Christian Scriptures Exam 3

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to Hellenism and early Christianity for exam preparation.

Acts of Apostles

fifth book of the New Testament, functioning as a historical narrative and sequel to the Gospel of Luke

Peter

first major leader; one of 12 disciples; focus on Jewish population; first to figure out Jesus is Son of God but first to mess up

Peters Vision

God commands Peter to eat unclean animals →says no 3X→called to cornelius→ holy spirit descends on gentiles →starts speaking in tongues

Paul (Acts)

represents the historical and narrative account of the Apostle Paul

Broadening community of acts

transformative expansion of the early church from a localized, exclusively Jewish sect in Jerusalem into a diverse, multi-ethnic

Jews → Gentiles

1-2 Corinthians

general info: (undisputed) from Ephesus to christ followers in Corinth (Gentile)

recipient context & occasion: Paul concerned by Corinthian divisions (wealthy vs poor) and them not believing in bodily resurrection

overall message/answer: reconciling factional divides

1 Thessalonians

general info: (undisputed) from Corinth not long after Pauls visit to christ followers in thessalonian

recipient context & occasion: major roman trade hub, persecuted, now grappling with deaths of believers

overall message/answer: concern over sexual immorality

Disputed Pauline Epistles/Pseudo-Paul

we dont know if it was actually paul

Galatians

general info: (undisputed) from Ephesus or Macedonia to north central or south galatia

recipient context & occasion: missionaries after Paul suggest Paul not fully right brings up questions on circumcision

overall message/answer: all are deemed/made righteous by faith not lawfulness

First letter to the Thessalonians

Paul gently addresses a faithful, yet oppressed community in Thessalonica with lingering questions about their dead

Letter to the Galatians

Paul furiously addresses a Galatian community led astray by subsequent missionaries who seem to have taught that circumcision is a necessity to follow Christ & be righteous

Alexander the Great

overtakes the persian empire (Greek, Persian, and Egyptian territories including Yhud) —> death causes division of empire among generals

Hellenism

The rise and spread of Greek culture associated with the conquest of Alexander the Great's conquests.

Judea

the Greek-era province of Jerusalem and its surroundings

Ptolemies

centered in Egypt but extending to the region of Jerusalem (relatively accommodating of Jewish culture) —> good

Seleucids

centered in Syria (northwest) seizes control from the Ptolemies (punishments for jews unwilling to assimilate) —> bad

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

A Seleucid king; forced worship of greek gods and outlawed jewish practices.

devoted Jerusalem temple to Zeus and tortured/killed jews that resisted.

Judas Maccabeus

son of Mattathias who leads guerrilla warfare against selecids and WINS

Hasmonean Dynasty

Maccabean leaders that established control over Judea through merging offices of “high priest” and “ruler” (ethnarch)

Independence short-lived and characterized by instability—>Leaders sought help from Rome to maintain their —>Rome eventually just takes control for itself

Herod the Great

installed as a puppet king by the Romans; Refurbishes and expands the Jerusalem temple, Decrees the slaughter of newborn boys upon hearing of Jesus’ birth

Judaism

the culture of Judea and its worship of YHWH, as established and developed in the Hellenistic era and beyond; very diverse

debate & questioning

Synagogue

local worship spaces for scripture reading, interpretation, debate

Pharisees

teachers/interpreters; sought to embody Mosaic laws, Written scripture and oral traditions authoritative, Resistant to accommodating Rome; aligned with poor, Believed in afterlife and resurrection of dead for judgment

rebels of the rebels

Sadducees

mostly Temple personnel; must decide what is good/wise

Written scripture only authoritative

Supported status quo under Rome; aligned with wealthy

Did NOT believe in afterlife or resurrection of dead for judgment

Essenes

isolationist approach; sought holiness apart from societal ills

Criticized temple establishment

Many abstained from marriage (cf. later Monasteries)

Dead Sea Scrolls may come from this group

Destruction of the Second Temple

in 70 CE Romans destroy the Temple due to continued unrest in region; never rebuilt again

Bar Kochba Revolt

Simon bar Kochba leads revolt; crushed by Rome —> Rome destroys Jerusalem completely —> Rome forbids Jewish inhabitants in Syria-Palestine region —> Scattering of Jews not already living in diaspora

Gospel (term)

“good news” rel. to evangelion); wide-range use

Gospel (genre)

biographical narration of the ministry of Jesus; present unique

“portraits” of Jesus (Does NOT include entire life story – mostly ministry)

Synoptic Gospels

Matthew, Mark, and Luke only; share numerous accounts/verses in common

Two-Source Hypothesis

the dominant hypothesis that Mark is not only oldest, but influenced the other synoptic gospels

Jesus, Christ and Son of God

Idea that Jesus was man Christ and the Son of God all in one.

