eConcordia - Introduction to Christian Origins - Lesson 1: The Earliest Christian Writings (Print Version) Print Lesson 1: The Earliest Christian Writings - Study Materials Slide 1: Contents 6th-century mosaic of Jesus at Church San Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy (Source: PD-ART, Wikipedia) The Christian Bible (slide 2) Methods of Bible Interpretation (slides 3-4) The Historical Critical Method (Video "Methods of Bible Interpretation") The Gospels The Life and Teachings of Jesus (slides 5-6) Jesus’s Ministry (side 7) Miracles (Video, "Miracles as Signs of the Presence of God") The Kingdom of Heaven (slides 8-9) Texts supporting the “Already” view (Video, "The Lord's Prayer" in Greek) Texts supporting the “Not Yet” view (Video, "The Lord's Prayer" in Latin) Jesus’s Radical Ethics (slide 10) Jesus’s Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection (slide 11) The Early Church (slide 12) The Spread of Christianity (slide 13) Slide 2: The Christian Bible Christianity is the faith based on Jesus Christ’s: life teachings death resurrection and ascension into heaven Jesus lived some 2000 years ago. The Christian Bible contains: Old Testament (OT) + apocrypha/deutero-canonical books New Testament (NT): 27 books, including 4 Gospels (“good news”) Gospels were written some 40-50 years after Jesus’s death Left: Folio from Papyrus 46, containing 2 Corinthians 11:33-12:9 in Greek (Source: Wikipedia) (Click on image in enlarge) Slide 3: Methods of Bible Interpretation Listen to your professor explain the methods of bible interpretation. (Video Length 05:59) These methods include: Historical critical method Literal method Allegorical method Mystical method Moral method The most widespread with scholars today is the historical critical method which looks at: historical context intended audience of the author desired effect of the author Slide 4: Bible Interpretation (cont'd) The Gospels Synoptics (Greek for “seen together”): Matthew (Mt), Mark (Mk), Luke (Lk). Matthew and Luke are based on Mark and Q (from the German word “Quelle” = source). The historical critical method established that: Matthew targets a Jewish-Christian audience, because Jesus is presented as the second Moses and Messiah. Luke targets a Gentile audience, because it speaks in universal terms. The Gospel of John (Jn): Jesus is the eternal Son and Logos (or Word) of God, the incarnate God on Earth. There are also apocryphal (or secret) gospels attributed to Thomas, Peter, Mary Magdalene, Philip, and even Judas – most of them come from Gnostic circles and are later. The evangelists, along with their symbols in iconography from the Book of Kells (image), are: Matthew the Evangelist, symbolized by a man, to represent the human nature of Christ. Mark the Evangelist, symbolized by a lion, to represent Christ as king. Luke the Evangelist, symbolized by a bull or a calf, to represent Christ as sacrifice and as priest. John the Evangelist, symbolized by an eagle, to represent the Christ as God. Image from the Book of Kells, a 1200-year-old book, Folio 27v, with the four evangelist symbols (Source: Trinity College Dublin, London, England, Wikipedia) (Click on image to enlarge) Slide 5: The Life and Teachings of Jesus Biblical Prophecies Jesus was born in the year 0 of the Common Era (CE) (this is the secular alternative to AD (Anno Domini)). There are Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem. Jesus’s parents: Mary and Joseph. The gospels tell us about Jesus’s birth, then an episode at age 12, and his life around the age of 30 The picture shows a man and a woman approaching Bethlehem with a donkey. It was taken on Christmas Day, 1898. The photograph presents a scene reminiscent of Mary and Joseph, as they approached Bethlehem some 1900 years earlier (Source: Wikipedia) Slide 6: The Life and Teachings of Jesus (cont'd) John the Baptist An important character, was Jesus's forerunner and he baptized people for the forgiveness of their sins. Jesus’s baptism by John has been seen as: Consecration to God as the Messiah. John publicly announcing that the Messiah has arrived. Jesus identifies himself with sinful humanity. After the baptism: Jesus undergoes a 40-day retreat in the desert before starting his ministry. Jesus then begins to gather his first disciples: Simon, Peter, Andrew, James and John. The emphasis of Jesus’s ministry is on a spiritual life. Left: The Baptism of Jesus Christ. Painting by Piero della Francesca, 1449 (Source: National Gallery (London) and Wikipedia) Slide 7: Jesus’s Ministry Listen to your professor explain miracles as signs of the presence of God. (Video Length 07:11) Miracles are seen as signs of the presence of the Kingdom of God turning water into wine healing the sick restoring life to the dead casting devils out of the possessed multiplication of bread The kingdom is “already” here, but “not yet” fully realized. Slide 8: The Kingdom of Heaven Listen to your professor read "Our Father" or "The Lord's Prayer" in Greek . (Video Length 01:08) Texts supporting the “Already” view Matthew (Mt)12.28 11.5-7 13.44-46 22.1-14 Luke (Lk) 4.16-21 17.20-21 Mark (Mk)4.26-29 Note: PDF of texts can be found on the reading page of this lesson. Source: The Bible Gateway http://www.biblegateway.com/ Slide 9: The Kingdom of Heaven (cont'd) Listen to your professor read "Our Father" or "The Lord's Prayer" in Latin. (Video Length 01:12) Texts supporting the “Not Yet” view Matthew (Mt) 6.9-13 (“Our Father” or “The Lord’s Prayer”) 5.3-12 (The Beatitudes) 8. 