Early Christianity Quiz - Theology I

On March 7, 2025

Jesus

Christ - Greek word for ‘Savior’

Born about 4 BCE into a Jewish family

New sect of Judaism

• God love’s of humanity

• Love and justice

• Repentance and forgiveness

Had 12 disciples (students) / apostles

Pontius Pilate

• thought of Jesus as a threat

• Sentenced him to death (washed his hands of it)

• Jesus was crucified (common at time for non Romans)

Paul of Tarsus

Initially a Pharisaic Jew (Persecutor of Christians)

After Damascus enlightening (converted), helped found Christian communities in Asia Minor and Greece

Wrote the epistles

Emperor Constantine

Created a turning point for Christians with his Edict of Milan (313 CE)

The edict officially tolerated all religious traditions

Baptized on his deathbed

Emperor Theodosius I

Made Christianity the Roman Empire’s official religion in 380 CE

Judaism vs. Christianity

• Monotheism: Both believe in one God.

• Hebrew Bible (Tanakh/Old Testament): Christianity’s Old Testament is based on the Hebrew Bible.

• Moral and Ethical Teachings: Both emphasize values like justice, charity, and the importance of following God’s commandments.

Differences:

1. Jesus:

   • Christianity: Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, and the Savior of humanity.

   • Judaism: Jesus is not considered divine or the Messiah; the Messiah is yet to come.

2. Sacred Texts:

   • Judaism: The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), with emphasis on the Torah (first five books).

   • Christianity: The Bible, including the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament.

3. Salvation:

   • Christianity: Faith in Jesus as the Savior brings salvation.

   • Judaism: Salvation is through righteous actions, following the commandments, and a relationship with God.

4. Religious Practices:

   • Judaism: Observance of the Sabbath (Saturday), kosher dietary laws, circumcision, and Jewish holidays like Passover and Yom Kippur.

   • Christianity: Observance of Sunday as the Lord’s Day, sacraments (e.g., baptism, communion), and holidays like Christmas and Easter.

5. Concept of God:

   • Judaism: God is one and indivisible.

   • Christianity: Most branches believe in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

Epistles

Letters written by Paul of Tarsus; encouraged the fledgling communities their new life in Christ

Blasphemy

Any word or deed that defames that which is considered sacred by a group of people.

In Christianity it is:

• word,

• thought,

• Or act that expresses hatred for God, Christ, the Church, saints, or other holy things.

Disciples

12 original

Latin for “students”

Crucifixion

Roman method of execution (common for non Romans)

Nailed to a wooden cross and left to die

Remembered on Good Friday

Dies for a sacrifice for the sins of the world

Third Week of the Spiritual Exercises

Resurrection

• 3 days after the death of Jesus

• Resurrected from the dead

• Celebrated on Easter Sunday

• Fourth Week of the Spiritual Exercices

Incarnation

Is a theological mystery.

Comes from Latin ( in [in] carne [flesh] [in the flesh])

Central Christian belief that the 2nd person of the Trinity, the Son, assumed human nature

Catholics believe that Jesus is

• 100% divine

• 100% human

Jesus is eternal (not bound by time)

Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit

Pentecost

50 days after Passover

Many Jews became followers of Jesus on this day

Known as the birthday of the Church

Doctrine/Religious Doctrine

Religious doctrine - beliefs and teachings of a religion

Christian doctrine - what did Jesus teach? Love, repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, and justice

All Christians believe

• The Incarnation/Assumption

• Resurrection

• The Eucharist

• The Trinity

Church

Both a location and the people who believe in the doctrines of Christianity

Gentile

A person who is not of Jewish origin

Messiah

A savior who would free the Jews ( Jewish scripture told of a future anointed one [Messiah])

Jesus was thought of as the Messiah by some Jews (Christians)

A king (Jesus)