A Confusing Message of Salvation?

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

You said "us and them"..and I said I was not using the word "Western" in the modern use of the term.

As I said before I was using it as the difference between Roman/Greek backgrounds and Semitic backgrounds. Western and Eastern.

Not all Jews were Hellenized. Arabia and other Semitic cultures were not Hellenized.

In any case I think your idea that "western culture" can only refer to modern cultures does not make sense. European states have always been considered "Western culture" regardless of the date.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_culture

Hellenism is the spread of Greek culture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_civilization

And being specific here, what we are really referring to is Middle eastern culture not merely eastern culture

Prax, before I get into one of those "I didn't really say that" cat and mouse games, I'll just interact more with what I intend.

Western culture is used broadly and specifically. Scholars who discuss biblical audience would never suggest a Western influence in the biblical times (even NT Wright). As we call it today, The West really identified itself during the Enlightenment, Renaissance, and both pre and post-colonialism.

Some of these differences are highlighted in Ravi Zacharias' Jesus Among Other Gods. Western Christendom was shaped in the 3rd and 4th Century, really taking a cultural shape post-Constantine.

It is generally understood what one means when they refer to "East" and "West" differences. In actuality, "Eastern" would include, in a broad way, including:
Far Eastern, Indian, Middle East and Judiac religions.

When you say certain groups were not "hellenized" you miss the point that the majority of the Jesus Movement was shaped and influences by Hellenism. I'd again defer to NT Wright as more an expert, or someone who has examined this in much more detail than I. In particular, I'd recommend the book "Paul" by NT Wright.

Bottom line: the Western culture and world we know today is a polar opposite in many ways from the Eastern culture and world that was the setting for our 1st Century fathers.

This is emphasized repeatedly by students who are studying or taking classes on interpretation. It's the most obvious interpretive wall to get over.