Ancient and Medieval Christianity

Question 1

Palestine was the trade routes between which lands?

Answer 1

Egypt with Mesopotamia and Asia Minor with Arabia

Question 2

Christianity first appeared in which land?

Answer 2

Palestine

Question 3

The Seleucids, in 63 BCE, deposed of the last Maccabean… namely?

Answer 3

Aristobulus II

Question 4

When was Herod the Great appointed king of Judea?

Answer 4

40 BCE

Question 5

What were the two fundamental tenets of all Jews?

Answer 5

ethical monotheism and eschatological hope

Question 6

What is the LXX?

Answer 6

The septuagint… Greek translation of Hebrew Bible

Question 7

Who was a contemporary of Jesus who sought to show that the best of pagan philosophy agreed with the Hebrew scriptures?

Answer 7

Philo of Alexandria

Question 8

What helped the spread of early Christianity most?

Answer 8

freedom and efficiency of Rome

Question 9

What is ‘the indiscriminate mizing of elements from various religions’?

Answer 9

Syncretism

Question 10

What to philosophical systems did Christians find helpful to speak with the Hellenistic culture?

Answer 10

Platonism and Stoicism

Question 11

What is ‘apatheia’?

Answer 11

Life without passions

Question 12

What is the first conflict in the early church?

Answer 12

Before there were even Gentiles “Hebrews” and “Hellenists” had a crisis.

Question 13

Who was the earliest persecution aimed at?

Answer 13

Hellenistic Christians

Question 14

What two days did early Christians fast on each week?

Answer 14

Wednesday and Friday

Question 15

What are God-fearers?

Answer 15

Gentiles who had come to believe in Israel’s God and ethical teachings but had not joined the ranks of Israel.

Question 16

Where were the first followers of Jesus called ‘Christians’?

Answer 16

Antioch

Question 17

What is the ‘catechumenate’?

Answer 17

A person preparing for baptism under the rule of Christian rules and teaching.

Question 18

Who affirms that their were two persons by the name of John in the early church?

Answer 18

Papias of Hierapolis

Question 19

Who were the “founders” of the church in Alaxandria?… Constantinople?… Spain?… India?

Answer 19

Mark… Phillip… James… Thomas

Question 20

What are three ways the church spread and by whom was it spread?

Answer 20

Persecution, business, and missionary calling. While we have stories of those who were revered as founders and saints, the majority of the gospel was spread by thousands of unnamed travelers.

Question 21

Who expelled the Jews rom Rome around 51 CE?

Answer 21

Emperor Claudius

Question 22

Suetonius, a Roman historian, says the Jews were expelled because…

Answer 22

The claim of Christians that the Messiah had come was causing so many riots.

Question 23

AFTER it was clear their was a clear distinction between Christians and Jews, and that their message was spreading around the empire, what were Christians ordered to do?

Answer 23

Show their loyalty by worshipping the emperor.

Question 24

Why did Paul STILL believe he was being persecuted?

Answer 24

“for the hope of Israel”

Question 25

When did Nero take the throne?

Answer 25

54 CE

Question 26

Explain the ‘great fire’ under Nero… When..How… What

Answer 26

June 18, 64 CE. A rumor arose that Nero himself ordered the city destroyed only to be rebuilt, but Tecitus seems inclined to believe in started in an oil warehouse. Two areas that had not burned contained many Jews and Christians. Therefore, the emperor decided to blame the Christians.

Question 27

What social activities did many Christians abstain from?