* Palestine was ruled by the Romans- very multicultural, hostility but coexisted * There were harsh taxes * Jews were unhappy because it was their “Promised Land”
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Judaism at the time of Jesus
* Hard to be Jewish- oppressed by Babylonians, Greeks, Assyrians * No Jewish authority- just different sects * The huge temple in Jerusalem was very important
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Jesus birth
* Born in Bethlehem (near Jerusalem) because census had to be taken * Circumcised at 8 days old
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Jesus childhood
* Grew up in Nazareth * Travelled back to Jerusalem for Passover and left at Temple for 3 days and declared he was in the house of his father
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Jesus Adulthood
* Became relevant around 30 * Baptised by John the Baptist- realised Jesus son of God * Taught in a ministry and performed miracles for the poor * Ends up in Jerusalem while preaching
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Jesus arrest and crucifixion
* Threatening to the Romans because he empowered the poor * Arrested on Holy Thursday * During the Last Supper- showed servant leadership by washing feet * Killed on Good Friday age 33 and put in tomb
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Jesus resurrection
* On Easter Sunday women went to the tomb to prepare body * Tomb was empty and angel told them Jesus had risen * 40 days after he rose he ascended to heaven
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Jesus as a role model
* Jesus modelled Christian life * Universal love for humanity and faithfulness to God * Emphasised we are all part of the Kingdom of God
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First 3 Centuries post Jesus
* Pentecost- the Holy Spirit came and that marked the beginning of Christianity * At first it was just a variant of Judaism- took some time to become its own thing
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Early Christian Controversy
* Could non ethnic Jews join Christianity? Jews said no, Paul said yes- that’s when Christianity fully separated and began recruiting not just Jewish people
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Paul
* Really started Christianity- reformed himself * Became a traveller- wrote down letter about Jesus and spread the gospel
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Principal Beliefs
1. Jesus is human and divine 2. God and the trinity 3. Death and resurrection 4. Revelation 5. Salvation
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Jesus is human and divine
* Jesus being a human was an act of love from God for humanity
* His humanity showed the connection between God and humans
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Nature of God and the Trinity
* God is the one creator but is expressed in 3 natures- the father, the son and the holy spirit * However- this still controversial
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Death and resurrection
* Death and resurrection provides hope * Jesus defeated death- atoned for human sin- so we can have eternal life * Jesus a sacrificial lamb
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Revelation
* The transmission of knowledge from God to people is an invitation to join with God
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Salvation
* Humans require deliverance away from sin so God can save us
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The Bible is divided into
* Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) * Christian Scriptures (New Testament)
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Bible contains
* Nature of God and teachings of Jesus * Beliefs * Rituals
Is divinely inspired but written by humans
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Importance of the Bible
Integral to the lives of believer- making ethical decisions, daily rituals, finding meaning. Especially important for Protestants
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Ethical teachings
* 10 commandments (Old T) * Beatitudes (New T) * Jesus’s Commandment of Love (New T)
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Ten Commandments
* Given to Moses * A summations of relationship between people and God
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Beatitudes
* Blessings in latin * Blessed are.. * The teachings of Jesus and a Christian way of living * e.g. Blessed are those who are forgotton * Come from Sermon on the Mount and Sermon on the Plane
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Jesus’s Commandment of Love
* Most important commandments * “Love God, Love thy neighbour” * The love isnt romantic- it is AGAPE= mutual admiration and respect
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What is prayer
A communion with God
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What can prayer be
* Vocal * Contemplative * Meditative * Mental
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Why pray
* Celebrate * Recollecting with God * Reflection * Jesus prayed to help make decisions