Final answer:
The heightened messianic expectation at the dawn of the NT was fueled by political turmoil under Roman occupation. Diverse Jewish groups anticipated a messiah to liberate and fulfill the Covenant, with early Christians redefining this as spiritual salvation through Jesus.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the dawn of the New Testament (NT) era, there was a heightened messianic expectation among the Jews due to a combination of factors, including political turmoil and oppression. The Roman occupation of Judea and the longing for liberation and autonomy fueled these expectations. The religious landscape was diverse, with groups such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots, each harboring distinctive views on the coming of a messiah. The Pharisees expected a savior who would bring about a day of judgment and fulfillment of the Biblical Covenant, while the Zealots sought a messiah that would lead an armed revolt against the Romans.
Theories about what form the messiah would take varied. Some hoped for a revolutionary leader against Roman rule, but were left disappointed when Jesus, whom early Christians believed to be the messiah, did not liberate Judea from Roman control. Instead, following the teachings of Paul, early Christians argued that Jesus provided spiritual salvation rather than political. This redefinition of messianic hope as more spiritual than political was a significant shift from the prevailing expectations of the time.