religion exam #2

What do scholars think was the makeup of the community for which the gospel of John was written? What is their relationship to Judaism?

It was written 70 years after the death of Jesus. - John's community saw Jesus as word of God, not the Torah - Relationship between Christians and Jews is more virulent, about to break down - Told story of Jesus in symbolic ways

Who had many Jewish Christians expected to return during the Jewish revolt?

Jesus

How do scholars think the original gospel of Mark ended?

Jesus died as his body was placed in the tomb, and when the tomb was opened, Jesus was not there, his way of concluding the story. Hopefully, that uninspiring story contains a hint of wonder; Jesus may return.

How is the portrayal of the last supper different between John and the synoptic gospels?

Jesus eats Passover meal before he dies in synoptic gospels Last Supper was eaten before beginning of Passover in John

For what charge was Jesus executed?

Jesus was charged with and killed for treason against the Roman government.

What new form of Judaism emerged? Who led this new form of Judaism?

Pharisees led by rabbis led new age of Judaism.

What did Q contain? How did it portray Jesus?

Q contained sayings of Jesues words of wisdom in different ways of understanding. It portrayed Jesus as an apocalyptic figure.

What is Q? What does Quelle mean? Do we have Q in its original form?

Q means "source in German. We do not that the original form of Q. Quelle is the translated list of Jesus' saying.

What conflict was Matthew's community part of, and how did this influence their portrayal of Jesus? Who were his opponents? Who is the first ancestor in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus?

Rabbi vs. original Jewish community stories. Pharisees were early Christian churches' enemies in Israel. Because Pharisees were more influential in Matthew's period, he portrays them as more important (deciding the future of Judaism) Tensions within Judaism eventually led to the separation of Judaism and Christianity Consider Jesus as a true Israelite. Abraham first ancestor of Jesus (son of Abraham)

Why did the Romans respond violently to messianic figures?

They reacted violently to messianic characters because they perceived them as a threat to Roman culture and life, and they feared that such individuals may spark violent revolutions if they attracted large followings.

How much time since Jesus' death passed before the gospels were written? How were Christians able to remember what Jesus did and said before the gospels?

About 40 years had passed. Jesus' stories were passed down orally. Some think there was a book that had recorded all of his sayings since they were similar translations of his words in all the gospels.

What is the importance of Herod the Great for Jewish history? How is he known from the New Testament (not from the Gospel of Mark)?

After the old kingdom mentioned in the Old Testament, Herod the Great was perhaps the most significant ruler of Israel. He created a number of cities as well as expanding and renovating Jerusalem.

What does Luther mean by the "happy exchange"?

Happy exchange" where christ, out of love, traded his righteousness and purity to sinners and received from their guilt and shame

What is Jesus' ministry in the Galilee known for?

His healing abilities were well-known, and his ministry was especially beneficial to the impoverished and poor.

What characterizes Jesus' messiahship in the gospel of Mark?

Holds his identity a secret and feels abandoned by God prior to his death

What is the significance of the temple for the Jewish people?

They claimed that there was only one temple for one God, and that the temple in Jerusalem was the principal integrating temple for the whole Jewish faith.

What does Luther mean by the "freedom of a Christian"/"Christian freedom"?

"freedom of a Christian" means a soul freed by the belief that we are justified by grace through faith alone and not by our works, efforts, or human achievements. It is found in a relationship with christ.

In the modern world we try to separate church and state. However, in the time of Luther the worldly and religious powers were often strongly intertwined - we call this system "Christendom". What event(s) in Luther's career demonstrate that he lived in a society shaped by Christendom?

Another example would be when Luther was getting slandered but many because of his beliefs in Christ. They wanted to arrest him because of his views. He then hid away for a year because of it. In today's world, he might get slandered by people, but they would not go after and try to arrest him for it. Another example of this would be how much of an impact Luther creating the Lutheran church was. Back then, it was a pivotal event in history.

Why - according to the scholars - did Jesus find himself in conflict with the Roman authorities?

As a competitor to the Roman Empire, Jesus' preaching on the future Kingdom of God reprimanded and called into question the Roman Empire's dominance in the world.

When was Jesus born? How do we know?

Before Herod the Great's death in 4 BCE, Jesus was born. Luke 2:7

Is the kingdom of God the same as the kingdom of Heaven? How do these kingdoms relate to the actual (earthly) world Jesus and his followers were living in?

For the most part yes they're the same thing. But unlike the Kingdom of God, which is an ideal worldly kingdom over which God reigns, the Kingdom of Heaven is a realm beyond the earth in which God lives and where the spirits of the dead go after death.

What do scholars think was the makeup of the community for which the gospel of Luke was written? What are Gentiles? Why is the distinction between Jews and Gentiles significant?

Gentile is upper class, scholars who made up the community. They had different backgrounds and meanings from Jesus' stories. The significant distinction was how the story of Jesus reached the rest of the world.

What was the role of penance in the Medieval church in Europe?

God's grace was made available to Christians through the sacrament of penance. The sacrament of penance was where the church intersected with the daily lives of people in a highly significant way. Also connecting with penance, there arose the practice of self-indulgences.

