Evaluating Jesus' conflict with the authorities Flashcards

1
Q

What makes conflict in John distinct from the Synoptics?

A

It is particularly intense

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What have been the tragic consequences of the idea that Jesus had to die because he offended the Jews?

A

It has led to anitsemitism, the persecution of the Jews and the Holocaust. The Jews were collectively blamed for deicide and their religion was viewed as legalistic, soulless and depraved

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is deicide?

A

The crime of murdering God

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Which gospel involves the blood curse?

A

In Matthew 27: 24-25, the Jewish people are represented as taking the blame for Jesus’ death

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the 4 different ways you could interpret the religious conflict with John?

A
  • The conflict is historically accurate
  • The conflict is historically exaggerated
  • The conflict is historically distorted
  • The conflict is symbolic
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Explain the idea that the religious conflict is historically accurate

A

The Jews were offended by Jesus’ claims to be God and executed him for blasphemy. This is a traditional view of why Jesus had to die

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Explain the idea that the religious conflict is historically exaggerated

A

While Jesus may have been in conflict with the authorities, the really hostile conflict was between the Christians and pharisees in the synagogues of the 1st century due to the disagreements over christology after Jesus’ death and resurrection. This reflects Brown’s view that the conflict in the gospel reflects the experiences of the Johannine Community

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Explain the idea that the religious conflict is historically distorted

A

The Pharisees disagreed with Jesus but didn’t want to execute him. Instead, in line with Rivkin’s view, Jesus was executed because it was politically expedient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Explain the idea that the religious conflict is symbolic

A

The Jewish authorities symbolise the world’s disbelief (Culpepper’s view)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the problem with viewing the conflict as historically?

A

Jesus presents Eucharistic themes and a high christology and most scholars think these ideas developed later amongst 1st century churches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why were the arguements with religious authorities likely embellished?

A

They were probably more like friendly debates, as the religious authorities would have had no desire to execute Jesus for making outrageous political claims

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

The idea that these passages are exaggerated is based on form criticism. What does this mean?

A

These conflicts are textual units created by by 1st century Christians after their own bitter confrontations with Jewish leadership. They are putting words into Jesus’ mouth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does redaction criticism say about these passages?

A

These passages have been reinterpreted in light of later beliefs. Jesus did not really claim to be God - but later Christians offended the Pharisees by making these claims about Jesus. The gospels represent Jesus as having the same arguements with the Pharisees that later Christians would eventually experience

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the counter to the redaction criticism?

A

Jewish Law does say that those who blaspheme must be put to death

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

State Leviticus 24:16

A

‘One who blasphemes the name of the lord shall be put to death’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What happened to the first Christian martyr, Steven?

A

He was stoned to death by the Jewish authorities

17
Q

Where does Paul write about being persecuted for his Christian beliefs?

A

2 Corinthians 11:25 - ‘Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones’

18
Q

What is the problem with Rivkin’s idea that the Pharisees only ever dealt peacefully with their opponents?

A

It is contradicted by passages from writers who lived alongside their 1st century Jewish opponents. If religious conflict was a problem for Paul, then why not for Jesus

19
Q

What does Culpepper say about the symbolic role the Jews play in John?

A

‘Through the Jews, John explores the heart and soul of unbelief. As representatives of unbelief, their misunderstandings touch on all of the vital issues

20
Q

What does John’s gospel act as instead of being a historical account of what Jesus’ enemies did to him?

A

It is an allegory for how humans respond to Jesus’ claims

21
Q

What parable does John’s idea of realised eschatology link to?

A

Luke’s parable of the sower

22
Q

Make the case that Jesus had to die because he offended the Jewish authorities

A
  • He was accused of blasphemy in all 4 gospels
  • The first Christians were martyred and Paul describes being beaten and stoned
  • Jesus claims to be God and this would have been extremely offensive to first century Jews
  • Other Christians experienced violence at the hands of Jewish leaders so it seems reasonable that this happened to Jesus too
  • Leviticus 24:16
23
Q

Argue against the idea that Jesus died because he offended the Jewish authorities

A
  • The conflicts reflect what happened to 1st century Christians rather than what actually happened to Jesus
  • Rivkin argues that first century Jewish sects subscribed to a philosophy of live and let live and so would not have wanted to persecute those who disagreed with them
  • The Pharisees would have debated and insulted Jesus but would not have wanted to kill him