Faith and Revelation PDF

FAITH AND REVELATION | MOD 1 TRANS 1 any religious or spiritual commitment to Christ, but he OUTLINE...

FAITH AND REVELATION | MOD 1 TRANS 1 any religious or spiritual commitment to Christ, but he OUTLINE became an expert at Bible trivia. I. Introduction WHERE TO TAKE IT FROM HERE? II. God’s Sacred Scriptures and Traditions What kind of faith do you have? Is it anything like the a. The Nature of the Bible faith of the prince of Grenada? b. The Bible is the Word of God There’s a difference between knowing facts about c. The Bible as a Means of Divine Revelation God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible, and allowing God Bible to change you from the inside out. Many people d. The Bible as a Library of Books grow up knowing a lot about Christianity but never III. Revelation have entrusted their lives to Christ. Have you? a. Etymology What kind of faith do you have? b. Meaning of Revelation What is the Bible for us? IV. How Does God Reveal Himself? a. Creation GOD’S SACRED SCRIPTURES AND TRADITIONS b. Sacred Scriptures THE NATURE OF THE BIBLE c. His Presence by the Holy Spirit d. The Prayer & Sacramental Worship Story-the heart of community’s life of faith and e. His Interior Presence in our Conscience worship Divine revation V. Our Response to God’s Revelation: We ↑ word of God BIBLE - & Believe LIBRARY OF BOOKS A book of shared memories. It’s a record of a VI. Faith in God people’s past experiences woven into a life-story. It a. Characteristics of our Christian Faith is a story of God’s dealings with His people-the book b. The Three Essential Dimensions of Faith of the people of God c. Paradoxical Characteristics of Faith A record of past events that have given both the Jews and Christians a sense of identity and destiny INTRODUCTION The prince of Grenada, an heir to the Spanish crown, THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD was sentenced to life in solitary confinement in Madrid’s Bible-divine revelation in human expression, God’s ancient prison called “The Place of the Skull.” The word expressed in human words; the word of God fearful, dirty, and dreary nature of the place earned it the name. Everyone knew that once you were in, you would and the work of human hands written in faith and never come out alive. The prince was given one book to can be understood only in faith read the entire time—the Bible. With only one book to read, he read it over hundreds and hundreds of times. THE BIBLE AS A MEANS OF DIVINE REVELATION The book became his constant companion. BIBLE After thirty-three years of imprisonment, he died. When A symbol or sacrament that points to divine they came in to clean out his cell, they found some notes revelation he had written using nails to mark the soft stone of the Divine Revelation-the comprehensive reality of prison walls. The notations were of this sort: Psalm God’s self-gift to humanity and human acceptance of 118:8 is the middle verse of the Bible; Ezra 7:21 contains it. all the letters of the alphabet except the letter j; the ninth verse of the eighth chapter of Esther is the longest verse in the Bible; no word or name of more than six syllables THE BIBLE AS A LIBRARY OF BOOKS can be found in the Bible. Bible-contains books of literary genres, written at When Scot Udell originally noted these facts in an article different times and different places and for varied in Psychology Today, he noted the oddity of an individual situations; needs to be studied a thousand or more who spent thirty-three years of his life studying what years of history; becomes a rule of faith, moral some have described as the greatest book of all time yet integrity and worship for Jews and Christians alike. could only glean trivia. From all we know, he never made L expert at bible trivia , no religious/spiritual commitment Mahershalalhashbaz (Isaiah 8:1, 3). God told Isaiah to name his son this © FAITH DANAO 1 of 3 whopping 18-letter, six syllable name—the longest name in the Bible.,  FAITH AND REVELATION | MOD 1 TRANS 1 REVELATION OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S REVELATION: WE God’s personal loving communication to us of WHO BELIEVE He is and His plan to save us all in His love. It is “Faith is confident assurance concerning what we God’s reaching out to us in friendship, so we get to hope for, and conviction about things we do not see.” know and love Him “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone Dei Verbum ch. 1, no. 2 (Dogmatic Constitution on who asks you for a reason for your hope.” (1 Pt. Divine Revelation) [Eph. 1:9] 3:15) ○ “It pleases God, in His goodness and wisdom, to TITL reveal Himself and to make known the mystery FAITH IN GOD - of His will.” - CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH ETYMOLOGY TOTAL AND ABSOLUTE FAITH Latin – “revelatio” Only faith in God calls for a total and absolute Greek – “apocalypsis” adherence To reveal To manifest TRINITARIAN To uncover Friendship with Christ, and through Christ, with the Father, in their Holy Spirit MEANING OF REVELATION LOVING, MATURING & MISSIONARY Self-communication of God. God’s self-manifestation through historical events ”The man without love has known nothing of God…” and people with Jesus Christ as the center Love of God and love of neighbor, like Christ’s Impels us to mission, to evangelize by bringing the HOW DOES GOD REVEAL HIMSELF? Good News CREATION INFORMED & COMMUNITARIAN What we see, hear and touch Informed-believing in Jesus’ words, accepting His Natural signs teachings, trusting that He has the words of eternal life…” - SACRED SCRIPTURES Communitarian-it gathers us