Palestine]]. From time immemorial, many caravan routes from the [[Orient]] passed through some part of this region to the few good seaports of the eastern end of the [[Mediterranean]], whence ships carried their cargoes to all the maritime [[Occident]]. And more than half of this caravan [[traffic]] passed through or near the little town of [[Nazareth]] in [[Galilee]].

121:2.3 Although [[Palestine]] was the [[home]] of [[Jewish]] religious [[culture]] and the birthplace of [[Christianity]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] were abroad in the world, dwelling in many nations and trading in every province of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome#Monarchy.2C_Republic.2C_Empire Roman] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia Parthian] states.

121:2.3 Although [[Palestine]] was the [[home]] of [[Jewish]] religious [[culture]] and the birthplace of [[Christianity]], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] were abroad in the world, dwelling in many nations and trading in every province of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome#Monarchy.2C_Republic.2C_Empire Roman] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia Parthian] states.

121:2.4 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece Greece] provided a [[language]] and a [[culture]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome Rome] built the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_roads roads] and unified an [[empire]], but the [[dispersion]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews], with their more than two hundred synagogues and well-[[organized]] religious [[communities]] scattered hither and yon throughout the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_empire Roman world], provided the cultural [[centers]] in which the new [[gospel]] of the [[kingdom of heaven]] found initial [[reception]], and from which it subsequently spread to the uttermost parts of the world.

121:2.4 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece Greece] provided a [[language]] and a [[culture]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome Rome] built the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_roads roads] and unified an [[empire]], but the [[dispersion]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews], with their more than two hundred synagogues and well-[[organized]] religious [[communities]] scattered hither and yon throughout the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_empire Roman world], provided the cultural [[centers]] in which the new [[gospel]] of the [[kingdom of heaven]] found initial [[reception]], and from which it subsequently spread to the uttermost parts of the world.

121:2.5 Each [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synagogue|Jewish synagogue] [[tolerated]] a fringe of [[Pagan|gentile]] believers, " devout " or " God-fearing " men, and it was among this [[fringe]] of proselytes that [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] made the bulk of his early [[converts]] to [[Christianity]]. Even the [[temple]] at [[Jerusalem]] possessed its ornate court of the gentiles. There was very close [[connection]] between the [[culture]], [[commerce]], and [[worship]] of [[Jerusalem]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioch Antioch]. In Antioch [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]'s [[disciples]] were first called " Christians. "

121:2.5 Each [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synagogue|Jewish synagogue] [[tolerated]] a fringe of [[Pagan|gentile]] believers, " devout " or " God-fearing " men, and it was among this [[fringe]] of proselytes that [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] made the bulk of his early [[converts]] to [[Christianity]]. Even the [[temple]] at [[Jerusalem]] possessed its ornate court of the gentiles. There was very close [[connection]] between the [[culture]], [[commerce]], and [[worship]] of [[Jerusalem]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioch Antioch]. In Antioch [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]'s [[disciples]] were first called " Christians. "

121:2.6 The centralization of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jewish] temple [[worship]] at [[Jerusalem]] constituted alike the [[secret]] of the [[survival]] of their [[monotheism]] and the [[promise]] of the nurture and sending forth to the world of a new and enlarged [[concept]] of that one [[God]] of all nations and [[Father]] of all [[mortals]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon%27s_Temple temple service] at [[Jerusalem]] represented the [[survival]] of a religious [[cultural]] [[concept]] in the face of the downfall of a [[succession]] of gentile national overlords and racial [[persecutors]].

121:2.6 The centralization of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jewish] temple [[worship]] at [[Jerusalem]] constituted alike the [[secret]] of the [[survival]] of their [[monotheism]] and the [[promise]] of the nurture and sending forth to the world of a new and enlarged [[concept]] of that one [[God]] of all nations and [[Father]] of all [[mortals]]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon%27s_Temple temple service] at [[Jerusalem]] represented the [[survival]] of a religious [[cultural]] [[concept]] in the face of the downfall of a [[succession]] of gentile national overlords and racial [[persecutors]].

121:2.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jewish people] of this time, although under Roman [[suzerainty]], enjoyed a considerable [[degree]] of [[self]]-[[government]] and, remembering the then only recent [[heroic]] exploits of deliverance [[executed]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Maccabee Judas Maccabee] and his immediate successors, were vibrant with the [[expectation]] of the [[immediate]] [[appearance]] of a still greater deliverer, the long-expected [[Messiah]].

121:2.7 The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jewish people] of this time, although under Roman [[suzerainty]], enjoyed a considerable [[degree]] of [[self]]-[[government]] and, remembering the then only recent [[heroic]] exploits of deliverance [[executed]] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Maccabee Judas Maccabee] and his immediate successors, were vibrant with the [[expectation]] of the [[immediate]] [[appearance]] of a still greater deliverer, the long-expected [[Messiah]].

