jesus' good news freethinkers 02-19-09

What was Jesus' Good News?

Dr. Gary A. Stilwell

The World

Jesus

Rome

x

Christianity

What was the good news of Jesus?

eu'agge/lion

An Easy Question?

Actually, it was not an easy question!

Scholars of all stripes debate what it was.

However, the question allows me to explain the etymology:

Greek = eu'agge/lion which translated into Latin = evangeliumboth of which mean good news or good telling

When the Bible was translated into English, the word was god spell (good story) in Anglo-Saxon, from which we get gospel.

. . . Good News

Outline of What was Jesus' Good News(short version)

We'll start at the end and work our way back:

1 - What is Christianity Today?

Traditional Fundamental Christian Doctrines

2 - Quick Overview of Development of Orthodoxy

Greek Philosophy

Church Fathers

Heresies and Church Councils

Complex Doctrines

3 - Paul vs. Jewish Christians

4 - Making of the New Testament

5 - The Historical Jesus:

John the Baptizer, Start of Christianity, Earliest Documents,

First Followers, Jesus' Message

The Fundamentals (1909 - 1912)

A 12-volume publication

Dedicated to doctrines that were fundamental

to Christianity

Virgin birth

Physical resurrection of Christ

Infallibility of the Scriptures

Substitutional atonement

Physical second coming of Christ

A contemporary conservative view on next slides

Traditional Conservative Christian Doctrines - More Details

Click here to type page title

ZealotsSadduceesPhariseesEssenes Jesus Movement others

Jewish-Christians

PaulineChristians

Gnostics

4 30 33 Birth of John the Crucifixion 50's 100's 200 Jesus Baptist Paul's Gnosis Missions "catholic"

The Development of ChristianityFrom Jesus Thru the 2nd Century

Greek

Ebionites

FathersHeresiesCouncilsDoctrines

Those Greeks Again and Again

A revised form of Platonism was founded by Plotinus (204-270 CE)This philosophy became known as Neo-Platonism.

Plotinus showed how the "one becomes many" by postulating a hierarchy of divinity in three hypostases:

1. The One Ultimate Being emanates a lower being without any loss of it's own essence;2. This divine Being is Nous or Mind, which in turn emanates the third Being in this trinity;3. The lowest divine Being is Psykhe or Soul.

All the many corporeal things are part of Soul and seek to return to the One.

The world in thus an instantiation of God.

All "souls" were once in communion with the One, but estrangement by the fall into materiality has separated them.

This philosophy was used by both the Gnostics and the Christian Fathers in order to put a philosophical basis to the developing complex Christian doctrines.

The most notable Christians were the Cappadocian Fathers, St. Augustine, Boethius, Eriugena and St. Thomas Aquinas

One = Supreme Good; Mind = Logos of the One; Soul = Animating principle

Those Greeks Again - cont.

The Church Fathers

After the Apostolic Age, the proto-orthodox Church was led by

the "Fathers" of the Patristic Age.

The Apostolic Fathers

Clement of Romed. 97(wrote 1 Clement; honor the

elders, no monarchical episcopate; interim existence in heaven for the

godly to await resurrection)

Ignatius of Antioch50 - 107(1st to use terms "Christianity" and

"heretic"; anti-Docetic; unity requires us to obey the bishops)

Polycarp of Smyrna69 - 155 (was a disciple of the Apostle John)

Barnabus of Alexandria1st - 2nd (OT belongs to Christians, Jews lost it)

Hermas2nd(get only ONE repentance after

baptism)

The Apologetic (Defenders) Fathers

Justin Martyr(100-165)150 in Rome

(Christianity is old; Jewish and Greek are true via Divine Reason;

by Satanic conspiricy the Mysteries copied us; introduced term

"second coming"; there is a place to await the general judgment).

Irenaeus of Lyon (150-195)Gaul

(Against the Heretics; follow Apostolic succession; 1st to claim an

intermediate state in Hades to await resurrection, except for

martyrs;

both Irenaeus and Justin were millenarians;

Logos coexisted with Father).

The Church Fathers - cont.

