NT Midterm Flashcards
Genre
the category in which a particular kind of writing/film is classified under/organized into
How many genres are in the NT? What are they?
4 main genres in the New Testament…
1) The Gospel Genre: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
2) Church History: Acts
3) Epistles: Pauline, Pseudo-Pauline, Non-Pauline
4) Apocalyptic Literature: Revelations
What does the Gospel Genre contain?
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
What does the Church History Genre contain?
The Acts
What does the Epistles Genre contain?
Pauline, Pseudo-Pauline and Non-Pauline Letters
What does the Apocalyptic Literature Genre contain?
The Revelations
What are the 3 worlds of a text?
They are the dimensions of a text. A text has three worlds contained in it, we must distinguish between the three levels:
World 1: the world “in” or “of” the text
World 2: the world “behind” the text
World 3: the world “in front” of the text
World 1
in or of the text
- The world in itself that the text takes place in
World 2
behind the text
- Refers to the historical circumstances in which the author (John) was situated
- It also refers to the historical circumstances of the subject of the story (Jesus)
World 3
in front of the text
- The way in which we interpret the Bible
- There are 34 000 Christian denominations, and this is primarily because of world #3
Explain the 3 worlds of a text using Harry Potter as an example
World 1: wizards exist, magic is available, school of hogwarts, quidditch
World 2: JK Rowling and all of her experiences and influences which shaped her to write down Harry Potter
World 3: the way in which we interpret the story
What is World 2 in the NT about?
Jesus but it’s also about the author and community that wrote the book
In what sense is Bible study something like a crime scene investigation?
When a crime happens and is done, what remains?
Only the crime scene remains. The investigator comes in and must examine the crime scene really well, well enough to reconstruct exactly what had happened. If the investigator does not examine the crime scene well, the reconstruction will be flawed.
World 1: Crime Scene (all that remains)
World 2: Investigator’s reconstruction based on analytical examination
What are the main parts of the Hebrew Bible?
Hebrew Bible/TaNaKh/Old Testament
Ta: Torah (Instructions), deals with Jewish law and guidelines
Na: Nevi’im (Prophet/s), deals with stories of prophets
Ketuvim (Writings),
The Purity System in Jesus Time
Priests
Levites
Full-blooded Israelite (men)
Illegal children of priests
Bastards (born of incestuous, adulterous, prostitutes, enuchs)
Eunuchs born that way, those of deformed sexual features, hermaphrodites
Persons of all other ethnic groups (Gentiles): non-Jews
What was one of the most important values of Jesus time?
Purity
What did one have to be in order to be a member of the chosen people?
Pure
What did it mean to be holy?
God to Israel: “Be holy as I am holy!”
1) be rooted in God’s covenant with Israel
2) be clean/pure and avoid all things unclean or impure
Why did ancient Jews divide everything on the basis of pure/impure or clean/unclean?
God said to Israel “Be holy as I am holy!” hence a focus and elaborate classification of purity arose
What are some examples of purity classifications in Jesus time? (other than the purity system)
There were pure animals (sheep) and impure ones (swine)
Blood issuing from a body was considered impure. Hence, men, in a sense, were more pure than women who became “impure” once a month
Touching a dead body made one impure.
(Between Galilee and Judea there was Samaria, and most did not like the Samaritans because they were a mixed race and purity was highly important for Jews, therefore Samaritans were deemed impure)
What is another good definition of “pure”?
Your worthiness to enter the temple and stand before God’s holiness
What was the temple?
In 1000 BCE: King David and King Solomon reigned and built the 1st Jewish Temple in a covenant with God (first temple period)
Romans destroyed King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem looking for objects of wealth (gold, statues, paintings, etc.) but were shocked to find that the Jewish Temple was empty.
After fifty years of exile/diaspora in Babylon, a small group of devoted Jews returned to their holy city and land, now called Judaea
King Cyrus (of Persia) authorized the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem (second temple period)
The second temple became the central symbol to a scattered Jewish nation
In 70 CE (40 years after Jesus’ death), the second temple was destroyed by Romans and never to be rebuilt again and Jews were forced out of Israel (with no capital or administration, thousands of Jewish sages argued and discussed a guidance they could construct for Jewish people despite their location)
What does the Jewish temple signify?
The temple signifies a long Jewish history of suffering and diaspora which they survived
What languages were common in the Israel at Jesus’ time?
Greek, Latin, Aramaic, Hebrew
Aramaic and Hebrew are both semitic languages (same roots like Italian and French)
What lead to apocalyptic thought?
Pax Romana
Peace was founded on blood of others and fear of Rome’s order, but Jews accepted it
In Israel, Roman rule meant prosperity for the ruling elite (which collaborated with the Romans) but poverty and oppression for most of the populations
This lead to apocalyptic thought
Apocalyptic Thought
A heightened desire and expectation among many Jews for a direct intervention of God in history to drive out the invaders and liberate Israel.
Messiah
Hebrew for “chosen one”
“Christ” in Greek
- Someone chosen in a special way by God in order to perform a special mission
- The Messiah will establish God’s Reign in Israel and make Israel his capital where he will rule the rest of the world
- Sent by God, but not equal to God
Did Jesus think he was the Messiah?
- Some of Jesus followers began to believe that this charismatic rabbi was the MESSIAH.
- He most probably thought he was the messiah (not a unanimous conclusion of biblical scholars though).
- Thinking that you were the messiah was not a delusional attitude in 1st century Palestine.
What/when was the second temple period?
- A time period that began with the rebuilding of the temple and lasted 450 years but ended with its demolishing in 70 CE, never to be rebuilt again (40 years after Jesus)
- Jesus lived from 4 CE to 30 CE, towards end of 2nd Temple period
- The Temple was not rebuilt because Muslims built a mosque on its mound and consider it a sacred spot
- Around the time of the temple’s destruction, Mark writes his gospel to keep an account of Jesus’ life: Mark: 70 / Matthew & Luke: 85 / John: 100
What main traits characterized 2nd Temple Judaism?
- Apocalyptic Thinking
- Apocalyptic Nature
- Worldview
- 4 Main Religious Groups
2nd Temple Period
Apocalyptic Thinking
Dualistic: Since Jews were persecuted for being Jewish, many came to believe that these sufferings were caused by God’s cosmic enemies (the powers of evil) who had been given change over the Earth for some time
Pessimistic: Things can only get worse before they get better
Convinced about
Vindication: God was going to be ultimately triumphant. God would punish Israel’s enemies and make Israel glorious once gain.
