Unit 2 Test

Question 1

Why were the early Christians persecuted by both the Jewish and Roman leaders?

Answer 1

• Jewish leaders: theological and religious differences

- Romans: political reasons (fearing an uprising from the crazy Jesus cult)

Question 2

Explain how the early Christians responded to the persecutions and the role of martyrs in the early community

Answer 2

Martyrs were seen as heroes because they were so dedicated that they were willing to die for their faith. Their grave sites/other monuments became holy places of worship

Question 3

Explain the historical setting of the Book of Revelation.

Answer 3

• Early Christians thought the end of the world would happen in their lifetime. They were right but it was the world of the Old Covenant.
• The temple was destroyed and their world basically ended.
• Jewish revolt led to civil war among them.
• Christians fled Jerusalem.
• Jerusalem falls 70AD
• Persecution

Question 4

Explain what the destruction of the Temple represented and why.

Answer 4

The destruction of the temple = the end of the world. Many Christians expected the second coming (the end of the world) to happen in their lifetime.

Question 5

Explain how Revelation is connected to the Old Testament and the structure of Revelation.

Answer 5

Revelation is set up like the mass is. There is a liturgy of the word (john’s letters to the seven parishes) and then the liturgy of the Eucharist (the wedding feast of the lamb)

There is also imagery from Genesis and Exodus

Question 6

Explain how the Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist are represented in Revelation.

Answer 6

Revelation is set up like the mass is. There is a liturgy of the word (john’s letters to the seven parishes) and then the liturgy of the Eucharist (the wedding feast of the lamb)

Question 7

Explain what John’s vision of the Ark means.

Answer 7

John’s vision of the ark is that Mary is the new ark. She carries the law in Jesus and is the mother of the new Church post-Old-Testament

Question 8

Explain the beast found in Revelation, the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, and what each represents.

Answer 8

The first beast represents the Roman Empire, coming from the sea (evil). The second beast is Nero specifically, numbered as 666. The wedding feast of the Lamb is the feast of the marriage between the Church and Jesus, celebrated with the Eucharist.

Question 9

Explain John’s vision of the New Jerusalem and how it is connected to Genesis.

Answer 9

John’s vision of the New Jerusalem is a city of gold, where everybody is in communion with and lives among God. the perfect order.
This is just like Eden before the Fall, with Adam and Eve living among God where everything was bountiful and they never died.

Question 10

Explain what the “last things” are and why we should be concerned about death.

Answer 10

• The “last things” are the truths taught by Scripture that are reaffirmed by the Church.
• The last things are death, resurrection, heaven, hell, and the end of time.
• This relates to Eschatology which is the theology of the end of time.
• The states of our souls at death determines how we spend eternity

Question 11

Explain the Particular and General Judgments.

Answer 11

The particular judgment occurs immediately after one dies.
The general or “final” judgment occurs at the time of the parousia when Jesus’ second coming happens. Everybody gets an eternal body and those in heaven live in communion with God forever. No more pain, death, suffering for those in heaven

Question 12

Explain the teachings about Heaven and Purgatory.

Answer 12

Purgatory is a state of friendship with God at the time of one’s death, but still having the mark of sin. People go to purgatory to perfect their souls so they can eventually go to heaven.
Heaven is the state of no remaining sin. Only perfect souls go to heaven.

Question 13

Explain the teachings about Hell and St. Ambrose’s teaching on death.

Answer 13

Hell is the state of eternal separation from God. being confronted with His love and just… saying no ig.
Nobody is sent to hell by God, people send themselves
It is only through death that we are finally reunited with God again

Question 14

Why would Christians be reluctant to preserve evidence of their community during the time of persecution?

Answer 14

Any evidence of a Christian community could incriminate hundreds of other Christians

Question 15

What were the three ways persecution had a profound influence on the history of Christianity?

Answer 15

A large number of people died
Few churches were built
It changed their ideas regarding martyrdom

Question 16

Why would martyrdom be considered a heroic ideal?