11-12 Note: PDF of texts can be found on the reading page of this lesson. Source: The Bible Gateway http://www.biblegateway.com/ Slide 10: Jesus’s Radical Ethics An important question: Is Jesus the Messiah? Jesus reluctantly applies this title to himself because of misunderstandings. At the Transfiguration (witnessed by three disciples) Moses and Elijah appear to seal the fact that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus’s Ethics and Teachings touched lepers and a bleeding woman to heal them welcomed women as disciples extended the command against adultery to adultery in one’s heart preached “turn the other cheek” (as opposed to “an eye for an eye”) taught love your enemies proposed love is for God and for one’s neighbor offered forgiveness to those who repented challenged the interpretation of the Mosaic law (generally NOT the law itself) challenged the Jewish authorities Above: The Sermon on the Mount, painting by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1890). Christians believe that Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant (see Hebrews 8:6) (Source: Wikipedia) Slide 11: Jesus’s Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection Sequence of events Jesus returns to Jerusalem. Has Last Supper with his disciples Judas betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, Jesus is arrested At the trail Caiaphas, the high priest, asks Jesus if he is Christ (or the Messiah) and Jesus answers: "You have said so", thus answering in the affirmative Caiaphas and the other priests see this declaration as blasphemy against God Roman authorities are asked to crucify Jesus The crucifixion occurs some time between 27-33 CE (apparent end of the story) Resurrection: women visit the tomb; Jesus’s appearances; women’s presence witnesses to the historical truth in claims of Jesus’s resurrection Above left: The Last Supper (1495-1498) by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) (Source: Wikipedia) Above right: Jesus helped by Simon of Cyrene, 19th-century Brazilian depiction (Source: Wikpedia) Bottom right: Calvary by Paolo Veronese, 16th century (Source: Wikpedia) Slide 12: The Early Church After Jesus's Death and Resurrection Acts of the Apostles (author Luke), Paul’s Letters, the other letters of the New Testement Jesus’s ascension to heaven is followed by the descent of the Holy Spirit at the Pentecost (Acts 2) Paul’s attempts to convert both Jews and Gentiles to Christianity Anti-Christian feelings among Jews which led to anti-Jewish feelings among the early Christians The new message Christianity proposes: salvation is by faith (not by circumcision, says Paul) Left: The Resurrection painted by Johann Heinrich Tischbein the Elder, 1778 (Source: Wikipedia) Slide 13: The Spread of Christianity The spread of Christianity, 300 to 800 AD (Source: Agur, Wikipedia) (Click on image to enlarge) .............................. Lesson 2: Christianity in the Roman World - Study Materials Slide 1: Contents Pantheon, dedicated to all pagan gods, today a church, Rome (Source: L. Turcescu) The Roman World (slide 2) Animated map of the Roman world (from 510 BC to 1453 AD) Roman Society (slide 3) Roman Religion (slide 4) The Role of Religion in Roman Society (slide 5) Opposition to New Religious Movements (slide 6) Roman opposition to new religious movements (video) Opposition to Christianity (slides 7-8) Slide 2: The Roman World Christianity was born in the Roman Empire. Roman colonization was militaristic and administrative. Culturally and religiously, the East colonized the Empire. Map animation of areas under Roman control from 510 BC to 1453 AD (Source: Wikipedia) Roman Republic 510 BC – 27 BC Roman Empire 27 BC - 476 AD/1453 AD Western Roman Empire 286 – 476 AD Eastern Roman Empire 330 – 1453 AD Byzantine Empire 330 – 1453 AD Slide 3: Roman Society All of the following provided a certain security and relative prosperity known as pax Romana (or Romani peace) for the populations around the Mediterranean basin. Administration Roman citizenship was possessed by entire cities, but it was bestowed on others as recompense for services rendered to Rome. Local administration was quite effective. System of justice While respecting local customs, it applied the principles of Roman law and it enabled citizens to take their case to the