Imminent: God’s victory through a messiah was going to happen soon
2nd Temple Period
Apocalyptic Nature
A contextual factor that we should not forget…
- In the case of the Jews, in the concrete, that meant:
- Instead of the Romans (or whoever was in power at the time), if God himself were the real boss (absolute authority) around here, how would the world be?
In other words: If God’s reign would be definitively established here on earth, what kind of “world order” would we have?
2nd Temple Period
Worldview
What classified a worldview?
What 4 key answers did all jews have in common?
To find out a worldview, ask the following Questions. The answers will give an indication of the responder’s worldview.
At the time of Jesus, the Jews, in spite of being divided among themselves with regard to several issues, were at the same time firmly united on the following key points about their identity as God’s chosen people…
1) Who are we? Who are we in relation to God? Who is God? (identity)
In Israel, this question was always connected with God. God is One. God is YHWH. 10 Commandments, especially the first. There is one God (YHWH). Covenant with us.
2) Where has God put us? (location)
He has placed us here on the Promised Land. The center of which is the Temple.
3) What are our main problems?
However, now the unclean gentiles (Romans) are here in God’s land, defiling it and ruling over us
4) How is the main problem to be solved?
How they differed in their answer categorized them into a Jewish group (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots).
2nd Temple Period
Worldview
What classified a worldview?
What 4 key answers did all jews have in common?
To find out a worldview, ask the following Questions. The answers will give an indication of the responder’s worldview.
At the time of Jesus, the Jews, in spite of being divided among themselves with regard to several issues, were at the same time firmly united on the following key points about their identity as God’s chosen people…
1) Who are we? Who are we in relation to God? Who is God? (identity)
In Israel, this question was always connected with God. God is One. God is YHWH. 10 Commandments, especially the first. There is one God (YHWH). Covenant with us.
2) Where has God put us? (location)
He has placed us here on the Promised Land. The center of which is the Temple.
3) What are our main problems?
However, now the unclean gentiles (Romans) are here in God’s land, defiling it and ruling over us
4) How is the main problem to be solved?
How they differed in their answer categorized them into a Jewish group (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots).
2nd Temple Period
Religious Groups
What were the 4 main religious groups?
The Sadducees
The Pharisees
The Essenes
Zealots
How can we classify Jesus under one of the 4 main religious groups of the 2nd Temple Period?
Through his answer to “how is the main problem to be solved? (Romans in God’s PL)”
Jesus enters this world and has his own, different version of how God and God’s Kingdom will enter this world:
- God will send the Messiah (chosen one).
- Someone chosen in a special way by God in order to perform a special mission.
- The Messiah will establish God’s Reign in Israel and make Israel his capital where he will rule the rest of the world.
2nd Temple Period
How did Jews approach the question:
What are our main problems?
However, now the unclean gentiles (Romans) are here in God’s land, defiling it and ruling over us
2nd Temple Period
How did Jews approach the question:
How is the main problem to be solved?
How they differed in their answer categorized them into a Jewish group (Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, Zealots).
Sadducees
- They were involved in the temple institution
- Connected in some way with worship in the temple, many were priests
- Accepted only the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible as canonical
- Composed of the high-priestly family and their religious political allies
Wiped out when the romans crushed the Jewish revolt
Pharisees
- Advocated Torah observance in everyday life
- Considered and respected as teachers
- Developed the Oral Torah to fence in the written Torah
- Composed of laymen throughout Palestine
- The largest Jewish group of the time, it took over the leadership of Judaism in the 2nd c CE
Essenes
- Most probably founded the Qumran community, they were rigorous keepers of the Torah outside normal social settings
- Qumran: a place outside of Jerusalem overlooking the dead sea, after WWII at their library, the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered
- Also destroyed in the Roman response to the revolt
Not mentioned in the gospel: St. John the Baptist was possibly and Essenes
Zealots
- Advocated armed resistance against Rome and collaborators
- Scholarly opinions differ on whether this group existed before the Jewish revolt, or arose shortly before the revolt to incite and lead it
What were the general and common Jewish “convictions” at the time of Jesus?
1) There is one God (YHWH)
2) Covenant with us
3) He has placed us here on the Promised Land
4) The center of which is the Temple
Main Characteristics of Jesus’ Socio-Cultural World
Colonial: Israel in Jesus’ time was a “colony” of Rome
Cosmopolitan: its culture was deeply Jewish. At the same time, it was also influenced by Greco-Roman culture
Peasant Society: about 90% of the population was composed of peasant who were ruled by the ruling elite (ex: king and cronies, priests, rich merchants, etc.)
Patriarchal: the “father-figure” has absolute authority over other males and females (the king was the father-figure of the state). Women should always be “embedded” in a father figure. If their husband passes away, they become embedded in next closest male. This is why Jesus had a soft spot for widows.
Purity: one of the most important values. One had to be “pure” as a member of the chosen people
Main Characteristics of Jesus’ Socio-Cultural World
Colonial
- Pax Romana (Roman Peace) was based on the Roman empire’s violent subjugation of different peoples
- During the time of Jesus, there was a state of peace
Peace was founded on blood of others and fear of Rome’s order, but Jews accepted it - In Israel, Roman rule meant prosperity for the ruling elite (which collaborated with the Romans) but poverty and oppression for most of the populations
This lead to…
1) Apocalyptic Thought
2) Triggering Apocalypse
(e. g. Zealots)
They were hopeless and did not stand a chance against the Romans but they wanted to force God to intervene and save them
They convinced many Jews to join the movement but others were against violence
This eventually becomes the dominant paradigm which leads to the “First Jewish War” in the mid-60s at the end of which the Second Temple was destroyed
Triggering Apocalypse
Some thought that they should trigger this apocalyptic intervention of God by actively revolting against Rome
(e.g. revolutionists, people who aimed to revolt to trigger an apocalypse, a very small group who advocated against Roman Empire)
Main Characteristics of Jesus’ Socio-Cultural World
Colonial
- Pax Romana (Roman Peace) was based on the Roman empire’s violent subjugation of different peoples
- During the time of Jesus, there was a state of peace
Peace was founded on blood of others and fear of Rome’s order, but Jews accepted it - In Israel, Roman rule meant prosperity for the ruling elite (which collaborated with the Romans) but poverty and oppression for most of the populations
This lead to…
1) Apocalyptic Thought
2) Triggering Apocalypse
e. g. Zealots…
- Revolutionists, people who aimed to revolt to trigger an apocalypse, a very small group who advocated against Roman Empire
- They were hopeless and did not stand a chance against the Romans but they wanted to force God to intervene and save them
- They convinced many Jews to join the movement but others were against violence
- This eventually becomes the dominant paradigm which leads to the “First Jewish War” in the mid-60s at the end of which the Second Temple was destroyed
Main Characteristics of Jesus’ Socio-Cultural World
Cosmopolitan
- Israel had been part of foreign empires for a long time. At the time of Jesus, there was extensive Greco-Roman cultural influence already
- Jesus was seemingly a very traditionalist Jews who held tight to his Jewish identity and practices (rather than a hipster) and avoided the cosmopolitan area
- On the other hand, many Jews tried to preserve their identity and religious practices (thanks to traditionalists for avoiding being “hip” and conforming to Greek/Babylonian culture)
Aramaic is a semitic language that was commonly used by Jews at the time, Hebrew was not typically used anymore other than by Priests, Rabbis, etc.
