The “Pentecost” story: what happens that changes the meaning of Shavuot/Pentecost for Christians? (Acts 2)
Pentecost Sunday marks the day most Christians believe the Holy Spirit descended on the followers of Jesus after his death, resurrection and ascension.
Shavuot is called the “Festival of Weeks” because it is held five weeks after the second night of Passover.
Why do the events on Pentecost mark the beginning of the church? (Acts 2)
Before the events of the first Pentecost, which came a few weeks after Jesus’ death and resurrection, there were followers of Jesus, but no movement that could be meaningfully called “the church.” Thus, from an historical point of view, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started. This is also true from a spiritual perspective, since the Spirit brings the church into existence and enlivens it.
What’s the debate about in Acts 15?
helps us see the first part of rightly handling difficult decisions between believers - one has to detect the problem. This issue of the need for circumcision is a signficant one that would have longstanding implications.
meaning of the word “gospel,”
a written record of Christ’s words and deeds. (The word of God)
name the 4 gospels in the New Testament
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Four divisions of the New Testament:
gospels, Acts of the Apostles, epistles, Revelation
What do Christians call the Jewish scriptures?
.Hebrew Bible
Why most Jews don’t believe Jesus in the Messiah (class handout)
- Jesus wasn’t a political messiah
- Jesus didn’t fit expectations of an apocalyptic messiah who’d create a world of perfect peace and righteousness
- Christians began to believe that GOD was incarnate in jesus (which was not part of a Jewish idea of messiah)
Marcion (2nd century): why did he want to reject the entire Old Testament?
the God of the Old Testament was an evil creator god that Jesus came to destroy.
In deciding what to include in the Bible, why did most Christians disagree with Marcion?
Maricon believe that the Jewish God is evil and that christians shouldn’t use the old testament
In what century did the Roman Empire begin to officially adopt Christianity?
4th
Who was the first emperor to convert to Christianity?
Constantine
Who was the first emperor to make Christianity the only legal religion in the Roman Empire?
Theodosius I
What is monasticism? Why do Christians—but not Jews and Muslims—have this practice?
a 4th century movement of christians who were dissatisfied with culture christianity. live a radically simplified, ascetic lifestyle. christian expression of the way of mystical quest
catholic (small c) means what?
it means: a wide variety of things; all embracing.
Difference between the Arian and the Nicene view of Christ/the Son’s relationship to God
Arians: believe the Father is GREATER than the Son
Nicene Creed:The son is equally to the Father
Nicene Creed 325
affirms the Son is fully divine; affirms a Trinitarian view of God
Council of Chalcedon 451: how do Jesus’ divine and human natures relate?
co-existed substantively and in reality in the single person of Jesus Christ. The aim was to defend the doctrine that Jesus was simultaneously truly God and truly man.
First church splits
Nestorians and Monophysites (both rejected the Council of Chalcedon; see class notes on the names of the ancient “non-Chalcedonian” churches that still exist today)
Augustine vs. Pelagius’ views of sin and free will (an early 5th century debate that persists)
???
Augustine coined what phrase?
“original sin”
What triggered the split between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy in 1054?
That the Catholics added “and to the son” to the creed – The Eastern Orthodox didn’t agree
What were the aims of the Crusades? Were they successful?
The stated goal of the Crusades was to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim forces, but there were also many unstated goals which European lords and clergy strove to achieve. Originally, the pope had called for a crusade to capture important Christian holy sites, such as Jerusalem, from the forces of Muslim rulers.
No, they didn’t get the region back.
Catholic mystic Teresa of Avila (16th century)
spiritual marriage with Christ (a mystical theme)
Martin Luther (16th century German):
father of the Protestant Reformation
Indulgences: what are they? Why did Luther criticize them?
to lessen penance now or purgatory
(to
Common Protestant emphases (see Ludwig and see list in “handout” posted online after class)
???
justification by faith
doctrine held by most protestants and based on teachings of the apostle paul, that salvation comes solely by god’s grace recieved in faith and not from things that one does or earns
How did Luther’s view of scriptural authority and justification by faith reform the following?
???
The number of sacraments
There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.”
Monasticism
a 4th century movement of christians who were dissatisfied with culture christianity. live a radically simplified, ascetic lifestyle. christian expression of the way of mystical quest
John Calvin (16th century): a Protestant known for his doctrine of double predestination
One of the principal leaders of the Protestant Reformation, founder of the Reformed Church, particularly noted for the systematic and rational way he explained basic Christian beliefs and for stressing the sovereignty of God’s providence over all things.
Anabaptists
makes up the radical wing of the protestant reformation. rejected baptism, only those making self-conscious choice to be christian are truly christian. They insisted that Christians were called to live a lifestyle distinct from that of the common culture and that the Constantinian heritage of a state church was an abomination.
