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69 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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In class, we investigated Romans through the lens of which method of analysis?
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Rhetorical Critical Analysis
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The introductory part of a speech that is used to capture the audience's attention is called the:
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Exordium
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What are the two functions of the exordium?
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1 - create audience goodwill
2 - capture audience attention |
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What are the 4 areas that a speaker can solicit goodwill from?
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1 - own person
2 - audience 3 - the case itself 4 - the opponent |
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What verses encompass the exordium in Romans?
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Romans 1: 1-7
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In the original Greek transcript, how was the exordium in Romans formatted?
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The original exordium was all written as one sentence.
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Who/What is the main subject in the Roman exordium?
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Paul
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What is the main thought that Paul includes in his exordium?
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"Grace and peace to you from God."
- emphasis on who Paul is and why he is being sent; he establishes goodwill by humbly displaying credentials, establishing himself as a servant of God |
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What 3 types of goodwill does Paul display in his exordium?
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1 - goodwill from his own person ("servant of God")
2 - goodwill from his audience ("you are among those called...") 3 - goodwill from his case (the Gospel) |
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Which verses in Romans serve as the "hook", and why does it function in this manner?
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verses 16 and 17
- Includes the word "power". Power had metaphysical and philosophical connotations - In stoic philosophy, passive matter cannot become active until activated by a power. Therefore, God is to be viewed here as the activator of life for all people, both Jews and Gentiles. |
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Which verse in Romans discusses a progressive moral decline? What does Paul seem to be doing in this verse?
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verse 18. Paul describes a moral decline that contains Jewish stereotypes of Gentiles in his depiction of evil (sexually impure, God haters, etc...). He does this to initially win the approval of the Jews in his audience.
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According to Paul, what was the first step in humanity's moral decline?
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People began to worship the created over the creator. Just by looking at nature, the people should have been able to deduce that a greater power put life into everything around them.
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Where does the first shift in Romans occur, and what purpose does this shift serve?
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The first shift occurs in Romans 2: 1. After describing a stereotypical view of Gentile sinning, Paul goes on to say to the Jews, "you have no excuse to judge because you are doing the same things." This is the primary issue that is in dispute in the book of Romans.
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What is the primary conflict that is addressed in Romans?
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The primary conflict centers around the division between Jewish and Gentile converts. The Jews judged the Gentiles because they never followed the same laws that Jews were accustomed to, and the Gentiles were angered by Jewish judgement and hypocrisy.
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What chapters/verses make up the partition in Romans?
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The partition goes from Romans 1: 18 - Romans 3: 31.
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How does the partition function in a speech?
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The partition serves to clarify; it lets your audience know what you will be addressing so that they can follow you easily.
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What are the 2 forms that a partition can take?
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1 - enumerate the points that your speech will address
2 - first identify parts of your opponents beliefs that you identify/agree with, then transition to what is in dispute |
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Which form of partition does Paul seem to use in Romans? Give examples of this usage.
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Paul seems to be using the 2nd form of partition (identify with opponent and then introduce dispute).
Example: in verses 1-32, Paul seems to be in agreement with his rhetorical opponents, the Jewish converts [this is seen when he lists a stereotypical view of Gentile sinning]. Chapter 2:1, however, contains a shift to first person singular (you who are judging another are doing the very same thing). Now, Paul's accusation is clear (you are all sinners guilty of the same things). His partition has set up the argument that he will now have to prove. |
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What is the primary argumentative strategy that Paul implements in the partition (and throughout the rest of the piece)?
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Paul introduces his argument of letter vrs. intent of the law.
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Explain the difference between the letter and the intent of the law?
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Following the letter of the law means doing what the law says simply because the law says to do it.
Following the intent of the law means that you are adhering to the spirit in which the law was initially created. (Though Jews followed the strict moral guidelines of the law, God still punished them by sending the Babylonians on them as a "death penalty". They are found just as guilty as the Gentiles). |
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Where does the confirmation/refutation begin in Romans?
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The confirmation/refutation section of Romans begins in Romans 4: 1 and goes through the end of Romans 14.
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What does the confirmation/refutation initially address? Why?
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The confirmation/refutation section opens by citing the example of Abraham. Genesis 15 says that Abraham found favor/was called righteous because he BELIEVED God, not because he followed to law. He was a good example for the Jews to look to of someone who was justified by God not on basis of following the letter of the law, but by believing the spoken promises of God and thereby following the spirit behind the law.
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What is the purpose of the allusions to Ezekiel that are found in Romans?
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To help prove that Jews are just as guilty as the Gentiles.