in one community His work and deeds, record of salvation history INCULTURATED Biblical signs Jesus Christ is never separated from the typical Filipino faith in family and friends HIS PRESENCE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT -BED In His people THE THREE ESSENTIAL DIMENSIONS OF FAITH Ecclesial signs BELIEVING (WHAT CAN I KNOW?) Faith is personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as “my THE PRAYER & SACRAMENTAL WORSHIP Lord and my God.” Jn. 20:28 (not mere head Doctrine and moral service of the Church knowledge) Liturgical signs DOING (WHAT SHALL I DO?) HIS INTERIOR PRESENCE IN OUR CONSCIENCE Faith is a commitment to follow (obey) God’s will ”Signs of the times” for us Grace ”None of those who cry out, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of God, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Mt. 7:21) © FAITH DANAO 2 of 3  FAITH AND REVELATION | MOD 1 TRANS 1 ENTRUSTING/WORSHIPPING (WHAT MAY I HOPE ○ Faith is an active response to the witness of FOR?) Christ Faith is from the “Heart” – the loving, trusting, and hoping in the Lord that comes from God’s own love PERSONAL, YET ECCLESIAL flooding our hearts. Personal grace of faith-in Baptism, the faith “Believe in God with your whole heart, soul and implanted grows and matures mind.” (Mt. 22:37) Faith is never just something private or individualistic, but a sharing in the Christian PARADOXICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FAITH community’s faith. Faith is supported and intensified by the members in CERTAIN, YET OBSCURE the parish ”Taking things on faith” when we are not sure God always revealed Himself in the OT and NT in Faith is certain because it rests on God who reveals terms of a community Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, present to us in the Holy Spirit God is mystery-He is always more than we can ever fully comprehend FREE, YET MORALLY OBLIGING Faith is a free response-no one, not even God, forces us to believe REASONABLE, YET BEYOND NATURA REASON Faith is in no conflict with our reason, but only rational creatures can believe. Yet, faith is a grace that enlightens our minds “Unless you believe, you will not understand.” Our faith in Christ illumines our reason AN ACT, YET A PROCESS A life-long process Faith must be gradually and perseveringly developed so that it comes to touch every aspect of our lives, throughout our whole lives “The life that I now live is not my own; Christ is living in me.” (Gal. 2:20) A GIFT, YET OUR DOING ”No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (Jn. 6:44) DEPENDS ON GOD FOR 2 THINGS: God’s free gift of revealing Himself in Salvation History The grace of Holy Spirit’s interior illumination and inspiration ○ Demands our cooperation ○ Discerning God’s presence to us through the events in our lives © FAITH DANAO 3 of 3  FAITH IN GOD | MOD 1 TRANS 2 OUTLINE I. The Three Essential Dimensions of Faith a. Believing b. Doing c. Entrusting/Worshipping II. Faith and the Three Classic Questions a. What Can I Know? b. What Should I Do? THE THREE ESSENTIAL DIMENSIONS OF FAITH BED BELIEVING Basic convictions as Christians Knowing, not just head knowledge but personal knowledge of Jesus as “my Lord and my God” DOING Loving service of our needy neighbors: ○ Justice and Love ○ Protecting and caring for our Mother Earth ENTRUSTING/WORSHIPPING Faith is from the heart-the loving, trusting, and hoping in the Lord FAITH AND THREE CLASSIC QUESTIONS WHAT CAN I KNOW? Knowledge, scriptures, doctrine Head part WHAT SHOULD I DO? Commandments, service, love of others, morals Hands and feet WHAT MAY I HOPE FOR? Prayer and sacraments with your whole heart, whole soul, and with all your mind (Mt22:37) Heart © FAITH DANAO 1 of 1  BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION | MOD 2 TRANS 1 OUTLINE I. Study Aids and Tools for Biblical Interpretation a. Fundamentalism b. Mythological Approach c. Diachronic d. Synchronic e. Exegesis f. Hermeneutics g. Real Interpretation II. Biblical Criticism Figure 1. Study Aids and Tools of Biblical Interpretation III. Gadamer’s FUNDAMENTALISM IV. 4 Versions of the English Bible Today The literal interpretation of the Bible It claims that the Bible is authoritative and infallible V. 4 Factors in Interpreting the Bible According since it is inspired by God to CFC a. The Human Author b. The Text Itself MYTHOLOGICAL APPROACH c. The Readers/Headers Reduces the bible to a collection of fairy tales d. The Common Horizon As such, it has little or no significance to educated people VI. Biblical Tools DIACHRONIC STUDY AIDS AND TOOLS FOR BIBLICAL Gk. “through time” INTERPRETATION Concerned with the historical development of texts We need the proper tools to understand the word of and traditions across the passage of time God, we need God’s light and His presence to direct our way, and to derive different insights as we look DIACHRONIC METHOD through a prism in our search and for meaning; each Historical – Critical insight is colored by our background, orientation ○ Textual Criticism and situation in life ○ Source Criticism ○ Form Criticism ○ The world of the text intersects with the world of the author Redaction – Critical To determine the matrix of the text – the culture of time, socio-political situation, background and intentions of the author HISTORICAL-CRITICAL METHOD Views the Bible as an ancient record written by many authors over a long period of time Focuses on the background and purpose of the author To discover the historical meaning of the text-the meaning the text had for the community to whom it was addressed © FAITH DANAO 1 of 3  BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION | MOD 2 TRANS 1 TEXTUAL CRITICISM A recognition of male bias in the biblical text Aims to reconstruct what presumably is the “original produced by a patriarchal society and the need to text” on the basis of many divergent copies liberate it from ideological and institutional distortions by a thematization of women’s experience To decide from a mass of conflicting readings which - variants deserve to be included in the text SYNCHRONIC HISTORICAL CRITICISM Gk. “with time” The writings of the Bible is historically and culturally Studies the final form of the text which is evident to conditioned us with no particular interest on the “world of the Biblical authors drew both their imaginary and text” -- thought patterns from the milieu in which they lived Analyzes the language, composition, narrative The Bible had to be studied in the spirit in which it structure of the Biblical text and its capacity for had been written persuasion Political structures, religious and cultural events and institutions of the time and place of writing SYNCHRONIC APPROACH 3 Categories of Historical Criticism Narrative Criticism ○ Source Criticism Feminist Criticism To establish the sources which a given The world of the reader intersects with the world of Biblical writer may have used in compiling the text) world of the reader AND world of the text his work in order to resolve existing discrepancies and inconsistencies EXEGESIS ○ Form Criticism What literary type or genre, the social milieu Gk. Exegeisthai, to “draw out” that gave rise to it, its features and history of Is a method or process of drawing out the meaning its development and use of a given text To determine the intention or meaning of the ○ i.e. the original intention of the writer, and the text meaning of the passage would have held for the ○ Redaction (Editorial) Criticism readers it was first intended Enables us to know the nature and extent of an editor’s own contribution to the work and HERMENEUTICS to uncover the theological tendencies and Gk. Hermeneuein – “to explain” the compositional habits of the writers The theory of reading, interpretation and The study of how the text was edited and understanding of a text written or serving as how it developed according to the final documents of life editor’s point of view Covers the entire process of Biblical interpretation which takes 3 forms: NARRATIVE CRITICISM ○ Speaking Views Biblical narratives as literary texts which can ○ Translating be subjected to literary analysis, both ancient and ○ Explaining (most important accdg. To modern, and communicates the biblical message in Schneiders) the form of story and personal testimony which can Understanding – “hermeneutical moment” reshape or influence the world of the reader Concerned with the integral process of interpretation Historical – “window” resulting in understanding in the full sense of the Narrative – “mirror” word For personal conversion FEMINIST CRITICISM Is it politically correct? REAL INTERPRETATION Involves a “reading of a text (or the writing of an Leads to application and appropriation analysis, or the reconstructing of history) in light of Demands from the reader a spirit of openness and oppressive structures of patriarchal society good will © FAITH DANAO 2 of 3  BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION | MOD 2 TRANS 1 4 FACTORS IN INTERPRETING THE BIBLE BIBLICAL CRITICISM ACCORDING TO CFC THE HUMAN AUTHOR Table 1. Biblical Criticism Common sense tells us to find out what the inspired human author had in mind when interpreting a text Author (Sender) Text (Message Reader (Receiver) Sent) This involves some basic idea of the social, economic, and religious conditions of the authors in Historical Literary Audience their particular historical situations Criticism Criticism Criticism Author, Analysis of the Receiver of the historical text as it text and/or situations, stands process of THE TEXT ITSELF theological reading We have to look at its literary forms which the author concerns, etc. is using. The text must be viewed within the unity of the whole Bible GADAMER’S Both OT and NT are read by Christians in the light of the Risen Crucified Christ THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEXT Ex. Adam and Melchisedek are types of Christ; the World of the author flood foreshadows Baptism, etc) Views the text as a window, a source of info about the author, the addresses, and the world in which THE READERS/HEARERS they lived, everything that gave rise to the text We are constantly asking Scripture new questions and problems, drawn from our own experience THE WORLD OF THE TEXT We must let the Bible “form” us, even while Serves as mirror which reflects the interrelationship conscious that we are reading it in the light of our of the elements that make up the text own contemporary experience THE WORLD BEFORE TEXT THE COMMON HORIZON The Reader Which first unites all the books of the Bible into a Concerns the world of meaning that the text basic unity, and second, links together the context of generates the Scriptural text and its tradition with our present The text does not only inform but also transforms reading context today when we begin to realize its significance and accept This horizon is the new and eternal covenant God the challenges it offers has established with us in His Incarnate Son, Jesus Christ 4 VERSIONS OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE TODAY BIBLICAL TOOLS Adopted gender inclusiveness in their translation Dictionary of the Bible 4 Versions Biblical Commentaries ○ NJB Concordance of the Bible ○ NABNT