a) The Suffering Servant of Isaiah, the importance of the line of David, the idea of the messianic secret.
b) The significance of these expectations and their impact on New Testament texts, including Matthew’s proof texts in the birth narratives and for understanding the Gospel texts.
With reference to the ideas of R Brown and M Hooker.

a) Religious groups in Palestine.
b) Hellenism.
c) Roman occupation.
d) The role and impact of these influences on legal and ethical dimensions of life in first-century Palestine and the relationship of Jesus’ life and work to these influences.