Bible Unit 5

Why would some people write in Paul's name?

1. Makes the text more likely to become popular 2. Gives authority to the ideas expressed in the text 3. Expresses harmony between the text and Paul's letters/theology 4. Shows that Paul is still relevant in one's contemporary context

What are the Christian household codes and some of their characteristics?

1. Modeled after pater familias 2. Male head of household is still the central person in a network of hierarchical relationships

What is the influence of Aristotle, Politics?

1. Orderly society based upon orderly households 2. Christian "household codes" ultimately derive from Aristotle's instructions for building an "orderly society"

What are the main themes in the Second Part of Acts?

1. Parallels between the life of Jesus and the lives of his followers 2. Shift from focus on Peter to Paul 3. Continued spread of the Christian message/movement out beyond Israel 4. Harmony among Christ's followers 5. Frustration with "the Jews"

How does Paul connect us back to Genesis?

1. Righteousness comes through faith/faithfulness and not the Law 2. Just like faith proceeded law in Torah 3. God blessed Abraham not for following the Law, but because of his faith 4. Anyone who has faith in Christ is part of Abraham's family and one of his descendants

What are the main themes in the Book of Acts?

1. Role of the Holy Spirit in empowering Jesus' first followers 2. Spread of the Jesus movement beyond Jerusalem and Israel 3. Increasing presence of Gentiles in the Jesus movement

What is pater familias?

1. Roman household 2. Oldest male in the house 3. Top member in a set of hierarchical relationships 4. No radical equality among people, but instead a relational structure in which the pater familias was the peak

What happens during the start of Apocalyptic events?

1. Seven seals on Christ's special scroll to be opened in Heaven 2. Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse unleashed upon the world 3. Great Tribulation

What are the elements of the participationist model?

1. Sin = powerful force that enslaves humans and separates them from God 2. Jesus' death = act of taking this sin on himself, killing it, and defeating its power to negatively influence humans 3. Jesus' resurrection = proof that sin has been defeated 4. Baptism = act of uniting with the crucified and risen Christ, participating mystically in Christ's death and resurrection and thereby enjoying the same freedom from sin (salvation)

What are the elements of the judicial model?

1. Sin is act of disobedience against God 2. Jesus' death = atonement for this sin, payment of debt 3. Jesus' resurrection = evidence that God has accepted Jesus' payment for human sin 4. Faith = trusting in Jesus as the one who paid off one's debt to God (salvation)

What does Paul do in the second half of Acts?

1. Spreads the Gospel message about Jesus 2. Performs various miracles 3. Encounters opposition from Jews 4. Eventually is arrested, but appeals for a hearing with the emperor in Rome 5. Taken under guard to Rome to await a hearing 6. Book ends with Paul on house arrest in Rome, focused on teaching Gentiles

How was gender portrayed in Paul's letters?

1. The apocalypse is coming so does gender really matter? 2. Women featured prominently as ministry leaders

What are the main themes of Paul's writings that last today?

1. Time/end-times 2. Ethics 3. Relating to the "order"

What are the main purposes of Ephesians?

1. To emphasize and encourage a spirit of unity between Gentile and Jewish Christians 2. To encourage a lifestyle guided by God's spirit 3. To instruct Christians about proper social roles

What are the main purposes of Revelation?

1. To give hope to first-century Christians suffering persecution 2. To criticize the Roman Empire by presenting it on the side of Evil, which will soon be defeated by Christ

What are the main purposes of Colossians?

1. To oppose strict religious teachers who emphasized ascetic and mystical practices 2. Like Ephesians, to give instructions about how Christians should live, including "household codes"

What is the general outline of the Book of Acts?

1. Transition from Gospel of Luke 2. Ministry of Peter and the spread of the Church from Jerusalem to Antioch 3. Ministry of Paul and the spread of the Church from Antioch to Rome

What are the three main groups associated with Paul?

1. Undisputed Pauline epistles 2. Deutero-Pauline epistles 3. Pastoral epistles

What are the main themes in Ephesians?

1. Unity in Christ 2. Living a Godly life

What are some aspects of Asceticism?

1. Values self-denying behaviors, eg, renouncing marriage in order to serve God; 2. Shows an ongoing debate about what it means to be Christian 3. Use the character of "Paul" to present an asceticism-positive view

What are some aspects of Paul's Gospel?

1. Writes nothing about Jesus' birth or early life 2. Not very interested in Jesus' miracles or teaching 3. Jesus' importance rests entirely on his death and resurrection 4. God's open with everyone, not just jews 5. Faith is the path to a relationship with God

What is a basic truth about Acts of Paul and Thecla?

