Theology, Limitations, Church, And The World

Question 1

What is the problem that Origen says exists among those “who profess to believe in Christ”?

Answer 1

Conflicting opinions within the Christian community on small and large questions such as the nature of the trinity-nature of those created and what powers we hold

Question 2

Origen offers a method for determining what teaching is true or not. What ideas should “be believed as truth”?

Answer 2

Teachings handed down in direct succession from the apostles and the 1st church = the truth regardless of present day teachings
Truth- no way contradicts the teachings of the church

Question 3

Origen states that the doctrines transmitted by the apostles fall into two categories. Define the two categories of doctrine by contrasting them with each other.

Answer 3

Certain doctrines (those most important) presented in plain and non detailed sermons-often looked to be dull

Other doctrines (apostles said were “so”) were intentionally left to be explained in detail by other scholars later in the church

Question 4

Throughout the rest of his preface, Origen identifies several doctrinal topics about which certain things are clearly known but other things are not. Name some of these doctrinal topics.

Answer 4

Creation
Law 
Trinity
Death & After
Devil/Fall 
Creator of the law-just and good [OT & NT]   

God is the God of all days [the last days]
God created and set all things into being
Man-Jesus = God – died & assented

Question 5

At the beginning of 7.4.7, Augustine makes a declaration about the limitation of human language that is the basis for the rest of his discussion. What does he say about the human ability to speak about God?

Answer 5

The language does not fully describe the trinity-the truth of God and thoughts of truth in God transcend the ability of human language to capture [bigger and more than we can understand]

Question 6

While discussing his desire to find a “generic or specific name to explain the three,” Augustine explains why human language can or cannot “fully express” the things of God. What is his explanation?

Answer 6

The divinity of God transcends the ability to fully explain the trinity and goodness of God

Question 7

According to Irenaeus is there some knowledge that God knows, but that human beings do not know? What short principle does he give to support his answer?

Answer 7

God’s creation of Jesus is indescribable and beyond human understanding. Creation of God in humankind=superior to the spoken word.

Question 7

What were the ‘three concentric circles of influence (that) circumscribed the world in which early Christianity began’?

Answer 7

Outside in - Roman, Greek, Jewish

Question 8

Irenaeus - Can human beings describe or speak about the production or generation of the Son by the Father in the way that Irenaeus’ opponents are doing it? Why or why not?

Answer 8

No- lack of knowledge on creation limits discussion

Question 9

What three contexts did Rome provide for early Christianity

Answer 9

Governmental, military, legal context

Question 10

What were ‘among the peacetime duties’ of Roman soldiers?

Answer 10

Building roads and securing the safety of travel; Christians used these roads to carry the message on their travels

Question 11

What was the official language of government and eventually the common language (lingua franca) in the western provinces?

Answer 11

Latin; from 2nd Cent and after; Christianity expressed its message in Latin in the West

Question 12

Greek influences were predominant’ in what areas ‘at the beginning of Christianity’?

Answer 12

Language, education, literature, philosophy

Question 13

Greek philosophy provided’ what ‘with which Christian thinkers worked’?

Answer 13

Vocabulary, ethical assumptions, thought world, and intellectual options with which Christian thinkers worked

Question 14

The Jewish world (out of which Jesus and the early church grew) felt the influence of _____________, and by the first century, an overlay of ______________.

Answer 14

Hellenistic culture; Roman rule

Question 15

The ‘immediate religious context for Christianity was’ what?

Answer 15

Judaism

Question 16

What was ‘the Bible of the early church’?

Answer 16

Jewish Scriptures and Septuagint (Early 3rd Cent), Greek translation, was the Bible of the early church

Question 17

What ‘three unsuccessful revolts… ended Jewish prospects of an independent homeland until modern times’?

Answer 17

66-73: Put down by Vespasian and Titus, = destruction of temple
115-17: Diaspora communities of N Africa and and Cyprus
132-35: Bar Kokhba under Hadrian

Question 18

What ‘core Jewish beliefs remained at the basis of the faith of the early disciples?

Answer 18

One God who is revealed in Jewish scriptures
God as creator and sustainer of the universe
Chosen people called into covenant relationship with God
Hope for end-time blessings

Question 19

What conviction was added to these core Jewish beliefs by the early disciples?

Answer 19

Jesus, who was rejected by Jewish leaders and crucified byroman authorities, was the promised deliverer through whom end-time blessings were beginning to be realized, esp forgiveness of sins and gift of the Holy Spirit

Question 20

1st Stage of the Early Christian Church; 90-150CE

Answer 20

Apostolic Father (90-150CE): 2nd generation Christians, concerned with formation of the church, and often defend how Christian beliefs are different from Jewish beliefs

Question 21

2nd Stage Early Christian Church

Answer 21

Apologists (150-180CE): defend their beliefs against criticism, use their philosophical training and Jewish heritage to make their case, however they are unsuccessful.

Question 22

3rd Stage of Early Christian Church

Answer 22

Catechetical (180-250CE): main goal is to define the normative views of the church and are opposing the heretical Christians, marked by “rules of faith” or creeds, begin to specify what scriptures to include in the Old Testament, pull from apostolic beliefs not current views, offer a more systematic approach to faith

Question 23

4th Stage Early Christian Church

Answer 23

Conciliar (250-451ishCE): **Differences of this period include: Battles over doctrine become internal vs. external; Councils of Bishops issue doctrines, one mark of the end of the early church was when councils could no longer meet and the form of the governing bodies changed

Question 24

Apostolic Era: Jerusalem

Answer 24

Center of jewish religious life; Christians here spread the word that Jesus is Messiah (God). Persecution in Jerusalem forced Christians and other jews out, Alexandria begins to rise

Question 25

Apostolic Era: Ephesus

Answer 25

Significant in the first century of the church, where John and Mary hung out, and center of the early church. After this time it became irrelevant.

Question 26

Apostolic Era: Rome

Answer 26

Center of Roman Empire and hub of Peter and Paul

Question 27

Apostolic Era: Antioch

Answer 27

Hellenistic Jewish community but also want to incorporate more Jewish tradition, center of Jewish diaspora, after this community falls out of importance Constntinople rises to significance