Christian Faith Mid Term
During which century A.D. do we have record of a consensus reach with regard to the contents of the New Testament canon.
4th century (300-399 A.D.)
What does Genesis 1 teach about Humans and Creation
All humans are created in the image of God (Cf. Psalm 8). The Imago Dei is the call and capacity to govern over creation. The world is holy; the world is a sanctuary Speaks out against idols, says God is Lord over creation whom created you is who you should worship. It also sais that God alone is to be worshiped and obeyed because he is a God of Shalom and Humans were created in the image of God
Is the Christian Spiritual formation passive or active?
Both, with God at work in you through holy spirit (key to sanctification) and through our work to support out faith Passive formation will make us more holy, is dynamic, not formulaic and involves God's grace which is not in our control
What is the contents of the Bible?
Canonical Collections of the Old Testament (Christian Bible) 10th - 3rd centuries BC: LAW: Gen; Exo; Lev; Num; Deut HISTORY: Josh; Judg; Ruth; 1-2 Sam; 1-2 Kings; 1-2 Chron; Ezra; Neh; Esther POETRY: Job; Psa; Pro; Ecc; Song PROPHETS: Isa; Jer; Law; Eze; Dan; Hos; Joel; Amos; Oba; Jon; Mic; Nah; Hab; Zeph; Hag; Zech; Mal The Canonical Collections of the NT (1st century AD): GOSPELS: 4 proclamations about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus ACTS and LETTERS of the Apostles: Story of earliest Christian church + 21 "letters" from early leaders APOCALYPSE: The Revelation to John A visionary poem about the consummation of God's salvation
How did they argue which should be included and which should be excluded? (Eusebius- early 4th c.)
Categories for consideration Authorship: Written by an apostle or a close associate? Usage: Accepted and found useful from an early date? Orthodoxy: Does the writing conform to the rule of faith (the teaching of the Catholic tradition)?
What are the four components of Transformation
Changing the Stories of our Minds: Bible & Theology Engaging in New Practices: Spiritual Disciplines Fellowship with Others: Christian Community All encompass the Guidance and Empowerment of the Holy Spirit
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Choose God's story to be the story that defines my life and purpose. Choose God's ways of living to be the way I live my life. Choose God's community to be the people with whom I will partner in this life. Has to include piety and charity Goal: Our lives might be conformed to that of Christ
How do the different models of salvation highlight the significance of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection?
Christ the Victor: the Defeat of Death and Sin, in that he defeated the enemies of humanity which were death, sin and Satan and opened the gates of heaven. He helped address helplessness over life's fragility and death's inevitability Christ the Redeemer: the Satisfaction for Sin in that Christ possesses the human obligation to pay the satisfaction and the divine ability to pay a satisfaction commensurate for redemption and addresses guilt over humanity's disobedience to God's righteous law Christ the Lover: the Model of Love in that the death of Christ is the greatest demonstration of love and therefore humans should follow his example and addresses doubt, uncertainty, confusion about the meaning, purpose and direction of our lives
What are the steps of Faith as a Process
Context Crisis Quest Encounter Interaction Commitment Consequences
What is Genesis 1-11 about?
Creation is good and is to be valued and cared for (Gen 1-2) Creation was never finished. Humans were given freedom; and freedom provides opportunity for evil (Gen 2-3) Humans have corrupted themselves and their relationship to creation (Gen 3-6) Because of the corruption of creation, the world needs to be recreated (Gen 6-11) The Gospel is about God redeeming broken divine & human relationships & a corrupted created order.
Is Christianity a Monotheistic Religion?
God is one essential being in whom subsists three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
What did Arius say about Jesus?
He said that Jesus was a created being. Arius denied the self-existence and eternity of the Son Arius denied that the Son was equal with God He claimed the Son was 'not like the Father in substance' (homoios kat' ousian) Jesus was a special, magnificent being through which God created the world. He was 'made for our sake, in order that God should create us through him as an instrument.'
What does Jesus save us from? What is humanity's greatest need?
Helpless in the face of life's fragility and death's inevitability Guilty because of our disobedience to God's righteous law Lost in our pursuit for meaning, purpose and direction for our lives
How is the Apostle's Creed organized?
Into the Trinity I believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of heaven and earth And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary... I believe in the Holy Ghost I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints...
What is the relationship between Jesus and the Bible?
Jesus claims that the Old Testament is fulfilled in him (Luke 24:27, 44-47) The New Testament narrates Jesus' life (Gospels), and explains the significance of Jesus' life (Epistles & Revelation).
According to the Gospel of Mark who is Jesus?
Jesus is two people in the Gospel of Mark: a King as mentioned in the first half when he is referred to as the Messiah and has an emphasis on miracles and public teaching, as well as a servant as mentioned in the second half where he is the Son of Man that will serve and give his life as a ransom for many while privately teaching his disciples.