Atlas of the Bible ○ REB Gospel Parallels ○ NRSV Man – humankind Father – ancestor Brethren – brothers and sisters My son – my child A humble man – the humble The thoughts of man – our thoughts © FAITH DANAO 3 of 3  NEW TESTAMENT | MOD 3 TRANS 2 ○ First Thessalonians OUTLINE ○ Seconds Thessalonians I. New Testament ○ First Timothy a. Books of the New Testament ○ Second Timothy ○ Titus II. Relationship Between the Old and New ○ Philemon Covenant Not Paul’s Epistles ○ Hebrews III. The Canon of the New Testament ○ James (9) Not Paul's Epistles IV. Apocryphal Gospels ○ First Peter a. Apocryphal Gospels of Catholic Origin ○ Second Peter b. Gospel of St. Matthew ○ First John c. Arabic Gospel of Infancy ○ Second John ○ Third John ○ Jude NEW TESTAMENT ○ Revelation Acts 4:12 – “There is no salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given to RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW human beings by which we must be saved.” COVENANT This common belief in Jesus Christ is expressed in many different ways in the New Testament Many New Testament doctrines are set out in the The New Testament provides us with a window into Old Testament and have abiding relevance such as the emergence of Christianity the character of God as Creator, the origin of sin The New Testament is entirely concerned with the (hence the need for a Savior), etc. life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Both the Old and New Testaments details what Jews the emerging first century Christian Church, and Christians believe is their creator God’s exhortations on living a Christian life and with the participation in human history second coming of Jesus Christ The Old Testament focuses on the history of the Arranged in groups Jews, while the New Testament focuses on Jesus ○ 4 Gospels Christ and the birth of the Christian faith. The New ○ 14 Letters: Descending order of length, 1st Testament always shows how the God of the Old group addressed to Churches, 2nd group Testament completed His redemptive work in the addressed to individuals person of Jesus Christ, who died to atone for the ○ 7 Letters of James, Peter, John, Jude JPJS sins of all mankind ○ Revelation – prophetic vision The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. The Old Testament shows the human need for God and the New Testament is the divine BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT supply for human need. The OT reveals the heart of Historical HistoricalMater humanity while the NT reveals the heart of God. ○ Matthew a The NT reveals the message of the OT. The ○ Mark (s) essential message of both testaments is the ○ Luke salvation of humanity in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ ○ John ○ Acts THE CANON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT Paul’s Epistles ○ Romans Deuterocanonical books: (Their canonicity having ○ First Corinthians (13) Paul's Epistles formerly been a subject of some controversy in the ○ Second Corinthians Church) The epistle to the Hebrews, that of James, ○ Galatians the 2nd of St. Peter, and 2nd and 3rd of John, Jude ○ Ephesians and Apocalypse ○ Philippians Two well defined bodies of sacred writings in the NT: ○ Colossians Four Gospels and Thirteen Epistles of St. Paul © FAITH DANAO 1 of 2  NEW TESTAMENT | MOD 3 TRANS 2 The principle of canonicity: Apostolicity, Inspiration, Doctrinal Tradition APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS (Gk. “Apokryphos” – Hidden) “Uncanonical”, Gospel of the Hebrews, Gospel of the Egyptians though worthless historically, the apocryphal gospels help us to better understand the religious conditions of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, and they are also of no little value as early witnesses of the canonicity of the writings of the four Evangelists APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS OF CATHOLIC ORIGIN The Protoevangelium Jacobi, or Infancy Gospel of James ○ Written by “James the brother of the Lord” (James the Less) It tells that Mary is the miraculous offspring of Joachim and Anna; that when three years old the Child was taken to the temple and dedicated to its service, in fulfillment of her parents’ vow GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW Mary, at the age of was betrothed to Joseph The dragons, lions, and other wild beasts of the desert adore the infant Jesus ARABIC GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY The work is a compilation and refers expressly to the “Book of Joseph Caiphas, the High-Priest”, the Gospel of the Infancy, and the “Perfect Gospel.” An originally Arabic “History of Joseph the Carpenter” © FAITH DANAO 2 of 2  THE PERSON OF JESUS OF NAZARETH | MOD 3 TRANS 3 ○ Studied the Hebrew Scripture OUTLINE Since his family was poor, he had the same I. The World of Jesus education and religious training as other poor Jewish a. Birth of Jesus children II. The Ministry of Jesus THE MINISTRY OF JESUS III. The Mission of Jesus Jesus was about 30 y.o. when John baptized him in a. Jesus Proclaimed the Kingdom of God in the Jordan River Two Ways: By Words and Deeds John the Baptizer was Jesus’ second cousin When he was baptized, the heavens opened and the IV. Jewish Trial Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove His baptism marked the beginning of his ministry V. Roman Trial VI. Scourging and Crowning THE MISSION OF JESUS Jesus’ vision – to see Israel as one nation united VII. Suffering with God in the covenant of love VIII. Burial Jesus’ mission – to gather the whole nation of Israel (12 tribes) as one, and to restore the covenant IX. Resurrection between Yahweh and his people a. What