Character of Paul plays an important role, but the focus is really on a female Christian named "Thecla"

What happened in Acts 11:26?

Church was founded in Antioch

What are the "household codes" and their impact on gender?

Conservative movement among early Christian communities to restrict women's leadership and authority - along with that of other marginalized groups like slaves and children

What is the main issue of the letter?

Do Gentiles need to follow the laws of the Torah in order to be considered righteous by God?; Paul says no

How does Paul respond to their concerns?

Don't worry

Does being a "Christian woman" mean accepting a place of subordination to Christian men?

Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Timothy: Yes, but often in a context of "mutual submission" Acts of Paul and Thecla: Not really

What is being thought about regarding the "Myth of Persecution?"

Evidence for widespread persecution of early Christians is minimal; no empire-wide attacks on Christians

What is the role of time in Ephesians and Colossians?

Expectation of imminent apocalypse beginning to be questioned

What happened with Junia the Apostle?

Female Latin name that for centuries was translated as a man's name (Junias)

How does Paul critique this view?

He states that Christ's return will suddenly overturn this "peace and security" and will reveal who is truly "light" and "darkness"

What is the main background information for Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians?

He wrote this letter to Christians there to express his personal affection for them, to encourage them, and to address some of their spiritual questions

What is the political critique?

One part mimics and critiques a Roman triumph

What is the importance of Abraham?

Other missionaries: God commanded even Abraham to be circumcised in Genesis 17 as a sign of covenantal relationship with God Paul: Abraham was considered righteous by God for his faith

What is the structure of Ephesians?

Part 1 and 2

What happens in Acts 8?

Paul presented as a fierce persecutor of Jesus' followers; community spreads out from Jerusalem to Samaria

In Paul's letters, who opposes Paul's message?

Paul reports conflict with other Christian leaders, like Peter and James

In Paul's letters, who tries to kill Paul in Damascus?

Paul reports that it was a local Syrian king

What does the First Letter to the Thessalonians provide a clear example of?

Paul's apocalyptic mindset, as he states plainly that he expects Jesus to return to Earth during his lifetime

What happens in Acts 9?

Paul's dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus

Do you have to follow the Torah?

Paul: No Other apostles: maybe/yes

What happens in the second chapter?

Pentecost Originally the Jewish festival of Shavout but was reinterpreted by early Christians

How is this passage a Christian version of the Roman triumph?

Star of the parade is Christ and he is accompanied by all of his followers

What is the main point of the parallels between Luke and Acts?

The apostles are the true followers of Jesus who are continuing on Jesus' God-given work, message, and mission; anyone who wants to follow Jesus should obey these apostles

What is the difference between Faith in Christ and Faith(fulness) of Christ?

The main point for Paul is being in Christ

What is a Roman triumph?

long, festive procession for a successful Roman general/emperor; designed to highlight Roman military power

What is Part 2?

practical instructions about how Christians should live in light of the theology of part 1 (includes household codes)

What is Part 1?

theology of unity between Gentile and Jewish Christians

What does "Theophilus" mean?

"Beloved of God"

Who is the authorship of Revelation ascribed to?

"John"

Do you have to do ascetic or self-denying behaviors in order to truly be "Christian"?

"Paul" in Colossians: No "Paul" in Acts and Thecla: Yes

Who is the audience of the Book of Acts?

"Theophilus"

What happens in the first chapter?

1. Jesus tells his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit 2. Jesus commissions them to spread the message/Gospel about him, and then 3. ascends back to Heaven

What are the major themes of Acts of Paul and Thecla?

1. Asceticism 2. Gender roles and marriage norms

What did Paul do after he received the revelation of Jesus?

1. Became a self-proclaimed apostle 2. Went on several missionary journeys around the Mediterranean to preach his "gospel" of righteousness before God through faith in Jesus Christ 3. Worked as a maker of tents in order to support himself and his ministry 4. Founded and built up small Christian communities 5. Wrote several letters to these communities, providing theological and spiritual guidance

How is Thecla portrayed as an independent Christian woman?

1. Boldly rejects marriage and encourages celibacy 2. Rejects the pressure from both male and female figures to conform to societal norms and is miraculously supported by God in her independence 3. Boldly shares her faith with others, and is even encouraged by Paul to do so

What are some basic facts about the Apostle Paul?