(Aramaic and Hebrew are both semitic languages; Languages: Greek, Latin, Aramaic, Hebrew) - In the year 4 BCE, Sepphoris revolted against Rome and was destroyed, Jesus was born around this time
It’s probable that Joseph the carpenter had travelled there to rebuild it, and Jesus travelled with him - It is theorized that perhaps Mary was raped when Sepphoris revolted against Rome but since she was already in a relationship with Joseph she came up with the immaculate conception to legitimize her child whom Joseph adopted
Main Characteristics of Jesus’ Socio-Cultural World
Peasant Society
- Pre-Industrial Agrarian Society
- Elites controlled 66% of wealth (10% of population) and Peasants were left with 33% (90% of population)
- Pre-Industrial Agrarian Society - was a two-tiered society…
- Most of the power lay with the ruling elite (king, officials, retainers, rich merchants, priests, etc.)
- These controlled and owned almost everything
- The rest of the 90% worked for the elite and was used by the elite
- Jesus was a “tekton” (carpenter)
Main Characteristics of Jesus’ Socio-Cultural World
Patriarchal
- Male father-figures were the ultimate authority in all social groups (national, local, family)
- Even in the Jewish religion, patriarchy was pervasive (ex: Torah was not taught to girls because it was deemed a waste of time)
- Jesus says “call no one your father because you only have one father, God” (Mt. 23:9)
- This was a revolutionary statement during such a patriarchal society
For reasons like this, Jesus only lasted 3 years
Main Characteristics of Jesus’ Socio-Cultural World
Purity
- Rooted in God’s covenant with Israel
- God to Israel: “Be holy as I am holy!”
- In practice, that meant to avoid anything that was considered “unclean” or “impure”
- Because of that, many ancient Jews divided everything on the basis of pure/impure or clean/unclean
Hence, in ancient Israel, there was a whole elaborate classification of what was “pure” and “impure”
Triggering Apocalypse
Some thought that they should trigger this apocalyptic intervention of God by actively revolting against Rome
(e.g. Zealots: revolutionists, people who aimed to revolt to trigger an apocalypse, a very small group who advocated against Roman Empire)
How in general would Jews of Jesus’ time (end of the 2nd Temple Period Judaism) have answered ultimate questions such as:
1) Who are we? Who are we in relation to God? Who is God?
2) Where has God put us?
3) What are our main problems?
4) How is the main problem to be solved?
1) Who are we? Who are we in relation to God? Who is God?
In Israel, this question was always connected with God. God is One. God is YHWH. 10 Commandments, especially the first. There is one God (YHWH). Covenant with us.
2) Where has God put us?
He has placed us here on the Promised Land. The center of which is the Temple.
3) What are our main problems?
However, now the unclean gentiles (Romans) are here in God’s land, defiling it and ruling over us
4) How is the main problem to be solved?
How they differed in their answer categorized them into a Jewish group (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots).
Jesus enters this world and has his own, different version of how God and God’s Kingdom will enter this world…
- God will send the Messiah
- Someone chosen in a special way by God in order to perform a special mission.
- The Messiah will establish God’s Reign in Israel and make Israel his capital where he will rule the rest of the world.
Describe the social structure in pre-industrial agrarian societies (such as in Palestine-Israel in Jesus’ time)
Pre-Industrial Agrarian Society: Peasant Society
1) Elites controlled 66% of wealth (10% of population)
2) Peasants were left with 33% (90% of population)
- A two-tiered society: most of the power lay with the ruling elite (king, officials, retainers, rich merchants, priests, etc.)
- These controlled and owned almost everything
- The “rest” (90% of population) worked for the elite, was “used” by the elite
- Jesus was a “tekton” (carpenter), a 1st-century Palestinian Jewish peasant
What’s the significance of Sepphoris (a cosmopolitan place) being not so far away from the place where Jesus grew up (Nazareth)?
Geography of Jesus
- Jesus lived in Nazareth (Galilee) for most of his life
Sepphoris was the big city of Galilee of the time (the home province of Jesus) - Jesus lived close to a major urban centre
- In the year 4 BCE, Sepphoris revolted against Rome and was destroyed, Jesus was born around this time
- It’s probable that Joseph the carpenter had travelled there to rebuild it, and Jesus travelled with him
- It is theorized that perhaps Mary was raped when Sepphoris revolted against Rome but since she was already in a relationship with Joseph she came up with the immaculate conception to legitimize her child whom Joseph adopted
What are the two kinds of Christologies?
1) from above, high
“Top-Down”
2) from below, low
“Down-Up”
Top-Down Christology
- A Christology “from above”
- One begins with the presupposition that Jesus is God
- Work “downward” from there: this divine being came down to earth, lived among us, suffered, died…
- And triumphantly rose again
Down-Up Christology
- One begins like the first disciples meeting the human Jesus
- Work “upward” from there: respecting Jesus as a great human to…
- Thinking: Is this Jesus perhaps the Messiah? To…
- This is the movement that begins Christianity
Wondering: Is Jesus more than just a human messiah?
How did the First Disciples “Experience” Jesus?
from “Rabbi”
to “Messiah”
to “God”
to “Incarnation”
How did the First Disciples “Experience” Jesus?
Jesus... from “Rabbi” to “Messiah” to “God” to “Incarnation”
1) Encounter: Jesus was perceived first and foremost as a charismatic Rabbi (teacher)
2) Messiah: Some of his followers began to believe that this charismatic rabbi was the Messiah. Jesus probably also thought so. (“Messiah” not equal to “God”)
3) Son of God: After Jesus’ death, the resurrection experience made the disciples identify Jesus more closely with YHWH, giving him titles: Son of God, Saviour, Lamb, etc.
4) Incarnate: This leads to the ultimate expression of the Christian identification between God (YHWH) and Jesus is the faith-statement: Jesus himself is God. (God the Son, God INCARNATE, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, etc.). But this happened later on in time. Was made a required belief even later.
