Religion Final Exam

Christopher Moe

Where is Jesus’ body put after death and why is it put there?

In a tomb so people don’t steal His body and say He has risen.

Does anyone see him after he dies? If so who?

Yes.

When do the travelers to Emmaus recognize Jesus? And what does it signify that they recognize him then?

It signifies what his purpose is: to give hiself for us.

Does Paul see Jesus?

Yes, in a vision.

What is so important about the resurrection appearances? And look at Paul’s comment on this 1 Corinthians 15:14-20

The Christian faith depends on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What is the Ascension? Was anyone there when it happened?

Jesus goes back to Heaven. His 12 disciples were there.

When did Jesus disciples expect him to come back?

Soon

What is the most compelling reason for the existence of Christianity, AND, did anyone witness the event?

The resurrection of Christ. No.

According to our reading, what are the four main areas of evidence or argument for the reliability of the resurrection?

1. The empty tomb story

2. Multiple witnesses

3. Existence of the Christian religion

4. There is no alternative explanation

What signal (harbinger) did the resurrection of Jesus send to the early Christians?

Jesus was the first of many to be resurrected.

What is Pentecost?

The Holy Spirit descends onto the 12 apostles and they are able to speak different languages. The Birth of the Church.

What do the disciples do afterward?

Evangelize.

Baptism: What was the baptism experiment all about?

Do moral impurities activate a need for physical cleansing?

What can we say about John the Baptism in relation to baptism?

He was the first person to do a baptism ritual.

Baptism in the New Testament

When we are baptised we are united with Christ.

What do Christians believe?

Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. His death frees us from the consequences of our sins. We are saved through our faith: So, we don’t need to be Jewish, or follow Jewish laws, Our faith should be seen in our actions (the faith must act accordingly). Satan actively tries to prevent use from beind saved. A new age is very near: Jesus will come back, the kingdom of Heaven will be present, God’s wrath will overtake the ungodly. The faithful will be resurrected to live eternally with God.

What are Christians called?

Jews, The way.

Why would Gentile Christians need to be circumcised to belong to the people of God?

Circumcision was the sign of the covenant between Abraham and God.

From Paul’s perspective are Abraham’s descendants only those who share the same genes? If not, then who are Abraham descedants?

People who have faith.

Who were “God-fearers”?

Gentiles. Non-jews attracted to the faith.

What is Paul’s vision about gentiles?

It was always God’s plan that Gentiels would be apart of His people.

What is the Age of the Church and why do we have it?

Us now, starts from the Pentecost until Christ comes back.

What are “witnesses”? (two meanings)

Someone who tells their faith story,

2 Peter 3: Delay of the Kingdom handout: What is Peter responding to? And what are his answers (3)?

Why hasn’t Christ come back yet? Who are you to question God? We have different timescales. To recruit more people into the Church.

Where do Christians congregate?

Houses

Where does Christianity spread in the empire?

Cities

Church leadership: How (how elected)

Laying on of hands

Church leadership: Who (titles of leadership)

Bishop - overseer
Presbyter - elder

Pentecost

Birth of the Church

Gentiles

Non-jews

Evangelize

Spread the good news

Christ

The anointed one

Bishop

Overseer

Presbyter

Elder

Reasons why persecution was limited: Population

Not that many Christians

Reasons why persecution was limited: General tolerance of religions

Rome was tolerant of religions

Reasons why persecution was limited: Autonomy of governors

Governors were independent, no police force

Reasons why persecution was limited: activity of Christians (Pliny)

Pledge not to harm people, gather in the evening, sing hymns together

Reasons for persecution: Superstition

Brand new idea

Reasons for persecution: Age - newness of religion

New

Reasons for persecution: Dishonoring the gods and the stability of the empire

The empire’s success is from the worship of the gods

Justin Martyr response

He prays to the emperor, just not worship

Additional consequences from the Roman viewpoint

societal relations will suffer

Secret Society (unlawful. Why?)

They were seen as a secret society because they worshipped in people’s houses. Romans don’t want people to go against them.

At first Christians were associated with?

Jews

Outsiders could see a distinction between these two groups because?

Christians didn’t worship in synagogues.

A beneficial effect of Martyrdom on the Church was?

Attractive feature.