What traditional Catholic practices were reaffirmed at the Council of Trent (16th century)?
????
What is a denomination?
defined as “a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian church.” One denomination will include many local churches that are usually spread over a broad geographical region.
Denominations in the Calvinist tradition:
Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, Anglican (Church of England; Episcopalian in the US)
What characterizes Methodists? AME (African Methodist Episcopal) and AME Zion?
low church
emotional experience with God
Holy Living
Denominations influenced by the Radical Reformation:
Amish, Mennonite, Quaker, Baptist
state churches (Europe) vs. separation of church and state (North America)
????
Mormonism
The Mormon religion (Mormonism), whose followers are known as Mormons and Latter-day Saints (LDS), was founded less than two hundred years ago by a man named Joseph Smith. He claimed to have received a personal visit from God the Father and Jesus Christ who told him that all churches and their creeds were an abomination.
Unitarian Universalism
Church does not have a creed. Instead, UUs are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth. As such, UU congregations include many agnostics, theists, and atheists among their membership.
fundamentalism vs. evangelicalism vs. Pentecostalism
.
non-denominational churches are______?
Protestant
What is the ecumenical movement?
Promoting or relating to unity among the world’s Christian churches
Does the Christian covenant with Christ replace the Jewish covenant through Torah? That is, does Christianity supersede and replace Judaism? Two Christian views (handout in class)
.
INCARNATION (What does it mean?)
doctrine that jesus was at once both a human being and god. there is nothing about human life that God has not become acquainted with.
TRINITY
one divine NATURE/BEING in three PERSONS (1=3)
What are the standard names for the three persons of the Trinity?
God is three-in-one: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
Which of these three persons was incarnate in Jesus?
The Son
What is the name of the creed that talks about the divinity of each person of the Trinity?
The Nicene Creed
Does this creed state that the Son of God is equal to, or less than, God as Father?
Equal
How is a Christian view of sin different from a Jewish one?
Christians believe in individual salvation from sin through repentance and receiving Jesus Christ as their God and Savior through Faith in Christianity. Jews believe in individual and collective participation in an eternal dialogue with God through tradition, rituals, prayers and ethical actions.
original sin
apart from the grace of god in Jesus, no one is able to get right with God but will inevitably lead a sinful life. result of adam and eve
How does a Christian view of God’s law differ from a Jewish (and Muslim) view?
.
salvation by faith in the grace of Jesus Christ
.
judgment day
Immediately upon death each soul undergoes the particular judgment, and depending upon the state of the person’s soul, goes to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell.
atonement
Christ’s death a sacrifice for sin that brings forgiveness and healing
diverse ideas about atonement through Christ
???
Lord’s Prayer
The Our Father
What are the two greatest commandments for a Christian?
1) Love the father above all with all your heart
2) Love your neighbor as yourself
What does “liturgy” mean?
means the participation of the People of God in “the work of God.” 5 Through the liturgy Christ, our redeemer and high priest, continues the work of our redemption in, with, and through his Church.
What’s the difference between a liturgical (“high church”) and a non-liturgical (“low church) form of worship?
High Church: Fancy, Probes and Ancient liturgy
Low Church: informal, simple & personal testimonials
On what day of the week do Christians worship, and why?
On Sunday (Jesus rose on a Sunday)
How do Christian services build on—and change—Jewish worship services?
???
What is a sacrament?
religious symbol that conveys divine grace, sanctity ex. Baptism
How many sacraments to Roman Catholics have? What are they?
Seven. Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.”
What two sacraments do most Christians practice?
Baptism and the last supper (communion)
Baptism: what is done in baptism? What does baptism mean?
.the rite of initiation into the new covenant by way of a ritual bath or washing. Non-sacramental traditions view it as an outward symbol of a person’s inward faith in and self-conscious commitment to Jesus Christ
Infant vs. adult (or “believer’s”) baptism: what’s the argument behind each practice?
Infant:
- Baptism is important because it removes the stain of original sin (and because the Bible commands it).
- Infants should be baptized as soon as possible, as their salvation depends on it.
- You are never too old or too young to be baptized.
Adult:
- People should be baptized of their own free will.
- They must be old enough to understand what baptism is and what it means.
- They must make a confession of faith.
Eucharist (Lord’s Supper, Communion): what event in Jesus’ life does it remember, and how?
The last supper
By eating bread and wine to symbolize the body and blood.
What does “transubstantiation” mean? What are two ancient churches that hold this view of the Eucharist?
Where the bread and wine is LITERALLY viewed as the body and blood of Jesus Christ
Roman Catholics and Orthodox
What are two common Protestant interpretations of the elements of Eucharistic bread and wine?
Symbolic
Christ spiritual presence
What is the name of the six week season before Easter, and what is its purpose?