What was the Kingdom of God and how important is it in Jesus' teaching? How did he teach about it?

He didn't try to simplify it, instead he told about the Kingdom of God and Heaven through parables and almost riddles. He compared it to a mustard bush.

Why is the existence of Sepphoris significant for understanding the historical Jesus?

He grew up near a larger urban setting, thus he was exposed to a wide range of cultural and social events.

What are the two kinds of images of Jesus we find in the gospels?

He is known as either an apocalyptic firebrand, preaching of the coming kingdom of God, or as a political and social reformer.

What was Jesus class? Do all scholars agree?

He is widely thought to have been a carpenter, or a member of the lowest free class like a peasant, but there is some disagreement about this between scholars.

What does Luke portray Jesus in his visit to the synagogue in his hometown?

He portrayed Jesus as a scholar, like himself.

Who is John the Baptist? What was his message?

He was a preacher, It was his message to the Israelites that they needed to repent since the end of the world was nearing. He anticipated the apocalypse and stated that it would occur within the next several months.

What is the significance of Jesus' protest against the temple for his death?

He was expressing his dissatisfaction with the temple's leadership and with how Roman it had become. He asserted that it was no longer the temple of the Lord.

How would you summarize the religious teachings of Martin Luther the Reformer - based on the video?

I would summarize his teachings by saying Luther was strong and determined in his faith. He started his lectures on the Psalms and came across the verse saying, oh God why have you forsaken me. This was the turning point I think, in both Luther's faith and teachings. He started to believe that we are not right with God by anything we can do but only by our acceptance of our belief and our commitment to God's holy unmerited grace. Luther felt as though these insights if a very gate of paradise, could this be true salvation is free gift of God. He believed the fear of God's judgment was replaced with the joy of God's forgiveness this new understanding of salvation became the foundation of Luther's life and teachings. From this, he came up with the 95 theses and started the Luthern church.

What is the messianic secret in the gospel of Mark? Why was it strange that a messiah would not want to be known?

Identifies himself and maintains his secrecy (cannot be recognized in his miracles). He came to suffer, not to perform great miracles and become famous for them. Mark casts doubt on the view of Jesus as an apocalyptic figure.

How do Mark and John portray the scene in the garden of Gethsemane differently?

In John, there is no agony, and in Mark, there is no garden. Mark offers a negative picture of Jesus the night before his death, pleading with God for mercy. When John's entire army of Jerusalem fails to capture Jesus, Jesus instructs them to let the disciples go because he is in charge. Both are not historical, and Jesus dies on a different day in John.

Why is it important to know that Jesus was born under Roman rule?

It is important because the area where Jesus resided was occupied by a polytheist occupying force.

What is the role of a messiah in apocalyptic expectations?

It is predicted that there would be two messiahs: one who will restore Jerusalem's temple, and another who will lead the battle for Jerusalem. All through the apocalypse, the messiah serves as the leader of the moral people of the world.

What is meant by the ideas of open commensality and radical egalitarianism and what is their importance for Jesus' understanding of the kingdom of God. Can you give examples of these ideas from the preaching and ministry of Jesus?

It was claimed that the poor and needy should be treated equally to the rich and powerful, as a contrast to how it is generally done in real life, by using food as a metaphor for comprehending economic equality, and that the rich and powerful should be treated equally to the poor and needy.

Who killed Jesus - the Jews or Romans? Why do scholars think so?

It was the Romans who executed Jesus because they were the ones who would carry out the crucifixion, not the Jews who gave Jesus over to them.

Why do scholars believe that Jesus at some point was a follower of John the Baptist?

John was the one who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. Jesus was prophesied by the prophet John to be the savior and the bearer of the apocalypse.

What is Luke's relationship to Judaism?

Luke is antagonistic towards Judaism.

What is the relationship between the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts?

Luke wrote about Jesus and the early church's expansion throughout the Roman Empire (book of Acts). Both stories must be read and analyzed in parallel, resulting in a two-volume work.

One of the beliefs of the Renaissance was "ad fontes," meaning back to the sources to find truth. Can Luther is some ways be seen as shaped by the Renaissance? Give reasons why (not)? In what ways did he return to the source?

Luther returned back to Wittenburg because that is where he felt he was needed. He began giving direction to the movement and here is where he created the church. He found answers in Wittenburg. In the modern world, we try to separate church and state. However, in the time of Luther the worldly and religious powers were often strongly intertwined - we call this system "Christendom". What event(s) in Luther's career demonstrate that he lived in a society shaped by Christendom?

Who was the first Christian writer of whom we have texts in the bible?

Mark is the oldest New Testament writer.

Why is the destruction of the Jewish temple central in the gospel of Mark?

Mark reflects on the temple's destruction in understanding the significance of Jesus' life and death.

When was the first gospel written? What was the first gospel? Why was it written when it was written?

Mark, the first gospel, was written shortly after the first revolt failed. It was written as a means of reconciling society's expectations of Jesus following the destruction of the temple.

What do scholars think was the makeup of the community for which the gospel of Matthew was written? Where did they live?

