Early Church Flashcards
(21 cards)
Who was the first person to criticise the church for changing the views of Jesus, and on what grounds
Hermann Reimaruss-!8th cent. enlightenment philospher
He claims that Jesus accepted Jewish Apocalypticism, but the disciples changed his message to be one of timeless and spiritual truths, as the world did not end
They did this because they enjoyed being a part of the priest caste and didnt want to return to being fishermen
What does Kergyma mean in english
Preaching or Proclamation
What is the term kerygma used to refer to by the specification
The proclamation of the apostles in the new testament
What does C.H. Dodd say on the kerygma
We need to be careful not to confuse it with just fact or teachings
Its not a memoir or a call for moral improvement but a bold set of claims that confront the reader with a decision
Creates the possibility to accept a joyful transformation of our lives
What is important about acts 2 and 3
First of many speeches by the apostles to a small crowd in jerusalem
Important as to why this religion succeeded where so many others failed at this step
What does CH Dodd Say are the 6 main elements of the kerygma in acts
Age of fulfillment has dawned
This is because of Jesus’ death and resurrection-confirmed byt his davidic descent, his miracles, his unfair death and subsequent resurrection
Jesus has ascended to the right hand of god-Confirms hes the messiah
The holy spirit has been poured out on the church
Christ will return
Everyone should repent
What are the reasons the book of acts may be a work of fiction, or at least untrustworthy
Luke(If he did write acts) is a gentile, so was not present for the events he is describing
It was written 50 years after the events it describes
Language used is more in line with Luke than Paul’s own theology
Many of Paul’s most important points e.g faith vs works, spiritual gifts are absent
The events described contain incredibly dramatic events and sudden reversals of POVs-more in line with myths than real people
What are the counterarguements to Acts being untrustworthy
It was never questioned by the early church-included in nearly every canon e.g. muratorion, origen etc
Luke accompanied Paul on missionary journeys-key link
Lukes writing style comes through-doesnt make it complete ficition
What was C.H. Dodds conclusion after analysing Paul’s letter for the message of the kerygmata
The kerygma were included
Why might some claim the kerygma are irrelevant
Jesus believed that the world would end within his lifetime, and there is evidence the early church also believed this- in James
This suggests that Jesus never intended to create an actual church, so his words can be discounted
Why does C.H. Dodd say that the Kerygma are still relevant
Jesus had much more going on than his belief in Jewish Apocalyticism-There is very little in the kerygma to do with it
Christians valued other things like their experience of jesus and joy in community, rather than belief the world will end
Realised Eschatology-kingdom of God experienced now-Jesus not returning was neglible
How does Dodd reconcile Apocalyptic passages in the bible with the fact that the apocalypse has not happened
Dodd says some are metaphorical-An interpretation of the challenges people face when confronted with the christian message/kerygma
Some passages are eschatological fanaticism and should be discounted
The saving power of jesus is central, irregardless of belief in the end of the world
What is Dodd’s key point about the Kerygma
It is unified across the new testament
Does Bultmann care about proving the unity and value of the kerygma across the NT
No-Unlike Dodd, he wants to strip the core christian message from the myth surrounding it
What does Bultmann say will happen once we strip the myth from the core christian message
We will be individually confronted with an existential decision about faith
What does Bultmann say are the three options for modern interpretation of the NT
Believe it literally-retreat from the modern world
Cut out the mythological sections and build a religion on what remains-common in the 19th century-He says this reduces Christianity to a set of moral admonitions
Try to find the underlying truth-Dont cut out, but cut through the myth to discover the truth
What two main mythologies does Bultmann say are in the New Testament
Gnosticism-Bultmann says this was adapted to fit Jesus’ story and manifests itself in ways such as believing he is eternal and homoousia
Jewish Apocalyticism-The world is about to end
What basic truths does the kerygma express, according to Bultmann
We are not the masters of the world
Our plans and powers are finite
There is a transcendant power
The is forgivenes
There are things we cant control
Why does Bultmann say a pure kerygma cannot be expressed
Ideas can never be perfectly communicated with words-Wittgenstein
What does Bultmann say are the characteristics of the kerygma
Its beyond science, non-doctrinal, cannot be proven and is not a myth but can be heard from them
What are the criticisms of Bultmann
He too easily wrote off christian doctrine as mythological
He neglects the historical events
He created a ‘modern’ myth, to replace that of the 1st century one, with little relation to christianity
Acts is about a public and communal experience, that Bultmann turns into a personal and private affair.
