Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
29 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Introduction |
- There are more people who claim Christianity than any other religion in the world- more than two billion, or roughly one out of three people in the world.
-The various Christian movements are linked by their profession of faith in jesus. they share a belief in a transformation wrought by the life, death, and resurrection from the death of Jesus. They differ in their understanding of the meaning of these events.
-Given the theological, cultural, and institutional diversity among Christians it is more accurate to use the term "Christianities" rather than imply that there is a single Christian tradition.
-Many Christians have a linear view of time, in which they look forward to a life beyond this life for individuals and a new age of peace and harmony for humanity and even for the entire cosmos. |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Text Founder: Jesus of Nazareth |
-Jesus of Nazareth was a Jewish rabbi from the region of Galilee in the first century c.e
-The four New Testament gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) were not written as biographies in the modern sense but rather as affirmations of faith in who Jesus was and what his coming meant.
-Two gospels agree that Jesus was born to a young virgin named Mary. More accurate Birth year was not the year 0 c.e. but around 4 b.c.e (young. 208)
-Following his baptism Jesus spent time in the wilderness of Judea fasting and teaching in Nazareth, Galilee with a group of close twelve disciples (symbolic of 12 tribes of Israel) and women-- some scholars have demonstrated that some of the women financed the disciples.
-Jesus challenged religious authorities and taught people that compassion for others was more important than meticulous observance of Torah Law.
-Jesus also worked miracles and associated with known sinners and social outcasts the sick, blind, lame, deformed, the poor, women during menstruation and at childbirth.
-Jesus crucified on the Roman cross; his body was placed in a rock tomb and according to the gospels, Jesus had been raised from the dead (women first "gospel-ers) |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts The New Testament and the Birth of Christianity |
-The New Testament is actually a library 27 separate sacred writings, most of which was written between 50 and 100 c.e. (note: Hebrew Bible was composed over a span of 1,000 years).
-The name "testament" is another word for "covenant."
-Tanakh writers emphasized God's relationship with the covenant people as a whole, whereas New Testament authors focus on the cosmic importance of a single descendant of Abraham, Jesus of Nazareth (b.6-4 b.c.e- d.30-33 c.e).
-The only literary category that early Christians invented, the English word "Gospel" translates the Greek euangelion, meaning "good news." designed to proclaim the "good news" about Jesus, the canonical Gospels tells the story of Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection. |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts The Development of the New Testament |
-The Christian proclamation about Jesus was almost entirely by word of mouth (Aramaic) for approximately 40 years.
-Paul, a self-proclaimed Apostle, rarely mentions events in Jesus' life or in quotes his teachings, which were composed from 50-62 c.e
-The Gospel of Mark was written (in Greek) from 66-70 by the Markinian writers, during the Jewish revolt against Roman and the Roman's destruction of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem.
-Matthew was written 80-85 c.e. and Luke and Acts was written in 85-90.
-John was written 90-95 and Revelation in 95.
-See Handout: The Three Synoptic Gospels. The term "Q" comes from the German Quelle, which means "source" |
|
|
The Three Synoptic Gospels 1. Which of the four canonical gospels is not considered a part of the Synoptics? |
The Gospel of John
-It significantly differs in content and theology.
|
|
|
The Three Synoptic Gospels
What are the 8 examples of why the Gospel of John is not considered part of the Synoptics? I. |
1) In John, Jesus is the Christ, the eternal Logos (word) who "became flesh" and preexisted in heaven- the prehuman Christ, the light of the world, existed before Abraham |
|
|
The Three Synoptic Gospels
What are the 8 examples of why the Gospel of John is not considered part of the Synoptics? II. |
2) John includes no record of Jesus' baptism |
|
|
The Three Synoptic Gospels
What are the 8 examples of why the Gospel of John is not considered part of the Synoptics? III. |
3) John includes no temptation by Satan
|
|
|
The Three Synoptic Gospels
What are the 8 examples of why the Gospel of John is not considered part of the Synoptics? IV. |
4) John does not record a single parable |
|
|
The Three Synoptic Gospels
What are the 8 examples of why the Gospel of John is not considered part of the Synoptics? V. |
5) John includes none of the Jesus' reinterpretations of Torah Law (divorce, Sabbath, retaliation)
|
|
|
The Three Synoptic Gospels
What are the 8 examples of why the Gospel of John is not considered part of the Synoptics? VI. |
6) John minimizes expectations of Jesus' Second Coming, offering no prophecies of an imminent return
|
|
|
The Three Synoptic Gospels
What are the 8 examples of why the Gospel of John is not considered part of the Synoptics? VII. |
7) John does not preserve a communion ritual but rather shows the Christ washing the disciples' feet |
|
|
The Three Synoptic Gospels
What are the 8 examples of why the Gospel of John is not considered part of the Synoptics? VIII. |
8) Christ undergoes no agony on the cross in John, declaring at this Earthly death, "It is accomplished!"
