THEO 232 Spring 2025 Exam 1 Study Guide PDF

Scripture and Canon (1.15) - What evidence in the New Testament itself do scholars point to as the first signs that early Christians were beginning to think of their own writings as "scripture"? - What did Marcion believe, why did he create the first NT canon, and how did this infl...

Scripture and Canon (1.15) - What evidence in the New Testament itself do scholars point to as the first signs that early Christians were beginning to think of their own writings as "scripture"? - What did Marcion believe, why did he create the first NT canon, and how did this influence the process of canonization of Christian scriptures? He did not believe in the "Jewish God" and that their God was a false God, he believed that we needed the Gospel (only Luke's) and his favorite writer was Paul because he believed Paul detested the Jewish faith; only included 10 letters of Paul and Luke's Gospel, he edited out any mention of the "Jewish God" and any reference to the Old Testament; because Marcion's ideas scared the early church, he indirectly led to the canonization of the Christian scriptures - Why did Athanasius create his NT canon, and why is it misleading to suggest that the NT canon was set by 367 CE, when Athanasius wrote his 39^th^ festal letter? It is misleading because the list was only authoritative for Athanasius' churches in Alexandria, he created his NT canon to end disputes about scripture authority - How did Paul's "gospel" (understanding of how \[especially gentiles\] are saved by the faith\[fulness\] of Christ) differ from that of other early Christian leaders and how might that have influenced the canonization of Christian scriptures? - When and why were the four canonical NT Gospels attributed to important first-generation Christian figures? - What were the most important factors that motivated the canonization of Christian scriptures? Hellenistic Judaism and Greco-Roman Philosophy (1.17) - How did ancient religion and modern religions differ? Modern: places emphasis on holding the right beliefs, ideas are more important than ethnicity Ancient: polytheistic, draws lines between religions with ethnicities, syncretism (identification of the gods of a local conquered population with their own gods), paganism, tied to natures - How did ancient religion and ancient philosophy differ? Ancient: monotheistic, trans-ethnic (after 333 BCE), intellectual (tends to be critical of myth and ritual), conversational - How did ancient people tend to think of "conversion"? contemplation? - How and why did Hellenistic Jews like Josephus characterize Judaism as a form of philosophy in their apologetic defenses against gentile anti-Jewish sentiments? In many ways their Jewish culture looked more like a Greek philosophy than a pagan religion, they were given moral guidelines to live by - What did Josephus suggest made Judaism superior to Greco-Roman philosophy? He suggests that Plato learned from Moses and that the Jews had law before Greeks Apocalyptic Judaism (1.22) - What were the factors that brought about the Hellenization of Jerusalem under Antiochus IV? - What were the three Jewish groups formed in reaction to the Hellenization of Jerusalem under Antiochus IV and what were their main characteristics? 1\) Acceptance 2\) rejection and military resistance 3\) rejection and withdrawl - How did the integration of Hellenistic education and politics contribute to the conflict between Jewish groups under Antiochus IV? - What do the following Greek terms mean? - Demos- all male citizens of the city - Boule- smaller council of older men who made decisions in front of the demos - Ephebeia- young boy that learned reading and writing - Ekklesia- voting body of citizens - Gymnasium- (the naked place) education consisted of reading, writing, rhetoric, and exorcise - What events motivated Jews like Judas Maccabeus to rebel against Antiochus IV and his Jewish allies? - What events motivated the writing of apocalyptic Jewish texts like Daniel 7-12? The withdrawal of some Jews from Jerusalem - What are the five interrelated features of Apocalyptic Judaism? Accentuates the essence of Judaism (trust In a moral God), pacifism (God is the judge), visions of judgement, afterlife reward/punishment, Pseudonymous authorship - Which of these features are common to all forms of late Second Temple Judaism? all but the last - How and why did apocalyptic Jewish texts like Daniel 7-12 frame their messages as a record of the visions revealed to ancient Jewish wise persons? they use ancient wisdom to lend authority to their message Historical Jesus (1.24) - What did the historical Jesus believe about ritual purity, sacrifice, and the Jerusalem Temple? He wants to reform the Temple to allow all Jews to worship God, Jesus healed people in a state of ritual impurity, because Jesus was a Jew he kept purity laws, Gentiles did not have access to the temple to offer sacrifices