Ancient Christianity Quiz 1

Why was the Temple of Jerusalem critical for Jews in the time of Jesus?

It was the center of religious life, there was one god so there was only one temple. Unified source. It gave jews their identity. The temple was the focus of their life because their one god was at the temple. It gave them meaning and identity in their lives as the chosen people of god.

Who were the pillars of the Jerusalem Church Paul confronted regarding this issue of allowing Gentiles full membership in the church?

Peter, James and John. The bishop in Jerusalem seems to be peter at first, but James becomes the leader of the Jewish church. Why doesn't peter remain in Jerusalem? He becomes persecuted for his beliefs and escapes jersualem to go to rome.

Why did gentiles join the movement?

sense of belonging, moral code, sense of being somebody even though you were nothing to the empire, in the synagogue and chrisitan communities you were considered to be someone. Receiving benefits such as when offerings were brought for the communities they distributed them amongst the poor.

What year did Pilate probably crucify Jesus?

30 AD

What is the best guess date of when Jesus was born?

4 BCE

When did the First Jewish Revolt Against Rome begin?

66 CE

Where did Paul then choose to focus ministry for 10 years?

Aegean basin. Turkey/Greece nowadays. Which is where Christianity first takes a major foothold.

During what time period after the Revolt of the Maccabees was Judea a semi-independent nation?

They gain semi independence for Judea from 164-64 BC.

What did the placard that was placed above the cross of Jesus say? And what does it say about why Jesus was crucified?

"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" you proclaim the lord's death until he comes, the expectiation is that he is coming soon. He was crucified because he claimed to be king of the Jews, its both a religious and political title.

What are 3 characteristics of the Essenes of the Qumran communities and their beliefs explained in the video?

-Apocalyptic: is one that thinks of itself as, first of all, the true form of the religion. God will purge all the evil in the world in order to solve the problems of injustice. The end of this evil age, with the political and social climate, justice for all. Not the end of everything. -Messianic: believed there were two messiahs, Kingly and priestly -lived monastically: secluded lifestyle that was very regimented

When was Jesus crucified?

27-33 AD (30-33 AD are the most typical).

Who was King Herod the Great? List 4 important facts about him that help demonstrate his character, and include when he ruled as king of judea

-ruler of Judea around the time of the birth of jesus (37 BCE-rules until his death at 4BC). So he sets the stage for the kind of life/regime that the people of Judea were living under during the birth of Jesus. He was the instrument of Rome in Judea. -He rebuilt the temple and the city on a grande scale, he built a new seaport, the great fortress of Herodium, as well as fortifying Masada, and building a palace and fortress at Jericho. He was a brilliant builder and he built all of these things in order to bring people to Jerusalem. -He was a very ruthless ruler and executed some of his own family (sons, a wife, father in law). He killed his wife Mariamne then mourned her. -Flees to rome and romans name him the king of Judea. Recaptures Galilee and finally Jerusalem.

Who was John the Baptist?

-the greatest prophet. He got in trouble because he was preaching repentence and he criticized herod's new wife who was elicit according to Jewish law. -the new Elijah. Elijah never seems to have died, but rather he ascended on a chariot of fire. Elijah never died he had an apotheosis so he is going to return before Jesus. -baptized jesus -forerunner of jesus -preaching forgivness of sins, not working as a priest of the temple, but he is forgiving sins (who can forgive sins but god alone?)

When were the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered?

1947. With the dead sea scrolls, they found a lot of similarities with things that were promoted in the gospel. Helps to confirm a lot of the things in the gospels or get rid of some misconceptions.

What was the revolt of the Maccabees about?

Antiochus had issued decrees that forbade Jewish religious practice, and he desecrated the temple. Helenism was being imposed on the Judeans which they obviously did not take kindly to because they are monotheistic and they already have their own god. There is also heavy taxation to pay for the Syrian wars, and the Maccabees did not like the idea that the high priests were being replaced by the Syrians at will (i.e. no long a lifelong office). They revolt and the Maccabees win. They gain semi independence for Judea from about 164-64 BC. The consequence of the rules of the Maccabees is that they ended up getting the Romans involved because there are several brothers who are infighting. Because there is a lot of infighting, a ton of economic and social chaos is being created. Israel is being run pretty much the same as it was under the Persians at this point, as a temple state. This makes the temple state the wealthy and in charge of the economic dept. Taxes are paid to the priestly families and there is an upheaval of the Judean society, which will eventually create two other parties (the Pharisees and the Sadducees).

What languages did Jesus probably speak?