Clement of Alexandria (150-215)

(Uses Greek philosophy extensively, claims sin of Adam was by

example, not generation as Augustine would later claim)

Tertullian (160-225)North Africa

("What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?"; believed in millenium ;

is an immediate judgment at death but all remain in Hades until

resurrection; mentions Trinity, but Son is created)

Origen (185-254)Alexandria

(Merged Greek philosophy with proto-orthodoxy; Bible should be interpreted

allegorically; rejected millenarianism ; rejected eternal punishment and

physical resurrection; Judgment of the soul is at the End, however

the pre-existent soul was kept in an intermediate place of

purging until then; Son is subordinate to the Father)


Eusebius of Caesarea (260-340)

(Church Historian and confidant to Constantine* ;

Praeparatio Evangelica).

Athanasius (296-373)Alexandria

(Fought for Nicean-style orthodoxy against Arius. Most

responsible for the concept that Jesus is equal to the

Father).

* Constantine's conversion:

in this sign - the labarum is from Xristoj

ran 1st Council, was baptized on deathbed


Heresies and Church Councils

Since there was such diversity of doctrine in the early Church,

an attempt was made by the proto-orthodox Fathers to stamp

out what they believed to be false teachings.

The other Christian sects, of course, were doing the same thing.

For some reason one group won out over the others and

became the mainline Christian Church with primary bishoprics in:

AlexandriaCenter of Hellenistic Christianity

AntiochPeter was head of this church after split with Paul

Rome Pius I (142-155) was 1st Bishop of Rome

ConstantinopleLate comer after Constantine ca. 350

JerusalemRe-established late

Heresies arose in the evolving orthodox church through the centuries and each one was eventually declared, by the winning side, to be non-orthodox. Most disappeared completely, but several continued underground or re-emerged later.

The most important ones were:

We will briefly list the major heresies on the next slides, and explain them further in conjunction with Councils.

Christian Heresies

CouncilDateHeresy/SubjectIssue or Resolution

Nicea I325ArianismJesus (homoousios) with Father

Rimini-Seleucia359ArianismAccepted Arianism (homoiousios)

Laodicea364JudaizeSunday vs. Saturday

Constantinople I 381Macedonius /Holy Spirit is Divine/ Christ is

Appollinarius fully Human Carthage394proto-purgatoryPrayers for the dead doctrine

Ephesus432Nestorius/Mary is (Theotokos) God Bearer/

PelagiusAll have original sin

Ephesus449Eutyches"Robber Synod", approved Monophysite

Chalcedon451 Eutyches /Jesus has two natures in one

Monophysite person, Tome of Leo approved

a canon addresses women deacons

1st Seven Ecumenical Church Councils (1 - 4) - Purple ones are not called ecumenical

Arianism:

What is the relationship between Christ and the Father?

Arius (250-336) argued that the Father alone was without beginning. The Son, although preexistent, was created or made. Jesus was a lesser, created being. He was condemned at Nicea (325), but rehabilitated at Nicomedia (327), Tyre (35), Jerusalem (335) and Constantinople (336). Died the evening of his re-communion.

A subordinationist Christology.

Arianism would, for a while, become the main Christianity.It would be rejected by the proto-orthodox in 381, butsurvived for centuries more.

Arianism

Jesus' Relationship to Humanity

Nicea and Constantinople I solved the problem ofhow Jesus relates to God (Father and Holy Ghost).

How does he relate to Man?

Is he two people, God and Man?Is he just a spirit?Is he a man adopted by God?

The solutions came at Ephesus and finally Calcedon. Mary was the mother of one person who contains both a divine and a human nature (the hypostatic union).

The Nicene Creed of 325 CE

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of all things both visible and invisible; and in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Only begotten of the Father, that is to say, of the substance* of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance** with the Father; by whom all things were made, both things in heaven and things on earth;

* Ousia ** Homoousian

who for us men and for our salvation, came down and was made flesh, was made man, suffered, and rose again on the third day, went up into the heavens, and is to come again to judge both the quick and the dead; and in the Holy Ghost.

End of 1st Nicene Creed

Explained how Jesus related to the Father;the difficulty was to avoid both: - denying his humanity (Sabellian, Modalism heresy) - questioning his divinity (Arian heresy)

The Nicene Creed - cont.

This Nicene Creed left a confusion: How could God be One and yet consist of two or three entities?

The Cappadocian Fathers resolved the dilemma by redefining some key words:

The Creed condemned those who denied the Father and Son were one in essence (ousia) and being (hypostasis).

