Introduction to Christianity
Study Guide for Quiz #1
Summer 2003
Reading
On studying from the readings, here are some pointers. You will not be
held responsible for names and dates except for those we talked about in
class. You should be familiar enough with each topic to be able to write
a short paragraph should it appear as a short answer, or as playing into
an essay question. The short (!) essay portion (one question), will come
from class discussion, but you may be able to support your answer with
material from the reading.
McManners, chs. 1-2
Gospel of Mark
Optional:
Infancy Gospel of James
General terms and concepts
CE vs. AD
Etiology
Diaspora
esoteric vs. exoteric
Concept of 'History'
non-existence of 'objective' history
true for both modern and ancient histories
2nd Temple Time Line
Babylonian Captivity
Diaspora
impact on emerging Judaism
Persian Empire
Restoration
Alexander
Hellenistic Empires
Hellenization
Hellenism
Gymnasium
Spread of Greek Language
Circumcision
birth rite (Jewish)
puberty rite (African)
Greek view analogous to modern American view of clitorodectomy / FGM
Antiochus IV "Epiphanes"
Emperor worship (Antiochus as Zeus)
Maccabean revolt
Hashmon (Hasmonians)
Expulsion of the Zadokites
Rome
Jesus
Birth of Early Christianity
Miracles
definitions:
1) everything
2) intervention of g/God within natural parameter where timing suggests intentionality
3) violation of laws of nature
rationalism & historical miracle claims (presupposes type 3 miracles)
a) nature is historically consistent
b) no miracles today
c) -> no miracles in past
possible refutation:
a) Dispensationalism (no need for miracles in church age)
archaism (increasing sin hinders miracles)
cultural dependency (faith needed for miracles)
b) examples of present day miracle claims
Parsimony
Ockham's razor (Occam's razor)
Canon
Historical development of Jewish Canon (note that dates refer to canonization, not authorship)
Babylonian Captivity
Torah (= 'Law' = 'Pentateuch' = 1st 5 books of the Bible) ~ 450 BC
The Prophetic / Historical works ~ 200 BC
Septuagint ~ 200 BC
Other scripture translations into Greek
Disagreement over extent of 'Other' scriptures
Palestinian vs. Diaspora Judaism?
Mishnaic evidence for the discussion (Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, ben Sira)
Apparently looser canon at Qumran
The 'Writings' accepted as 3rd section of Hebrew Scriptures within emerging
Rabbinic Judaism ~90-150 CE
Christian Old Testament
Other books in other canons
e.g. Enoch in Ethiopian Christian canon
Apocrypha/Deutero-canonicals
Different Bibles:
Hebrew Bible
Catholic/Orthodox Bible
Protestant Bible
Jewish Sects
Pharisees
Conservative on halakha (practice)
More open to wider canon
Resurrection of the Dead
Sadducees
Torah only
Temple connection
Liturgically conservative, but more liberal on halakha & syncretism
No surviving documents
Essenes
apocalyptic
asceticism
open canon
rel. to Dead Sea Scrolls?
Hellenistic Judaism
mostly Diaspora
wider (Greek) canon
often syncretistic
liberal on circumcision
removing the marks of circumcision
liberal on dietary issues
Christianity as Jewish Sect
early Christians all Jewish
viewed as Jewish 'cult' by main-stream groups
only later accepted uncircumcised/non-observant gentiles
Greek and Roman religious context
shrinking world
orientalism (western interest in eastern religions & culture)
classical 'paganism'
merging of god(desse)s with foreign deities of similar function
growing dissatisfaction with traditional religions
"Mystery Religions"
Short list
Cybele worship
Self mutilation of priests, who then dress as women
Dionysus worship (Bacchic rites)
Accused of amoral esoteric rites
Isis/Osiris worship
Mithraism
Esp. popular among Roman soldiers
Esoteric/Exoteric
sources for mystery religions from outsiders are suspect
many accusations similar to those made against early Christianity
Recurring theme of dying and living god
Jesus
Albert Schweitzer & The Quest for the Historical Jesus
Will the real Jesus please stand up
Norman Perrin's criteria of dissimilarity: initial rejection of material that resembles
1st century Judaism
early Christianity
other religious traditions of the area
Canonical gospels as historical sources
Apocryphal gospels
Gospel of Thomas
Possibly 1st century
Sayings gospel (like Q)
About half parallel to the synoptics with extra sayings (agrapha)
No birth, passion or miracles
Gnostic influences and possible translation issues
Proto-gospel of James
Premenstrual conception
Postpartum virginity of Mary
Doceticism
Contrast Toldoth Yeshu
Seduction of Mary
Yeshu conceived during menses (or shortly after)
Paul
Apostle = missionary
Righteousness
Righteousness = right with God = justification
Not sinning -> right with God
But not possible Declaration of righteousness result of faith
Enabled by sacrificial death of Jesus
Gentiles and covenant law (circumcision, etc.)
Jewish Christians still required to keep Torah law
Paul's circumcision of Timothy
Acts 15 council: gentiles to avoid
fornication
eating/drinking blood
meat from strangled animals
food offered to idols
Jewish Christianity
Christians must keep Jewish covenant law
Survival possibly as late as 5th c. CE
Libertinism
as an extension of Pauline theology
Problem of "faith"
Greek (pistis): "trust, faith, belief"
Paul: dynamic life changing inner condition
Libertines: belief
James vs. Paul
differing definitions of 'faith'
Suffering and Asceticism in early Christianity
Essenes
Celibacy
Asceticism
body as source of sin
perception of world/body as evil
motivations for asceticism
suppress body --> suppress sin nature --> stimulate spirituality
self-control yields strength
pleasure (esp. sex) is bad
General rejection of terminal fasting
Embraced martyrdom
Gnosticism
The classical Gnostic myth
Pleroma
Sophia
Ialdaboth (=OT God)
Serpent as revealer