Christian Scriptures Exam 4

Hellenism

Greek ideas and customs spread through Alexander’s empire and blended with local ideas and customs 

• Cosmopolitan Perspective 

• Koine Greek 

• Building programs (Temples, Gymnasium, and Theaters) 

• Education 

• Flourishing Trade 

Alexander the Great

• son of King Philip of Macedonia

• first used military acumen to consolidate Greek armies

• conquered the Persian empire

• gained control of the regions of Judea and Samaria

Koine Greek

original language

Seleucus

Syria/Babylonia, the “North” 

Ptolemy

Egypt, the “South” (and Palestine) 

Antiochus IV

Theos Epiphanes “manifestation of God” 

Mattathias

Modein and his 5 sons revolted 

Judas Maccabeus

• son of Mattathia

• nickname Maccabee “The Hammer”

Maccabean Revolt/War

• Led by Judas Maccabeus (nickname: “the hammer”) 

• Successfully retook the temple and rededicated it in a week-long festival, Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah 

Hasmonean Dynasty

leaders who reigned over Judea between 142 and 63 BCE

Herod the Great

• Held his kingship 

• Politically astute 

• Ruthless 

• Roman senate in 40 BCE (King of Jews) 

• Only book of Matthew tells this story

Alexander Jannaeus  

• ruled as king and high priest

• from 103 to 76 BCE

• crucified more than 800 pharisees

Pompey

• Rome General

• helped brothers

• sent Roman troops into Palestine

Antipater

• served as governor of Judea from 63 to 37 BCE

• father of Herod the Great

• helped Pompey overthrow Palestine

Herod Antipas

Son of Herod the Great: Ruled over Galilee and Perea

Herod Achelaus

Son of Herod the Great: Ruled over Judea, Samaria, and Idumea (later replaced with procurators)

Caesarea

• Roman capital of Judea

• the Roman centurion Cornelius was converted by Peter

• confessed as Jesus the Messiah - Peter Caesarea Philippi

Masada

• name of a rock plateau in Israel

• fortress or stronghold

• built by King Herod the Great

Octavian

• Became emperor in 27 BCE; Roman Republic became Roman Empire 

• Instituted Pax Romana 

Pax Romana

Roman Peace: a time of peace and security and economic prosperity 

Pontius Pilate

• Reigned during 26-36 C.E over Samaria, Judea, and Idumea 

• Corruption, violence, depredations, ill treatment, offenses, numerous illegal executions, and incessant, unbearable cruelty 

• No regard for Jewish Religion; placed banners with emperor’s pictures in the temple in Jerusalem; took money from temple treasury for an aqueduct; quick to put down resistance; slaughter on Mount Gerizim; Luke 13:1 

The Bar Kokhba Revolt

• last notable attempt by Judean Jews to oust their Roman overlords

• a group of Jews led by Simon Bar Kosiba rebelled against Rome in 132 CE

Claudius

• Temporarily expelled Jews from Rome 

• Reigned from 41-54 

Nero

• First persecution of Christians in Rome 

• Executions of Peter and Paul 

• Outbreak of Jewish War 

• Reigned from 54-68 

Vespasian

• End of Jewish War 

• Destruction of Jerusalem and Masada 

• Reigned from 69-79 

Domitian

• Sporadic persecutions 

• Reigned from 81-96 

• Asked people to call him Dominus et Deus 

Jewish War with Rome

• Romans conquered Jerusalem

• war lasted from 66 to 73 CE

• destroyed Jewish Temple

Sadducees

• Did not believe in angels, resurrection, or life after death 

• Came from wealthy influential families (high priest) centered in the temple 

• Considered the Torah authoritative and rejected everything else (acted as mediators)

Pharisees

• Believed in resurrection and life after death centered in the Senagauge  

• Ex. Paul 

• All Jewish scripture authoritative and added to the written law

Samaritans

• constituted on important branch Judaism that developed during/after the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles

• sacred temple stood on Mount Gerizim between Galilee and Judea

• looked at the Pentateuch as authoritative scripture

Essenes

• believed God determines all of life

• strove for righteous lives, pure worship, and denial of human passions and pleasures

Rabbinic Judaism

• pharisees morphed

• modern forms of Judaism

• gathered in the synagogues, revered the Hebrew Scriptures, received guidance from their teacher and rabbis

Epicureans

• debated with Apostle Paul in Athens

• taught about absolute peace and pleasure

Stoics

believes suffering is inevitable and should be endured with patience

Synoptic Problem

Triple tradition, double tradition, material occurring only in Matthew, and material occurring only in Luke  

Synoptic Gospels

Mark, Luke, and Matthew 

Griesbach Hypothesis

• Matthew wrote his gospel 

• Luke wrote his gospel using Matthew's gospel 

• Mark used both Matthew and Luke and created and abridge gospel 

Two-Source Hypothesis/Theory

• Matthew and Luke used Mark as a source 

• Matthew and Luke hypothetical source of Quelle  

• Matthew used a body or tradition called “M” 

• Luke had a body or tradition called “L”

Messianic Secret

• William Wrede 

• “Don’t tell anyone” - people did not understand 

Mark’s Portrayal of Jesus’ Inner Circle of 12 Disciples 

• a group that is both chosen and flawed

• displaying initial faith while frequently failing to understand Jesus’ message and demonstrating incompetence

Mustard Seed 

• Matthew 13:31-32, Matthew 17:20, Mark 11:23, and Luke 17:6

• something small can grow into something large and powerful

Overarching Claim of the Gospel of Matthew 

The right way to be a Jew now is to follow Jesus, and Gentiles are invited to follow him too

How does the author of the Gospel of Matthew make his overarching claim? 

• Genealogy

  • Magi

  • Great Comission

• Jesus as fulfillment of prophecy

• Jesus as supreme interpreter of the Torah

Theophilus 

• A wealthy Rome official 

• “One who loves God” 

Material Unique to the Gospel of Luke 

• Formal preface
  • Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah
  • Annnunciation
  • Nativity Story
  • Jesus in the Temple at age 12
  • Trial before Herod Antipas
  • Good Samaritan
  • Healing of 10 lepers

Beloved Disciple 

John

Material Unique to the Gospel of John 

Jesus turns water to wine.
• Nicodemus visits Jesus
• Woman at the well
• “I am” sayings.
• Jesus washes his disciples’ feet.
• Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.

Four Important Ideas from the Prologue of the Gospel of John 

The divine Redeemer is one with the divine Creator.
• In the incarnation, the Word has become flesh permanently.
• The incarnate Word reveals God to creatures.
• Jesus has created a community of people who believe that he is the Messiah, a
community of children of God.

Significance of Jesus Death (See PowerPoint)

Ransom
• Matthew 20:28
• Mark 10:45

• Covenant
• Mark 14:24
• Matthew 26:28

• Forgiveness
• John 13
• Matthew 26:28
• Luke 23:34; 24:47

Part of God’s Plan
• Comes out strongly in John
• Victory over Satan
• John 12:31

• Necessary
• Matthew 16:21
• Mark 8:31
• Luke 9:22
• John 3:14