Name that Gospel
Secrets
Mark
Oldest Christian text. When was it written?
1 Thessalonians. ca. 49 CE
Define the term messiah.
Hebrew for "anointed one" refers to a religious or political leader who is viewed as having a chosen or a special relationship with God of Israel. Example: Priests, David, Moses.
Desert community by the Dead Sea.
Qumran
Significant destruction date. What structure was destroyed? By whom
70 CE. 2nd Temple, Rome.
Flight to Egypt-New Moses
Matthew
Define Pseudepigrapha
"false writings" refers to the text ascribed to the apostle Paul, but not thought to have been written by Paul.
Define the term Son of Man.
A term found in some apocalyptic texts, referring to a cosmic judge sent from heaven at the end of times.
Jordan River
Three-storied Universe
Reference to the ancient view of the cosmos as consisting of 3 spheres: the underworld, where the dead reside, our world, and the world above, where God dwells.
The word made flesh
John
Define the word apology
From the Greek word meaning "defense." A reasoned explanation of one's beliefs and practices.
Define the term Christ/Christos
The Greek translation of the Hebrew term Messiah--meaning "anointed one."
Syria and its capital city.
Damascus
Pharisees. Why are they significant to the study of Jesus and the NT?
Jewish priests associated with the temple cult. Believed in strict observance to the oral and the written Torah. They did not have as much political authority as the Sadduces, but after the events of 70 CE they became endowed with more power from Rome. They are the only Jewish sect that survived the events of 70 CE--from them we have Rabbinic Judaism. Jesus' message was in opposition to the Pharisees, he did not think that scrupulous adherence to the law was the most important aspect of the Jews relationship to God.
Sermon on the Plain
Luke
Why was the genre of apology needed? Historical context? Example of two books (written by the same author and to the same audience) that are considered to fall under the genre of apology.
To defend this burgeoning Christian tradition and practice to a skeptical Greco-Roman world/environment/government.
Ehrman, 98; 179-82
Define the term Son of God.
Greek meaning--a person born of a god, and able to perform superhuman miracles and teachings. Imperial term applied to Caesar.
Jewish meaning--a person chosen to stand in close relationship with the God of Israel, such as Jewish Kings.
Jerusalem. Why is this place important to the study of Jesus and early Christianity?
Place of the Temple's location. Place where Jesus died. Pilgrimage cite.
Jewish Apocalypticism. 4 tenants? How does Paul use this world view in his letter to the church in Thessalonica?
The worldview held by many that the current age was controlled by the forces of evil and that God would eventually intervene in history to bring about the destruction of evil, usher in his new kingdom.
1. Pessimism
2. Dualism
3. Vindication
4. Imminence
Paul preaches an apocalyptic message to his new church, telling them that the end is near. That Jesus will return within their lifetimes.
no genealogy
Mark, John
Define Deutero-Pauline and list 2 examples.
"Second Paul" three books thought to have been written by an author who was heavily influenced by Paul's teachings.
2 Thess, Ephesians, Colossians
Describe how the religious and social context of 1st century Jews seemed to influence the imperial terms applied to Jesus in the gospels. Are they all the same? Who did the gospel writers understand Jesus to be?
Jesus is called all of these terms--showing that the early Christian community was influenced by both Jewish and Pagan understandings of what a savior/messiah/prophet/king should look like/act in the world. Some gospels are more apocalyptic than others and refer to Jesus as a Son of Man, while others seem to view him through a Jewish lens, expecting Jesus to fill the shoes of a Davidic King.
Bethlehem. In which gospels does Bethlehem appear? Why is this cite significant?
Matthew and Luke. This is the city associated with David. Links Jesus to his Jewish roots. Jesus is born in Bethlehem then must flee to safety-- new Moses imagery (Matthew). Joseph in the line of David (Luke) there for a census.
The major concern of the Thessalonian church. How did Paul address this concern? What worldview does the community hold?
That members of the congregation have passed away prior to Jesus' return. The community worried that the deceased members had lost their chance to enter the Kingdom of God. Paul assures the community that the dead will be the first to join Jesus. (Ehrman, 215-16). The church held an apocalyptic worldview, taught to them by Paul. They anticipated the end of the world/return of Jesus to be imminent.