What was Jesus first and foremost perceived as?
a charismatic Rabbi (teacher)
Who perceived Jesus as a Messiah?
Some of his followers began to believe that this charismatic rabbi was the Messiah. Jesus probably thought so too.
When did people begin to perceive Jesus as the Son of Man?
After Jesus’ death, the resurrection experience made the disciples identify Jesus more closely with YHWH, giving him titles: Son of God, Saviour, Lamb, etc.
What lead to the belief that Jesus was the incarnate of God? When did this occur? Who took this belief?
- People began to perceive Jesus as Son of Man after his resurrection which lead to the ultimate expression of the Christian identification between God (YHWH) and Jesus is the faith-statement: Jesus himself is God.
- Titles to Jesus such as God the Son, God Incarnate, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, etc.
- But this happened later on in time.
- Was made a required belief even later.
Incarnation
Christian identification between and Jesus is the faith-statement: Jesus himself is God.
The Real Jesus
The historical Jewish peasant from Nazareth who lived in 1st century Palestine/Israel. No person or method of historical research can provide direct access to this (what he looked like; his thoughts, feelings, etc.)
Example: When someone passes away, we can no longer have contact with them for the rest of our lives. We can only access memories of them, but can never contact or have access to the real person.
The Jesus of History
The Historical Jesus
The scholarly reconstruction of Jesus of Nazareth’s words and deeds and life using all available contemporary methods of historical-critical research.
Example: Accessing someone who has passed through our memories, pictures, stories told by others. Piecing together their character through what we have: stories, recollections, pictures, etc. When someone is being reconstructed today, it is much easier because we have many forms of documentation, however, with Jesus it is much more difficult.
Christ of Faith
The Jesus that Christian faith has come to believe and depict. It is the result of prayer, study, personal reflection on scripture, tradition and religious experience
Reign of God
- When Jesus begins his ministry he Jesus announces the imminent coming of the Reign of God and, in preparation for that, summoned people to repent
- The coming of God’s reign was Jesus main priority and the main interest of all significant Jewish groups
Jesus’ particularity lay in how he thought the Reign of God is realized - Jesus’ main message and mission (to make it realized in the world)
- Jesus’ main message was about the Reign of God that he was realizing through his life, ministry and teaching, especially through his emphasis on COMPASSION and (distributive) JUSTICE as the dominant paradigm
Kingdom of God (Basileia Tou Theou)
- The rule or dominion of God in human affairs
- Jesus’ main message was the kingdom of God. He died and rose. It was then preached that if people follow his lifestyle, they will follow him to the kingdom of God.
- Jesus was a powerful “posterboy” who idealized the kingdom.
- Jesus was was also convinced that what he taught and what he did were the crucial factors that would bring about the kingdom of God
What did Jesus announce when he began his ministry?
The Reign of God
What was Jesus main mission?
- He wanted to make the Reign of God that he was realizing through his life, ministry and teaching, especially through his emphasis on COMPASSION and (distributive) JUSTICE as the dominant paradigm
He wanted to make God’s Reign realized by the world
Open-Table Fellowship
- Jesus shared in open table fellowship (an image of God’s inclusive reign) with a socio-culturally diverse group
- This is a probable historical fact about Jesus (as put forth by N.T Wright)
- Jesus’ ministry consisted of healing, eating and sharing fellowship
- Jesus met people over shared food and cup, offering living water and the bread of life.
- He welcomed the unexpected, inviting children, women, foreigners, tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, the lame, the blind, and the poor to “Come and see.
What were some ways in which Jesus taught?
Through
1) Parables
2) Sayings
3) Aphorisms
4) Sermons
Parables
Figurative stories that convey spiritual truth.
During his ministry, Jesus used parables frequently to announce the reign of Israel’s God.
Sayings
Expressions attributed to Jesus. There are two kinds of sayings: authentic and invented.
Q Source (Quelle) was likely composed entirely of sayings of Jesus. The early Christian community taught about Jesus through sayings, many of which were invented.
Aphorisms
A terse, memorable statement that expresses a (commonly ignored) truth about human experience.
Jesus frequently spoke in aphorisms, proverb like sayings that were typically concise, vivid and paradoxical.
How have scholars reconstructed Jesus’ teachings?
Scholars speculate what happened after Jesus death by reconstructing what shaped the letters of Paul.
They are concerned with Sitz-im-Leben (Setting in Life) which refers to particular life situations in the early Christian communities.
These life situations are important to our understanding of Jesus since they called for parables, sayings, sermons, stories and teachings related with Jesus in order to bring faith into daily life.
Name and describe some types of “works of power” (traditionally known as “miracles”). How can they be evaluated?
Jesus is known to be a performer of powerful deeds
The Gospels include many miracle stories about Jesus which demonstrate exceptional “power” or “signs”
The portray him working “nature miracles” (ex: walking on water) but these types of deeds are to be treated differently as the healings and exorcisms
They seem to call for a more symbolic than literal interpretation
Name and describe some types of “works of power” (traditionally known as “miracles”). How can they be evaluated?
Jesus is known to be a performer of powerful deeds
The Gospels include many miracle stories about Jesus which demonstrate exceptional “power” or “signs”
The portray him working “nature miracles” (ex: walking on water) but these types of deeds are to be treated differently as the healings and exorcisms…they seem to call for a more SYMBOLIC than LITERAL interpretation
What is a Mamzer? Describe Jesus as a Mazer.
Mamzer: a term applied to people who has irregularities in the way they were conceived and/or born
Jesus as a Mamzer: immaculate conception or rape in Sepphoris’ revolt against Rome
As shown through the revelations, the early Christians were very
apocalyptic
Explain the relation between John the Baptist and Jesus
Refer to the Baptism of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark versus the Gospels of Matthew and Luke
A probable fact about Jesus is that he was initially associated with John the Baptist, but emerged as a public figure in his own right around 28 CE
- Jesus was likely baptized by John
- When you are baptized by someone, you are submitting to that person as your master
- Mark shows Jesus simply being baptized by John in the river
- Matthew shows Jesus demanding that hesitant John baptize Jesus to show Jesus’ superiority
- Matthew took Mark’s story and added to/edited it to show that Jesus was more significant, though that may not have been the case at the time
- Luke omits John entirely
Authors typically omit/hide embarrassing features (authenticity: criterion of embarrassment) - Hence, Mark’s take on Jesus’ Baptism is likely much closer to history
- At the beginning of Jesus’ career, it seems that John the Baptist was more important than Jesus
- The text of Josephus seems to give more importance to John
- Was Jesus a disciple of John (at least for a while)?
