THL 231: Interpretation Exam Terms/Concepts

Nature

Refers to the natural world (a system) that can be studied by SCIENTISTS

Creation

refers to the interpretation of that natural world as having been CREATED by a Transcendent Source

Divine Wisdom

The intentional ordering for well-being built into creation

Human Wisdom

Careful attention to the orderly interconnectedness of creation (how God's world works)

Shalom

Well-being, quality of life, "health"

Tsedeqah

righteousness

Misphat

justice

YAHWeH

'I Am the Being who causes TO BE"

Neoliberalism

We exist as separate individuals, and are are self interested.

-"Market Beings" rather than "Human Beings"

-"The ideal human is the self-made entrepreneur who takes personal responsbility to compete for success in the market"

Biblical tradition and Christian theology

We exist as separate but interrelated individual creatures in a “world-wide web” of interdependent life-forms

-Humans are created in God's image, from God who is love, and are interdependent on one another

Pathocoenosis

The ensemble of pathological states present in a specific population at a given moment in time

Osteoarchaeology

The study of bones from archaeological excavations

Paleopathology

The science of diseases whose existence can be demonstrated on the basis of human and animalremains from ancient times

Paleodemography

The demographic traits among ancient peoples (includes: total number of inhabitants, demographicdensity, degree of urbanization, distribution by gender and age, fertility, average lifespan, average height, frequency ofcertain bodily defects)

Sociology

The scientific study of human society and social interaction-based on the assumption that human behavior is largely shaped by the groups to which people belong and by the socialinteraction that takes place within those groups

Medical sociology

The study of health care as it is institutionalized in a society, and of health, or illness, and its relationshipto social factors

Society

A population marked by relative separation from surrounding populations and a distinctive culture

Health

Social, psychological, and emotional wellness

Illness behavior

The way in which symptoms are perceived, evaluated, and acted upon by a person who recognizes some pain, discomfort, or other signs of organic malfunction

The sick role

The privileges, exemptions, & expectations/obligations that a society accepts for those who are sick

Stigma

A mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach on one's reputation (in societies, some illnesses bear a stigma

Health care system

A set of interacting resources, institutions, & strategies that are intended to maintain or restore health in a particular community

Biological reductionism

The attempt to reduce every disease and illness to a biological cause

Social epidemiology

Study of the causes and distribution of diseases and impairments within a population

Social medicine

Efforts to improve public health

Medicalization

The way in which the jurisdiction of modern medicine has expanded in recent years and now encompasses many problems that formerly were not defined as medical entities, e.g., childbirth

Self-care

The broad range of behaviors initiated by individuals to promote optimal health, prevent illness, detect symptoms of ill health, heal acute illness, and manage chronic conditions

Medical anthropology

Sub-division of anthropology that focuses on how people in different cultures and social groups explain the causes of ill-health, the types of treatment they believe in, and to whom they turn if they become ill

Culture

An organized system of symbols by which persons, things, and events are endowed with socially-shared meanings and values

Disease

A malfunctioning of biological and/or psychological processes (doctor's perspective; a medical perspective)

Illness

The psychological experience and meaning of perceived disease (patient's perspective; a personal and cultural perspective); how the sick person and the members of the family or wider social network perceive, live with, and respond to symptoms and disability

Impairment

The loss of some physiological or anatomical function

Disability

The consequence of an impairment, e.g., inability to walk, climb stairs, travel, etc.

Curing

The strategy of destroying or checking a pathogen, removing a malfunctioning or non-functioning organ, restoring a person to health or well-being (the goal in the bio-medical model)

Healing

The personal and institutional responses to perceived disease and illness

Explanatory model

The notions about an episode of sickness and its treatment that are employed by all those engaged in the clinical process

Personalistic etiology

Ascribes the cause of illness to an active personal agent, e.g., a sorcerer or someone practicingvoodoo or magic

Supernaturalistic etiology

Term used when the agent causing sickness is thought to be a spiritual being (a god/goddess,demon, etc.)

Naturalistic Etiology

Ascribes the cause to a loss of equilibrium of natural substances

Medicine/Biomedicine

A body of scientific knowledge combined with an accumulation of skills aimed at the diagnosisand treatment of disease

Alternative medicine

Those methods which replace those of current orthodox medicine

Complementary medicine

Those methods which are applied alongside of and in conjunction with orthodox medicaltreatment

Emic perspective

Insider's perspective

Etic perspective

Outsider's perspective

Tsara'ath

Leprosy

Systemic evil

The abuse of power that harms or destroys bodies and spirits in the world wide web of life

Pharisees

Known for being strongly devoted to knowing/keeping God's word

Faith= ? + ?