Emperor himself. Currency Unified throughout the Empire. Cicero Denounces Catiline (Cicero, author of the classic book The Laws, attacks Catilina, a traitor to the Republic, in the Roman Senate) Fresco by Cesare Maccari (1840-1919) (Source: Wikipedia) (Click on image to enlarge) Slide 4: Roman Religion Astrology - horoscopes were avidly compiled Not Zeus, but rather Chance or Fate or Fortune (Greek, Tyche) was the most important god Apostle Paul dismissed Roman religion (known as paganism) when writing: "Now that you have come to know God...how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again?" (Gal 4:9) “Elemental spirits” are demonic beings or forces to whom Paul believed humans had been enslaved before their conversion to Christianity Older view of the Roman Empire: an unprogressive society ruled by impersonal forces whose nature was not understood and which was morally degenerate. Newer scholarship: with some exceptions, this was not the case. Examples: grave memorials testify to the affection of family life, and surviving papyrus letters testify to its decency and sobriety. Left: Statue depicting Ceres the Roman goddess of agriculture holding wheat, on display at the Louvre in Paris, France (Source: Wikipedia) Slide 5: The Role of Roman Religion in Society Religion ensured the existing world order and the prosperity of the Roman people, while the emperor was the supreme priest (pontifex maximus in Latin) Fear of chaos if the empire fell was shared by all Roman religion was a series of religious acts performed by professionals (the priests) and there were no scriptures Religion was meant to achieve the right relationship between the gods and humans Roman citizens were expected to revere and serve the Roman gods and not to practice any alien religion. In practice, however, any religion was allowed as long as it did not offend the laws and practices of Roman life Right: The Via Labicana Augustus - Emperor Augustus in the robes of Pontifex Maximus (Source: RyanFreisling, Wikipedia) Slide 6: Opposition to New Religious Movements Listen to your professor discuss Roman opposition to new religious movements (NRMs). (Video Length 09:56) Opposition from: previously organized and established religions governments struggling to balance religious freedom with public safety Examples from the contemporary era: illegal businesses or money extortionists posing as religious groups neo-fascists disguised as medieval cults but promoting white supremacy and hatred of immigrants concern that NRMs may cause psychological damage, especially to vulnerable young people loneliness and alienation from mainstream culture Slide 7: Opposition to Christianity The Romans were open to enlarging the pantheon of gods. At what stage did “foreign worship” become “evil worship” abominable to the Roman gods? In Rome in 186 BC, Livy (Roman historian) describes the case of the Bacchanals (Dionysius’s feast) that degenerated into a conspiratorial orgy and had to be repressed. The Christians in the time of Nero were another “foreign religion”, sometimes understood as a superstition. Above: Statues of pagan gods, Rome Left: Goddess of fertility, Rome (Source for both: L. Turcescu) Slide 8: Opposition to Christianity (cont'd) Christians (like Jews and Muslims) are monotheistic, that is, they believe in only one God – Christians claimed their God was Jesus Christ. Christians refused to worship foreign gods, especially emperors who claimed divine descent. That refusal led to persecution and martyrdom. Christians were also seen as revolutionaries by the state (because they did not behave like the rest of the population). The result was the scapegoating of Jews and Christians with false accusations. The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer, by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1883) (Source: Wikipedia) ........................... Lesson 3: The Jewish Legacy - Study Materials Slide 1: Contents History of the Jewish People (slides 2-3) Biblical Stories (slides 4-5) From Creation to the God of Abraham (slides 6-7) Birth of Israel (slide 8) Egypt: Bondage and Exodus (slide 9) The First Temple of Jerusalem (slide 10) Return to Jerusalem (slide 11) Jewish Groups around the Year 0 (slide 12) Jewish Groups (video) Rabbinic Judaism (slides 13-14) Rabbinic Judaism (video) Perceptions of God (slide 15) Right: Judaica (clockwise from top): Shabbat candlesticks, handwashing cup, Chumash and Tanakh, Torah pointer, shofar, and etrog box (Source: Wikipedia) Slide 2: History of the Jewish People Judaism is the diverse tradition associated with the Jewish people Jews - history experienced as a continuing dialogue with God Right: Overview map of the ancient Near East (Source: Wikipedia) (click on image to enlarge) Meanings of “Israel” the semi-nomadic tribes who answered God’s call to use the divine law those who answer the call and strive to obey the law through the Torah