Turning Points Chapter 1 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the turning point of chapter 1?

The Church pushed out on its own: The fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.

Was Titus correct in his reasoning about the destruction of the temple?

No, Titus was incorrect; Judaism was not abolished and is still present today.

Identify how the following books illustrate Christianity's connection to Judaism: Matthew, Luke, John, Epistle to James.

Matthew: prophetic promises for the Messiah, Luke: Jewish law, John: divine revelation to Abraham had culmination in Jesus Christ, Epistle to James: God's consistent offer of grace to the Jews.

What does the great turning point of the destruction of the temple represent?

The destruction of Jerusalem and the outward movement of Christianity for all, not just for the Jews. Signup and view all the answers

What change in perception was brought about by the smashing of Jerusalem?

Rome had pushed Christianity out on its own. Signup and view all the answers

What questions were forced upon the church as a result of the events of A.D. 70?

How would the church define itself, organize its worship, find secure authority, evangelize, and ward off dangerous teachings? Signup and view all the answers

What three ways does Noll give that Christianity benefited from its Jewish roots?

Finding ultimate truth in a personal revelation from God, relying on the New Testament and the apostles' testimony, and enjoying the legal status won by the Jews. Signup and view all the answers

What are four existing conditions that accelerated the spread of Christianity?

The Pax Romana, the pervasive Hellenistic culture, the dispersion of Jews from Judea, and the shift to a missionary religion. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the course of Christian persecution.

Christian persecution flared under emperors Nero, Domitian, and Marcus Aurelius due to immoral practices and lack of freedom. Signup and view all the answers

What is the three-fold means by which the church came into its own after A.D. 70?

Creed, canon, episcopacy. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two large difficulties facing the historian of this time period?

The scarcity of hard evidence from the New Testament era and the uncertain nature of the evidence that does exist. Signup and view all the answers

What is a most important factor for interpretations of early Christian history?

Standpoint. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how Noll uses Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant positions to make his case.

Noll uses Roman Catholic episcopacy, Orthodox creed, and Protestant canon. Signup and view all the answers

Define 'canon.'

Canon originally meant a rod or ruler for measuring objects, now it applies to the books of the Bible. Signup and view all the answers

What are the practical circumstances that led to the need for a canon?

The Church needed standards for worship, reading material, a theological standard, and a set text to translate. Signup and view all the answers

How many centuries did it take to define the precise shape of the New Testament canon?

More than two centuries. Signup and view all the answers

How did heresy play a decisive role in the necessity of a canon?

Marcion's teachings in A.D. 144 posed a significant challenge by promoting a violent view of God, necessitating a clear canon. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name given to the earliest fragment found containing the list of the New Testament?

Muratorian Canon. Signup and view all the answers

What was the key to determining whether a book should be included in the canon?

Apostolicity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the interpretive difficulty with respect to the early history of the episcopate?

The forms of church order in the New Testament are not fixed, contrasting with later defined rule of bishops. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the arguments for episcopacy given by Ignatius, Irenaeus, and Cyprian.

Ignatius argued for hierarchy, Irenaeus for apostolic succession, and Cyprian for the interdependence of bishops and the church. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the difference between Roman Catholic and Protestant interpretation of the rise of the episcopate.

Roman Catholics believe that a bishop needed to rise, while Protestants believe the 'bishop' was chosen out. Signup and view all the answers

What two functions did the system of bishops serve in the church?

Moderating its internal life and organizing its response to the world. Signup and view all the answers

What function did creeds serve?

Marking out boundaries between genuine belief and its heretical imitations, preserving the message of Christ. Signup and view all the answers

What are two types of creeds?

Conciliar and baptismal. Signup and view all the answers

What century does the Apostles' Creed take its final form?

The 7th century. Signup and view all the answers

What are the older versions of this creed called and what century can they be traced back to?

Ignatius of Antioch (100 century) and The Old Roman Creed (300 century). Signup and view all the answers

How did the creeds oppose the following heresies: Gnosticism, Docetism, Judaism, Marcionism?

Gnosticism by affirming God as the creator; Docetism by affirming Christ’s suffering; Judaism by confessing Jesus as Christ; Marcionism by emphasizing Christ’s unity with God. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three vehicles upon which the Christian Church traveled as it began its journey outward from Jerusalem?

Canon, creed, episcopate. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Turning Point of Chapter 1

The fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the temple marked the Church's independent mission.