FAITH = TRUST + CONFIDENCE

What are the 5 old testament approaches to suffering

1. The Voice of Those Who Suffer: the Lament Psalms

2. The Law of Retribution (aka the Deuteronomic Principle): the Mainline Explanation

3. Suffering as Mystery: the Book of Job

4. Suffering as Redemptive: the Servant Songs in Isaiah

5. Justice Deferred: the Apocalyptic Solution

OT approach to suffering: The voice of those who suffer KEY DETAILS

This OT approach to suffering are prayers that are often lament psalms and typically consist of 5 major elements:

1. address to God

2. the complaint/lament

3. expression of trust in God based on God's past actions

4. petition/request for action

5. expression of hope and trust in God (or indication that prayer has been answered

OT approach to suffering: The Law of Retribution KEY DETAILS

This OT approach to suffering is also known as the Deuteronomic Principle/Mainline Explanation

-It emerged during the Babylonian exile when people questioned why God's chosen people ended up in exile, and the answer is expressed in Deuteronomy 30

-"In short: actions have consequences; you get what you deserve"

OT approach to suffering: Suffering as Mystery

This OT appraoch to suffering comes from the Book of Job, and fails to accept the Law of Retribution as an adequate explanation for suffering

-It wrestles with the problem of THEODICY (trying to justify God's ways) because of faith beliefs that a. God is omnipotent; b. God is just; and 3. innocent people (like Job) can and do suffer

-God doesn't explain why Job suffers but responds by saying that his wisdom and power cannot be comprehended by Job and by humans

OT approach to suffering: Suffering as Redemptive

This OT approach comes from the servant songs in Isaiah, written also during the Babylonian exile, that deal with the Deuteronomic theory of retribution

-stated "Suffering was a punishment for sin, but a time of liberation and a 'new exodus' to return to Jerusalem has come"

-Some believe this sheds light on the meaning of Jesus' suffering and death, which included the concept of vicarious suffering (someone can suffer on behalf of another to bring forgiveness)

OT approach to suffering: Justice Deferred

This OT approach to suffering is also known as the apocalyptic solution, and claims that God will make suffering right at a later time that only He knows

-This approach is demonstrated in Mark 13, when Jesus warns about hard times but promises The Son of Man will come to set things right

What are the 2 different creation narratives?

Creation Episode/Genesis 1 = 1:1-2:4

Creation Episode/Genesis 2 = 2:4b-25

(Creation Episode/Genesis 3 describes "the fall")

- Because Genesis 1–3 is composed from two different ancient sources—the Priestly (P) and the Yahwist (J). Each source reflects different historical periods, theological concerns, and literary traditions, so they preserve two distinct creation myths side-by-side to communicate different truths about God, humanity, and gender.

What are the 2 sources that scholars have detected in Genesis?

The Yahwist/J source = main source for Genesis 2/3

The Priestly/P source = main source for Genesis 1

What is the literary genre/form of Gen 1-2?

MYTHS OF ORIGIN/CREATION MYTHS

What is a myth?

Myth in this context does NOT mean false story, as in popular usage. Myth, from the Greek word mythos, means story. Myth in this context means a story that is not a factual account but that communicates profound TRUTHS.

What is an "etiological element" and give an example from Gen 1-3

An etiological elemend explains the origin/etiology of various things or the reasons for current names & customs

Example:

"why snakes crawl on the ground (3:14-15)"

"why people have to work for a living (3:17-19)"

How do the two creation narratives differ in gender constructs?

1st creation= human creation is the last and climactic act of God's creation, and humans are made male and female at the same time and in the image of God

2nd creation= human (Adam) is the first creature made by God out of the soil, and then animals are made. when animals are not enough for Adam, God makes Eve as a companion for him from his rib

Which creation story has been more influential in the remainder of the Bible and in Western Civilization?

The 2nd story (Genesis 2-3), because people interpret it to mean humans have dominion over anything and can do what they want, and it reinforces patriarchy and puts women as second/derivative, as a "helper" for man and to bear children

How do God's actions after the couples sin of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil reflect the gender expectations/roles in ancient patriarch?

After they eat from the tree, Adam blames the women, and the women blames the snake. God blames all three, and first expels Adam for listening to eve, which suggests he is the "head" of the couple. He then expels Eve because she came from him, and punishes her with the pain of childbirth.

How do these creation episodes reflect the priorities of ancient agrarian patriarchy?

These creation episodes/stories served as metaphors for human kind, and many took them as a priority to establish a patriarchy which prioritized marriage and having children and putting males in positions of power

- Humans exist to cultivate and care for the earth, matching the central role of farming in agrarian life.

- Woman’s primary social role is childbearing, marked by painful labor.

- Man’s primary role is agricultural work and authority (“he will rule over you”).

- Gender hierarchy is portrayed as part of the world’s order post-fall.