|
|
|
The Three Synoptic Gospels
What are the 8 examples of why the Gospel of John is not considered part of the Synoptics? (complete) |
1) In John, Jesus is the Christ, the eternal Logos (word) who "became flesh" and preexisted in heaven - the prehuman Christ, the light of the world, existed before Abraham
2) John includes no record of Jesus' baptism
3) John includes no temptation by Satan
4) John does not record a single parable
5) John includes none of the Jesus' reinterpretations of Torah Law (divorce, Sabbath, retaliation)
6) John includes none of the Jesus' Second Coming, offering no prophecies of an imminent return
7) John does not preserve a communion ritual but rather shows the Christ washing the disciples feet
8) Christ undergoes no agony on the cross in John, declaring at his Earthly death, "It is accomplished!" |
|
|
Selected Comparisons of Text in the Four Gospels |
-The lord's Prayer is an example of probable contents of Q; however, even though it may derive from the same source, because of the oral tradition and translation from Aramaic to Greek and later to Latin and German and then English, the text presented in contemporary Bibles still varies between Luke and Matthew
-Handout: Parallels and differences in the four gospels
-Handout: Jesus' last words
-"The community that produced the Gospel of John held a uniquely high view of Jesus' divinity, ascribing to him a heavenly preexistence before his coming to earth and equating him with an eternal attribute of God, the divine wisdom use to create the universe. A mythical reflection upon Jesus' cosmic meaning and a tribute to his divinity, the Fourth Gospel presents Jesus' earthly life almost exclusively in terms of his postresurrection glory" (Harri 381) |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts What was the Jerusalem Church/ Apostolic Council? |
- James, the brother of Jesus, also known as "James the Just," was the head of the first Christian community
-The Jerusalem followers held their material goods in common and met in homes to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, but they also continue to observe the Jewish and worshiped at the Temple.
-The Gospel of Thomas, written between the end of the first and beginning of the second century c.e. Jesus himself names James his successor: "The disciples said to Jesus, 'we know that you will depart from us. who will be our leader? Jesus said to them, 'where you are, you are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being" (aslan 200)
-Apostolic council-- consisting of the three pillars of the early Christian church: James, Peter, and John. James was the brother to Jesus and head of the church and, along with the other two, were there to experience Jesus' teachings and among the first to witness Jesus' resurrection. |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts Who was Paul? 1. |
Named "saul" was a former Pharisee and self-proclaimed persecutor of Christians. On the road to Damascus, Saul experience a revelation (apokalypsis) a "blinding vision of the risen Messiah." With his conversion he changed his name to Paul, and became a self-proclaimed Apostle of Christ (as apostle of the man, Jesus of Nazareth). Paul believed that his declaration of faith in Christ superseded Torah law. |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts Who was Paul? 2. |
In 40 c.e. and again in 50 c.e. Paul was beckoned to the meet with the leaders of the Apostolic Council. IN his letters, Paul described James, Peter, and John as "false believers" and "deceitful workers". Paul taught that Gentiles did not have to live under the commandments of Torah in order to experience redemption. The third meeting between Paul and the Apostolic Council took place around 57 c.e. Paul said, "Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!" Paul believed he was "set apart" before birth to become, not the 13th apostle, but the celestial first apostle of Christ. He effectively transformed Christianity from a Jewish sect into a new world religion. |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts Who was Paul? 3. |
His message became more one of a personal salvation (as compared to group preservation) from a decaying world, from death, and from the evil powers of the world. Paul taught that those who respond with faith (not works) to God's grace in Christ enter a new life of freedom. |
|
|
The Birth of Christianity |
- Peter brings message of the crucified Jesus to Jewish communities in Palestine and surrounding area; Paul's mission concentrates on the gentiles in the Roman world. Christian communities began to spring up around the Mediterranean world
-Worship within the earliest Christian communities apparently revolved around gatherings in homes, in which the last meal of Jesus with his disciples was reenacted as a way of experiencing his presence. Baptism was practiced. Paul spoke of a number of "gifts of the Spirit" present among the followers of Christ.
-After being under house arrest under the Roman Empire, Paul dies in Rome in 62 c.e. (cause of death unclear). the year 70 c.e. was a watershed in both the Jewish and Christian traditions... destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. The period before c.e. is called the apostolic age in Christian history. After 70, the post-apostolic period (70-125c.e.) began.
-By 2-- c.e. Christianity had spread throughout the Roman Empire. In 312 c.e. the emperor Constantine decreed in the Edict of Milan: the tolerance of Christianity in the Roman Empire. in 380 c.e. the emperor theodosius recognized Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire.