Geographical location today: Israel, diaspora (i.e., outside of Israel) Left: Map of the Middle East today (click on image to enlarge) Slide 3: History of the Jewish People (cont'd) Jewish history starts with the stories recounted in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh in Hebrew, “Old Testament” for Christians) Stories such as.... creation of the world by a supreme deity or God patriarchs and matriarchs Moses, who spoke with God and led the people according to God’s commandments prophets who heard God’s warnings for sinners Post-biblical evolving teachings and practices are collected in the Talmud - a great compendium of Jewish law and lore Year 70 AD: Romans destroy the Jewish temple in Jerusalem and disperse the Jews throughout the world Left: The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Under the Command of Titus, painting by D. Roberts (1850) (Source: Wikipedia) (Click on image to enlarge) Slide 4: Biblical Stories Problem of Historicity: Scholars are uncertain about the historical accuracy of the early biblical stories because no other evidence exists about certain events and people genealogies mentioned in the Bible. Tradition holds: Scholars hold: Torah (Five Books of Moses) were revealed by God directly to Moses, who wrote them down Torah was an oral tradition reworked and redacted by later authors Moses with the Ten Commandments by Rembrandt (1659) (Source: Wikipedia) Sefer Torah at old Glockengasse Synagoge, Cologne (Source: Horsch, Wikipedia) Slide 5: Biblical Stories (cont'd) Final form of Torah around 430 BCE: created by Ezra the Scribe and Priest and his editorial team Intent of later authors: interpreting the formation of Israel from a religious point of view as the results of God’s actions in human history Similarities of biblical stories with Mesopotamian legends: creation, the Garden of Eden, the great flood, the tower of Babel Despite concerns about accuracy, biblical stories are religiously significant for both Christians and Muslims God creates Adam by Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Rome (Source: Wikipedia) (Click on image to enlarge) Slide 6: From Creation to the God of Abraham Genesis 1.1-2.4 - “Priestly” source (God - referred to as Elohim) dates from after 586 BCE creation of heaven and earth by God in six “days” creation of material universe creation of man and woman in the divine “image” humans placed as masters of the earth Genesis 2.4 - The “Yahwist” source (God - referred to as Yahweh) is thought to be an earlier account than Genesis 1.1-2.4 God is a transcendent creator, without origin, gender, or form, a being utterly different from the created world The Adam and Eve story: theme of exile from paradise is present throughout Jewish history either punishment or straightening of the world through Jews Right: Adam and Eve painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder (Source: Wikipedia) (Click on image to enlarge) Slide 7: Creation to the God of Abraham (cont'd) Noah’s story and the flood Ten generations after Noah: the “patriarchs” (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) the “matriarchs” (their wives - Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel) Left: Painting by the American Edward Hicks (1780–1849) showing the animals boarding Noah's Ark two by two (Source: Wikipedia) (Click on image to enlarge) Abraham born in Chaldean City of Ur, Mesopotamia, migrated to Haran, and then called by God to Canaan shows an example of obedience to God’s commandments through: circumcision - sign of the covenant with God ready to sacrifice his son Isaac (from Sarah) upon request from God Abraham’s son Ishmael and his mother (slave Hagar) are driven into the desert - Ishmael is an ancestor of the Arabs Abraham is taught by God to be monotheistic God was perceived as a ruler in relation to the people, like a parent to a child, or a sovereign to vassals, like a husband to a wife Slide 8: Birth of Israel Jacob, Isaac’s second son, receives the new name “Israel” after wrestling for a whole night with an angel of God Israel - the one who struggled with God names are indicative of the person’s character a new name means a new character, in this case of one reborn at a higher level of spirituality Jacob is given the promise that many nations will be born from him The genealogy of the kings of ancient Israel and Judah (Click on the image to enlarge) Above: Jacob Wrestling with the Angel, by Gustave Doré, 1855 (Granger Collection, New York) (Source: Wikipedia) Slide 9: Egypt: Bondage and Exodus The Twelve Tribes of Israel Jacob/Israel had 12 sons and one daughter from his two wives. The 12 sons become heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. Biblical stories: Joseph and the Egyptian Pharaoh Moses and the burning bush Exit from Egypt: signs, plagues, Passover, redemption from bondage, crossing of the Red Sea God’s presence as a pillar of cloud/fire; then, Ark