Lent (40 days)
is to keep alive in our consciousness and our life the fact that being a Christian can only take the form of becoming a Christian ever anew;
Holy Week?
Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter
8 days for sacramentally participating along with Jesus in the great events of the Gospel, culminating in Jesus’ Crucifixion on Good Friday, his death and burial, and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday
Advent
Jesus is coming, and Advent is intended to be a season of preparation for His arrival. While we typically regard Advent as a joyous season, it is also intended to be a period of preparation, much like Lent. Prayer, penance and fasting are appropriate during this season.
Confirmation (what is it, and why is it often practiced by churches who use infant baptism?)
faith given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong.
Confirmation means accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny.
Why do Christians have fewer prohibitions on sacred images than Jews do?
Because he was made human
while jews believes it breaks one of the 10 commandments
Icons (what are they, and why are some Christians in favor of them and some opposed to them?)
Icons are two dimensional pictures, made of paint and wood, used throughout Eastern Orthodox worship and for meditation.
What’s the difference between a congregation and a denomination?
Differences
Congregation: A particular church (one church)
A group of people in a church
Denomination: Branches (Catholics,Orthodox,)
Bishop
a person appointed to oversee a group of priests or ministers and their congregations.
what is pacifism?
is the theological and ethical position that any form of violence is incompatible with the Christian faith.
Christians were largely pacifist until what century? Why did pacifism become a minority view?
The first 300 years - 4th century
Who is Joseph Smith?
Joseph Smith, 19th century founder of Mormonism in the United States
Where was Joseph Smith Murdered?
Joseph Smith was murdered in Carthage, IL (30 miles from Macomb!) in 1844
Know some distinctive beliefs of the contemporary LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)—drawing on the Dallin Oaks article
Their “apostle creed” is called ‘Our articles Of Faith” and it begins by saying “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
Instead of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit being three in one (like in many Christians’ belief), they believe them to be three separate distinct beings.
NOTE:
the LDS differs from a smaller, more liberal branch of Mormonism: the Community of Christ, formerly called the RLDS (Reorganized Latter Day Saints) – a branch that was founded by Joseph’s Smith former wife and son, that never permitted polygamy, and that now ordains women and those in same-sex relationships.
Polygamy
the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time
is no longer a Mormon practice, except in a few controversial minority sects
What are some features of Pentecostal Christianity, as reflected in the video of one Pentecostal church in Brazil?
- small
- speaker can be male or female (married or not)
- lots of singing & dancing
- They touch on real life problems
Catholicism is the largest church in Brazil. Why do some Catholics convert to Pentecostalism?
Because some don’t like how oriented and “boring” Catholic service is.
-Too many people
In Pentecostalism, they claim to feel the the spirit within them, they like singing and dancing ascpect of it, and they like how small it is.
Story of Dorothy Day and practices/values of the Catholic Workers movement
She is the living parable in Matthew 5
She helps the ones in need(poor people) and shelters them (even stays with them as well)
Themes in the three parables from Matthew and Luke
Matthew: Parable of the sheep and the goats (Good samaritan)
The lost coin:
The lost son
Jewish groups in Jesus’ day:
Zealots, Pharisees, Sadducees, and the poor “people of the Land”
Jesus’ own religion was ____ ?
Jesus was a jew - Jewish
Christ is Greek for Messiah (the anointed one) - how do Christians change the notion of ‘messiah’?
???
What is the Kingdom of God all about—as Jesus teaches and lives it out in the gospels?
Jesus taught that it could be in our midst on earth, and come to us now through His ministry - for example - the ministry of casting out demons by the Spirit of God
What’s a parable?
used in giving one or more instructional lessons or principles and can be an allegory and may include inanimate objects (like trees, plants, or things) or people in various societal positions.
What were some reasons Jesus was in conflict with the Pharisees? With the Sadducees?
The conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders is one of the key themes of Mark’s gospel—of all the gospels. It is present from beginning to end. This conflict is a conflict of authority. It is a conflict of self-awareness—of God-awareness. It is a conflict of priorities and values. It is a conflict of thinking and life goals and even of worldview. (example when Jesus found out people were selling things in the temple of God and Jesus got mad and threw things )
Why was Jesus also seen as a political threat to the Roman government?
Rome did not anyone to have potential of a uprising (in this Jesus where he heal people and did good deeds )
Apostle vs. disciple of Jesus
While a disciple is a student, one who learns from a teacher, an apostle is sent to deliver those teachings to others. “Apostle” means messenger, he who is sent. An apostle is sent to deliver or spread those teachings to others. The word “apostle” has two meanings, the larger meaning of a messenger and the narrow meaning to denote the twelve people directly linked to Jesus Christ.
story of Paul’s conversion
originally Saul; from Tarsus; Greek Jew and Pharisee; rhetoric/public speaking education; on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, hit by bright light, blind, sees Jesus, goes to Antioch, converts to Christianity;
Why does the first conflict in the early church center around circumcision and eating kosher food?