-Was Jesus human? Was Jesus divine? Both? Christian leaders sought to develop standards of belief among Christians called creeds. As a result, it took several centuries for Christian "orthodoxy" to emerge. |
|
|
Nicene Creed: Jesus becomes God |
During the summer of 325 c.e., in the Byzantine city of Nicaea (currently in Turkey), Rome's emperor named Constantine, a new convert to Christianity, ordered that the nearly 2,000 Roman bishops resolve their theological differences. They were prohibited from disbanding until they once and for all determined whether Jesus was human or divine. What resulted was the creation of the Nicene Creed: "true God from God, begotten not made, of one Being with the Father."
-Immediately following the release of the Nicene Creed, the Arians, who relied on Jame's teachings to proclaimed Jesus to be human and affirmed works over faith, were exiled and their writings were violently suppressed until, 73 years later, the letter of James was included in the first canonized Bible.
-In this version, 14 letters of Paul's were included, resulting in "more than half of the 27 books that now make up the New Testament are either by or about Paul." This explains why the Roman Empire, and a majority of sects of Christianity today, are considered to be Pauline Christianity. |
|
|
The Institutionalization of Christianities |
-In 451 c.e. another ecumenical council at Chalcedon in Asia Minor attempted to resolve the dispute over the two natures of Christ, proclaiming that Jesus is "perfect in divinity and humanity, truly God and truly human.
-One with the greatest influence on the subsequent shape of Christianity was Augustine, Bishop of Hippo in North Africa (354-430): conceptualizes the trinity, original sin, divine grace, faith, the sacraments, role of church.
-Roman empire collapses in 5th century, starting Middle ages (5th-15th centuries), where Christianity had become by far the major religion in western europe-- even a governing system.
-The split between eastern and western Christianity is dated 1054 c.e.
-Middle ages produced some remarkable figures: Hildegard of Bingen; St. Francis of Assisi; and Thomas Aquinas |
|
|
Reformation |
-German Martin Luther posted his "95 theses" in wittenberg in 1517. Luther was particularly incensed by the system of indulgences: to purchase the remission of sins by making payment to church. He was excommunicated in 1521.
- John Clavin...shared with Luther the principles of salvation by God's grace through faith alone, the supreme authority of Scripture, and the "priesthood of all believers." Stressed Paul's teaching that God "predestines" or "elects" those who will be saved, and that only God knows who are among the "elect." Calvin is credited with the development of capitalism in Europe.
-Anabaptist movement: best known for their practice of adult baptism, their advocacy of pacifism and the strict separation of church and state.
-1533 King Henry VIII founded the church of England
-John Knox, led a movement that ultimately resulted in the creation of the Church of Scotland.
-Catholic Reformation: Council of Trent (1545-1563), While Protestants emphasized that Scripture alone was the standard by which any church should be judged, the Council of Trent stated that the tradition of the Catholic Church had equal authority with Scripture.
-Ignatius Loyola... Jesuits formed
-St. Teresa of Avila is remembered as a mystic who was also a gifted theologian. |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts The orthodox Church |
- Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople: union of 14 independent churches
-All accept as infallible the creeds and dogmas of the first seven ecumenical councils.
-Emphasis is on the incarnation of the invisible God... the point is the experience of God's holy presence in the sacraments, icons, prayers, and pageantry of the Church. |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts Roman Catholicism |
-From the Council of Trent until the 19th century, the teachings and structure of the Roman Catholic Church remained fairly stable.
-1962 Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council-- the most transforming event in the history of Roman Catholicism since 1563: use of the vernacular; sharing of papal authority among bishops; Jews were not responsible for death of Jesus.
-In 2013 the Roman Catholic Church is by a significant margin the largest of the branches of Christianity, with over one billion members worldwide. |
|
|
Recent Popes |
Pope Benedict XVI - Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger)
Pope Francis - Jorge Mario Bergoglio present |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts Protestantism |
- "Denomination" vs. National Church (separation of Church and state)
-Lutheran
-Presbyterian
-Reformed churches
-Baptist
-Mennonites and Amish
-The Methodist movement
- The Congregationalist movement
- The Quaker movement
- Pentecostal
-Fundamentalism: belief in the inerrancy and verbal inspiration of the Bible, creation in sex days, and the virgin birth, bodily resurrection, and Second Coming of Christ
|
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts Other Developments... The Charismatic Movement |
-The Term charismatic comes for the New Testament term for "gift of the Spirit."
-This movement emphasizes the "baptism of the Holy Spirit," as the Spirit is particularly manifested in the ecstatic gifts.
- Charismatic fellowships have formed within virtually all Protestant denominations (and Roman Catholicism). |
|
|
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts Other Developments... The Ecumenical Movement |
- The Term ecumenical derives from a Greek word used to refer to "the whole inhabited world."
- The ecumenical movement seeks to increase cooperation among Christian churches, particularly in their mission to the world.
-World council of Churches is the principal expression of the ecumenical movement.
- There is also a trend toward union among Protestant denominations... more than fifty such unions since World War II |
