Chrisitianity exam

apostles

early followers of jesus who witnessed his return as the risen lord and were sent out into our world to proclaim him

bishop

supervising priest of an ecclestatical district called diocese

christ

messiah or annointed one

episcopacy

foundational office of authority in early chrisitianity

who were the first episcopacy

men who the original apostles delegared local authority in early christian communities

gospel

news of redemption that hebrew prophets promised

gospels are accounts of jesus’s life and attributed to

disciples mark, matthew, luke, john

hersy

belief or practice that is contrary to accepted orthodoxy

incarnation

embodiment of divine human form, christian teaching that god became human in the person of jesus

logos

the “word” in the sense of eternal divine intelligence and purpose

nicene creed

statement of faith agreed on at council of nicaea

• one father, god, creator

  • jesus is one with god the father

orthodoxy

straight way, correct belief in any church, the accepted doctrine

saint paul

jewish convert to christianity who founded number of christian communities, wrote them letters of instruction and guidance

pentecost

50th day after easter, commemorated as dramatic occaision when jesus’s followers experienced presence of holy spirit

saint peter

prince of apostles, became first bishop of rome

who became first bishop of rome

saint peter

pope

head of roman catholic church

synoptic gospels

gospels of matthew, mark, luke

• had overlapping stories and themes

trinity

doctrine that god exists in 3 persons or manifestations

• father son and holy spirit

atonement

idea that christ’s death restored hummanity to a right relationship with god, interpreted as divine victory over demonic power, satisfaction of divine justice or demonstration of moral example

jesus’s sufferings atoned for our sins of the word and in doing so,

reconciled humanity with god, assuring possibility of salvation

baptism

right of initiation into community

eucharist

communion or mass, commemorates last meal jesus shared with disciples before death

when did jesus begin ministry

30 years old

when was jesus crucified

33 years old in 33 AD

what are components of new testament

4 gospels and pauline epistles

pauline epistles are

letters from paul to chrisitan community

parables

stories illustrating moral or spiritual lesson, accounts of miracles, etc

gospel of john was seen as

a theological essay proclaiming jesus’s identity of messiah

• uses in the beggining like genesis

what did jesus believe about establishment

anti establishement (critiqued sadduccees) and was counter temple

pilate was

roman governor who presided trial of jesus, concerned about his job duties not the truth

why did jewish and romans want to end jesus’s life

political establishment disagreed with jesus, was too controversial

• jesus was anti establishment and counter temple

  • blasphemy (said he was messiah but they did not believe)

Mark was

1st gospel that paved way for matthew and luke

purpose of pauline epistles

gives instruction for chrisitan way of living

approved letters of paul were about

jesus being the the jewish messiah and son of god

the disputed letters of paul were about

focus on church and church’s place in larger world(written by paul’s followers)

matthew focused on

geneology of jesus

• son of christ, abraham, david (legal descent)

luke was focused on

highlighting jesus’s divinity

some individuals though that god’s covenent only applied for

members of jewish community and not gentiles

matthew said jesus commanded disciples to

baptize gentiles and teach them (only in israel)

• but expanded to embrace all followers

what did paul’s epistles say about gentiles conforming to jewish norms

called a curse on those who require gentile circumcision, concensus that it was not required for gentiles

• more debates

what led to separation from rabbinic judaism

idea of whether or not gentiles should be included and if they are, should they follow jewish law

what led to christian persecution

not giving sacrifices to emperor because they only acknowledge their god

• some became pagan, some hid, some martyred

what year did valerian emperor order deportation and execution of chrisitans

257

who ordered restoration of church and chrisitian community

valerian’s son, gallienus

when did emporer diocletian order court members to ban christian worship

298

who was constantine

western empire emporer, great christian emperor

what did constantine do for chrisitians

favored christian policies and made chrisitian membership more valubale

what made constantine chrisitan

he saw a cross during battle and said god would give a victory, he won and became follower of christ

jesus interpreted torah as

radical reformation of idea that god’s covenant applied only to members of jewish community

how did paul expand jesus’s teachings

he interpreted them and had a universalizing plan

what was paul’s universalizing plan

made membership in community depend of faith in jesus and it became emblematic for followers