Those words are NOT interchangeable, therefore they claimed: The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three individuals (hypostases) sharing one essence (ousia)! (The Latins preferred: Three Persons sharing one Substance)

Three Persons in One Essence (Substance)

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son*, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

* Filioque - added much later,double procession caused split in west/east church

The Nicene - Constantinopolitan Creed of 381 - Addition (1st part was reworded also)

CouncilDateHeresyIssue or Resolution

Nicea325ArianismJesus equal to Father

Constantinople381MacedoniusHoly Spirit is divine

Ephesus432Nestorius/Mary is God Bearer

Pelagius

Calcedon451 MonophysiteJesus has two natures in one

person, Tome of Leo approved

. . .

2 Constantinople5533 ChaptersOrigen condemned, reaffirmed

Trinity and Jesus divine

3 Constantinople681MonothelitismJesus has two wills, human

and divine

2 Nicea787IconolastVeneration of Icons OK

Church Councils (all 7)

Early Christianity

We've looked at:

The Greeks

The Church Fathers

The Herisies

The Church Councils

Complex Theology

Now:

Paul

Jewish Christians

Making of the New Testament

There are three main branches of early Christianity:

Jewish Christian sect created by Jesus' disciples.

Pauline churches that were to develop into mainline

Christianity by the end of the Third Century.

Gnostic Christian sects who stressed the wisdom

of Jesus as against the redeeming

resurrection of Paul.

First Paul . . .

Three Early Christianities

Paul was born Saul of Tarsus in present day Turkey.

A Jew of the Diaspora, therefore from a Hellenized Culture.

A Pharisee who studied under the famous Gamaliel.

Persecuted Jewish Christians.

Was converted and started teaching his version of Christ to Hellenized Jews and Greeks.

Went about it without consulting Jerusalem (Gal 1:8ff).

Attempted eventually to reconcile with Jerusalem (Gal 1:18-2:10).

Paul in Brief

Incident at Antioch (Gal 1and 2)also see - 2 Cor 10-13, Acts 15 and 21

Some resolution at Jerusalem council (ca. 49)

James is head of the Jewish Christians

Paul is the messenger to the Hellenistic World

- Jews outside Judea and, later, just

- Gentiles

"False Brethren" from Jerusalem interfere at Antioch

Paul condemns Peter and Barnabus

Spilt becomes irreconcilable (as indicated

by the epistle of James, esp. 2:14-26)

Paul's Letters

Galatians:

Opposes Christian missionaries from James who believe that Gentiles need to follow the Law. (Judaizers)

1 Corinthians:

Opposes Christian leaders who taught that they had alreadyexperienced a spiritual resurrection. (proto-Gnostics)Other divisive factions. Spiritual gifts (charismata)

Romans:

Explains his theology: the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

The Making of the New Testament

The Church was expecting the immediate end of the world, so

there was no urgency to document for the future.

Oral traditions kept the stories alive.

Paul wrote letters to his wayward churches - first New Test. books.

The New Testament canon contains writings from 50 to 150 CE.

Irenaeus of Lyon (ca. 180) argued that Matt and John were written

by disciples of Jesus and Mark and Luke by disciples of Apostles.

"There are four winds, pillars, corners; therefore, right for 4 gospels."

Marcion's canon encouraged the development of a standard.

The Muritorian canon (ca. 200)

Has most of our 27 books except:

Omits: Philemon; Hebrews; James; 1,2 Peter; 3 John

But Adds: Wisdom of Solomon; Apocalypse of Peter

Athanatius' Festal letter ( ca. 367) is the first to contain all of

the current 27 books.

Political accomodation- Hebrews contested by west; Revelation by east.

The canon was determined in 382 at Rome under

Pope Damasas and finally ratified at the Council

of Carthage (ca. 419)

The Making of the New Testament - cont.

The Canon of the New Testament - The Gospels and Acts

BookAuthorDate

MatthewAnonymousca.85 CE

Mark "70

Luke "85

John* "95

Actssame as Luke85

* Some in Rome said 'we ought not have it',

because it compromised Jesus'

humanity and was a main gospel of the Gnostics.