Aramaic (still spoken in Syria, from the western part of Persia), Greek (spoke greek because it was the language of the empire, in the eastern part especially), Hebrew

Why does prof. Crossan explain Augustus Caesar as Divi filius and savior of the world in relation to Jesus?

Augustus was the emperor and he was called the son of god and savior (people are also claiming this about jesus). He is claiming to be the bringer of peace and the savior of the world. Gospel means good news. Pitting Jesus against Augustus.

What was the first critical controversy between Christians and Jews, and among Christians about membership?

Do you need to be Jewish before you become Christian? do you need to be circumcised and follow all of the dietary restrictions of Judaism to become chrsitian? It was resolved at the council of jersualem where paul confronts the council and it was determined that gentiles don't have to become jews first. There are certain laws they have to obey, they don't have to be circumcised, but they can be accepted by baptism. However, like most councils it doesn't settle the issue.

Why did Herod Antipas put John the Baptist to death, which is hinted at in the Gospels?

Herod Antipas was married to Nabataea until he visited his half brother Herod II in Rome where he fell in love with his half-brother's wife Herodias. He then divorced his wife and married Herodias. John the Baptist was teaching his ministry and preaching of baptism while this was going on and at some point, as the gospels hint at, John attacked Herod's marriage as contrary to Jewish law because it was incestuous. John was imprisoned, and he was not executed at first because Herod was reluctant to do this, but Herodias' daughter Salome asked for John's head for her mother after Herod granted her any reward after she danced at his birthday banquet.

Who is the important Jewish historian, who is one of the major sources of Roman/Jewish history, who was a rebel (at first) and then surrendered to the Romans during the first revolt?

Josephus

Why did Jesus not focus his ministry in the major cities?

Major cities were heavily influenced by the temple state, they don't think they need salvation (they already have the wealth and the power). Only going to run into difficulty if you run into people that hate you.

What is Paul's earliest Christian letter (later incorporated into the New Testament), and when was it written?

Paul's very first letter, the earliest single writing that we have in the New Testament, is I Thessalonians, and already in I Thessalonians Paul is having to console them when people are starting to die within the congregation and the Kingdom hasn't arrived yet. (52 AD)

What region of Palestine did Jesus conduct most of his ministry?

Mostly connected in Galilee, a few episodes in Sameria, final weeks were in Jerusalem itself according to matthew and mark.

What was the resolution? Did Paul really win?

No, paul got into a huge argument with peter over eating with Gentiles. **

What is the great festival of the Jews, which required Pilate to be in Jerusalem to keep the peace? What was it like?

Passover, mass influx of people and animals into the city. During this time jesus comes into Jerusalem. Pilate had a legal responsibility to keep the peace, he went into the city and made sure there were soldiers around the temple to intimidate the Jews and help him assuage his own nervousness with the city. Political and religious holiday. Jerusalem goes from being a city (25-45k people), not just jews from Judea but all over the empire coming for the great feast of Jewish independence. When there was a festival like Passover the swell in population in Jerusalem would be 3x its normal size.

What year did Rome gain control of Judea, under what Roman General, and what were the consequences?

Roman General Pompey, 64 BC, it lasted until 67-70 CE (about 100 years). Pompey figures out a way to arrange things so it is difficult for rebellion. The request for revolt and freedom from roman ways leads to the first revolution against Rome.

What are the 2 different ideas of Messiah in the Scrolls?

Some of the writings portrayed aaron as the messiah (priestly messiah, who will come to restore the temple at Jerusalem to its proper purity and worship of God), other messiah was david (kingly messiah who will come to lead the war). Priestly messiah and a kingly messiah.

Who were the Pharisees?

The Pharisees are the separated ones and they wanted people to maintain the Jewish way in that they didn't believe in forced conversion. They were the separatists—didn't like Helleization or the romans coming in and interfering. They wanted people to maintain a consistent lifestyle with the covenant.

Who were the Sadducees?

The people who go by only the written torah—no tradition of the elders. They are the priestly and wealthy class. They are in charge of the temple finances. The scribes are the ones writing and teaching the laws. Saducees are the aristocratic. Only following 5 books of the torah and they are pretty much hellinized.

What does an Apocalyptic group believe according to Crossan And White?

They used language like "the end" or "the last things" or "the last days", but what they mean is the present evil age is coming to an end. This is really more in the vein of a transformation of the present social order and a return to a kind of golden age of statehood and independence. So it's really kind of a political expectation. It's not otherworldly. In fact, when it comes, it'll be right here and right now.[

What is an apocalyptic sect? What does it mean?