1. Born in southern Turkey 2. Born into a Jewish family who named him Saul 3. Highly successful and educated and became a Pharisee 4. Initially believed that followers of Jesus were heretics and persecuted them violently 5. In his mid-life, he suddenly experienced a dramatic revelation of Jesus

What is the importance of Acts of Paul and Thecla?

1. Contributes to the ongoing discussion in early Christian circles about the "correct" role of women 2. Challenges Greco-Roman social norms about female roles 3. Challenges conservative Christian views of the period, as expressed in Timothy 1

What are some of the roles women held in Paul's letters?

1. Deacon 2. Benefactor 3. Overseer 4. House church leader 5. Apostle

What did the Four Horsemen represent?

1. Death 2. Famine 3. War 4. Conquest

How can we recognize if it is a "deutero-Pauline" letter?

1. Different writing style 2. Different theological teachings 3. Different self-presentation/autobiography

What are some of the evil figures and forces?

1. Dragon 2. Beast of the Sea 3. Beast of the Earth 4. Demonic spirits

What are the main features of apocalyptic literature?

1. Dualism 2. Suffering for being on God's side 3. End times are soon 4. Set in future, but addresses contemporary issues

What are some aspects of gender norms and marriage norms?

1. Echoes some of the issues around "household relationships" and the "proper" role of women seen in Ephesians , Colossians, 1 Timothy 2. Thecla presented as a bold, independent female Christian leader, who violates gender norms and his supported by God while doing so 3. Thecla does certain things to make herself appear more male

What are the 3 options for relationships with God?

1. Faith 2. Circumcision-based covenant 3. Torah-based covenant According to Paul, faith is the best option

What are the consequences of the role of time?

1. Fewer apocalyptic concerns 2. Building a Christian society with orderly, harmonious social relationships

What is Paul's legacy?

1. Had the greatest impact on the future of Christianity among all of the apostles and early followers of Jesus 2. Has the most books in the NT 3. Made a huge impact on early Church theologians and even upon contemporary theologians and philosophers

What are the two main ways to compare Acts and Paul's letters?

1. Harmony vs. disharmony 2. Blaming the Jews

What did Paul conclude from his dramatic encounter with Jesus?

1. Jesus lives 2. His resurrection actually happened 3. End of the world is imminent and Jesus will soon return to Earth 4. Being considered righteous in God 's eyes depends on being in Christ, which is not related to following the Torah and a relationship is now open to Jews and non-Jews

What are the two major models of Paul's understanding of sin?

1. Judicial model 2. Participationist model

What is "pax et securitas"?

A Roman imperial slogan designed to promote stability under the emperor and to emphasize his power over all of society

What is the Holy Spirit?

A force that empowers Jesus' followers and pushes forward the spread of their message; connected with acts of power/miracles

What happened during the Apocalyptic battle between good and evil?

Battle of Armageddon; ultimate triumph of Christ, and final judgment and the Lake of Fire

What is the setting?

Begins in Jerusalem and ends with Paul in Rome

What are Christians in Thessalonica thinking?

Jesus hasn't returned yet, but some of our Christian friends have passed away, so what will happen to them?

What are some basic facts about the Letter to the Romans?

Lays out his understanding of God, Christ, salvation Last written by him that still exists Written to Christians whom he had never met before Written while he was in Corinth and hoping to make a visit to the Christians in Rome

Who is the author of the Book of Acts?

Luke

What does blaming the Jews refer to?

Luke blames "the Jews" for problems encountered by Paul far. more than Paul himself does Stresses that the Gospel message is rejected by the Jews and so Paul directs his missionary efforts more towards Gentiles

In Acts, who opposes Paul's message?

Luke blames Jews

In Acts, who tries to kill Paul in Damascus?

Luke blames Jews

What does the harmony and disharmony mean?

Luke presents Paul's relationship with the other apostles as much more harmonious than the picture Paul suggests

What is the "Great Tribulation"?

Period of intense persecution for Christ's followers on Earth

What are basic facts about Galatians?

Probably Paul's second letter; much less friendly in tone than Thesselonians

How does Jesus exemplify radical gender equality?

Through his actions

What is the purpose?

To provide an "orderly account" which supports "certainty" in one's faith

What was the role of women in the Jesus movement?

Women as prominent members and patrons

What are "Occasional letters"?

Written in response to specific questions or problems in individual Christian communities; never fully sets out his belefys which is why we have to piece together the context he was writing for and the parts of his theology that he does articulate

What is Pseudepigrapha?

a text written in the name of someone who actually wasn't the author; applies to Deutero-Pauline epistles and Pastoral epistles