How did people see Jesus at the time? Can we categorize the Historical Jesus? (Discuss Jesus using ancient and contemporary categories )
Jesus as a
1) Spirit-Person
2) Messiah
3) Prophet
4) Wisdom Teacher
4) Performer of Powerful Deeds
6) Movement/Community Founder
How did people see Jesus at the time?
Jesus as a Spirit-Person
- Was bound in an intimate relationship with God whom he fondly called “Abba” (“Daddy” is a rough English approximation)
- Had an experiential awareness of the divine
- Believed God had given him a special mission
- Believed that he was the messiah (not a consensus of scholars though)
- Believed that God’s kingdom was being realized through his ministry and teaching
How did people see Jesus at the time?
Jesus as a Prophet
- There were many Prophets in ancient Israel
- They were God’s spokespersons
- Many of Jesus’ contemporaries would have seen him as standing in the long prophetic tradition which existed in Israel
Jesus spoke in the name of God - Jesus challenged dominant paradigms in society such as the primary paradigm of “purity”
- Instead he taught that God valued compassion, love, forgiveness, inclusiveness, justice (distributive) above anything and everything
How did people see Jesus at the time?
Jesus as a Wisdom Teacher
- We don’t know how much “formal education” Jesus received but it is certain that he was a brilliant teacher would have also seen him as standing in the line of Israel’s tradition of Wisdom and Wisdom teachers
- He taught powerfully using parables, aphorisms, longer speeches, framatic atcs, etc.
How did people see Jesus at the time?
Jesus as a Performer of Powerful Deeds
- Jesus was gifted with the grace of being able to perform “deeds of power”
- Among these were healings and exorcisms
- The aim of these deeds was to show the Reign of God was indeed realized in the world
- The gospels also portray him as working “nature miracles” (ex: walking on water) but these types of deeds are to be treated differently as the healings and exorcisms
- They seem to call for a more symbolic than literal interpretation
How did people see Jesus at the time?
Jesus as a Movement Founder
- More precisely, a “community” founder
- He called disciples (both men and women) to follow him, either literally or in a more spiritual sense
- He taught his followers to live acc to his teachings and to actually spread his message about the coming Reign of God themselves
- He was convinced that the reign of God was being realized first in the community he started
How did people see Jesus at the time?
Jesus as a Messiah
Did Jesus think he was the Messiah? Different Positions on this Question:
1) Jesus thought he was the messiah and he was right
2) Jesus thought he was the messiah, and he was wrong. Yes, he could have been an impressive historical figure. Others, however, would say that ***
3) Jesus didn’t think he was the messiah and therefore he wasn’t
4) Whether or not Jesus thought he was the messiah, he is not the messiah. It does not depend upon whether Jesus thought of himself in those terms.
What was Jesus’ Main Message?
Jesus’ main message was about the Reign of God that he was realizing through his life, ministry and teaching, especially through his emphasis on compassion (mercy and love) and (distributive) justice as the dominant paradigm
What is the place of ‘compassion’ (mercy, love) and ‘justice’ in Jesus’ message?
Jesus challenged dominant paradigms in society such as the primary paradigm of “purity”
Instead he taught that God valued compassion, love, forgiveness, inclusiveness, justice (distributive) above anything and everything
What is the place of Jesus among the different views of the dominant parties at the time?
The different parties: Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, Zealots
How do we figure out which Jesus belonged to? We must ask which groups comply with the following convictions…
General and Common Jewish “Convictions” at the Time of Jesus:
1) There is one God (YHWH)
2) Covenant with us
3) He has placed us here on the Promised Land
The center of which is the Temple
4) However, now the unclean gentiles (Romans) are here in God’s land, defiling it and ruling over us
Clearly, this is not the correct situation
“Now, we must: ____________”
- How they differed in their answer categorized them into a Jewish group
- Jesus enters this world and has his own, different version of how God and God’s Kingdom will enter this world…
- God will send the Messiah
- Someone chosen in a special way by God in order to perform a special mission …
- The Messiah will establish God’s Reign in Israel
and make Israel his capital where he will rule the rest of the world
How did Jesus view the dominant purity system in place in his society?
Jesus’ particularity lay in how he thought the Reign of God is realized…
If others thought that it was to be realized through the observance of the purity laws or revolution or other means…
Jesus thought that it was to be realized above all through compassion, forgiveness, inclusiveness, justice
His welcoming attitude especially to the “marginalized” expressed that concretely
How did the dominant groups think of the duty of Israel to “imitate God” (imitatio Dei) in God’s being “holy?” How did Jesus think of the matter?
“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. ” (Lev. 19:2)
Hence, holiness is being like/similar to God
Jesus, Conflict, and the Politics of Holiness:
Where does true holiness lie? How are we to imitate God’s holiness? (Luke/Mt.)
Pharisees: exact observance of laws
Jesus: love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, justice, acceptance
Qodesh
Hebrew for Holiness
Has the connotation of “to cut off” or “to separate” from what is unholy or clean
How did Jesus think the Reign of God was to be realized? What is an example wish clearly demonstrates this?
Jesus thought the Reign of God ought to be realized through compassion, forgiveness, inclusiveness and (distributive) justice. This is clearly exemplified through his welcoming attitude to the “marginalize” people
How do the Pharisees answer the following and dos does Jesus answer it?
Where does true holiness lie? How are we to imitate God’s holiness? (Luke/Mt.)
Pharisees: exact observance of laws
Jesus: love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, justice, acceptance
What is the relation of the historical Jesus and apocalyptic thought?
Jesus’ Main Mission and Message was Apocalyptic
How was Jesus’ Main Mission and Message Apocalyptic
- Had an experiential awareness of the divine
- Believed God had given him a special mission
- Believed that he was the messiah (not a consensus of scholars though)
- Believed that God’s kingdom was being realized through his ministry and teaching
His Main Message: about the Reign of God that he was realizing through his life, ministry and teaching, especially through his emphasis on COMPASSION and (distributive) JUSTICE as the dominant paradigm
Messianic Consciousness
Thinking you are the Messiah
Was Jesus’ Consciousness Messianic or Non-Messianic? (in other words) Did Jesus think he was the messiah or not? Give 4 potential answers.
1) Jesus thought he was the messiah and he was right
2) Jesus thought he was the messiah, and he was wrong. Yes, he could have been an impressive historical figure. Others, however, would say that he was deluded.
3) Jesus didn’t think he was the messiah and therefore he wasn’t
4) Whether or not Jesus thought he was the messiah, he is not the messiah. It does not depend upon whether Jesus thought of himself in those terms.