so it was downplayed in the Gospels - What were the sources of ritual impurity? Contact with corpses, bodily fluids, and some animals Paul's Letters (1.27-2.10) - Explain the key elements of the interpretation of Paul's letters in each of the following schools (include mention of: whether a school believes that the Law justifies; who according to the school Paul thinks should not be circumcised and why; whether the school thinks that Jews need to affirm beliefs about Jesus as messiah and divine mediator; and whether "faith" is a Jewish idea according to the school): - Paul against Judaism ("Traditional" interpretation)- said that Judaism as a religion of works-righteousness (earns ones salvation) is impossible to fulfill - Paul and Judaism- all letters were written to gentiles not Jews, when he criticizes circumcision, he is criticizing Judaizing gentiles, two-covenant model of salvation: gentiles needed Christ and Jews need Torah - Paul within Judaism- Paul doesn't convert but remains a Jew, he likely continued to observe the Torah when not around gentiles, gentiles are saved precisely as gentiles not by becoming Jews - What is "faith" what does it do for people in Paul's thought? Faith means trust and Paul said it justifies and saves - What does Paula Fredriksen mean when she describes Paul's gentile Christ-followers as "ex-Pagan Pagans"? Jews do not need to convert to Judaism they just need to avoid offering sacrificing to worship pagan gods and keep the 10 commandments - What are the most distinctive features of Matthew Thiessen's interpretation of Paul's letters? Said no to Paul against Judaism, yes to Paul and Judaism, no to Fredriksen because gentiles become Jews through the Sprit, no to Paul and Judaism because he believes that Paul thought gentile sin is too deep to be solved by circumcision - Why did gentile Christ-followers in Galatia want to get circumcised? They wanted to receive recognition from other Jews that they also belong to God - How did Paul justify having a different "gospel" (understanding of how people \[particularly gentiles\] are saved by the faith of Jesus) given his past as persecutor of the church and as someone who did not know Jesus during his earthly lifetime? - In Paul's time, who most likely believed that gentiles who wished to worship the God of Israel faithfully and exclusively needed to be circumcised? Jews? - In what ways were the Corinthian ascetics in 1 Corinthians similar to and different from gentile Christ-followers in Galatia who wanted to be circumcised? - How does Paul take the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis to be support for his theory of justification through faith in Galatians? Justification comes through faith, not the Law - How does Paul's chain of sins (Rom 1:18-32) correspond to his theory that believers are justified through faith and to his mind/passions and spirit/flesh model of the soul? - What kind of sexual activity was natural and culturally acceptable for Greco-Roman culture? Class and societal hierarchy based; the true man was the active participator and the not true man was the passive - Why does Paul not require his gentile Christ-followers to maintain ritual purity laws? They don't need the law to have faith in God - What was philosophical asceticism? - How did it compare to later forms of asceticism such as celibacy (life-long abstinence from sex) or ideas about asceticism as simply deprivation of pleasures (such as food, drink, sex)? - What forms of philosophical asceticism did the Corinthian ascetics practice? Passages (be familiar with major points made about these passages in lectures) - Dan 7:1-14 - 1 Cor 7:29-32 - 1 Cor 8:1-9 - 1 Cor 12:4-7, 12-26 - Gal 1:11-20 - Gal 2:15-3:5 **1. Daniel 7:1-14** - **Theme**: The **vision of the four beasts** and the **coming of the Son of Man**. - **Major Points**: - **Daniel's Vision of Four Beasts**: Daniel sees four great beasts rising from the sea, symbolizing four kingdoms that will arise on earth. These kingdoms are typically interpreted as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome (or variations depending on the interpretation). - **The Ancient of Days**: The vision shifts to God, who is portrayed as the **Ancient of Days**, sitting on His throne and judging the beasts, ultimately destroying them. - **The Son of Man**: In verses 13-14, the **Son of Man** is given authority, glory, and a kingdom that will last forever. This figure is traditionally seen as a **messianic** symbol and is interpreted by Christians as referring to Jesus. The Son of Man's dominion is everlasting, contrasting with the fleeting power of earthly kingdoms. - **Significance**: The passage emphasizes God\'s sovereignty and ultimate triumph over oppressive earthly powers. For Christians, it foreshadows the **Second Coming of Christ** and His eternal reign. **2. 