• faith in jesus—> worldwide religion distinct from judaism

walking in christ means

those in christ who risen up to god

early church recognized scripture as

writings associated with an apostle and were orthodox doctrine

how many books recognized by early church

27 books

septuagint

sacred jewish texts in greek translation were also considered authoritative

monarchial bishop

guarantor of oral tradition that could be recieved upon

councils of the church did what

settle theological disputes

synods mean

councils w

who met in councils to discuss problems to work out solutions

bishops met

which 5 churches had special status

rome, alexandria, constantinople, anitoch, jerusalem

what was center of western chruch

rome

the 4 councils between 325 and 451 considered

ecumerical because both east and west accepted resolutions

council of nicaea in 325

discussed if jesus was same as father or of similar substance

• led to nicene creed and a split between east and west

council of antioch in 341 and constantinople in 381

wanted to reverse nicaeal decision but did not happen

• further division of eastern churches

council of ephesus in 431

response to theological movement nestoriantism

• nestorius argued that incarnate christ has 2 natures (divine and human) so mary cannot be mom of god

  • countil decided against it

mary considered

theotokos (god bearer)

council of chalcedon in 451

council affirmed decision of nicea and ephesus

maintained 2 natures of christ

dyophysitism

2 natures of christ, human and divine and united in the trinity

heresies

gnosticism, monatanism, docetism, peleganism

traditionally gospel are

preached and then passed in writings (apostolic traditions)

ministry

concrete expression of internal faith

during apostles time, ministry was charism meaning

spiritual gift surfaced by context of social community

episcopacy was the

foundational office

who was episcopals chosen

disiciples who traveled to preach about ressurection appointed people to oversee community

episcopals became

bishops

bishops are considered

seed of church’s structure and authority

• preached the word, oversaw, encouraged unity

presbyters (elders)

became role of priests and were suboordinate to bishop

deacon

supported bishop and service to poor and destitute

rome and constantinople tension led to

schism between east and west

• east and west became institutionally separate

east believes that

sacred and secular live in harmony

popes are same as bishops/ orthodox priests

west believed that

the pope is a successor of peter and there is dualism between sacred and secular

role of women

• authority at home, not at church

• widows

  • 60 yrs, no husband, no support

• deaconess

  • prepped females for baptism

• ecclesiatical virgins

  • spiritual community for women with no support

development of orthodoxy was

needed to clarify christianity

claims about jesus in origin

• jesus was the messiah son of david and abraham

  • angel gabriel told mary she will have jesus the messiah

• jesus was a perfect parter to god

what does john say about origin of jesus

incarnation and flesh of god’s word

who wanted to kill jesus when he was born

herod,

john the baptist

said that someone more powerful will baptize people with fire and holy spirit

• said jesus needed to baptize him not other way around

when jesus was baptized

heaven opened and saw spirit of god descending and aligning on him m

why was jesus baptized

it related him to humanity and makes him become a walking temple, inauguration of his kingship

why does jesus prove his might

to establish a covenant with people

blessed are those who - means

this is how we should live according to jesus

how did jesus complete tanak

he is messiah, all nations blessed through abraham

jesus believed there is greater righteousness than the

scribes and pharisees

teachings that show righteousness

no anger, lust, divorce, retaliation,

• dont resist evil, have love and mercy

• love enemies

• dont judge

  • jesus is the judge on day of judgement

claims of jesus

he is the son of man, healer of hearts, bridegroom, lord of sabbath, power over creation

• emphasizes closeness and love

jesus tells his disciples

i am the way the truth and if he goes to heaven with his father he will still be with them

who betrayed jesus

judas

meaning of son of man

prophecy of a king who appears as human of divine origin and given reign over all

at dinner jesus blesses bread and wine, symbolizing

bread his body, wine his blood, giving body as a sacrifice and covenant