Bible Inerrancy

----------The Synoptic Gospels-------------

ca. 50 CE

ca. 70

ca. 85

Luke and Matthew contain common verses from Mark and an 'unknown' source

Bible - Two Source Theory

The Four Source Theory of Gospel Origns

L

M

But they also have verses unique to each, from separate sources

Bible - 4 Source Theoryry

The Q Source

Protestant and Catholic scholars have isolated the Qsayings by examining the common verses in Matthew and Luke.

They have further isolated layers of writings that show a theological development over a short period of time.

These layers are called:

Q1Q2Q3

"Q1" - Describing Jesus as a Philosopher - Teacher

Prior to the writing of Q1, the Gospel message was passed verbally among

individuals and groups. About 50 CE, this oral tradition was written down

as Q1. Q1 covers the following topics:

who will belong to the "Kingdom of God"

treating others (the Golden Rule)

do not judge others

working for the Kingdom

asking for God's help

do not fear speaking out

don't worry about food, clothing, possessions

the Kingdom will soon arrive

the cost of being a follower

the cost of rejecting the message

Jesus is described as a believer in God, but there are no indications that he

was considered more than a gifted human being. His role was not as a Messiah

or Lord but philosopher-teacher.

Q1 (ca. 50 CE)

What is remarkable about Q1 is that the original Christians appeared to be centered totally on concerns about their relationships with God and with other people, and their preparation for the Kingdom of God on earth.

Totally absent from their spiritual life are almost all of the factors that we associate with Christianity today.

Q1 - notes

"Q2" - Describes Jesus as an Apocalyptic ProphetMany prophetic and apocalyptic pronouncements were added a couple of decades later, after Q1 had been firmly entrenched as the standard teaching text of the community. The new sayings were written in response to the serious civil unrest and upheavals in Palestine associated with theRoman-Jewish war. Another motivation was the rejection that they had experienced by their families and by the Jewish people generally.

Q2 includes statements of judgment and doom which were directed against those who refused to listen to Jesus' message.

Q2 (ca. 60's CE)

The new sayings were written circa 60 to 70 CE, and introduced John the Baptist and his disciples into the Q material. Jesus tells of his miracles (the quote we've seen in Essenes Scroll 4Q521 and Isaiah 61:1, in Luke 7:22 & Matt 11:4)

The sayings were inter-woven within the Q1 material in order to generate the impression that the judgmental texts were part of his original message.

Q2 - notes

"Q3" - Retreat from the WorldAdditional sayings appear to have been added during the mid 70's CE. This was at a time that the Roman-Jewish war had concluded, after the Jews had been driven from Palestine, and around the time the book of Mark was written. They describe the followers of Jesus as retreating from the violence and civic unrest of society and patiently waiting for "their moment of glory in some future time at the end of human history". Jesus was upgraded beyond his original Q1 status as teacher and his later Q2 status as prophet-teacher. Q3 describes him as a deity, who converses directly with God and Satan. It was at this time that the Gospel of Q started to be noticed by other Christian writers. Matthew and Luke built their Gospels in part around Q and Mark.

Q3 (ca. 75)

The Quest for the Historical Jesus and His Good News

Sources

Compare Paul and Jesus Movement

Q and Matthew

Historical Jesus

This developing theology in Q was all integrated into the

later Gospels making them very ambiguous.

One can read almost anything into the Gospels

because of this.

Then we also have the further development of:

Pauline theology

Petrine theology

1st Century and later additions

The Quest for the Historical Jesus

Non- Christian Sources:

Pliny the Younger (governor of Bythinia 111-131) writing to Trajan (112 CE), "Christians were singing hymns to Christ as God."

Tacitus (in 115 CE), Annuals of Rome. Mentions Christians as the hatred of the human race, followers of Christ who was crucifiedwhen Tiberius was emperor.

Josephus (ca. 95 CE), Antiquities. Says Jesus was called a messiah, had a brother James, was a wise man who did spectacular deeds.

That's it outside of the New Testament.How about inside?

Suetonius, Life of Claudius. "Jews were driven out of Rome for rioting at the instigation of one, Crestus"

Paul was concerned with the death and resurrection of

the Christ, not with the person of Jesus. That leaves the Gospels.

But they were written very late, contain layers of later

theology and were not designed to be historical, so how do we get at the historical person of Jesus by using them?