They Saw… Jesus performed and accomplished his mission by proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom THE WORLD OF JESUS Palestine was part of the Roman Empire when JESUS PROCLAIMED THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN Jesus was born TWO WAYS: BY WORDS AND DEEDS Herod the Great ruled Palestine from 37 B.C.E. to His lessons were usually delivered in parables sometime shortly after Jesus was born His deeds include his healings and miracles The Israelites hoped for a messiah – the anointed His ministry draw people toward him and he taught one. A political messiah with authority People were all the more filled with expectations of BIRTH OF JESUS the messiah Until religious leaders in Jerusalem deemed it Lk 2:1-14; Mt 1:18-25 necessary to investigate him Jesus was born sometime between 6 and 4 B.C.E. Messianic attribute to Jesus enraged the priests and in Bethlehem (called scribes, and they plotted to kill him City of David), a town in Judea (Mt 2:1) Their plan materialized when Judas Iscariot, one of He was raised in Nazareth, a town in the region of Jesus’ 12 disciples, betrayed him for 30 pieces of Galilee silver Gospel accounts say Mary, his mother, was a virgin and her conception of Jesus was by the power of the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:18) JEWISH TRIAL Very little is recorded about Jesus’ childhood A hasty gathering of the Sanhedrin There was a story about his being in the temple Mood to find guilty rather than give fair trial when he was 12 y.o. (Lk 2:41-47) Various witnesses whose stories couldn’t agree Profession: no explicit record. Probably a carpenter Torah ruled that false witnesses should receive the like his father Joseph punishment of the accused Like any ordinary Jewish male High Priest asks whether Jesus is the Messiah ○ He was circumcised Jesus’ ‘I am’ secures the blasphemy charge ○ Prayed in the synagogue ○ Attended the annual Passover feast, ROMAN TRIAL ○ Worshipped in the temple Pilate had already been primed by the Chief Priests © FAITH DANAO 1 of 2  THE PERSON OF JESUS OF NAZARETH | MOD 3 TRANS 3 They put it to him that Jesus was an unauthorised On the third day after he was crucified, he king resurrected from the dead In this way a blasphemy charge could be switched to treason RESURRECTION Pilate’s not convinced, he offers the people a deal Central doctrine of Christianity The people go for Barabbas Without it, Christianity is worthless, St Paul wrote Jesus is condemned to be crucified – but is first Easter is the greatest feast of the Church scourged, mocked and crowned with thorns Every Sunday = mini-Easter All the gospels are clear on the fact of the bodily SCOURGING AND CROWNING resurrection Crown of Thorns Although none except St Matthew’s give us any clue Replica made using local thorny shrubs as to how it happened Might have been a ‘cap’ Flagellum WHAT THEY SAW… Small handle with leather or rope strands The stone had been rolled back Bits of metal or sharp bone tied in the strands They saw a young man ‘dressed in white’ – angelic presence Tells them of the news of Jesus’ resurrection St. Mark tells us that the women ran away terrified St. Matthew tells of how Jesus spoke to them St. John gives details of two visits to the empty tomb Figure 1. Crown of Thorns SUFFERING ‘Via Dolorosa’ – the ‘sorrowful way’ through the Jerusalem streets to Golgotha (Calvary) just outside the city walls According to St Mark, Jesus took six hours to die Jesus was crucified for what he taught and believed. He was crucified around 29 or 30 C.E BURIAL The Gospels tell us that Jesus was buried in haste The Passover was a approaching (sundown) Touching a corpse would offend against ritual hygiene So Jesus is wrapped in a shroud And laid in a new tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathaea Women made plans to return © FAITH DANAO 2 of 2  JEWISH SOCIETY DURING THE TIME OF JESUS | MOD 3 TRANS 4 Palestinian territories, parts of Jordan, and parts of OUTLINE Lebanon and Syria I. Palestine a. During the Time of Jesus ISRAEL b. Today ECONOMY II. Israel The economy of first century Israel was supported a. Economy by three key segments b. Social Classes AGRICULTURE III. Bodies of Water in Israel a. Jordan River Agriculture of olives, figs, grains, dates, and b. Sea of Galilee or Sea of Tiberias vineyards c. Dead Sea Livestock was reared everywhere Sheep and goats produced meat, milk, leather and IV. Social Groups a. The Clergy wool b. The Elders Temple consumed a vast number of cattle for c. The Scribes sacrifices d. The Publicans Donkeys, camels, horses (a rich man’s animal) V. Religious Groups TRADE FOSTERED BY ISRAEL’S KEY LOCATION ON a. Pharisees THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA b. Sadducees c. Essenes Consisted mainly of barter d. Samaritans Foreign trade Imports were chiefly luxury goods: cedar, incense, VI. Political Groups aromatics, gold, iron and copper, spices a. Zealots b. Rich and Senior Clergy Exports – food, perfume, skins and bitumen from the c. Herodians Dead Sea Palestine could have been a land flowing with milk VII. The Institutions and honey, had it not been for taxation and the a. The Western Wall unjust distribution of wealth b. Temple c. The Synagogue and Jewish Worship INDUSTRY VIII. The Three Great Pilgrim Festivals FISHING – in the rivers and in Lake Tiberias which a. Passover marketed smoked or dried fish all over the country b. Feast of Tabernacles c. Yom Kippur LARGE GOVENMENT BUILDING PROJECTS SPONSORED BY KING HEROD IX. The Sabbath King Herod employed many laborers by X. Jesus and the Temple commissioning many public works (e.g. building temple in Jerusalem, palaces, ports, fortresses, stadiums, ornate stone carvings, etc.) PALESTINE DURING THE TIME OF JESUS SOCIAL CLASSES The land that the Israelites had made their home The Upper Class Means “Philistine land” ○ Made up of the temple priests and priestly aristocracy (including the Sadducees – a Jewish TODAY sect) In the broad geographical sense, Palestine refers to an area that includes contemporary Israel and the © FAITH DANAO 1 of 5  JEWISH SOCIETY DURING THE TIME OF JESUS | MOD 3 TRANS 4 The Middle Class ○ President of the SANHEDRIN, the highest ○ Comprised of traders and merchants, artisans governing body in Palestine during the time of (stonecutters, masons, sculptors) and craftsman Jesus (metal, wood, cloth dye) ○ The only one who can enter the Holy of Holies ○ The Pharisees (another Jewish sect), sages, Temple authorities scribes, and teachers were also a part of the ○ Also part of the aristocracy middle class ○ All these priests were Sadducees The Lower Class ○ Made of laborers (weavers, stone carriers, SANHEDRIN slaves (non-Jewish person taken into slavery Greek term “sit together” because of debt) Session 2x a week ○ The unemployable (lepers, blind, insane, Political power enact laws, own police, death crippled, etc.) sentence, fixed doctrine, regulates religious life. 70A.D. – cease to exist as a political power BODIES OF WATER IN ISRAEL Consists of 21 members ○ Elders JORDAN RIVER ○ High Priest (Sadducees) - presider Jordan River is a 251 kilometres (156 miles) long ○ Scribes (Pharisees) river in West Asia flowing to the Dead Sea COUNTRY PRIESTS SEA OF GALILEE or SEA OF TIBERIAS About 7,000 Is the largest freshwater lake in Israel Very close to the common people and shared their life, work and their poverty DEAD SEA Offer incense in the temple Also called the Salt Sea Some were scribes, many were Pharisees Is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west LEVITES The Dead Sea is the deepest hypersaline lake in the A kind of inferior clergy who had lost all power world About 10,000 With 33.7% salinity, it is also one of the world's Performed subordinate functions in the Temple: saltiest bodies of water. This salinity makes for a ○ Prepared sacrifices harsh environment in which animals cannot flourish, ○ Collected the tithes hence its name ○ Provided music The sea is called "dead" because its high salinity ○ Acted as Temple police prevents macroscopic aquatic organisms, such as fish and aquatic plants, from living in it, though THE ELDERS minuscule quantities of bacteria and microbial fungi Lay aristocracy are present Village chiefs and rich merchants with seats in the Sanhedrin SOCIAL GROUPS Hung on to their power by conniving with both the The clergy Roman rulers and the high priests The elders Seem to have been Sadducees The scribes The publicans THE SCRIBES Especialists in the Law THE CLERGY Official interpreters of the scriptures, providing not The priestly aristocracy of Jerusalem only rules for everyday life but also legal judgments Led by the HIGH PRIEST or chief priest for the courts Some were priests, but the majority were lay people and Pharisees © FAITH DANAO 2 of 5  JEWISH SOCIETY DURING THE TIME OF JESUS | MOD 3 TRANS 4 Extended to all people the rules of purity (formerly They had the Pentateuch in common with the Jews reserved for priests only) thereby allowing all to be but built their own temple on Mount Gerizim close to God Very tense relations between them and the Jews Jesus called one of them the “Good Samaritan” THE PUBLICANS The tax collectors POLITICAL GROUPS Jews who collected taxes on behalf of the Roman Zealots rulers Rich and Senior Clergy They had a tendency to increase taxation for the Herodians benefit of their own pockets, they had a bad reputation and were regarded as public sinners ZEALOTS Also called sicarii, after the name of their short - - RELIGIOUS GROUPS -- sword – sica Pharisees Mainly responsible for the revolt which culminated in Sadducees the disaster of AD 70 Essenes Samaritans RICH AND SENIOR CLERGY Collaborated willingly in order to preserve their PHARISEES power Holy men Separated (meaning of their name) from the HERODIANS Hasmonaeans whom they thought to have broken - Supporters of Herod Antipas faith They were hostile to Jesus Meditated faithfully on God’s Law Their fault: rely on their holiness to win a place in heaven THE INSTITUTIONS They believe in the resurrection The temple and the synagogue were the central places of Jewish religious worship and instructions SADDUCEES Priestly aristocrats Recognize only the Pentateuch as the Law Did not believe in either the resurrection or angels Collaborated with the Roman rulers to stay in power ESSENES A monastic order living as a community on the shore of the Dead Sea Under the leadership of a priest they called the Teacher of Righteousness Parted company with the Jews Lived a life of prayer and meditation on the Or scriptures Their monastery was destroyed by the Romans in Figure 1. Jerusalem the Temple Mount During the 2nd Temple Period AD 70 SAMARITANS Of very mixed origin and were separated from official Judaism © FAITH DANAO 3 of 5  JEWISH SOCIETY DURING THE TIME OF JESUS | MOD 3 TRANS 4 THE WESTERN WALL The holy place, where God made himself present Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement Sacrifices were offered on the great altar Morning and evening a lamb was consumed as a perpetual sacrifice along with numerous private sacrifices At festival times, there were far more sacrifices Paschal lamb had to be sacrificed there before being eaten at the family meal After the final destruction of the