Where do you see the influence of the creation traditions on Paul's thinking in 1 Cor 11:2-16?

verse 3 "But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and a husband the head of his wife, and God the head of Christ"

verse 7-9 "A man, on the other hand, should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; nor was man created for woman, but woman for man"

Verse 12 "For just as woman came from man, so man is born of woman; but all things are from God"

More heavily influenced by Genesis 2:

- Man created first

- Woman created from man

- Woman created “for man”

In 1 Cor 11:2-16, which creation traditions (Gen 1 or Gen 2) seems to have influenced Paul's thinking more than the other?

Gensis (Gen) 2

Where do you see the influence of the creation traditions in 1 Tim 2:8-15? Which creation tradition - Gen 1, Gen 2, or Gen 3 seems to be in the writer's mind

verse 12-13 "For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed"

Gen 2 /Gen 3

Do scholars think 1 Tim 2:8-15 was by Paul?

Most scholars do not believe it was written by Paul, and classify it as Deutero-Pauline in the New Testament ( maybe written by one of his followers after Paul's death)

Purity+Holiness: What are they and in what historical circumstances did they emerge?

PURITY = a society’s system of ORDERing in which everything has its place. Things are either CLEAN or UNCLEAN

-The laws about tsara’ath (ET: “leprosy) are part of the laws of purity in Leviticus

-Came about during the post-exile period because of disorder+threat of cultural assimilation while living under foreign rule

HOLINESS= the fundamental attribute of the God; the God who creates is the Holy One par excellence. Holiness is separating/setting apart (aka order) and wholeness/completeness (never being more or less than oneself)

-From Hebrew qadosh (qdsh) = to separate, to set apart

-Came about during the post-exile period because of disorder+threat of cultural assimilation while living under foreign rule (people of Israel=Holy people)

What is the translation issue in old testament narratives about purity+holiness and how has it impacted future events?

Tsara'ath is used a lot in the bible to describe a varity of conditions but it's translation is leprosy. Not all ancient conditions were leprosy (Hansen's disease)

Is UNCLEANESS the same as sin?

NO

Uncleanness ≠ Sin

Rather, to be unclean is a CULTIC status; it means one is not in a state of worthiness to approach the Holy God with the worshipping community due to something being presently “out of order” (bloodloss, loss of semen, contact with a corpse, etc.)

What was the purpose of the "purification ritual" described in Lev 14?

Day 1: Priest inspects wounds, sacrifices 2 birds (outside of camp...14:3), sprinkles blood/water, washes person, applies oil.

Days 2–6: Person stays outside camp (7 days)

Day 7: Final sacrifices (lamb & grain), person fully cleansed and reintegrated.

- 2 main purposes: Restoration to the community and Restoration to the sacred space of worship

What are the obligations of a person with possible tsara’ath in Israel? Does Lev 13-14 indicate that the person w/ this condition sinned?

They are excluded temporarily from the worshipping community of Israel; They are NOT sinners, but are impure/out of order and are not to approach the Holy God while in a state of disorder

What is a prophet?

One called to speak on behalf of the covenant for God, and spread God's word

Why did people of ancient Israel go to prophets when sick or injured? Who did they believe actually healed them?

People went to Prophets because they were intermediaries for God's will, and could communicate God's will or pray with them. They believed God actually healed them through the prophet.

Mark's Ws

Who and Where=little certainty regarding authorship and provenance; ANONYMOUS/debated

When=our study of Mark in this course assumes a DATE OF COMPOSITION b/w 68-72 CE/AD

Whom=Address a suffering community struggling with the alligence of Jesus and his gospel of God

Why=Announcing good news of hope and Jesus's mission, and that they reign of God has come near

What is JESUS' IDENTITY according to Mark?

Spirit power/Messaih

Also: Anointed one, The Son of God

What is JESUS' MISSION according to Mark?

"To inaugurate the in-breaking "reign of God" in powerful word (preaching) & deed (actions: healings,feedings, exorcisms)"

To spread the word of God

According to Mark's Gospel, what is the source of Jesus' remarkable ability to heal people and relieve other forms of suffering?

His baptism- and the spirit descending into Him, and then tried by Satan. The spirit and Power of God is his power. God's will and power working through him because of their relationship and the faith of others

What is the deeper MEANING of each of Jesus' healings in Mark? (HINT: connection to the mission)

Show/inaugurate the powerful Reign of God in word and DEED (GIVE PEOPLE HOPE)

-Jesus heals people because of their faith and shows them the true Reign of God

What do scholars think is the PURPOSE of Mark's "sandwich" technique?

Invites comparison from the reader between the two healings. The first healing that is interrupted, the middle story, and then when the first healing finishes.

Jesus heals both a marginalized woman and then a high-status male, showing that God wills well-being for all

Does the gospel of Mark claim that Jesus' mission was to come into the world to suffer and die?