Mathew was written 15 years after Mark. It was written independently from other gospels. The community was caught up in the transformation of Judaism. They felt threatened by rabbis new interpretation. They lived upper Galilee/lower Syria.

What are the synoptic gospels, and why are they called this?

Matthew, Mark, and Luke they are called this because have similar stories in their gospels.

Is Jesus the only person known as son of God or are there others too (who)?

No Augusta an emperor also referred to himself as a Son of A God, but he was not refer to the Hebrew god.

Is Jesus the only historical figure known as messiah?

No, lots of individuals declared to be the messiah, and their claims gained varying degrees of acceptance.

What is the significance of the last supper in the gospel of John? How is Jesus portrayed, and how does this set Christians apart from Jews?

On the day of the Passover lamb slaughter, Jesus was crucified. Jesus is the Passover meal; He did not eat it. Drinking blood is prohibited under Jewish dietary laws. In Judaism, if someone believed Jesus was the messiah, they would be excluded from the synagogue. John's group is a Jewish group that has been marginalized.

What do scholars think was the makeup of the community for which the gospel of Mark was written? What marked their experience in the wake of the Jewish revolt?

Outside the homeland, Jewish-Christian audiences who did not speak Aramaic they spoke Greek. Mark reflected on the destruction of the temple, used coins depicting defeat; it was ingrained in their lives, and they were constantly reminded of it.

What type of literature are the gospels?

Religious advertisements, not biographies, Proclaim the missionary perspective of the particular author through Jesus.

Crossan makes a distinction between ethical eschatology and apocalyptic eschatology? What is this distinction and how does it set Jesus apart from John according to Crossan?

The divide was between individuals pleading with God to preserve the world and God directing mankind to make positive changes in the world. Apocalypic- God eschatology-we have to make a change

Why did Jews have to redefine their religion?

The Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, and revolting against the Romans was nearly impossible.

What 4 different understandings of the kingdom of God does Crossan distinguish?

The four understandings of the kingdom of God are 1. He is wise 2. Values that are just and virtuous 3. Equality with God 4.No one above God and his power.

What role did German nationalism play in the success of Luther's Reformation? - Think about the support which he received from local political leaders

The growing new spirit of nationalism in Germany caused Frederick, a leader who would take Luther under him and be a supporter of Luther's teachings to question the dominance of Rome and particularly the huge amounts of money being collected in Germany and sent to the Pope in Italy. Having Fredericks support, this helped Luther to gain followers and grow in his teachings.

What are the two sources of the gospels of Matthew and Luke?

The list of sayings of Jesus and Mark's gospel

Why is Luke/Acts concerned with the question of whether Christians could be good citizens of the Roman empire?

The problem posed by Christians across the empire if their founder was executed as a political criminal is addressed in a. Gentiles were part of the Roman empire. Politically motivated stories - Executions were erroneous (Paul's execution) c. Luke was a physician, just like in a Greek tale.

What role did technology play in the success of Luther's Reformation - how did his message spread?

The role of technology came from the press getting ahold of Luther's teachings. Within weeks all printers across Europe were printing Luthers 95 thesis. By having the printers get his word out so fast for the time, this got Luther to be noticed by many growing followers but also haters.

What year did Jesus die? How do we know?

Their best guess is that Jesus died between 27 and 33 CE; they are unclear of the exact date, but it is thought to have occurred during that time period because the king of Jerusalem was in power at the time.

What is apocalypse/apocalyptic expectation? What do Jewish apocalyptic sects mean by the end of the world? Is it otherworldly or this worldly?

Their expectation was a revelation that God will eventually come to the world and put an end to everything that is wrong, eliminating all evil people, and allowing genuine believers to spend forever with him.

Why is it so difficult to verify historical facts about the life of Jesus?

There are no original sources that mention Jesus from his time period. All of the historical information comes from accounts of his life recorded after his death.

Who were the Essenes and how do we know about them?

They were a group of people who had left Jerusalem and the Temple, desiring to be free of worldliness. They wrote a series of scrolls that were discovered near the Dead Sea.

How does Luther's understanding of God change from his days in the monastery to his work as a church reformer, and which book from the bible played an important role in this change?

When Luther was in the monastery, he tried so hard to live perfectly by God that he was never satisfied with his doings. This caused him to have a downward spiral in his faith into depression. He felt as if God was punishing him. Then over a course of a few years, Luther started reading the bible in a new light. This started building his faith in God in what he had done back up. He started these changes by reading Apostle Paul's writings. The book of the bible that made the biggest impact on him was Psalms 22.

Was Jesus Jewish? Why is this important?

Yes, he followed Yahweh and the teachings of the Old Testament and his mother was a Jew all his friends and everyone he knows was a Jew. He celebrated Jews celebrations.

Were the first 'Christians' Jews?

Yes, they were

Why is the idea of the kingdom of God/basileia important in the ministry of Jesus?

there were many Jews who believed that the coming Kingdom of God was a one-time event that would occur once God arrived and force society to change, whereas Jesus believed that the Kingdom of God was something we could take steps towards and move society towards a, meaning that it was a way we could willfully transform our world for the better in the future

Were the gospels written by the disciples of Jesus?

yes