Implications of the Temple's Destruction

The temple represented the center of grace and divine connection for both Jews and Christians.
Titus's belief that destroying the temple would annihilate Judaism was incorrect; Judaism persisted despite the loss.
The temple's absence primarily affected Jews, symbolizing the end of their last stronghold.

New Testament's Relationship with Judaism

Matthew highlights prophetic promises concerning the Messiah.
Luke emphasizes adherence to Jewish laws.
John illustrates the culmination of divine revelations in Jesus Christ.
Epistle to James expresses God's offer of grace to the Jews.

Significance of the Temple's Destruction

The destruction represented a shift in Christianity, expanding its reach beyond Judaism.

Change in Perception Post-Jerusalem's Fall

The fall of Jerusalem signified Christianity's independence from Jewish roots.

Challenges Faced by the Church After A.D. 70

The church faced questions on self-definition, worship organization, authority, and combating erroneous teachings.
The transition from a Judaism framework prompted re-evaluation of identity.

Benefits from Jewish Roots

Christianity derived ultimate truth from Jesus Christ's life and work.
The church relied on New Testament writings and apostolic testimony.
Retained legal status from Jewish traditions helped protect the church.

Conditions Accelerating Christianity's Spread

Pax Romana facilitated travel and communication.
Hellenistic culture promoted shared ideas.
Jewish diaspora created a network of "God-fearers."
Shift from a Jewish-centric identity to a broader mission-focused identity aided expansion.

Summary of Christian Persecution

Persecution increased under Emperors Nero, Domitian, and Marcus Aurelius.
Leaders' moral corruption led to more widespread persecution, impacting how followers practiced their faith.

Three Key Elements Shaping the Church Post A.D. 70

Development of creeds, canon, and episcopacy were crucial for church identity and structure.

Historical Challenges

Scarcity of evidence makes documenting this era difficult.
Existing evidence lacks detail, resulting in unresolved questions regarding early Christian history.

Interpretative Factors in Early Christian History

The historian’s standpoint significantly impacts interpretations.

Noll's Use of Church Positions

Roman Catholicism emphasizes episcopacy.
Orthodoxy leans on creeds for doctrine.
Protestantism relies on canon for biblical authority.

Definition of 'Canon'

Originally a measuring rod, now refers to the accepted books of the Bible.

Practical Needs for the Canon

Established standards for worship, prayer models, theological unification, and set texts for translations.

Duration for Canon Formation

It took over two centuries to define the New Testament canon.

Heresy and Canon Development

Marcion's teachings in 144 A.D. prompted the necessity for a clearly defined canon to counter false doctrines.

Earliest Fragment of New Testament List

The Muratorian Canon is the oldest known fragment listing New Testament texts.

Apostolicity as Canon Criterion

The key consideration for inclusion in the canon was apostolic authorship.

Challenges with Early Episcopate History

Early church order descriptions are ambiguous compared to later well-defined episcopal structures.

Arguments for Episcopacy

Ignatius: Advocated for a hierarchy with bishops at the top.
Irenaeus: Emphasized apostolic succession.
Cyprian: Argued that bishops and the church are mutually dependent.

Roman Catholic vs. Protestant Episcopate Views

Roman Catholics see bishops as inherently necessary.
Protestants view bishops as elected figures within the church.

Functions of the Bishopric

Bishops moderated church life and organized responses to external challenges.

Role of Creeds

Creeds delineated true beliefs from heretical imitations, preserving apostolic teachings.

Types of Creeds

Creeds can be categorized as Conciliar or Baptismal.

Apostles' Creed Final Form

The Apostles' Creed reached its definitive version in the 7th century.

Older Creed Versions and Their Origins

The Old Roman Creed (300 AD) and texts by Ignatius of Antioch (100 AD) are considered older versions.

Creeds Against Heresies

Gnosticism: Affirmed God as creator and father.
Docetism: Explained Christ's genuine human suffering and existence.
Judaism: Defined Jesus unequivocally as the Messiah.
Marcionism: Asserted the unity of Jesus and God against separation.

Vehicles for Christianity's Expansion

The journey of the Christian Church was facilitated by canon, creed, and episcopate.

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Description

This quiz covers key concepts from Chapter 1 of 'Turning Points', focusing on the destructive events in Jerusalem and the implications for Jews and Christians. Test your understanding of the historical significance of the temple's destruction and its aftermath.