of the Covenant the Ten Commandments Left: Map of Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and entry into Cannan (Source: 1712 Map of the Exodus, Lambert Dolphin's Library) Slide 10: The First Temple of Jerusalem Map showing the extent of David and Solomon's Kingdom of Israel (Source: Wikipedia) 1010-970 BCE King David establishes Jerusalem as the capital 961-931 BCE King Solomon builds a great Temple in Jerusalem Burnt offerings of animals, grain and oil were made to God in the Temple Solomon ended up an idol worshipper and womanizer Division of Israel follows into the northern and southern kingdom (Israel and Judah) 722 BCE Israel is conquered by Assyria - most Jews are sent into exile in Assyria 586 BCE Judah is conquered by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar and the Temple is destroyed The destruction of the Temple is interpreted as divine punishment for Israel’s infidelity toward God Slide 11: Return to Jerusalem 530 BCE King Cyrus of Persia allows the Jews to return to the land of Israel 515 BCE The Temple is rebuilt 430 BCE Ezra, a priest and scribe, coordinates the redaction of the Torah Judaism becomes contaminated with foreign influences (Persian, Greek Parthian, Roman) 175-164 BCE Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Hellenistic ruler of Syria, forces Greek ways upon the Jews 164 BCE The Maccabean revolt rejects Antiochus IV’s rule and manages to re-establish a Jewish independent kingdom 63 BCE Roman general Pompey conquers Israel King Cyrus the Great allowed the Hebrew exiles to resettle and rebuild Jerusalem, earning him an honored place in Judaism, painting by Jean Fouquet (1470-1475) (Source: Wikipedia) Slide 12: Jewish Groups around the Year 0 Listen to your professor discuss various Jewish groups. (Video Length 08:52) The Psalms scroll, one of the Dead sea Scrolls (Hebrew transcription included) (Source: Library of Congress, Wikipedia) (Click on image to enlarge) Sadducees Pharisees Essenes Zealots priests and wealthy businessmen conservatives who provided a literal interpretation of the Bible rejected oral law and traditions denial of an afterlife and coming of a messiah more liberal citizens of all classes studied the applications of Torah to everyday life in 1st century. BCE - civil war between Sadducees and Pharisees monastic community disgusted with what they considered a corrupted priesthood apocalyptic group who wrote The Dead Sea Scrolls (discovered in 1947) some retreated to Qumran on the shore of the Dead Sea militias who in 66 CE revolted against the Romans Roman general (later emperor) Vespasian and his son Titus suppressed the revolt and destroyed the Second Temple in the year 70 CE Slide 13: Rabbinic Judaism Listen to your professor explain Rabbinic Judaism. (Video Length 07:52) Destruction of the Temple by the Romans brought some revisions: synagogues replaced temple rabbis replaced priests prayers replaced sacrifices Emphases on the Book and literacy (not for women, however) Revelation was closed (with the completion of the Bible), but Interpretation (midrash) of the Bible has been encouraged in legal decisions (halakhah) non-legal teachings (haggadah) - folklore, historical knowledge, theological arguments, sermons and mystical teachings Two messianic movements survived the destruction of the Temple: Rabbis - inheritors of the Pharisee tradition; rabbis are teachers, religious decision-makers, creators of liturgical prayer Jesus of Nazareth’s followers - Christianity Slide 14: Rabbinic Judaism (cont'd) Interpretation led to the Mishnah (oral Torah) - completed in about 200 CE Mishnah is divided into six sections: seeds, festivals, women, damages, holy things and purities Subordination of women to men, but also directions for responsibilities Mishna + rabbinic commentaries on it = The Talmud The Jerusalem Talmud (completed c. 400 CE) emphasizes continual study of the Torah as a spiritual practice The Babylonian Talmud (completed c. 500 CE) the dominant version in theology and law The Talmud continues to grow to this day Right: An 1878 painting by Maurycy Gottlieb depicting Ashkenazi Jews praying in the synagogue on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement (Source: Jewish Art, Wikipedia) (Click on image to enlarge) Slide 15: Perceptions of God In early biblical narratives, God is perceived as a: burning bush pillar of cloud/fire smoking mountain In the prophets, God is present through: visits by angelic messengers inner voices Rabbinical tradition: God's presence in the world is called Shekinah. Shekinah is a feminine quality representing God’s nurturing, motherly aspect. this is a non-anthropomorphic, transcendent presence sometimes Shekinah is depicted as a radiant, winged presence Yemeni Jew in traditional costume, March 1914 National Geographic Magazine (Source: Wikipedia) Slide 16: Location of Israel Today Map location of Israel today (Source: Wikipedia)