NT Midterm Flashcards

Question

What lead to apocalyptic thought?

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

A heightened desire and expectation among many Jews for a direct intervention of God in history to drive out the invaders and liberate Israel.

Answer 3

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

Answer 4

- 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.

Answer 5

- 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

Answer 6

- Apocalyptic Thinking - Apocalyptic Nature - Worldview - 4 Main Religious Groups

Answer 7

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

Answer 8

- 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?

Answer 9

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).

Answer 10

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).

Answer 11

The Sadducees The Pharisees The Essenes Zealots

Answer 12

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.

Answer 13

However, now the unclean gentiles (Romans) are here in God’s land, defiling it and ruling over us

Answer 14

How they differed in their answer categorized them into a Jewish group (Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, Zealots).

Answer 15

- 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

Answer 16

- 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

Answer 17

- 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*

Answer 18

- 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

Answer 19

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

Answer 20

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

Answer 21

- 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

Answer 22

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)

Answer 23

- 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

Answer 24

- 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

Answer 25

- 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)

Answer 26

- 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

Answer 27

- 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”

Answer 28

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)

Answer 29

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.

Answer 30

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

Answer 31

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

Answer 32

1) from above, high "Top-Down" 2) from below, low "Down-Up"

Answer 33

- 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

Answer 34

- 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?

Answer 35

from “Rabbi” to “Messiah” to “God” to “Incarnation”

Answer 36

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.

Answer 37

a charismatic Rabbi (teacher)

Answer 38

Some of his followers began to believe that this charismatic rabbi was the Messiah. Jesus probably thought so too.

Answer 39

After Jesus’ death, the resurrection experience made the disciples identify Jesus more closely with YHWH, giving him titles: Son of God, Saviour, Lamb, etc.

Answer 40

- 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.

Answer 41

Christian identification between and Jesus is the faith-statement: Jesus himself is God.

Answer 42

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.

Answer 43

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.

Answer 44

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

Answer 45

- 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

Answer 46

- 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

Answer 47

The Reign of God

Answer 48

- 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

Answer 49

- 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.

Answer 50

Through 1) Parables 2) Sayings 3) Aphorisms 4) Sermons

Answer 51

Figurative stories that convey spiritual truth. During his ministry, Jesus used parables frequently to announce the reign of Israel’s God.

Answer 52

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.

Answer 53

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.

Answer 54

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.

Answer 55

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

Answer 56

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

Answer 57

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

Answer 58

apocalyptic

Answer 59

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)?

Answer 60

Jesus as a 1) Spirit-Person 2) Messiah 3) Prophet 4) Wisdom Teacher 4) Performer of Powerful Deeds 6) Movement/Community Founder

Answer 61

- 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

Answer 62

- 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

Answer 63

- 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.

Answer 64

- 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

Answer 65

- 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

Answer 66

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.

Answer 67

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

Answer 68

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

Answer 69

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

Answer 70

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

Answer 71

“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

Answer 72

Hebrew for Holiness Has the connotation of "to cut off" or "to separate" from what is unholy or clean

Answer 73

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

Answer 74

Pharisees: exact observance of laws Jesus: love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, justice, acceptance

Answer 75

Jesus’ Main Mission and Message was Apocalyptic

Answer 76

- 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

Answer 77

Thinking you are the Messiah

Answer 78

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.

Answer 79

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.

Answer 80

God vindicates Jesus by raising him from the dead

Answer 81

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

Answer 82

- 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

Answer 83

- 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

Answer 84

armed rebellion against constituted authority

Answer 85

Apostolic Witness

Answer 86

Special witness of Christ after his death by his apostles

Answer 87

“He was raised …” (implying “by God”) 1 Cor 15:4

Answer 88

The Paschal Mystery (Death and Resurrection)

Answer 89

Death and Resurrection

Answer 90

- “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

Answer 91

Something which transcends history

Answer 92

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)

Answer 93

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.

Answer 94

- 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.

Answer 95

- 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…

Answer 96

A new central message – that Jesus had been risen by God from the dead!

Answer 97

God raised Jesus from the dead as a vindication of Jesus’ life, ministry, teaching and death! Jesus is now the “Lord”

Answer 98

Refers to what happened in-between these two points that affected such a change in the disciples…

Answer 99

The disciples were transformed from sacred cowards who abandoned Jesus into bold, courageous witnesses who preached fearlessly about him (The Resurrection is “X” Factor)

Answer 100

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

Answer 101

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.

Answer 102

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.”

Answer 103

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.

Answer 104

The idea that Jesus thought and taught that he was equal to God is a later Christian projection to the figure of Jesus.

Answer 105

1) Kerygma (initial proclamation) - Preaching 2) Catechesis (education in the faith) - Teaching 3) Leitourgia (Liturgy) - Ritualizing 4) Koinonia (Fellowship) and Diakonia (Service) - Charity

Answer 106

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

Answer 107

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

Answer 108

Leitourgia: ritualizing They celebrated and ritualized some acts Example: Eucharist, early Christians ritualized their last supper with Jesus

Answer 109

Koinonia and Diakonia: charity They formed communities characterized by service and charity Example: collecting food for the hungry

Answer 110

Service (Charity)

Answer 111

Refers to particular life situations in the early Christian communities

Answer 112

Setting in Life

Answer 113

Refers to particular life situations in the early Christian communities

Answer 114

Sitz-im-Leben (Setting in Life): Refers to particular life situations in the early Christian communities

Answer 115

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

Answer 116

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

Answer 117

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

Answer 118

- 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

Answer 119

The first three gospels: Matthew Mark and Luke

Answer 120

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

Answer 121

German for Source | Referes to Q Source

Answer 122

``` agreements in: Wording Sequence Theological Coherence Genre ```

Answer 123

Q source no longer exists It has been destroyed hence it is a hypothetical document We are not sure if it existed or not

Answer 124

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Answer 125

Matthew: Winged Man Mark: Lion Luke: Winged Ox John: Eagle

Answer 126

The genealogy of Christ; the winged man refers to human ancestors.

Answer 127

Resurrection of Christ; it was thought that a lioness' cubs were born dead and they were given life from the father lion's breath.

Answer 128

The sacrifice of Christ; oxen were common sacrificial animals

Answer 129

Logos, high in theological skepticism; highest inspiration

Answer 130

States that 4 sources were used in the Synoptics: | Mark, Q, M, L

Answer 131

Luke used Mark, Q and L | Matthew used Mark, Q and M

Answer 132

- 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

Answer 133

- 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

Answer 134

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)

Answer 135

This theory is the common consensus among most scholars, though there are some who challenge it…

Answer 136

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

Answer 137

1) Length 2) Sequence 3) Style 4) Difficult Content 5) Theology

Answer 138

70 CE | Rome

Answer 139

80-90 CE | Syria/Palestine

Answer 140

80-90 CE | Antinoch

Answer 141

95-100 CE | Asia Minor

Answer 142

Mark: Rome, 70 CE Luke: Antioch?, 80-90 Matthew: Syria/Palestine, 80-90 John: Asia Minor, around 95-100

Answer 143

John... ...but his trend continued into the 3nd century and many people begin to write gospels.

Answer 144

- 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!!!!

Answer 145

- 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”

Answer 146

The label for the non-NT Gospels

Answer 147

The Gospel of Thomas, sometimes called the “Fifth Gospel”

Answer 148

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

Answer 149

- 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

Answer 150

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

Answer 151

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

Answer 152

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

Answer 153

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.

Answer 154

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

Answer 155

- 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.

Answer 156

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

Answer 157

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

Answer 158

proclamation