Answer 16

Dying for one’s beliefs is a very heroic thing

It was seen as peak holiness and dedication to God

Question 17

What does it mean that “life was more communitarian” during this time period? How would this impact or drive the persecutions of Christians?

Answer 17

People lived in communities with other Christians
They shared everything and looked out for one another
These secretive communities were very tightly knit and supported one another, the secrecy only spurred on persecution

Question 18

Explain the first general persecution of Christians throughout the Empire.

Answer 18

Emperor Decius issued an edict for the first general persecution of Christians. He said people living in the empire must make a pagan sacrifice to the gods. Some Christians complied with the edict and others merely bought papers saying they had followed the edict. Others entirely resisted the edict. Many who refused to follow the edict ended up being martyred for their disobedience.

Question 19

Why would the realities and perplexities of life strengthen the writings of second and third-century theologians?

Answer 19

It made them question everything they had done. They began to ponder about religion and faith and why there were mass persecutions. The writings helped to form some beliefs and understandings still in use today.

Question 20

In your own words, explain why Justin Martyr is regarded as the most important Christian ‘Apologist’.

Answer 20

He provided a defense for Christianity to the non-Christians. He argued that while other philosophies shadowed the truth. Christianity was the only philosophy of the whole truth. He was a martyr who did not discredit other religions but instead explained that they did not contain all of the correct information.

Question 21

In your own words, explain what topics Tertullian wrote extensively on and why he is one of the most widely read and influential Fathers of the Church.

Answer 21

Tertullian wrote mostly in Latin but sometimes in Greek. He wrote about Christian persecutions and how Christians did not pose a threat to society. He argued that since they are not a threat they should be left alone. He also argued that Christians should separate from paganism and focus on worshiping on their one true God.

Question 22

In your own words, explain Origen’s biblical scholarship.

Answer 22

Origen wrote commentaries on almost all the books of Scripture. His work was written mostly in the allegorical sense. His two most widely read spiritual works are: Exhortation to Martyrdom and On Prayer.

Question 23

How did the roles of bishops and priests develop during the second and third centuries?

Answer 23

In the early church many of the priests and bishops were martyred so there is not a lot of evidence, however later on there is more evidence of a sophisticated organization based on the diocese. There was not a major distinction between parishes and dioceses in many regions before the first century.

Question 24

Explain the organization of the early Church in the second and third centuries.

Answer 24

At first there were many bishops in one city but as time progressed this number dropped until there was only one bishop per city. There was a hierarchical system established in which the highest man in the hierarchy was the bishop of Rome.

Question 25

Why does Canon Law play such an integral role in Christian life? What influenced the development of having/needing/wanting a Canon Law?

Answer 25

Canon Law is the law of the Christian community that includes various church institutions as well as other aspects of Christian life. Christianity emerges from Judaism which respects divine and human law. Order within the Christian community was emphasized in the NT in Matthew’s Gospel and Paul’s letters. Canon Law is still developing today. In modern day we have Canon Law Lawyers in which lawyers handle annulment and sacrament issues in parishes.

Question 26

Why did the early Christians pay great attention to burial?

Answer 26

They paid great attention partly because of Jesus’s resurrection. Many religions have a story about death and resurrection or afterlife and early Christians wanted to have good burials in case someone else resurrected.

Question 27

How does the early Christian’s concern for burial connect to the teaching about the Particular and General Judgments?

Answer 27

Christians pay attention to burial because it was the host for the Holy Spirit. In the Particular Judgement our should leaves our body but this does not make our physical body any less important. In the General Judgement, everyone will get their physical bodies back (but they will be perfected). Due to this there are specific “rules” for proper burials. Bodies can be cremated but their ashes must be buried properly not merely scattered in random places.

Question 28

What does it mean to say the Christian message is spread “by the blood of the martyrs”?

Answer 28

• Made people interested in learning about Christianity

- Martyrs seen as heroes for wanting to sacrifice themselves for God

Question 29

How is the Book of Revelation a message of hope?

Answer 29

• It shows when we will be connected with God again and evil we be destroyed
• Lots of imagery comes from the story of the Exodus
• God delivers people from slavery to sin through plagues and Jesus