Religion Final Exam

Josephus

A 1st-century Jewish historian who wrote about Jewish history and mentioned Jesus, providing non-Christian historical evidence of Jesus’ existence.

Tacitus

A Roman historian who referenced Jesus and Christians in his writings, confirming early Christian presence in Rome.

Pliny the Younger

• Son of Pliny the Elder 

• Governor who writes to the emperor about killing Christians 

  • He tells them to not kill them unless they rebel or break the law 

• His letters are the earliest non Christian accounts of Christianity proving the existence of Jesus and his followers 

Suetonius

A Roman historian who mentioned disturbances caused by “Chrestus” (likely Christ) in Rome.

Zealots

• Military group 

• Believed the messiah would be a military leader 

  • Wanted someone to drive the Romans out of the promised land

Tax Collectors

People who collected taxes for the Romans, often disliked by Jews for being corrupt; some were followers of Jesus (e.g., Matthew).

• Were hated by the Jews 

• The Jews saw them as sinners because they were taking money from their own people

Pharisees

• Broke away from the Sadducees before Jesus 

• Had a very strict interpretation of the law 

  • A perfect life = following the law

• They were looking for a new Moses → believed the messiah would a new Moses who could give them new laws

Sadducees

• Wealthy Jewish elites

  • Priests, leaders, temple leadership

• Controlled the temple and the Sanhedrin

  • Sanhedrin = Jewish government group 

• Believed the messiah would be a priest who would restore the temple

Essenes

• Abandoned homes and wealth and went to the wilderness 

• Believed men and women were equally filthy

  • Believed that the body was dirty and needed to be cleansed → had ritual bathing 

• Believed the messiah would be a teacher of righteousness

Nero

Roman Emperor (54-68 AD) who persecuted Christians and blamed them for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD.

70 AD

The year the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a pivotal event affecting Jewish and Christian history.

• the temple is destroyed by the Romans for the last time

  • Jewish people led a rebellion

• The temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans for the last time.       

• Miracles

• Parables 

• Beatitudes

Tekton

Greek word meaning “carpenter” or “builder,” referring to Jesus’ earthly profession.

Gospel of Mark

• First gospel 

• Written to the early Christians in Rome 

• Shortest gospel 

• Talks of Jesus as a savior but a suffering servant

  • Connected to the Christians who were being persecuted in Rome → Jesus was suffering with the Christians

Gospel of John

• Last Gospel written 

• Doesn’t talk of Jesus’ birth or childhood 

• Audience = Christians 

• Only apostle that wasn’t killed 

  • He is the youngest apostle and the only one to stand by Jesus as he dies

    • He is a martyr = “bear witness”

• Portrays Jesus as the divine son of God                     

Gospel of Matthew

• Speaking to a Jewish audience 

• Portrays Jesus as the new Moses
  A Gospel presenting Jesus as the Jewish Messiah and teacher, highlighting fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy

Gospel of Luke

• Writing to Theophilus 

• Audience = Gentiles (non-Jewish people)

• Focuses on the miracles 

• Has 2 parts → Gospel of Luke; Acts of the Apostles 

• Primary focus → Jesus is a healer (focuses on the miracles)

• A Gospel emphasizing Jesus’ compassion and concern for the marginalized.

Acts of the Apostles

A New Testament book describing the early Church and the spread of Christianity after Jesus’ resurrection.

Magi

• Usually depicted as wealthy kings but were actually 

  • Zoroastrian priests or astrologers from Parthia (Persia) paying homage to the birth of Jesus

• Brought 3 gifts 

  • Gold → for royalty → showed that the baby Jesus was a king 

  • Frankinsense → used for offerings to Gods → showed that Jesus was divine 

  • Myrrh → used when someone’s going to die (masks the scent of death) → showed that Jesus is human and would die

Herod

• King

• Between 5-7 BC, King Herod orders the killing of all male children under 2 in Bethlehem 

  • He heard of the birth of a king (Jesus) and felt threatened, so he ordered him to be killed 

  • Known as the Massacre of the Innocents

  • Shows that Jesus was born around 6 BC because that was the reign of Herod              

Baptism of Jesus

Event where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, marking the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

Temptation of Jesus

The event where Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert for 40 days.

Peter

One of Jesus’ twelve apostles, considered the leader of the early Church.

Pascal Lamb

Symbolizes Jesus as the sacrificial lamb whose death brings salvation.

Mary Magdalene

A devoted follower of Jesus who witnessed his resurrection.

Incarnation

The Christian belief that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist and Baptism

John was a prophet who baptized people for repentance, including Jesus; baptism symbolizes cleansing and new life.

Joseph of Arimathea

• gives up his tomb for Jesus to dwell in after Jesus died 

  • Jesus dies on Good Friday

  • Holy Saturday → Apostles are hiding because they are terrified

  • Mary Magdalene is tending to the area around the tomb on Sunday

    • First evangelist → spreads the news of Jesus’ resurrection 

Catholic

Relating to the universal Christian Church founded on the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.

• “universal”

Messiah

The “Anointed One” prophesied to save and lead God’s people.

Christ

Greek word meaning “Messiah,” used as a title for Jesus.

Gospel

Meaning “Good News,” refers to the message about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Synoptic

Refers to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which share similar content and perspective.

Jesus of History

The actual historical person of Jesus of Nazareth.

Christ of Faith

The theological understanding of Jesus as the risen Lord and Savior.

Theodicy

• “God’s justice”

• Theodicy is the attempt to answer the central question→ If God is all knowing, powerful, and loving, then why does evil exist?

  • Argument: God’s either all powerful and can stop all evil but isn’t all love so he doesn’t or God is all loving and wants to stop evil but isn’t all powerful so he can’t        

    • God gave humans free will, which means the freedom to sin, which is why evil exists  

• 2 types of evil 

  • Moral evil: evil caused by humans → murder, war 

  • Natural evil: suffering caused by natural disasters → floods, disease, earthquakes 

Parable

A simple story told by Jesus to teach a moral or spiritual lesson.

Beatitudes

Blessings listed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount describing the values of God’s kingdom.

Miracles

Supernatural acts performed by Jesus demonstrating divine power.

Sin

• An unfortunate byproduct of free will 

• 7 deadly sins 

  • Sloth

  • Greed

  • Lust

  • Wrath/anger

  • Pride

  • Envy 

  • Gluttony 

Infancy of Jesus

Stories about Jesus’ birth and early childhood, found in Matthew and Luke.

Gehenna

A term for hell or final punishment in Jewish and Christian texts.

Star of Bethlehem

The star that guided the Magi to Jesus’ birthplace.

Matthew

• Speaking to a Jewish audience 

• Portrays Jesus as the new Moses

Judas Iscariot

The apostle who betrayed Jesus to the authorities.

Pontius Pilate

Roman governor who authorized Jesus’ crucifixion.

64 AD

• Nero burned Rome 

• Blamed it on the Christians causing the Christians to be persecuted and killed

• Baptism of Jesus                                           

• Temptations of Jesus     

• infancy of Jesus      

Eucharist

The Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper by consuming bread and wine as Jesus’ body and blood.

Transfiguration

The event where Jesus’ appearance was gloriously transformed on a mountain, witnessed by Peter, James, and John.

Transubstantiation

The Catholic teaching that bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist.

Trinity

The Christian doctrine of one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.