Most Probable:
Jesus most probably thought he was the messiah (not a unanimous conclusion of biblical scholars though).
Thinking that you were the messiah was not a delusional attitude in 1st century Palestine.
He he was also convinced that what he taught and what he did were the crucial factors that would bring about the kingdom of God. The “Son of Man” is a title Jesus is associated with (e.g. Dan 7:13) which is links him as a messiah-like figure.
Did Jesus think he was the Messiah?
Jesus most probably thought he was the messiah (not a unanimous conclusion of biblical scholars though).
Thinking that you were the messiah was not a delusional attitude in 1st century Palestine.
He he was also convinced that what he taught and what he did were the crucial factors that would bring about the kingdom of God.
The “Son of Man” is a title Jesus is associated with (e.g. Dan 7:13) which is links him as a messiah-like figure.
What is the resurrection?
God vindicates Jesus by raising him from the dead
Why did Jesus end up on the cross? Why was Jesus crucified?
1) Conflict with the authorities
2) He was an Interserrectionist
3) Jesus’ style of life and that message led to his death
4) Jesus as the “Lord”
- Called a close group of disciples and gave twelve of them a special status (12 is an important number because it shows Jesus was intentionally starting a reform Jewish movement, but also implies he did not intend to extend his movement beyond Israel. He was a Jew looking to renew Judaism)
- Performed a dramatic action in the temple
- Incurred the wrath of some elements in Judaism, especially among the high-priestly establishment
- Was handed over by this powerful Jewish element to the Romans to be crucified as an insurrectionist (armed rebellion against constituted authority)
- Was reported by his followers to have been raised from the dead…
- “Lord” (Latin: dominus & Greek: Kyrios): these were used to refer to Caesar, bow before Caesar because he was the divine Lord
- When people started to say that Jesus was the “dominus” they were displacing Caesar and replacing him with Jesus
Who was Jesus abandoned by in the end?
- Jesus was abandoned at the end by his followers
- Peter said he would follow Jesus all the way to death but even he abandoned Jesus
- The historical career of Jesus (as a healer, preacher, etc.) ended with his death
What lead to Jesus conflict with the authorities and ultimately lead to his arrest and death?
What were the reasons for his death?
- Summoning other Jews to abandon alternative kingdom visions and join him in his
- Warning of dire consequences for the nation, for Jerusalem, and for the temple if his summons was ignored
- His agendas led him into a symbolic clash with those who embraced other ones, and this, together with the positive symbols of his own kingdom agenda, point to the way in which he saw his inaugurated kingdom moving toward accomplishment
Interserrectionist
armed rebellion against constituted authority
What kind of witness is Christianity based on?
Apostolic Witness
Apostolic Witness
Special witness of Christ after his death by his apostles
The original expression in the New Testament of Jesus’ Resurrection
“He was raised …” (implying “by God”) 1 Cor 15:4
The Heart of the Disciples Proclamation
The Paschal Mystery (Death and Resurrection)
The Paschal Mystery
Death and Resurrection
What did people start referring to Jesus as after his death which displaced Caesar?
- “Lord”
(Latin: dominus & Greek: Kyrios) - These were used to refer to Caesar, bow before Caesar because he was the divine Lord
- When people started to say that Jesus was the “dominus” they were displacing Caesar and replacing him with Jesus
What is the resurrection known as in Christianity?
Something which transcends history
What historical factors are involved when we consider what Christianity has termed ‘resurrection’? (2 facts)
Fact 1: Disciples at Jesus’ Arrest and Death
At the moment of Jesus’ arrest and death, his closest disciples showed themselves to be extremely fearful for their lives resulting in their abandonment of Jesus (example: Peter denies Jesus)
Fact 2: Disciples sometime after Jesus’ Death
Sometime after Jesus’ death, the disciples seemed to have been transformed into bold, courageous witnesses proclaiming fearlessly that God has raised Jesus from the dead (example: Peter preaching to the crowds on Pentecost Day)
Jesus’ Resurrection:
“3 Days”… Literally?
What really happened “behind the text?” Are the “three days” to be understood literally?
3 is a significant number in Jewish scripture and history
World 1: 3 days, literally. Good Friday, Black Saturday, Easter Sunday
World 2: How could the disciples return to Jerusalem in 3 days? Many went back to Galilee.
How do the Gospels represent the resurrection? What accounts for a non-consistency in the story? Which Gospel exemplifies this?
- The four canonical gospels have remarkable parallels with each other when they narrate the passion and death of Jesus
- Exemplary flaw: John states that everything happened in Galilee
- When they narrate the resurrection, each one goes its own way … there is an intriguing non-consistency and diversity in their accounts.
What’s the meaning and significance of the resurrection for the earliest followers of Jesus?
- However one attempts to explain what happened to the disciples after Jesus’ death, the historical fact is:
- They restarted or “rebooted” the movement that Jesus had begun during his ministry with a new central message – that Jesus had been risen by God from the dead!
- This movement grew into what we now know as Christianity…
What restarted/rebooted the movement that Jesus had begun during his ministry and ultimately grew into what we now know as Christianity?
A new central message – that Jesus had been risen by God from the dead!
What happened after Jesus death to vindicate him?
God raised Jesus from the dead as a vindication of Jesus’ life, ministry, teaching and death! Jesus is now the “Lord”
The X-Factor
Refers to what happened in-between these two points that affected such a change in the disciples…
What happened to the disciples after Jesus’ death?
The disciples were transformed from sacred cowards who abandoned Jesus into bold, courageous witnesses who preached fearlessly about him
(The Resurrection is “X” Factor)
What are some possible explanations of the Resurrection’s “X-Factor”? (3)
Which is most probable?
Some possibilities:
1) The disciples “disposed” of Jesus’ body and proclaimed that he had been risen (e.g., Mt. 28:13)
2) Nothing dramatic happened. The disciples went back to their former lives. However, they continued to live according to Jesus’ spirit and discovered little by little that in that way, Jesus continued to live among them. They then expressed this as “the resurrection.”
3) The disciples had a life-changing experience which convinced them Jesus had been raised from the dead (The Christian Explanation)
Most probable: combination of 1 & 2
What (historically) happened to the disciples after Jesus’ death?
They restarted or “rebooted” the movement that Jesus had begun during his ministry with a new central message - that Jesus had been risen by God from the dead! This movement grew into what we now know as Christianity.
Did the historical Jesus think he was equal to God or that he was God himself? Explain.
In John, we get the impression that he did: “The Father and I are one.” (e.g., Jn 10:30)
In the Synoptics, there is no clear statement that Jesus thought so. Hence, we do not know (basing on the Synoptics). It can be argued though that even in the Synoptics, Jesus had a messianic consciousness, i.e., He thought he was the messiah.