????
2nd century AD/CE conflict about Gnosticism, how this conflict shaped the content of the New Testament, and why most Christians rejected a Gnostic or Docetic view of Jesus
????
Apostles’ Creed:
early statement of Christian belief (anti-Gnostic)
eschatology
the study of what the Bible says is going to happen in the end times.
The part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind
What is just war doctrine?
illustrates when war is needed to end violence.
justification
Made right with God
Sanctification
Once you’re united with Jesus Christ, your work is holy
What are the images in John not in Mark?
Mark views Jesus as more human. In John, the word of God made in flesh. In John, jesus is divine. Also in John, jesus proclaims himself as one with the father. Mark is more about the kingdom of God where as John, God within himself.
What happen in the 4th century ?
Christians were persecuted because they didn’t join the military .
What did Jesus say before he ascended ?
This is the time to restore the kingdom in Isarel
What is Good Friday and Easter?
Good Friday: Commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary
Easter: Resurrection
Christmas
birth of jesus and incarnation of god
Epiphany
a day dedicated to the birth of Christ, which includes a nod toward the three Kings who came to visit Him.
an appearance or manifestation, especially of a deity
Radical Reformers
They insisted that only persons making a self-conscious choice for themselves to depart from “the kingdoms of this world” and embrace “the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ” were truly Christians. Christians were called to live a lifestyle distinct from that of the common culture and that a Christian should have nothing to do with the coercive power of the state.
justification by works
the belief that a person becomes just before God by the performance of good works: the doctrine against which Luther protested in inaugurating the Protestant Reformation
priest
One authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion.
Anglican, Eastern Orthodox
priest
one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God; specifically :an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyman ranking below a bishop and above a deacon.
pastor,
The parish priest is the proper clergyman in charge of the congregation of the parish entrusted to him.
lay person or laity
If you are a member of a religious group, but you are not an ordained minister or priest, then you are a member of the laity.
The Second coming
the promised return of jesus Christ to bring completion the intended redemption of God for his fallen creation. Not sure when it will happen or how it will happen
What do mystics seek
Union with God
ascension
Christ’s going up to heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead.
Zealots,
a member of a fanatical sect arising in Judea during the first century a.d. and militantly opposing the Roman domination of Palestine
Pharisees,
believed that if they could keep the law perfectly that YHWH would return to His people and get rid of the hated Romans for them.
Sadducees
had most of the real political and economic power. This party was formed from members of rich families. They were not terribly interested in the kingdom of God or in the coming of the Messiah. They were pragmatists. Their main concern was keeping their social status and the respect of the Romans.
purgatory
is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who denied yet were not free from “venial” sins (a lesser sin that does not result in a complete separation from God and eternal damnation in hell).
Gnosticism
The theory of salvation by knowledge. Already in the first century of the Christian era there were Gnostics who claimed to know the mysteries of the universe
John Calvin
developed own ideas about Christianity, got a following, kicked out by the government, gets so popular that his followers overrun the government and Calvin becomes the holy mayor; enforces puritanism (no bright colors, no dancing, no dice throwing, nothing that cause lusting); Calvin and Luther’s ideas of the Eucharist differed; 5 points of Calvinism are TULIP; believed you can pray to saints; plain/poor church
Martin Luther
monk/professor; didn’t like parts of the church, had 95 theses including indulgences (paying off purgatory or sins), simony (story in Acts, paying money to get to heal people, buying your way into power); got excommunicated from the church, was taken into hiding by local princes; many powerful people agreed with Luther; inspired by Paul, believed in salvation through faith alone; 3 solas (sola fides, sola gratia, sola scriptura); translated Bible from Latin into German and used printing press; was tried at the “Diet of Worms”
People of Land
The vast majority of Jews : Poor farmers or landless jews who didn’t belong to any particular party.
Holy Thursday
The last supper of Jesus Christ . Established the sacrament of holy communion prior to his arrest
What happens in confession?
Confess your sins
Priest will bless you and your sins will be forgiven
The priest will assign you to a penance
Lastly , Act of contrition
Double predestination
God has actively chosen some people for hell as well for salvation
What does TUPLIP STAND FOR?
Basic classical Calvinism
Total depravity Unconditional election Limited atonement Irresistible grace Preserve fence of the saints
Evangelicalism vs fundamentalism vs Pentecostalism
E - a moment that encourages an emotional personal relationship with Jesus Christ
F - movement that insists a true Christian must affirm several fundamental beliefs, including Biblical Inerrancy
P - branches off evangelical movement emphasizing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially in tongues