By 150 years of scholarship using criteria:

- independent attestation (multiple witnesses)

- dissimilarity (against witnesses' vested interest)

- contextual credibility (coincides with other known facts)

The Quest for the Historical Jesus - cont. Christian Sources

Paul and the Jewish Christians - a Comparison

We've looked at early Church conflict. What were the

problems? Opinions had hardened into factions.

Conflicts are still apparent in the canonical books of Acts

and the Pauline epistles:

Who was Jesus?

Who were his spokesmen (apostles)?

What was his message?

How could one become a member of

the Movement?

Who was Jesus?

The monotheistic Jewish-Christians would not

have more than one God. He was a son of man.

-vs-

Paul claimed that Jesus was also somehow divine.

He was the Son of God.

He was sent here to suffer and die for us.

This would lead to the great Christological Debates of the

4th century.

-----

Probably not a Pharisee nor Qumran Essene but did agreed on some issues.

Who Were Jesus' Spokesmen?

At first Peter then James, the brother of Jesus, led the Jerusalem church.

We don't hear of most of the Twelve in Paul's letters or Acts.

Paul laid claim to Apostleship, but the Jerusalem church never recognized him as such.

The 7 of Acts 6 started Hellenist churches throughout the Diaspora.

By the time of the Apostolic Council (ca. 49), there were other "pillars" speaking for the church.

After the Antioch incident, the church split.

What was the Message?

The Jerusalem church continued to be a sect of Judaism and had only the intention to reform. The Kingdom had arrived (Matt and Luke).

-vs-

Paul made the good news that of Jesus' death and resurrection and claimed that works (law) were of no value and that we are saved by grace and faith alone.The Kingdom was still to come (John, Mark and epistles).

How Could One Join?

The Jewish Christians insisted that one follow the Law before being accepted.

-vs-

Paul insisted that the Law was of no need for Gentiles to join.

The Council, in the interest of unity, compromised. They allowed that Gentiles follow only the Noachide minimal law (no: meat sacrificed to idols; fornication; meat of strangled animals; blood).

This compromise did not last long.

Splinter Jewish-Christian sects would evolve and eventually be declared heretical. A main one is the Ebionites.

The Ebionites (sect of Jewish Christians)

A generation after the fall of Jerusalem the Ebionites were making these claims about Jesus:

Not divine.

A religious Jew.

Taught within framework of Yahwism.

Had a social agenda.

Was liberal on Torah Laws.

Was a reformer for return to purity of Yahwism.

Called for acceptance of the reign of God and to live as

though it were already here.

Attempted to bring this Kingdom about by

righteousness and loving kindness.

The Ebionites - cont.

The proto-orthodox condemned them as heretics.

They continued as small enclaves in Galilee and the Trans Jordan (Peraea, Decapolis)

They ceased to exist after 450 CE.

Early Christianity - (Jesus Movement)

JesusConsider the lillies, how they they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Luke 12: 27 (Q 39)

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6: 31 (Q 9)

Jesus Movement - rejected the hypocrisy of many of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Preached the immanent Kingdom of God.

Some readings of Jesus' Good News

Lord's Prayer

Sermon on the Mount

As a Jew, Jesus accepted "God's reign" as trust in yourself and others

Live free of care about tommorow

Band together in small of selfless people to support each other

Matthew continued the Q community before integrating into the

wider Gentile community of Mark

Jesus Good News was almost lost to Paul's message

of Christ's atoning death and rsurrection

END

END

Mesopotamian

Persian

Indo-European

Egyptian

to India -- Hinduism

to Iran -- Zoroastrianism andto Greece -- Homeric religion

Greece

ISRAEL

1000 622 586- 170 63 4 49Monarchy Joshia 538 Abomination Birth of Jerusalem Exile of Desolation Jesus Council

The Development of Christianity - John, Jesus and Paul

ZealotsSadducees JohnPharisees Jesus MovementEssenes Paul others

Alexander333

Persianrule

Greekrule

Romanrule

722Assyria

The First Christians

The Movement was not called Christian until the 40s where it got that name at Antioch

Earlier it was called the Way or Nazarenes

The original focus was on the Jewish homeland in Galilee, then in Jerusalem

Peter was the original head of the Jerusalem church later replaced by James, the brother of Jesus

Scholars designate them as Jewish-Christians (later called Ebionites and branded as heretics)

And then came Paul...