Life of Christ (basic events)

Baptism & temptation, Galilean ministry, entry to Jerusalem, Cricifixion and resurrection

John the Baptist

Elijah like prophet calling for repentance/baptism; in Matthew Luke & Mark →is the opening

The Twelve Disciples

Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus (or Jude), Simon, and Judas

Gospel of Mark

audience: Jewish followers of Christ living/persecuted in Rome

style and themes: light on details & rapid transitions, 12 disciples very negative,

emphasis/portrait of Jesus: human side of Jesus

Gospel of Luke

audience: Theophilus the patron of the Lukan account

style and themes: salvation history, gentile inclusion, prayer as central practice, anticipation of the holy spirit

emphasis/portrait of Jesus: Jesus as the savior of everyone

Gospel of Matthew

audience: Jewish Christ followers in debate with other Jews

style and themes: expandings Mark’s narratives (keeps 90% of mark), provides Jesus genealogical credentials, Pharisees & Sadducees are negative, gentile inclusion, apocalyptic imagery, trinitarian theology,

emphasis/portrait of Jesus: Jesus as a teacher, the new Moses, master of divine instruction & ultimate apocalyptic judge/mercy-bringer

Gospel of John

audience: Seemingly everyone; a sort of “open invitation

style and themes: Deep theological orientation, Simple language, complex theological concepts, belief and love, Eternity perspective for Jesus and followers,

emphasis/portrait of Jesus: Jesus is a mystery, God-incarnate yet the Son who reveals the Father, and the eternal ruler of eternity

Messianic Secret

unique to Mark; refers to Jesus’ repeated insistence that no one divulge his identity as Messiah (theme of Mark)

Intercalation

aka sandwiching —> the placement of one story in the middle of another resulting in an ABA format (gospel of Mark)

Theophilus

"lover of God" or "friend of God"

Genealogy of Jesus

gospel of matthew →

Infancy Narrative

The accounts found in Gospels of Matthew and Luke concerning the birth and early life of Jesus.

Salvation History

The narrative of God's actions to save humanity as depicted in the Bible.

“The one whom Jesus loved”

Supersessionism

New Covenant through Jesus Christ has replaced, or "superseded," the Mosaic Covenant and that the Christian Church has replaced the Jewish people as the chosen people of God

The book of Signs

seven specific, miraculous events, or "signs" (semeion), performed by Jesus, designed to reveal his divinity and persuade readers → main section of John

Lazarus

close friend of Jesus whom Jesus raised from the dead after four days → gospel of John

The book of Glory

second main section of the Gospel of John

Logos

The term used in the Gospel of John to describe Jesus as the divine Word who existed with God.

Mary Magdalene

disciple of Jesus, distinguished as a faithful follower healed of seven demons, a steadfast witness to the crucifixion, and the first to witness and proclaim the resurrection

Restoration of Peter

where the resurrected Jesus reinstates Peter, who had denied him three times before his crucifixion

Pauline Epistles

Letters attributed to the Apostle Paul addressing various early Christian communities.

Pseudonymity

The practice of writing under a false name, a common issue regarding authorship of some biblical texts.

Immanent Eschatology

The expectation that the end of the world or the return of Christ is imminent or soon to occur.

Prooftexting

The practice of using passages from the Bible to support a particular theological position.

Canonical criticism

A method of biblical analysis focusing on the final form of the text and its place in the canon.

Parables

short, fictional stories meant to provoke interpretation adn teach something; often “riddle-like” and not always clear

Gentile Inclusion

the gospel theme of Jesus’ teachings extending to non-Jewish people, likely over time (Gospel of Luke)

Matthew eplains how this came to be Luke explains how

Matthean Discourses

five major textual units recording longform teachings of Jesus; interspersed between narrative passages (Gospel of Matthew)

Sermon on the Mount

major textual units recording longform teachings of Jesus; interspersed between narrative passages (Gospel of Matthew)

The Great Commission

the final commands given by Jesus to the disciples and assurances given to the disciples according to Matthew only (Gospel of Matthew)

Sermon on the Plain

shorter than Matthew Sermon on the Mount. Less overt engagement with Torah law/interpretation → Similar but with significant variations (“Woe to the rich”)

The Travel Narrative

Jesus expresses urgency to reach Jerusalem – must make it

Parables emphasize God’s care for outcasts

Climax: Jesus Dines with Zacchaeus, the Chief Tax-Collector

(gospel of Luke)

Salvation History

(i.e., concept of God’s plan to save humanity from sin/oppression) extends beyond Israelite history into all of human history

Supersessionism

the incorrect belief that Christians have “superseded” (replaced) Jewish people and earlier covenants (aka replacement theology)

Logos

concept from Stoicism (philosophy) in which the term refers to the logic of the universe (“word”, “thought”, “matter”) (Gospel of John)

Polemic

a text intended to strongly argue against (attack?) opposing ideas → Galatians

Prooftexting

the practice of seeking “prooftext” (aka evidence)

Canonical Criticism

a systematic approach to the final form(s) of the biblical canon(s), considering topics/issues/statements in light of the “sweep of scripture”

First letter to the Corinthians

Second letter to the Corinthians

Composite Document

document comprised of several documents put together, even to the point of seeming like a unified work.

Apostle

“one sent”

one closely associated with Jesus (especially his resurrection) and sent to continue ministry (req. encounter w/ Jesus)→ highest status within earliest church

Pentecost

Called Shauvot or Festival of Weeks; harvest feast day associated with torah given to Moses atop Mt. Sinai (Exod)

Jerusalem Council

an early meeting between various followers of “the Way” regarding the extent to which Gentiles must follow Torah laws

Epistle

“sent upon” Greek terminology for a letter

The Collection

a facet of Paul’s ministry in which he actively collected money from Gentile congregations for the poor in Jerusalem

Immanent Eschatology

the belief that the end of the present age and return of Jesus is very near (i.e., immanent)

Form Criticism

an approach to biblical analysis that focuses on categorizing formal patterns and structure(s) of texts

Pauline Epistle Structure

1. Greeting 2. Prayer/Thanksgiving 3. Body 4. Closing remarks

Soteriology

theology regarding the nature of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus

Pseudonymity

“false name” → the common Greco-Roman era practice of writing a text under an assumed name, esp. among students/disciples of a particular school of thought

The Parousia

“arrival” → the apocalyptic expectation of the return of Jesus

at the end of time