Early Christianity

Question 1

Alexandra the Great

Answer 1

4th Century BC. Conquered much of Europe spreading the greek language and philosophy. Also bringing trade - exchange of goods.

Question 2

Socrates

Answer 2

plato’s protagonist (championing and teaching him)

Question 3

Stoicism

Answer 3

Founder Zeno.
Did not believe in a personal God.
Viewed the entire world as permeated with reason - “logos”.
Saw that humanity carried the spark of divinity.
Strict moral conduct.

Question 4

Epicureanism (Epicurus 4-3century BCE)

Answer 4

Yes gods - but not concerned with humanity.

Seek pleasure, avoid pain.

Question 5

Platonism (Plato 429-347 BCE)

Answer 5

Taught in the ‘Academy’
Most widely admired philosophical school between 2-6th Century CE.
Point to the sky - we dont see what truely exists.
‘The One or The First’ = origin of everything and what humans seek.
The logos/Word/Reason/Intelligence emanated from the One to create the universe.

Question 6

Aristotle

Answer 6

Points to the ground - empirical
He focuses on what exists here and has a more empirical approach
Grandfather of Science

Question 7

Jewish Diaspora (Die-ass-pra)

Answer 7

The scattering of the jewish people through out the Roman Empire/ outside Jerusalem and Palestine. Taking with them the scriptures of the Old Testament.

Community identity maintained around the synagogue.

Question 8

Pharisees

Answer 8

Legalists - believed in the strict return to the law.

Post temple destruction (70 AD) over the following two decades they were responsible for forming normative Judaism.

Question 9

Sadducees

Answer 9

Keepers of the temple - belief that it was through temple worship that restoration would come

Question 10

Zealots

Answer 10

Military solutions to roman occupation in Palestine - by the sword and armed resistance that oppression would stop.

Question 11

Essenes

Answer 11

Believed that they needed to separate themselves from the rest of the community/world that they believed was corrupted.
Regaining purity through isolation.

Question 12

Gnosticism

Answer 12

Home in Alexandria
Claimed special knowledge (gnosis)

Rejected jewish account of a created world, and struggled with the evident imperfection of creation

1. Roots in …Dualism = no union between world of matter and spirit.
2. Belief in Docetism = only illusionary human appearance - saved from the experience of crucifixion.
3. salvation through knowledge - the escape
4. Supreme being over Old T God
5. Jesus has nothing to do with Old T God
6. Genesis creation was a disaster.

Question 13

Dualism

Answer 13

Spirit versus the material. Good vs Evil. Darkness versus light.

Question 14

Basilides and Valentinus

Answer 14

Gnostics of the second century. Both believed that Jesus was only human in an illusionary sense. Substitution at the cross.

Question 15

What was the criteria for the Canon of Scripture?

Answer 15

Apostolic authority = written by
Antiquity = apostolic era
Orthodoxy = line up with Apostolic Tradition?
Catholicity = accept by all churches
Traditional use = how has it been used?
Inspiration = bear the “hallmark” of the the Holy Spirit”

Question 16

Montanus. Priscilla and Maximilla.

Answer 16

Faces of the Montanists.
Movement known as “new prophecy”
Individual revelation validation/emphasized
Deemed heretical by Catholic church- too harsh?

Question 17

Alexandria

Answer 17

Ancient greek city.
One of the five centres of Christianity.
Theologically active church.
Wealthy and powerful city.
Intellectual capital of the mediterranean world.
Christian theologians toke and open stance to greek philosphy.
Clement of Alexandria
Oregin