Jewish-Christians

PaulineChristians

Gnostics

30 33 John the Crucifixion 50's 100's Baptist Paul's Gnosis Missions Catholic Schism

The Development of ChristianityThru the 2nd Century

Greek

Ebionites


Jewish-Christians

Orthodoxy

PaulineChristians

Gnostics

30 33 John the Crucifixion 50's 100's Baptist Paul's Gnosis Missions 300's 1000's Catholic Schism

Other Ongoing Heresies

The Development of Orthodoxy

Greek

World Religions Today - Graphic

2 Billion

1.3 Billion

900 Million

360 Million

BranchNumber of Adherents

Catholic 1,050,000,000Protestant455,000,000Other Christians*180,000,000Orthodox240,000,000Anglicans 73,000,000

Major Traditional Branches of Christianity - Worldwide Today

Outline Cont.

* Christians outside the mainstream labels (e.g., Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, AICs,New Thought, Friends, etc)

This list of shows major branches between which there are real differences with regard to culture, practice, doctrine, and history. The boundaries between some of these groups are somewhat blurry (such as between some Pentecostal and Conservative Protestant groups).


Catholic 1,050,000,000Orthodox/Eastern Christian240,000,000Conservative Protestant **200,000,000Liberal Protestant 150,000,000African indigenous sects (AICs)110,000,000Pentecostal105,000,000Anglican 73,000,000Jehovah's Witnesses 14,800,000Latter Day Saints 11,200,000New Thought (Unity, Christian Sc., etc.) 1,500,000Friends (Quakers) 300,000

** Born-again, Evangelical, Fundamentalists, Pentecostals, Charismatics

Significant Sociologically Distinct Branches of Christianity - Worldwide

Outline Cont.

Why So Many Variations?

Limited or No Central Control

Moral Isues

Priesthood of All Believers

Ambiguous Interpretations of Scripture (Sola Scriptura)

Let's Look at Doctrines . . . Class Discussion - You Tell Me - what are the key Christian Doctrines?

Outline Cont.


Jewish-Christians

PaulineChristians

30 33 John the Crucifixion 50's Breakup Paul/James Baptist Paul's ca. 60 Missions

The Development of Christianity

Pharisees and Sadducees

Under John Hyrcanus* (ca. 134 - 104 BCE) I these opposing

factions came into being.

Pharisees were more "middle class" rejected Hellenism and

accepted last judgment, resurrection, angels, heaven, hell.

Oral Law - a fence around the Torah.

Sadducees were rich and high born wanted to accept

Hellenism and rejected the above concepts as un-Biblical.

* Descendent of Maccabees (Hasmonean family)

Mesopotamian

Persian

Indo-European

Egyptian



Greece

ISRAEL Judah Jewish Sects

1000 622 587 333 170 4Monarchy Josiah Alexander Abomination Birth of Exile of Desolation Jesus

The History Leading to Christianity - Ancient Israel

ZealotsSadduceesPhariseesEssenes others

Monarchianism: God is one person. Monarchians argued that Jesus was an ordinary human, to whom came the power of God--usually understood at his baptism or at the resurrection. He was not God, but God worked in and through him. Modalism also know as Sabellianism: God is one person in three modes. Godhead is a succession of modes where Father appears as Son and Holy Spirit. Modalism is the argument that God acts in three different modes, but one at a time--hence, for a time God is Father, then Son, then Holy Spirit.

Montanism: Montanus (ca. AD 156) asserted a direct relationship with the Holy Spirit, which came upon him apart from the structure of the Church and brought on speaking in tongues and other charismatic behaviors. With this came a strong emphasis on the immanence of Christ's second coming.

Arianism: Arius argued that the Father alone was without beginning. The Son, therefore, was created or made. Jesus was a lesser, created being.

Christian Heresies

CouncilDateHeresyIssue or Resolution

4 Constantinople869PhotiusCondemned 'Robber Council'

1 Lateran1123Lay InvestitureStopped Lay Investiture

2 Lateran1139Arnold BresciaEnded his errors

3 Lateran1179Albigenses Cond. Alb. and Waldenses

4 Lateran1215Abbot JoachimCond. his Trinitarian errors,

Transubstantiation

1 Lyons1245Emp. Frederick IICrusade of St. Louis

2 Lyons1274SchismTemp. reunion, Papal elections

Vienne1311TemplarsCond. them, new crusade

Constance1418Wyclif/HussEnded schism

Florence1443SchismGreek Orthodox reunion

5 Lateran1517Discipline, new Crusade

Trent1563ReformationCountered Luther, etc.