Based on the lack of evidence in the Synoptics, many scholars believe that the idea that Jesus thought and taught that he was equal to God is a later Christian projection to the figure of Jesus.
“We have admired his (Jesus’) goodness in that for love of us he has not refused to descend to such a low position as to bear all that belongs to our nature, included in which is ignorance.”
Did the real (“historical”) Jesus think he was “equal” to the Father, or even, that he was God?
Based on the lack of evidence in the Synoptics, many scholars believe that the idea that Jesus thought and taught that he was equal to God is a later Christian projection to the figure of Jesus.
Based on a lack of evidence in the Synoptic Gospels of Jesus identifying himself with God, what have scholars determined?
The idea that Jesus thought and taught that he was equal to God is a later Christian projection to the figure of Jesus.
4 Main Factors that Characterized Earliest Christian Communities
1) Kerygma (initial proclamation) - Preaching
2) Catechesis (education in the faith) - Teaching
3) Leitourgia (Liturgy) - Ritualizing
4) Koinonia (Fellowship) and Diakonia (Service) - Charity
Kerygma (initial proclamation) - Preaching
Kerygma: first preaching, refers to a first preaching to people have not been preached to to appeal to them to accept Jesus Christ into their lives
Preaching
Catechesis (education in the faith) - Teaching
Catechesis: further educating people who are already believers in the faith
They taught and educated new believers (and old believers: Catechesis), this called for so many new stories, sayings and teaching of Jesus
Leitourgia (Liturgy) - Ritualizing
Leitourgia: ritualizing
They celebrated and ritualized some acts
Example: Eucharist, early Christians ritualized their last supper with Jesus
Koinonia (Fellowship) and Diakonia (Service) - Charity
Koinonia and Diakonia: charity
They formed communities characterized by service and charity
Example: collecting food for the hungry
Diakonia
Service (Charity)
Sitz-im-Leben (Setting in Life)
Refers to particular life situations in the early Christian communities
Sitz-im-Leben (literal translation from German)
Setting in Life
Sitz-im-Leben (Setting in Life)
Refers to particular life situations in the early Christian communities
How do scholars speculate what happened?
Sitz-im-Leben (Setting in Life): Refers to particular life situations in the early Christian communities
How do scholars speculate what happened during Jesus’ lifetime through the Gospels?
Situations which range from the most ordinary (meals) to very dramatic events (persecution)
These life situations are important to our understanding of Jesus
They called for stories, teachings, sayings, sermons related with Jesus in order to bring faith into daily life
Scholars have ideas from the letters of Paul which they have tried to reconstruct what shaped them
How do scholars speculate what happened during Jesus’ lifetime through the Gospels?
Situations which range from the most ordinary (meals) to very dramatic events (persecution)
These life situations are important to our understanding of Jesus
They called for stories, teachings, sayings, sermons related with Jesus in order to bring faith into daily life
Scholars have ideas from the letters of Paul which they have tried to reconstruct what shaped them
How do scholars speculate what happened during Jesus’ lifetime through the Gospels?
Through The Earliest Christian Communities (Sitz-im-Leben)…
Situations which range from the most ordinary (meals) to very dramatic events (persecution)
These life situations are important to our understanding of Jesus
They called for stories, teachings, sayings, sermons related with Jesus in order to bring faith into daily life
Scholars have ideas from the letters of Paul which they have tried to reconstruct what shaped them
Synoptic Gospels
Define what this means.
- The first three gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke
- It is obvious the accounts are very similar to one another
- Synoptic Gospels: The word “synoptic” basically means “to see (optic) [these gospels] together, by comparing one with (syn) the others
- Syn (with) Optic (view) → see them with one eye, an eye to compare them with one another
Which gospels are the synoptic gospels?
The first three gospels: Matthew Mark and Luke
Q Source
Quelle: “Source” (German for Source)
- Today, almost all scholars conclude that Mark was written first, and Matthew and Luke used Mark in addition to other sources
- Most (but not all) scholars today conclude that a Q source is also found in Matthew and Luke
- Q: Likely composed entirely of sayings of Jesus
- Four patterns of evidence of Q: agreements in Wording, Sequence, Theological Coherence, Genre
Q source no longer exists, has been destroyed hence it is a hypothetical document, we are not sure if it existed or not
Quelle
German for Source
Referes to Q Source
What are the 4 patterns of evidence for Q
agreements in: Wording Sequence Theological Coherence Genre
Why is Q a hypothetical document?
Q source no longer exists
It has been destroyed hence it is a hypothetical document
We are not sure if it existed or not
4 canonical gospels
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Symbols of the 4 canonical gospels
Matthew: Winged Man
Mark: Lion
Luke: Winged Ox
John: Eagle
Why is Matthew’s symbol a winged man?
The genealogy of Christ; the winged man refers to human ancestors.
Why is Mark’s symbol a lion?
Resurrection of Christ; it was thought that a lioness’ cubs were born dead and they were given life from the father lion’s breath.
Why is Luke’s symbol a winged ox?
The sacrifice of Christ; oxen were common sacrificial animals
Why is John’s symbol an eagle?
Logos, high in theological skepticism; highest inspiration
The 4 Document Hypothesis
States that 4 sources were used in the Synoptics:
Mark, Q, M, L
Four Source Theory
Luke used Mark, Q and L
Matthew used Mark, Q and M
What is the Synoptic problem?
- Defined as the literary relationship between the Matthew, Mark and Luke
- For almost 1500 years, it was believed in the Church that the three were independent works written by those named authors
Historical Criticism, synoptic gospel problem arose - Today, almost all scholars conclude that Mark was written first, and Matthew and Luke used Mark in addition to other sources
Describe how scholars usually explain (try to solve) the ‘Synoptic Problem’
- Today, almost all scholars conclude that Mark was written first, and Matthew and Luke used Mark in addition to other sources
- Most (but not all) scholars today conclude that a Q source is also found in Matthew and Luke
- Q Source: Quelle: “Source” (German for Source)
Likely composed entirely of sayings of Jesus
Objections to the Synoptic Problem
The Two-Gospel Hypothesis (Griesbach): Matthew wrote first, Luke used Matthew, Mark later condensed Matthew and Luke into one writing
(an objection held by the minority)
Is the synoptic problem probable?
This theory is the common consensus among most scholars, though there are some who challenge it…
Why do scholars conclude that Mark was written first? Explain.