Rumors: Thestean feasts

They ate the body and blood of Christ - cannibalism

Rumor: Oedipean intercourse

Met in homes, greeted with a kiss, called each other brother and sister

Rumor: Atheism

They didn’t worship their gods

Apology

Defense

Libellus

Paper to certiffy sacrifice

Heresy

Wrong belief

Amen

So be it

Eucharist

Thanksgiving

Immanuel

God with us

Christians are guilty?

Yes

Who is baptized?

Believe, live, forgive.
People who believe Christ
People who livve according to Christ
People who forgive others

Who can eat Eucharist?

Baptized, believe, live

What day worship and why?

Sunday, last day God created the world, the day Christ resurrected

Reason for Pliny letter to Trajan

Pliny wonders what he should do with Christians

Are groups cool?

No

Christians are guilty?

Yep, unless they recant

What do the Christians do anyway?

Meet in the morning, sing hymns to God, meet in the evening and share meals, pledge an oath

Trajan’s reply: hunt them down?

No

Crisis of the Third Century: Some things that occured

High inflation, first time a Roman emperor was captured during battle, barbarians attacking from North, emperors die of the plague

Crisis of the Third Century: Why we looked at this?

Century that Christians were persecuted the most, why were they persecuted?

Decius: Who’s he, why important?

Emperor, first to mandate sacrifices

Decius: libellus - why?

to show proof of sacrifice

Decius: General consequences?

Taken to jail, property taken, killed

Decius: Effect on Christians

Christians sacrificed, fled to other towns, paid others to sign off the libellus

Decius: How long last?

Couple years

Martyrdom of Ignatius: Effect on his relationship with Christ

Grows closer to God

Martyrdom of Ignatius: Who is with him during his persecution?

Jesus

Martyrdom of Ignatius: What’s his view of his impending death?

He’s honored and joyful

Martyrdom of Ignatius: What about his remains?

They are sacred, they are kept as a treasure

Martyrdom of St. Felix: What’s his view of his impending death?

He’s excited

Martyrdom of St. Felix: His interrogator, does he hate Christians?

No

Valerian: Who’s he?

Emperor

Valerian: Why we looked at him?

First emperor to persecute Christians

Valerian: Did all magistrate’s comply?

No, no imperial police force

Valerian: How long persecution lasts and what happens afterward?

Couple years. Peace

Diocletian: Who’s he?

Emperor

Diocletian: Great Persecution - how long last?

10 years

Edict of Milan: When?

313

Edict of Milan: What do?

Made Christianity a legitamate religion in the empire

Edict of Milan: Who wrote and why written?

Licinius writes it. Christianity’s God

What was Tetrarchy?

Rule of four to split ruling

The Battle of Milvian Bridge: What was it? What happened?

Constantine vs Maxentius for control of Western Roman empire. Constantine has vision/dream of the Chi-Rho and “By This Conquer”. He puts it on his soldiers shields and wins. Credits it to the Christian God

Reasons for believing that Constantine’s conversion to Christianity was genuine:

Builds Churches all over the empire, builds the first Church within the Roman walls, absolves priests and clergys of duties, wants to live a Christ-like life, uses the treasury funds to build Chruches, before he dies he gets baptized, gets involved in internal Church affairs

What was the Donatist controversy?

Traditore priests who handed over give a sacrament - it’s not valid. Does the efficacy of a sacrament depend on the morality of the Priest? No. Power comes from God through the priest and the disposition of the person.

Constantinople: What was it? What isi t? Is it thoroughly Christian?

Byzantium. Constantine’s city - capital. No.

Questions about Jesus and in general what the questions were getting at

Is he a God like God the Father? The nature of Christ

Worship of Jesus - invoking his name

Invoke miracles, baptize, eucharist

Why worship Jesus?

Forgave sins - only God does that, Elects the 12 apostles - God does that, Resurrected from the dead, miracles - calms the sea.

Looking back in scripture: Wisdom and God’s word - why significant

-is beside God
-created at the beginning
-is an image of God’s goodness
-God delighted in wisdom

Looking forward: Jesus as God’s Wisdom and Word(from Hebrews and John)

-Jesus a reflection of God’s glory
-took part in creating the world
-sits on God’s throne
-was with God in the beginning

What is the big problem with worshipping Jesus and God?

We can only worship one God - not two

Modalism and critiques

God has 3 modes, but Jesus can’t pray to Himself? He can’t begett Himself?

Arian Controversy: Main players

Arius the priest (Jesus is lower), Alexander the bishop(They are equal)