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When using allusions to Ezekiel, who does Paul call upon as a witness to verify that Jews really are as guilty as the Gentiles?
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God himself
("Thus says the Lord...") |
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What message do the Ezekiel allusions support? What particular incident in Ezekiel is Paul referencing?
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The guilt of the Jews
- In Ezekiel, God pours his wrath upon the Jewish people by executing the "death penalty" upon them. He accomplishes this by allowing King Nebechanezzer and the Babylonians to take them over. . |
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What does the story of the Babylonian takeover show the Jewish people?
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The Ezekiel allusions show that God has finally fulfilled the promises that he made in the midst of the judgement and wrath that he had brought upon them.
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How were the Jews meant to respond to the story alluded to in Ezekiel?
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Their appropriate response should have been that of shame and dismay, because the Lord said he acted "for the sake of [his name]" rather than for anything that the Jews did of their own merit.
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What did Paul want the Jews to understand about following the spirit of the law vrs. the letter of the law.
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Trying to keep the letter of law results in sin and death because there is no new spirit to support it.
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What does the trial language used in the allusions to Ezekiel show?
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Trial language shows that God will pardon Israel rather than acquit them (implies guilt intertwined with mercy, being let off simply because of grace).
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What is the result of God's pardon of Israel's wickedness?
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A new heart and spirit.
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What idea is the "Valley of Dry Bones" allusion meant to support?
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Paul looks at Jesus and the resurrection and sees a connection between the new life given here and the new life given in the story of the Valley of Dry Bones. He works backwards, saying, "God has finally fulfilled promises to Israel that were made in Ezekiel."
- Jesus was the first, the original firstborn from the dead. - Paul ties these together by referencing church baptisms, which include symbolic death/burial/resurrection. - The baptisms are meant to indicate a transformation in nature, imparted to believers so that they can understand God's will and keep it. This is what allows them to live by the spirit of the law, because in Christ they are new creations. |
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In what chapter does Paul identify the real intent behind the letter of the law? What does he say is the real intent?
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Paul identifies the real intent behind the law in Romans 12 - 14.
- The whole law is summed up in this one commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself." - In chapter 14, the purpose emerges explicitly. Paul enumerates his main point...don't judge your brother. - If you judge you are no longer walking in love, if not walking in love then not following intent of law, and therefore you will be found guilty at final judgement. |
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Through what lens do we examine the book of Hebrews?
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Philosophical Analysis
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What is the process of gaining faith in Hebrews related to?
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The steps of becoming faithful are shown as similar to/the same as the process of becoming virtuous in stoic philosophy.
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What concept is heavily integrated in the book of Hebrews?
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Platonic Dualism
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Describe Platonic Dualism/who developed this idea?
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According to Plato (the developer of this idea), there are 2 realms:
- a sensible world that is accessed through our actual, physical senses - an intelligible world (only accessed through intellect, mind, dialectic, reflection). |
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Why did Plato maintain that the sensible realm cannot be trusted? Where is this idea found in the book of Hebrews?
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Plato said that senses can't be trusted because they don't receive reality-they simply show you a copy of the perfect form that is found in the intelligible world.
- This concept is shown in Hebrews when the author describes an earthly temple by saying that it is just a copy of the real sanctuary where Christ lives. |
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Who countered the idea of platonic dualism?
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Aristotle
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How did Aristotle's beliefs differ from Plato's concept of platonic dualism?
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Aristotle believed that the senses can be trusted, and that the only way we gain knowledge about universe is through sensory perception.
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What is Aristotelian Telos?
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Aristotelian Telos describes a process of development in which everything is coming into existence and then immediately begins to move from being potentially something to actually something.
- The "actuality" that the developing thing is arriving at is its telos. |
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According to Aristotle, how does form participate in matter?
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By moving towards telos.
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According to Aristotle, in observing everything, what 4 questions can be asked?
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1 - who made it
2 - what is its purpose 3 - by what design was it created 4 - what is it made out of |
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How are Aristotle's 4 questions explained in Hebrews?
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1 - who made it? God [efficient cause, divine mind, creator]
2 - what is its purpose? to bring eternal life 3 - by what design was it created? Jesus is the prototype, first of flesh and blood to obtain new telos of flesh and blood, no fear of death, no fear of going out of existence. 4 - what is it made out of? flesh and blood |
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Who attempted to correct Aristotle's philosophy?
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The stoics
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What did the stoic philosopher's believe to be the ultimate end of telos?
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Virtue
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What are the 4 virtues that stoics believed you must develop to be truly happy?
