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Chapter Six: Early Judaism and Christianity

Chapter Six: Early Judaism and Christianity Early Judaism Abram / Abraham ~ 2000 – 1750 bce Leaves Ur Covenant with God Land/Protection for Worship/Obedience Sign of the covenant – circumcision Human dignity / loyalty Henotheistic Belief (Book is Wrong!) Early Judaism, cont. Moses

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Chapter Six: Early Judaism and Christianity

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  1. Chapter Six:Early Judaism and Christianity

  2. Early Judaism • Abram / Abraham ~ 2000 – 1750 bce • Leaves Ur • Covenant with God • Land/Protection for Worship/Obedience • Sign of the covenant – circumcision • Human dignity / loyalty • Henotheistic Belief (Book is Wrong!)

  3. Early Judaism, cont. • Moses • Exodus from Egypt • Passover holiday • Beginning of Law (Torah) • Enter into Canaan

  4. Early Judaism, cont • Joshua • Brings the Hebrews into Canaan • Judges • Loose connection between tribes

  5. Monarchy • Saul – 1st king • David • Expanded territory • Jerusalem as capitol • Solomon • Builds 1st Temple

  6. Split Kingdom • Northern Kingdom of Israel • 721 – falls to Assyrians • Southern Kingdom of Judah • 581 – falls to Babylonians • Temple destroyed • Babylonian Captivity

  7. New Influences / Ideas • Return from Babylon • Synagogue worship • Satan as adversary (Zoroastrianism) • Rebuild the Temple • Hellenistic Influences • Gnosis • Body/soul dichotomy • Immortality of the soul

  8. End of Jewish Rule • Independence won by Judah Maccabee • Hanukkah • Roman Control of Judea (Palestine) • 70 ce – destruction of Jewish groups • Destruction of the Temple (for good) • Diaspora

  9. The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) • 3 major parts • Torah = Law : 1st 5 books • Nevi’im = Prophets : Next 21 books • Kethuvim = Writings : Last 12 books • Set as it is today by 90 ce • Septuagint (70): standard text

  10. Basic Motifs of the Bible • Biblical Monotheism • God exists before the world • Creation ex nihilio (from nothing) • God pronounces creation as “good” • Humans are the crown of creation • God deeply involved in the world • Covenant (testament) • Renewed covenant = New Testament (Christianity only)

  11. Basic Motifs of the Bible • Ethics • Moral code for individuals and society • Ten Commandments • Positive commands & Prohibitions • Prophetic writings • Critics of social injustice, defenders of poor • Reminders of the covenant • Amos • Jeremiah

  12. 1. I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 3. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them. 4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 5. Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long.

  13. 6. Thou shalt not kill. 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 8. Thou shalt not steal. 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

  14. The Beginnings of Christianity • Jewish Roots – new understandings • Life of Jesus • Gospels • Teachings of Jesus • Parables, Beatitudes • Jesus as Christ, the Messiah • Significance of resurrection

  15. Christianity Spreads • Saul of Tarsus (Paul) • Tireless missionary • Non-Jewish converts • Theological letters (epistles) • Social, religious factors for growth • Peace, facility of travel, koine, audience • Emphasis on salvation, freedom • No class distinction

  16. Christian Persecution • Pliny the Elder / Nero’s Circus • Claudius, Decius, Valerian, Diocletian • Christians as traitors to the state • Refusal to express pietàs • Apologists • Justin Martyr (100-165) • Emperor Constantine

  17. Basic Motifs of the Bible • Models and types • Events, stories, characters as models • Contemporary impact of biblical tradition • Literature • Art • Social institutions

  18. Early Jewish Art • Prohibition against images • 2nd commandment • Present in synagogues

  19. Early Christian Art • Catacombs, underground cemeteries • Frescoes • Salvation; Communion; Virgin and Child • Glass and Sculpture • Christ as Good Shepherd, glass disks • Carved sarcophagi • Inscriptions • Name, date of death, decorative symbol

  20. Dura-Europas • Evidence of religious tolerance and coexistence • Religious buildings on “Wall Street” • Complex religious existence • Artistic mingling of Eastern and Roman styles • Precursor of Byzantine art

  21. Constantine and Early Christian Architecture • Emperor Constantine (C.E. 306-337) • Edict of Toleration • Basilica-Style Churches • Current site of St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican) • Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem) • Jesus’ burial site

  22. Chapter Six: Discussion Questions • Discuss contemporary examples that illustrate the permeation of the biblical tradition in our culture. • Explain why Nero and other Roman emperors were unwilling to tolerate Christianity. From a political standpoint, was the severity of punishment inflicted on Christians warranted? Why or why not? • Consider the archeological findings of Dura-Europos. In what ways does history over-simplify past events? In two thousand years, what will future generations assume about our culture, religions, and religious tolerance? Explain.

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