No, to inaugurate the in-breaking "reign of God" in powerful word and deed.

In Mark’s story, is Jesus merely a passive victim of Roman politics?

No. Jesus predicts his suffering multiple times during Mark, and enters into Jerusalem knowing the risks. He speaks out and is not afraid to say who he is. It is a part of his passion/mission.

Examples:

-"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come" (11:9-10)

-(Conflict over his entry) "By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?" (11:28)

-Disrupts economic transactions in Temple (11:15-19)

Which of the 5 OT approaches to suffering is apparent in Mark’s presentation of Jesus’ crucifixion and death?

Suffering as Redemptive; Jesus gives his life for others

In Gethsemane Jesus refers to Abba's will. Within Mark's Gospel, what is the will of Abba/God?

Jesus will suffer, die and RISE

God wills relief from suffering

In Gethsemane Jesus also refers to "the flesh" in his final words of wisdom for his disciples "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. What is meant by "the flesh" in this scene in Mark?

He is talking about his disciples falling asleep; but more deeply, he says his spirit is ready to suffer for the mission but his humanity wants to live (he is being very human in this scene)

"take up the cross and follow me." -Do those words mean that Jesus sees any and every suffering that a follower experiences as "cross to bear"? In other words, does he mean that suffering can be a good thing?

No. Those words were meant to warn disciples that following Jesus and preaching about him may bring about their own persecution.

God willed not for Jesus to suffer and die, but to suffer, die, and RISE

What is the keynote found in Mark?

Mark 1: 14-15

- "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Does Mark's telling of the Jesus story claim that Christians should accept any & all suffering that they experience as "their cross to bear"?

NO, this is a false understanding of the verse.

For example, people who are abused should not have to remain in abusive relationships because it is their "cross to bear"

How would Mark's particular way of telling the Jesus-story speak to what Mark's own community was going through?

The story of Jesus in Mark's Gospel seems designed to address a community struggling with the costliness of allegiance to Jesus and his "gospel of God" (1:14) in the midst of a tumultuous and violent period in the Roman empire

Healing of the Woman with Hemorrhage (Mark 5:25-34)

What to notice (from your module):

She suffers for 12 years

She is ritually impure and socially isolated

She approaches Jesus in desperation and faith

Jesus calls her “Daughter,” restoring her publicly

Deeper meaning:

God’s kingdom reverses uncleanness and exclusion

Faith accesses God’s healing power

Jesus restores the woman not only physically but socially and religiously

Demonstrates Jesus’ mission to restore marginalized and suffering people

Healing of the Syrophoenician Woman's Daughter (Mark 7:24-30)

What to notice:

The woman is Gentile, foreign, unclean by Jewish standards

She refuses to give up; she argues with Jesus

Jesus expands his mission beyond Israel

Deeper meaning:

God’s kingdom extends to Gentiles and outsiders

Jesus’ mission becomes more inclusive

Barriers of ethnicity, gender, impurity, and culture are broken down

The “bread of God’s kingdom” is for everyone

What is the deeper MEANING of each of Jesus' healings in Luke?

Every healing is not just a miracle, but a symbolic act revealing:

The arrival of God’s kingdom

God’s commitment to relieve human suffering

Jesus’ authority over forces that harm or exclude

Restoration of a person’s body, dignity, faith, and place in community

Jesus on wealth and poverty:

Radical- to get to the root of the problem, Jesus is thus considered a radical. Jesus is born into very low circumstances, mother a peasant, born in a smelly dirty manger or feeding trough, and shepherds are the first to know (lowly). Kings or wise man bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh. High and mighty will be brought down, and poor will be brought up (the great reversal theme)-the beatitudes and woes. “woe to you who are ___”

-        Perception of limited good: the assumption that all goods, exist in finite, limited supply and are already distributed, (so two major sins would be greed or trying to take more for self, and wasting the goods.

 

Land in ancient israel was believed to be?

God's gift or blessing

What is Jesus's identity according to Luke?

"Jesus is God's Spirit-filled messianic prophet (or prophetic messiah) who, like prophets before him, will be rejected for his message."

What is Jesus's mission according to Luke?

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hasanointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

-"to proclaim good news to the poor & outcast which includes healing ("recovery of sight," 4:18)"

According to Luke's Gospel, Jesus' identity and mission is the fulfillment of WHAT?

"fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of salvation by God's messiah/anointed one; that salvation is NOW."

What is a prophet? (according to Luke)

"Someone called to be God's messenger or spokes person; their messages often criticized Israel for falling short of God's will for well-being/shalom"

What is the role of prophets according to OT traditions?

one called; the prophets spoke God's word, sometimes healed

What does a prophet often experience and why?

Persecution and rejection because their messages are often critical of people and of their ways of life