Theological Knowledge Church History

Front 1

Which Roman ruler conquered Palestine and when?

Back 1

Pompey in 63 BC

Front 2

Until when was Greek the language of the Church in Rome?

Back 2

The middle of the third century

Front 3

Greek was employed exclusively by Christian writers until when, and which languages were added?

Back 3

Until the late second century, when some works in Latin and Syriac are known

Front 4

After the conquest of Alexander the Great, what two ruling groups ruled Palestine successively?

Back 4

The Ptolemies (Egypt) and then the Seleucids (Syria)

Front 5

When was the century of independence for the Jews, and under which dynasty was it secured?

Back 5

The Hasmonean dynasty secured the independence in 164-63 BC

Front 6

What, where and when were the three Jewish revolts in the first few centuries ano domini

Back 6

The one that destroyed the temple in 66-73 put down by Vespasian and Titus, The second in the Diaspora communities of Northeast Africa and Cyprus in 115-17, and the third was the Bar Kokhba revolt under Hadrian 132-35

Front 7

When was Jesus born?

Back 7

around 4 BC or earlier

Front 8

What three groups existed in the early Jerusalem church?

Back 8

The Galilaeans led by Peter, the Judaean converts led by James, and those from the greek Diaspora led by Stephen

Front 9

How did James the Just begin to lead Jerusalem church?

Back 9

When Stephen was killed the hellenists were scattered, the apostle James was killed, and Peter was imprisoned, thus increasingly James took up a prominent position in the Jerusalem church. His family ties with Jesus would have given him some more authority

Front 10

When was James the Just executed?

Back 10

62 AD

Front 11

How did the church in Antioch start?

Back 11

It began in Antioch when the believers from Jerusalem were scattered on account of the persecution arising from the preaching of stephen.

Front 12

Why were they first called Christians in Antioch?

Back 12

Because in Jerusalem they were still Jews who added Jesus to their beliefs, but when they were scattered away from Jerusalem and greeks heard the message too, then they received a new name - Christian

Front 13

When and by whom was Paul executed?

Back 13

He was beheaded under Nero in Rome in the mid 60s

Front 14

How was there a large number of Christians in Rome even if Paul had never been there yet?

Back 14

Visitors from Rome are reported to have been in Jerusalem on the first pentecost and some may have brought that message back to Rome

Front 15

How long does Eusebius suggest that Peter was in Rome? Why is this unlikely?

Back 15

He gives him a 25 year episcopate, but judging from the silence of Acts and Romans it seems he must have arrived later than that.

Front 16

What early references do we have that Peter and Paul were in Rome and were martyred there?

Back 16

Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch

Front 17

What is the earliest explicit declaration that Peter was martyred in Rome?

Back 17

Dionysius of Corinth (c. 170)

Front 18

In what two sources do we find the assertion that Peter was crucified head down?

Back 18

The Acts of Peter, and Origen

Front 19

What type of Christianity was Thomas associated with?

Back 19

Syriac Christianity

Front 20

What were two important characteristics of Thomas Syriac PX?

Back 20

Aceticism and the Wisdom sayings like found in the Gospel of Thomas (and in Johns gospel too)

Front 21

When were James, Peter and Paul executed, and how was James excuted?

Back 21

James was killed by the Jerusalem authorities in a period when one roman governor had died and his successor had not arrived yet in 62, Peter killed in 64, and Paul in 68.

Front 22

What two important events created a dramatic shift in Christianity after around 70 AD?

Back 22

The big three of James, Peter, and Paul were executed, and the Jewish revolt was suppressed and Jerusalem was destroyed

Front 23

In particular, what three events in Jerusalem led to an increasing marginalization of Jewish Christians?

Back 23

The destruction of the temple in 70, the death of James in 62, and the banishment of the Jews from Jerusalem after the failed Bar Kokhba revolt in 135

Front 24

What are the three types of Jewish Christianity known from the writings of the church fathers?

Back 24

The Ebionites, Nazoraeans, Elkesaites

Front 25

Which early Jewish Christian group was most commented on by the Church Fathers

Back 25

The Ebionites

Front 26

Who was the hero of the Ebionites, and who did they despise?

Back 26

They loved James the Just, and hated on Paul.

Front 27

How did the Ebionites think that gentiles should be included in the church?

Back 27

They must follow the law of Moses

Front 28

What was the Ebionite understanding of the Jesus and his role in salvation?

Back 28

They affirmed a strict monotheism and thus believed Jesus to be only a man and they rejected the virgin birth. However they saw Jesus as the new moses and the messiah by virtue of his righteous life and his mission was to destroy the atonement cult in the temple and bring forgiveness by means of living water.

Front 29

What early religious group preferred the gospel of Matthew?

Back 29

The Ebionites

Front 30

What are the different understandings of the meaning behind the name Ebionite?

Back 30

Some thought it meant that they were people who followed a guy named Ebion, others who knew hebrew knew that it came from the word which meant poor and thus it referred to the poverty of their theology, but it probably is that they used the word religiously as those who are "humble"