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1 - courage
2 - wisdom 3 - temperance 4 - justice |
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What is the primary virtue that the author of Hebrews seems to be trying to develop in his audience?
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Courage so that they will "finish the race" and be able to attain their final telos.
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Whose control does the author of Hebrews want us to believe the process of attaining faith is in?
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Our own
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Describe the process of attaining faith according to the stoics and the book of Hebrews:
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- receiving an impression
- holding onto it (cognition) - choosing to latch onto the idea and implement it to become a virtuous person |
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What is behind the idea of an "impression"?
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Everything that is said has a thought imbedded within it, and there are different levels of understanding.
- In order to retain a certain idea and implement it, when something grabs you, you have to grab it back. - this has to do with the concept of sensory perception. everything is trying to grab you mentally, we choose what to hold on to. |
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Describe the implementation of faith in Hebrews:
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1 - hearing word of God
2 - assenting to it 3 - grasping hold of it 4 - living a life reflecting that faith |
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What is the ultimate goal of the book of Hebrews?
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Trying to strengthen the faith of the church in Christ.
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What does "apocolypto" mean?
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uncovering/unveiling
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Who is the author of Revelations?
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The author is called "John, a servant of God" but is not believed to be the same John who wrote the book of John.
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Describe the background behind the authorship of Revelations:
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The author was believed to be in exile on an island because of persecution implemented by emperor Domecian, who perceived Christians as disloyal to empire.
- Christians were told to show allegiance by offering incense, thereby worshiping Caesar as a deity. - Christians therefore faced with death upon refusal to recant confession of faith in Jesus as Lord and worship Caesar instead. |
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How is the picture of Jesus in Revelations different from the picture of Jesus found in the Gospels?
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The author makes heavy use of symbolism, describes a battle between all of good vs. all of evil, symbolism, vivid depictions of judgement, restoration, etc...
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What are the 2 methods by which Revelations can be interpreted, and what would be the purpose of these 2 types of interpretations?
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1 - historical, which would have been meant to address the people who were facing persecution and death in his own present-day. If viewed from this perspective, then Revelations is meant to describe contemporaneous people, places, and events in symbolic terms.
2 - predictive, which would have been meant to tell future events (John looking in future to describe events in 20th century/present day or days yet to come). purpose of this method would be to warn people of what is to come. |
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What is the purpose of John's elaborate description of Jesus' heavenly throne?
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Trying to implicitly convey the idea that Jesus' power, might, and reign is greater than that of Caesar's. He is to be feared and revered above the earthly King who is persecuting them.
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How is the Lamb symbolic, and what message is the Lamb meant to convey?
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He is symbolic of sacrifice/ the sacrifice that the people are being called to make themselves. He is praised/honored/glorified because he sacrificed himself, overcame, and was found worthy to open the seal.
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Describe the 4 horsemen of the Apocolypse. What do they represent?
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The judgement of God on the earth.
1 - white, conquerer 2 - red, peace taken from earth/slaughter of all mankind 3 - black, economic ruin 4 - pale green, death |
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What is the significance of the 5th seal?
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The 5th seal conveys the message that those who have been slaughtered, God will avenge. It emphasizes the idea that God is not unaware. He is sovereign so he allowed it to happen.
- Ultimately, the 5th seal provides reassurance that God knows what is going on and that physical death is not the worst fate. |
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When does apocolyptic literature generally emerge?
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When people groups are under times of enormous stress. Therefore, this kind of literature emphasizes justice, hope, and the reason that things happen.
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What seems to be the intention of Revelation? How do the people overcome as the Lamb was able to do?
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To raise people's horizons and help them to realize that physical death is not the worst fate. It is more important to hold fast to their beliefs an to worship God alone, because the "second death" in the lake of fire is far worse than anything that Caesar can do to their earthly bodies. They are a part of something greater, and they "overcome" by holding fast to the testimony of Jesus.
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Who might the prostitute represent?
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Rome
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Who might the dragon and the beast represent?
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Nero and Caesar, whom he gave his power to
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How does John end Revelations?
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With a depiction of a restored earth..."The home of God is among mortals."
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Describe the images depicted at the end of Revelations, in chapter 22:
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Tree of Life, life eternal, a healed earth... the dragon/beast/prostitute (all of evil) have been defeated by Jesus (and all of good) and healing is coming to the world.
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How must Christians facing persecution ultimately overcome?
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by allowing themselves to be slaughtered (as the lamb allowed himself to be slaughtered for the sanctification of many).
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What is the ultimate message behind the symbolism and visions found in Revelations?
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Implicit and explicit encouragement to remain faithful to death despite the widespread persecution going on at the time.
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