How does Jesus interpret the OT Law? Does it apply to Christians today?
Jesus says that the OT laws are true, but he expands them through a reaffirmation, radicalization and then a situational application. It still applies to Christians today in a sense but doesn't necessarily mean literally, just through love.
What was Jesus' attitude toward OT laws?
Jesus summarized the law into 2 commands: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind," and "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
The Deuterocanonical or Apocryphal books are about which of the following people?
Jews
After Torah, the next canonical unit is the Prophets. They are then divided into the the Former and Latter Prophets. The Latter Prophets are then divided into which of the following two categories?
Major and Minor Prophets
In contrast to the Babylonian myth Enuma Elish, what does Genesis 1 teach about God, creation, and humans?
Monotheistic creation, humans considered as royals, and our creation was intentional and peaceful instead of through violence.
The Torah centers around which biblical character?
Moses
What's God's Story - God is Redeemer: God makes all things new
New creation - So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2Co 5:17) New covenant - For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant. (Heb 9:15) New Humanity - He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, (Eph 2:15) The Christian Story is Good News, i.e., Gospel.
Difference between Orthopathy, Orthopraxy and Orthodoxy and it's relationship to Christians.
Orthodoxy - Belief Orthopathy - Feelings Orthopraxy - practice Different Christians prioritize different things.
Different Jewish Groups at the time of Jesus
Pharisees - were a popular lay movement that focused on the study and rigid application of the written and oral Law. Sadduccees - were primarily wealthy aristocrats who were involved in Temple leadership and tended to cooperate with the Romans. Zealots - advocated for armed resistance to the Romans and put their hope in militaristic Messiahs. Essenes - were separatists who rejected the Temple leaders and believed that the Messiah would come to lead to begin a war between children of light and children of darkness.
According to the authors what characteristics does a religion possess?
Religion entails an experience of the holy and sacred.
What is the Wesleyan Quadrilateral in contrast to the Anglican Triad?
Scripture Church tradition Human reason Personal experience (the Wesleyan "extra")
What does Spiritual Formation require
Spiritual Formation requires God's regenerating and transforming work in our lives, and God's Spirit is free and sovereign. John 3:5-8 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit... (etc)
What is the Gospel?
The Gospel is the announcement of good news of salvation found in the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus
What does the Holy Spirit do?
The Holy Spirit makes Jesus and salvation a present reality in the lives of Christians. Provides the means and seal of salvation (Rom 8:14, 16) Empowers Christians to lead holy lives (Rom 8:5-9) Opens up our minds to receive God's truth (John 16:13-14) Empowers Christians for ministry (1 Cor 12:1-11)
What version became the official Bible of the Roman Catholic Church?
The Latin Vulgate
What is the Trinity? What do the different models of the Trinity communicate about God?
The Trinity is the Father (God) the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. Several models of the trinity include the Ontology (where all three are essentially one being but consists of three persons) the Economic (where God has three distinct roles as a Creator, Son as Savior and Holy Spirit as the Sanctifier) and the Relational Trinity (God is in Communion with all three persons and Love, rather than self-sufficiency is the true mode of being.)
What is the goal of Christianity?
The goal of the Christian life is to see the holiness and deification of the Christian individual and community seek the restoration of God's kingdom. Holiness - "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (1Pet 1:15-16) Deification - escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. (2Pet 1:4) Kingdom of God - But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
What are the Centralities of Jesus to Christianity
Theology (Teaching about God)- Jesus tells us and shows us what God is like Soteriology (Teaching about Salvation) - Jesus makes a new relationship with God possible Ethics (Teaching about how we should live) - Jesus lives a God-focused life which Christians are called to imitate
How does Jesus conclude his teaching on prayer in Matthew 6:5-14?
They are to forgive the sins of others if they want to be forgiven by God.
According to Matt 5:43-48, how are Jesus' followers supposed to treat their enemies?
They are to love and pray for their enemies.
According to Matthew 5:1-11 who does God consider the most blessed?
Those who lack earthly comforts and rewards
Timeline for development of the New Testament
Timeline for development of the New Testament (1) Period of Composition (ca.45-110 or later): Texts composed by early leaders. (2) Period of Dissemination and Collection (2nd-4th): Valued writings copied, disseminated, and copied again; gathered into sub-collections. (3) Period of Formal Canonization: Final decisions made about "The Canon" (4th century)
Is Christianity primarily an intellectual, emotional, or action-oriented religion?
Yes, involves heart, soul and mind (which includes action) involves commitment of our whole selves Matt 22:36-39
Which of the following best describes Christian virtues?
habits that form one's character
In Jesus' preaching, what does the "kingdom of God" refer to?
the power and presence of God in a person's life the community of God's people in heaven and on earth a future time when God will destroy sin and evil