Temple in AD 70, the Jewish Passover was celebrated without a lamb Not only the center of religion but the political center also (the Sanhedrin met here) Also the economic center Figure 2. The Western Wall THE SYNAGOGUE AND JEWISH WORSHIP Synagogue – congregation of believers The building in which the community meets The synagogue is the place where the beliefs and religious practices were shaped THE SYNAGOGUE Services took place 3x a day ○ Reading of the Law ○ Sermon ○ Recitation of psalms Figure 3. The Western Wall ○ 3 great benedictions ○ Recitation of the Shema Also called THE WAILING WALL the only remaining ○ 18 benedictions part of the Second Temple during the time of Jesus JESUS IN THE SYNAGOGUE TEMPLE Jesus spent a lot of time in synagogues (Mt. 4:23). He taught in them (Mt. 13:54) Healed in them (Luke 4:33–35; Mark 3:1–5) Debated the interpretation of Torah in them (John 6:28–59) THE THREE GREAT PILGRIM FESTIVALS Passover Feast of Tabernacles Yom Kippur /Day of Atonement PASSOVER Celebrated the liberation of the people at the time of the Exodus Figure 4. About 20,000 pilgrims came to Jerusalem for this occasion Herod restored the Temple to all its former splendor © FAITH DANAO 4 of 5  JEWISH SOCIETY DURING THE TIME OF JESUS | MOD 3 TRANS 4 Lambs were killed in the Temple which were then eaten by families after sunset Festival lasted for 8 days Pentecost, 50 days later, was originally the harvest festival ○ During the Christian era it had become the celebration of the giving of the Law on Sinai FEAST OF TABERNACLES Recalls the time in the wilderness Each family built a hut out of branches on the edge of the city Procession of priests to the fountain of Siloam, accompanied by people carrying palms YOM KIPPUR Also called the Day of Atonement A penitential festival Rosh ha-Shanah or the New Year Festival was the preparation for it The Feast of Hanukkah, or dedication celebrated the purification of the Temple THE SABBATH The most sacred Jewish practice Its strict rest was meant to enable people to stop work and to praise God JESUS AND THE TEMPLE The temple was very special to Jesus Mary and Joseph presented him to the priest in the temple At the age of 12, he joined his parents on their trip to Jerusalem to worship in the temple He drove away the moneychangers and vendors doing business at the temple courts © FAITH DANAO 5 of 5  FORMATION OF THE GOSPELS | MOD 3 TRANS 5 Paul was converted around A.D. 36 and went on to OUTLINE bring the good news to Asia Minor, to Greece, and I. 3 Stages in the Formation of Gospels finally, to Rome Between 51-53 A.D., Paul wrote letters to various II. Stage 1 communities Throughout this period, official Judaism gradually III. Stage 2 began to reject the Christians a. Reasons Why the Gospels Were Not A full-scale rebellion was triggered in 66 AD, when Written at Once somebody emptied a pot full of urine outside a b. Reasons Why the Gospels Were Finally Written Down synagogue, defiling a holy site. The Jews were furious and a riot broke out, during which some Jews IV. Stage 3 shouted insults at Florus, the Roman Governor of a. Evangelists Judaea Florus, angered by their refusal to identify who was V. The Gospels responsible for the riot, ordered his troops to destroy a. Matthew, Mark, and Luke the market and kill anyone they saw The massacre by the Romans turned what had been 3 STAGES IN THE FORMATION OF THE GOSPELS occasional violence into a full-scale Jewish revolt In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed the temple in Stage 1 Jerusalem and looted its sacred contents ○ Jesus’ life in Palestine (3 BC to A.D. 30) Was the proclamation totally by word of mouth only? Stage 2 ○ No. Partial written compilations of Jesus’ ○ Oral tradition (A.D. 30-70) parables, miracles and sayings and an outline of Stage 3 the Passion narratives were already being ○ The written gospels (A.D. 70-100) written and passed around STAGE 1 REASONS WHY THE GOSPELS WERE NOT Jesus’ life in Palestine (3 BC to A.D. 30) WRITTEN AT ONCE Birth of Jesus → Ministry of Jesus → Death and Traditionally, the Semitic people preferred the Resurrection spoken, “living” word to the written word Commissioned his apostles to preach his message Early Christians did not feel the need to record the of salvation to all nations facts about Jesus’ life in written form Early Christians expected the Risen Christ will come STAGE 2 back soon Oral tradition (A.D. 30-70) The period immediately following Jesus’ REASONS WHY THE GOSPELS WERE FINALLY Resurrection WRITTEN DOWN The Good News was spread only by word of mouth Apostles and original witnesses were dying or being The original proclamation of the apostles after martyred Pentecost is called kerygma The Good News was being preached farther and Others soon joined the first disciples: Barnabas, the farther away from Jerusalem and from the Jewish Seven (including Stephen and Philip) and above all, BSSPP Paul culture, and religion and Christian communities became larger and larger Apostles and disciples fulfilled Jesus’ command to When they realized Christ would not be coming back i preach the Good News first to the Jews and then to JewsThe soon as they had expected, they saw the need for a the Gentiles. Here we have an announcement of the more permanent record of Jesus’ message for the faith of the first Christians future generations of Christians Faith in Jesus – was the core teaching that the first preachers passed on to the world Their preaching consisted in narrative faith accounts of Jesus’ earthly life © FAITH DANAO 1 of 2  FORMATION OF THE GOSPELS | MOD 3 TRANS 5 STAGE 3 They are called synoptic gospels