1 Corinthians 7:29-32** - **Theme**: **Living in the light of the present crisis** and the **impending return of Christ**. - **Major Points**: - **The Present Crisis**: Paul speaks of the \"shortness of time\" and encourages believers to live as if the current world is passing away. This implies an eschatological urgency, likely reflecting the **imminence of Christ\'s return** or a significant crisis in the early Christian community. - **Adapting to the Present Circumstances**: Paul advises that those who are married, mourning, or involved in worldly affairs should not be overly attached to these things, as the **kingdom of God** is of greater importance. - **Eschatological Urgency**: There is an emphasis on the **temporary nature of worldly life**, and Christians should focus on eternal concerns rather than the fleeting concerns of this world. **3. 1 Corinthians 8:1-9** - **Theme**: **Knowledge vs. love** in the context of **idolatry** and **food sacrificed to idols**. - **Major Points**: - **Knowledge**: Paul begins by noting that **knowledge** (of God and Christian freedom) can lead to pride, but **love** builds up the community. Some in the Corinthian church believed they had knowledge that certain idols were nothing, but Paul cautions that such knowledge can be a stumbling block to weaker believers. - **Love over Knowledge**: Paul emphasizes that love for others should guide Christian behavior, especially in matters that could lead others into sin or confusion. Christians should avoid exercising their freedom in ways that could cause a fellow believer to fall. - **Impact on the Community**: Paul\'s advice in this passage highlights the importance of considering the welfare of others in the community, even when it means limiting one\'s freedom to protect others from sin or spiritual harm. **4. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 12-26** - **Theme**: **Unity in diversity** within the **body of Christ** (the church). - **Major Points**: - **Diversity of Gifts**: Paul stresses that there are **different gifts, ministries, and activities** within the body of Christ, but all are empowered by the same **Holy Spirit**. These gifts are meant for the **common good** and to build up the church. - **The Body of Christ**: In verses 12-26, Paul compares the church to a **body** with many parts, each having a different role but all being essential for the proper functioning of the whole. Each part of the body is equally important, and there should be no division or hierarchy among believers based on their gifts or roles. - **Interdependence**: The passage emphasizes that Christians are **interdependent** on one another. The weaker members of the body should be honored, and no one should be neglected. The **unity** of the body is paramount, and believers should work together in mutual respect and care for one another. **5. Galatians 1:11-20** - **Theme**: **Paul's defense of his apostolic authority** and the **gospel he received**. - **Major Points**: - **Paul's Apostolic Calling**: Paul defends his apostolic authority by emphasizing that his gospel was not received from human sources but directly from **Jesus Christ** through revelation. This is crucial because Paul is combating the influence of false teachers who were promoting a different gospel. - **Paul\'s Transformation**: He recounts his past as a **persecutor of the church** and how God revealed Himself to him, calling him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul's transformation highlights the **authenticity** of his message and his divine commission. - **Importance for the Galatians**: This passage is important for the Galatian church because it establishes Paul's authority to teach and preach the gospel and refutes the teachings of those who were trying to impose **Jewish laws** on Gentile believers. **6. Galatians 2:15-3:5** - **Theme**: **Justification by faith, not by works of the law**. - **Major Points**: - **Justification by Faith** (2:15-21): Paul asserts that no one is justified by the works of the law but through **faith in Jesus Christ**. He uses his confrontation with **Peter** (Cephas) in Antioch as an example of the dangers of living according to the law (hypocrisy) and the necessity of living by faith. - **The Purpose of the Law** (3:1-5): Paul explains that the law was given to reveal sin but could not justify anyone. Justification comes through **faith** in Jesus Christ. He rebukes the Galatians for starting in the **Spirit** (by faith) and then trying to complete their salvation through the **flesh** (works of the law). - **The Holy Spirit**: In verse 5, Paul references the **Holy Spirit** as a sign of God's approval and work in the believers\' lives, highlighting that the Spirit comes through faith, not the law. - **Faith vs. Law**: Paul makes it clear that the law's purpose was never to justify, and relying on it leads to failure. He calls believers to trust in **faith in Christ**, which brings salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.