121:2.8 The [[secret]] of the [[survival]] of [[Palestine]], the kingdom of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews], as a semi-[[independent]] [[state]] was wrapped up in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy foreign policy] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_rome#Government Roman government], which desired to maintain [[control]] of the Palestinian highway of [[travel]] between [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria Syria] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Egypt] as well as the western terminals of the caravan routes between the [[Orient]] and the [[Occident]]. [[Rome]] did not wish any [[power]] to arise in the [[Levant]] which might curb her [[future]] expansion in these regions. The [[policy]] of [[intrigue]] which had for its object the pitting of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire#Rise_of_Seleucus Seleucid Syria] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_egypt#Ptolemaic_Dynasty Ptolemaic Egypt] against each other necessitated fostering [[Palestine]] as a separate and [[independent]] [[state]]. Roman [[policy]], the [[degeneration]] of Egypt, and the [[progressive]] weakening of the Seleucids before the rising [[power]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia Parthia], explain why it was that for several [[generations]] a small and unpowerful [[group]] of Jews was able to [[maintain]] its [[independence]] against both Seleucidae to the north and Ptolemies to the south. This fortuitous [[liberty]] and [[independence]] of the political rule of surrounding and more powerful peoples the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] attributed to the [[fact]] that they were the " [[chosen people]], " to the direct interposition of [[Yahweh]]. Such an [[attitude]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnocentrism racial superiority] made it all the harder for them to [[endure]] Roman [[suzerainty]] when it finally fell upon their land. But even in that sad hour the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] refused to learn that their world mission was [[spiritual]], not [[political]].

121:2.8 The [[secret]] of the [[survival]] of [[Palestine]], the kingdom of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews], as a semi-[[independent]] [[state]] was wrapped up in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy foreign policy] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_rome#Government Roman government], which desired to maintain [[control]] of the Palestinian highway of [[travel]] between [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria Syria] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Egypt] as well as the western terminals of the caravan routes between the [[Orient]] and the [[Occident]]. [[Rome]] did not wish any [[power]] to arise in the [[Levant]] which might curb her [[future]] expansion in these regions. The [[policy]] of [[intrigue]] which had for its object the pitting of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire#Rise_of_Seleucus Seleucid Syria] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_egypt#Ptolemaic_Dynasty Ptolemaic Egypt] against each other necessitated fostering [[Palestine]] as a separate and [[independent]] [[state]]. Roman [[policy]], the [[degeneration]] of Egypt, and the [[progressive]] weakening of the Seleucids before the rising [[power]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia Parthia], explain why it was that for several [[generations]] a small and unpowerful [[group]] of Jews was able to [[maintain]] its [[independence]] against both Seleucidae to the north and Ptolemies to the south. This fortuitous [[liberty]] and [[independence]] of the political rule of surrounding and more powerful peoples the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] attributed to the [[fact]] that they were the " [[chosen people]], " to the direct interposition of [[Yahweh]]. Such an [[attitude]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnocentrism racial superiority] made it all the harder for them to [[endure]] Roman [[suzerainty]] when it finally fell upon their land. But even in that sad hour the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] refused to learn that their world mission was [[spiritual]], not [[political]].

121:2.9 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] were unusually apprehensive and suspicious during the times of [[Jesus]] because they were then ruled by an outsider, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod the Idumean], who had seized the overlordship of Judea by cleverly ingratiating himself with the Roman rulers. And though Herod professed [[loyalty]] to the [[Hebrew]] [[ceremonial]] observances, he proceeded to build [[temples]] for many strange gods.

121:2.9 The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] were unusually apprehensive and suspicious during the times of [[Jesus]] because they were then ruled by an outsider, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod the Idumean], who had seized the overlordship of Judea by cleverly ingratiating himself with the Roman rulers. And though Herod professed [[loyalty]] to the [[Hebrew]] [[ceremonial]] observances, he proceeded to build [[temples]] for many strange gods.

121:2.10 The friendly [[relations]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod] with the Roman rulers made the world safe for Jewish [[travel]] and thus opened the way for increased Jewish penetration even of distant portions of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman Empire] and of foreign treaty nations with the new [[gospel]] of the [[kingdom of heaven]]. Herod's reign also contributed much toward the further blending of [[Hebrew]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_civilization Hellenistic] philosophies.

121:2.10 The friendly [[relations]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod] with the Roman rulers made the world safe for Jewish [[travel]] and thus opened the way for increased Jewish penetration even of distant portions of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman Empire] and of foreign treaty nations with the new [[gospel]] of the [[kingdom of heaven]]. Herod's reign also contributed much toward the further blending of [[Hebrew]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_civilization Hellenistic] philosophies.

121:2.11 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod] built the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesarea_Maritima harbor of Caesarea], which further aided in making [[Palestine]] the crossroads of the civilized world. He died in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_century_BC 4 B.C.], and his son [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Herod Antipas] governed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galilee Galilee] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perea Perea] during [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_124 Jesus' youth] and ministry to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/39_AD A.D. 39]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Antipas], like his [[father]], was a great builder. He rebuilt many of the cities of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galilee Galilee], including the important [[trade]] [[center]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepphoris Sepphoris].

121:2.11 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod] built the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesarea_Maritima harbor of Caesarea], which further aided in making [[Palestine]] the crossroads of the civilized world. He died in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_century_BC 4 B.C.], and his son [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Herod Antipas] governed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galilee Galilee] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perea Perea] during [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_124 Jesus' youth] and ministry to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/39_AD A.D. 39]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Antipas], like his [[father]], was a great builder. He rebuilt many of the cities of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galilee Galilee], including the important [[trade]] [[center]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepphoris Sepphoris].

121:2.12 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galilee Galileans] were not regarded with full [[favor]] by the [[Jerusalem]] religious [[leaders]] and rabbinical [[teachers]]. Galilee was more gentile than Jewish when [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_122 Jesus was born].

121:2.12 The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galilee Galileans] were not regarded with full [[favor]] by the [[Jerusalem]] religious [[leaders]] and rabbinical [[teachers]]. Galilee was more gentile than Jewish when [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_122 Jesus was born].

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_121 Go to Paper 121]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_121 Go to Paper 121]</center>

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

[[Category:Paper 121 - The Times of Michael's Bestowal]]

[[Category:Paper 121 - The Times of Michael's Bestowal]]

[[Category: History/TeaM]]

[[Category: History/TeaM]]