because they share many similarities Gospels were written over a period of 30-40 years, John is different from the three. It is longer and from about A.D. 60- 100 written in a more poetic tone Faith testimonies to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Written by believers for fellow believers and to inspire new believers Purpose and limitations: Jn. 20:30-31 EVANGELISTS Writers of the 4 Gospels Sources ○ Oral preaching of the apostles ○ Partial written compilations of Jesus’ teachings and sayings; miracles; passion and death Church documents THE 4 EVANGELISTS Organized the materials according to their own particular sources and purpose By the special grace of the Holy Spirit, called Biblical Inspiration ○ OT/NT were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ○ Have God as their author Their concern was not on reporting a chronological summary of the details of Jesus’ life but on sharing the incredible Good News EACH evangelist pictures Jesus according to their - perspective - THE GOSPELS St. Irenaeus, the leader of a church in France about the year 170 A.D., declared “there can be only four gospels that are authentic. These were written by Jesus’ true followers.” ○ He was a disciple of a bishop who was a disciple of John the Evangelist One Jesus, FOUR Gospels ○ Matthew ○ Mark ○ Luke ○ John MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE known as the SYNOPTICS or SYNOPTIC GOSPELS SYNOPTIC is from the Greek words syn and optic – “to see together” © FAITH DANAO 2 of 2  ESCHATOLOGY Eschatology filled with anxiety about the future, is the result of sin, humankind’s alienation - Greek: Eschatos - “the last or extreme” from God, the source of all life, and - The Church believes that all men and from all creation. women will experience the end of this - “God did not make death, nor does he human life. The word of God teaches rejoice in the destruction of the living. that each person will be judged He fashioned all things that they might immediately after death have being…it was the wicked who STAGES OF ESCHATOLOGY with hands and words invited death…and made a covenant with it.” 1. Individual human death (Wis 1:13,16) 2. Particular judgment 3. The choices of heaven or hell Transformed by Christ 4. Christ’s second coming - “If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we persevere, we shall I. DEATH also reign with him.” (2 Tim 2:11) - The whole person dies. Death highlights - Death offers the real possibility of the enigma of our human existence. For sharing in Christ’s own death and its we instinctively rebel against the immeasurable saving worth possibility of our complete disappearance and extinction as II. PARTICULAR JUDGMENT persons, because we bear within - “This day you will be with me in ourselves the “seed of eternity which paradise.” (Lk 23:43) cannot be reduced to mere matter” (GS - This judgment of Christ is not 18) something merely imposed on us from Death as Natural the outside. By our free acts, we have become open to Christ’s light and love, - Death is the natural end of human life: or we have freely chosen to harden our there is a “time to be born, and a time hearts to his love and let ourselves be to die” (Eccl 3:2) condemned to eternal punishment. - “Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty if we are strong, and most of III. CHOICE BETWEEN HEAVEN OR HELL them are fruitless toil, for they pass quickly and we drift away” (Ps 90:10) Heaven - “Keep careful watch over your conduct. - Heaven means the state of “being with Make the most of the present the Lord…” (1 Thess 4:17) opportunity” (Eph - Heaven is often described as the Death as a Consequence of Sin “beatific vision” – the vision that makes happy…it is the consummation of the - But death experienced precisely as a life of faith, hope, and love begun on violent rupture, a painful loss of life earth  Hell - Hell or eternal damnation awaits those souls who die without repentance for - THE Church clearly affirms the existence their sins and eternity of hell for those who die in - At the end of the world, Jesus will come the state of mortal sin… again in power and glory – the - “The essence of hell is the loss of PAROUSIA God…” - At this time the bodies of all dead will Purgatory be resurrected - Those still living will be taken up into - “The state of final purification” the air to meet Jesus. General judgment - “He himself will be saved, but of all people will then be made only…through fire” (1 Cor 3:15) - The blessed will possess heaven for all - To gain eternal life, even the small eternity; the damned will suffer hell for remaining sinfulness must be purified all eternity so the blessed can be permeated completely by the light and love of the Lord. IV. THE PAROUSIA, GENERAL RESURRECTION AND LAST JUDGMENT - OT: Awaiting the “Day of the Lord” when God’s holiness and glory will be manifested to all (Am 5:18) - NT: “Day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6) - He will appear a second time not to take way sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. (Heb 9: 27-28) - The day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night…therefore, let us not be asleep like the rest, but awake and sober” (1 Thess 5: 2, 6). For “as to the exact day or hour, no one knows it, neither the angels in heaven nor even the Son, but only the Father” (Mk 13:32) - …those who have done right shall rise to live; the evildoers shall rise to be damned” (Jn 5:28- 29) - Heaven awaits those souls found to be in the state of grace or perfection BIBLICAL STUDIES 101 GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO BIBLE OR SACRED SCRIPTURE