They were their own special group. Believed God will purge all the evil in the world in order to solve the problems of injustice.

Why is it difficult for us (people of western culture of the 21st century) to understand Jesus as both a political and religious figure?

We have this conception that there are two separate ways of governance, one is political and religious is not supposed to interfere with political (separation of church and state.

Name the 4th Philosophy (of Judea) that Josephus talked about?

Zealots, who are the Zealots→ exermist Jewish group who are anti hellinistic, anti-roman rule. Would call them terrorists today. Some were non-violent. The secarii were the ultimate zealots (daggermen)

What happens to Paul when he takes the collection for the poor to Jerusalem around 60 CE? Why?

he is arrested because (when paul goes to Jerusalem, there are already the movements of people who are anti-hellinistic, Paul is coming and preaches that the gentiles don't have to become jews, so there is a sense that the jews feel overwhelmed by the romans and the greeks) Sense of trying to maintain Jewish indentity, when paul comes to the temple with gentiles, they are not receiving paul very well. There seems to be a riot caused by paul when he is in the temple because paul is saying that you don't even need to be Jewish to be chrisitian. Why does paul get sent to rome instead of dealing with it in Jerusalem? Because he is claiming roman citizenship which makes him entitled to a hearing and an appeal before the emperor.

Who were the Essenes?

subgroup of the Pharisees, some leave to go to Qumran (they are separatists). Why are the essenes and Qumran communities separating themselves? Because they believed there was corruption in the temple state. Qumran community: more of an apocalyptic setting, expecting world to come to completion and expection the messiah to come. Possibility that a fragment of the Essenes community is part of the Qumran community.

How did one typically die from crucifixion?

suffocation

What benefits of the Roman Empire helped the spread the early Christian movements so rapidly?

the advancements in roads and ability to travel, in the seas, they did away with piracy, made roads throughout the empire, only had to know one language to get across the empire (greek). The Jewish dispersion helped to facilitate this because every community you went, there were Jewish communities living somewhat separately. Gentiles would often build synagogues for the jews. for the first time when augustus comes to power, the meditteranean eliminates most of the pirates, travel is no longer dangerous (the sea channels were more open by the military presecence in most of the empire) romans built tremendous roads and ways of merchandizing throught the empire, united by common language of Greek, so it was easier for someone like paul to make extensive journeys and speak. Jewish dispersions in almost every city of the greek and roman empire, trememndous ability for people to move around easily that 100 years prior would not have been possible.

What are 2 major themes of Paul's message that were prevalent early in his ministry?

the death and resurrection of jesus, and the coming of the end of time (missionary zeal, accepting the gospel that jesus died and rose, then preaching that so others can take part in it). Death and resurrection then glorification.

What does "the end" Apocalyptic groups said was coming?

the end of this evil age, with the political and social climate, justice for all. Not the end of everything.

Who was Pilate? When did he govern Judea?

the governer of Judea, effective and ruthless administrator of his territory. Pilate was of equestrian status in rome, didn't want to get involved in the peoples affairs too much but he did have to maintain peace/order. He would show the might of rome and didn't understand Jewish culture very well. Would insult the Jewish people by putting roman standards in the area of the temple. Governed from 26 to 36 CE. He was ineffective as well, he put up the shields in Jerusalem and caused a riot, squelched messianic contendors other than jesus. Only pilate had authority to put jesus to death. If the Jewish authorities had put jesus to death, they would've been dealt with by the romans. Pilate had to approve the death of jesus in that political situation.

What caused communities of Essenes to abandon the Jerusalem Temple and the leaders of the people, and establish themselves at Qumran?

these two factors are causing the Essenes to leave the communities and going out into the wilderness. The community at Qumran is a monastic and apocalyptic community. They thought the coming kingdom of God was coming very soon on earth. They are also messianic. They want a high priestly messiah and a kingly messiah. Bottom line with Maccabean rule is corruption and chaos. Political upheaval because Hasmoneans are reintroducing territories that used to belong to the Judean society. Corruption and upheaval. This causes a civil war. End by Pompeii coming in and Rome being established as the ruler in Judea, which is one of the major upheavals during the time of Jesus and the age of the gospels.

Why did the Esssenes criticize the Temple authorities?

they were critizing them for how the temple was run, too worldly and too caught up in the money. Roman ish. Jesus can be seen as an Essenes. It was against appointing someone/naming someone the king of the jews and naming someone the HP and deposing them after. Once youre a HP you're an HP for life.