Length: Mark is the shortest; Matthew and Luke seem to have expanded upon it
Sequence: Matthew and Luke seem to use Mark independently of each other
Style: Mark’s Greek is not smooth or polished; Matthew’s and Luke’s are
Difficult Content: Mark suggests at times that Jesus’ power is limited; in the parallel passages, Matthew and Luke did not
Theology: Mark’s christology is lower at points than Matthew and Luke’s
What five factors urge scholars to conclude Mark was written first?
1) Length
2) Sequence
3) Style
4) Difficult Content
5) Theology
Where and when was Mark written?
70 CE
Rome
Where and when was Matthew written?
80-90 CE
Syria/Palestine
Where and when was Luke written?
80-90 CE
Antinoch
Where and when was John written?
95-100 CE
Asia Minor
When were the different gospels written as commonly explained by scholarship?
Mark: Rome, 70 CE
Luke: Antioch?, 80-90
Matthew: Syria/Palestine, 80-90
John: Asia Minor, around 95-100
Which Gospel has very different style than the others?
John…
…but his trend continued into the 3nd century and many people begin to write gospels.
Describe the process which led to the writing down of the gospels.
- By the 70s/80s, the expected “Second Coming” (Parousia) of Jesus had not happened
- *Remember: the early Christians were very apocalyptic**
- People began to doubt that he would be coming soon
- Most who knew Jesus had died and were dying out
- These eye witnesses were rapidly dwindling in number
- Hence people felt the need to write the stories of Jesus down
- Christians felt that the message of these apostles and disciples should be preserved in a more secure way than “oral tradition”
- Thus, different kind of scriptures were recorded
- Andddd…The Various Stories and Teachings are Written Down and Edited!!!!
What about the other Gospels besides the four canonical?
Do others exist? Where do they come from? What are they called? Which is the most important for understanding Jesus?
- Dozens of gospel books were written 100-300 CE, many with material that goes back to the first century
- These gospels come from a range of sources
- Some of these books still exist in the whole part, but many have vanished or are only fragmentary
- The non-NT gospels were labeled “apocryphal” (hidden)
- For understanding the life of Jesus, by far the most important non-NT Gospels is the Gospel of Thomas, sometimes called the “Fifth Gospel”
Apocryphal (hidden)
The label for the non-NT Gospels
Which Gospel is most important for understanding the life of Jesus? What is it sometimes called?
The Gospel of Thomas, sometimes called the “Fifth Gospel”
What is a Gospel all about? Is it a book only about Jesus?
Use the Gospel of Mark as an example.
Not at all
Of course it is about Jesus, but the other side which is not frequently acknowledged is also very true…it is also about the community in which Mark was located, a community undergoing persecution (They were a Church community)
We are concerned with the world behind the text
The Jesus Seminar
vs.
Timothy Johnson
on THE REAL JESUS
- They met periodically to discuss the gospels and determine which parts are actually of the real historical Jesus, which are not and which are uncertain (colour coded gospel)
- The Jesus Seminar versus Timothy Johnson
- Johnson: searching for the historical Jesus is misguided
- The only “real Jesus” is the one found in the gospels
How many things is a Gospel about? What are they?
1) Jesus
2) The community that produced the gospel
BUT remember: things about Jesus and things about the community are not found in a tidily separated way in the Gospel
Consider it a mishmash: both are mixed in the gospel
Using the snap chatting example, describe how information about Jesus and the Early Christian Community is a mishmash (both are mixed in the Gospel).
The Early Christians wrote their stories into the Jesus story
That is, they embellished and added things to the Jesus story that reflected what they believed about Jesus even though these did not really happen in the past
Snapchatting: projecting your face unto the image of Jesus
How is Christianity radically dependent on the “apostolic witness?”
Some of Jesus’ disciples claimed that after his death: first, Jesus appeared to them, second, Jesus’ tomb was empty
The Christian Explanation of Jesus death: The disciples had a life-changing experience which convinced them Jesus had been raised from the dead (they witnessed Jesus resurrected after his death, he appeared to them)
The apostles witnessing Jesus after his death shows that God vindicated him by raising him from the dead
Describe the continuity and discontinuity between ‘Jesus’ and the proclamation of the earliest Christians
Discontinuity: lies in Jesus’ main message versus his post-Easter disciples’ main message (Reign of God)
1) Jesus’ main message: The Reign of God
2) (Post-Easter) Disciples’ main message: Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen Lord
Continuity: lies in Jesus’ main message versus his post-Easter disciples’ main message (Kingdom of God)
1) Jesus’ main message: The Kingdom of God through love, forgiveness, compassion and justice
2) (Post-Easter) Disciples main message: Jesus is the centre of God’s kingdom and those who follow his lifestyle will follow him to the kingdom of God
- Through the resurrection, the disciples became convinced that Jesus is now at the centre of God’s kingdom
- It is he who makes God’s reign a reality in this world
- Jesus’s main message was the kingdom of God. He died and rose.
- It was then preached that if people follow his lifestyle, they will follow him to the kingdom of God. Jesus was a powerful “posterboy” who idealized the kingdom.
Continuity between ‘Jesus’ and the proclamation of the earliest Christians
Lies in Jesus’ main message versus his post-Easter disciples’ main message: The Reign of God
1) Jesus’ main message: The Reign of God
2) (Post-Easter) Disciples’ main message: Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen Lord
Discontinuity between ‘Jesus’ and the proclamation of the earliest Christians
- Through the resurrection, the disciples became convinced that Jesus is now at the centre of God’s kingdom
- It is he who makes God’s reign a reality in this world
- Jesus’s main message was the kingdom of God. He died and rose.
- It was then preached that if people follow his lifestyle, they will follow him to the kingdom of God. Jesus was a powerful “posterboy” who idealized the kingdom.
What was the basic message of the earliest followers of Jesus in their ‘kerygmatic’ (initial) preaching/proclamation?
Their basic message from their initial preaching was to accept Jesus Christ into their lives though ritualizing and charity
Ritualizing: they celebrated and ritualized some acts (leitourgia: liturgy)
Example: Eucharist, early Christians ritualized their last supper with Jesus
Charity: they formed communities characterized by service and charity (Koinonia: fellowship & Diakonia: service)
Example: collecting food for the hungry
All these activities demanded that they remember the stories and teachings of Jesus
How did early Christian communities remember the stories and teachings of Jesus through their lifestyle?
Ritualizing: they celebrated and ritualized some acts (leitourgia: liturgy)
Example: Eucharist, early Christians ritualized their last supper with Jesus
Charity: they formed communities characterized by service and charity (Koinonia: fellowship & Diakonia: service)
Example: collecting food for the hungry
Early Christian Kerygma
proclamation