1 Vatican1870Papal infallibility

2 Vatican1965Modern adaptations

Church Councils - cont.(recognized by Roman Catholic Church Only)

Making of the New Testament

Crterion for inclusion:

Apostolic writerAncient-Contained proper doctrine

Rationale for selected books:

GospelsActsLettersRelevation

The Canon of the New Testament

BookAuthorDate

MatthewAnonymous85 CEMark "65Luke "85John "95

Actssame as Luke85

RomansPaul581 CorinthiansPaul552 CorinthiansPaul56GalatiansPaul54Ephesians??PhilippiansPaul62?ColossiansPaul??62??1 ThessaloniansPaul522 ThessaloniansPseudonymous???1 Timothy "???2 Timothy"???Titus"???PhilemonPaul??HebrewsAnonymousbefore 70JamesPseudonymous???1 Peter"???2 Peter"100?1 JohnAnon140??2 John"90?JudePseudonymous140??RevelationJohn of Patmos?90?

Epistles of Paul

The General/Catholic Epistles

Comparison of Synoptic and John's Gospel

Comparison of Synoptic and John's Gospel

The Athanasian Creed Whoever wills to be in a state of salvation, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith, which except everyone shall have kept whole and undefiled without doubt he will perish eternally. Now the catholic faith is that we worship One God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is One, the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made nor created but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and the Son, not made nor created nor begotten but proceeding. So there is one Father not three Fathers, one Son not three Sons, and Holy Spirit not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less, but the whole three Persons are coeternal together and coequal. But it is necessary to eternal salvation that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The right faith therefore is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man. He is God of the substance of the Father begotten before the worlds, and He is man of the substance of His mother born in the world; perfect God, perfect man subsisting of a reasoning soul and human flesh; equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, inferior to the Father as touching His Manhood. This is the catholic faith, which except a man shall have believed faithfully and firmly he cannot be in a state of salvation.

Complex Doctrine

Paul and the Jewish Christians - a Comparison

We've looked at early Church conflict. What were the

problems? Opinions had hardened into factions.

Conflicts are still apparent in the canonical books of Acts

and the Pauline epistles:

Paul vs. Jewish-Christians

Who was Jesus?

Who were his spokesmen (apostles)?

What was his message?

How could one become a member

of the Movement?

We'll see after New Testament and Historical Jesus slides

Yeshu

Return to the One Single Faith?

"Now I beseech you . . . that ye all speak the same thing,

and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be

perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the

same judgment" St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 1:10.

Can we ever get to a single Christianity?

Now?

In the Past?

In the Beginning?

Outline Cont.

This list of shows major branches between which there are real differences with regard to culture, practice, doctrine, and history. The boundaries between some of these groups are somewhat blurry (such as between some Pentecostal and Conservative Protestant groups).


Catholic 1,050,000,000Orthodox/Eastern Christian240,000,000Conservative Protestant **200,000,000Liberal Protestant 150,000,000African indigenous sects (AICs)110,000,000Pentecostal105,000,000Anglican 73,000,000Jehovah's Witnesses 14,800,000Latter Day Saints 11,200,000New Thought (Unity, Christian Sc., etc.) 1,500,000Friends (Quakers) 300,000

** Born-again, Evangelical, Fundamentalists, Pentecostals, Charismatics

Significant Sociologically Distinct Branches of Christianity - Worldwide

Outline Cont.

Why So Many Variations?

Limited or No Central Control

Moral Isues

Priesthood of All Believers

Ambiguous Interpretations of Scripture (Sola Scriptura)

Let's Look at Doctrines . . . Class Discussion - You Tell Me - what are the key Christian Doctrines?

Outline Cont.

The Essenes (the pious)

One of four sects named by Josephus in Jewish War and

Antiquities of the Jews (written ca. 75 and 94 CE)

Not mentioned in the Bible

Emerged during the 2nd century BCE (ca. before 110 BCE)

Thought to be the sect of the Dead Sea Scrolls of Qumran

Had much in common with early Christianity:

expectation of the Kingdom, baptism, sacred meals, a

Messiah figure, apocalyptic, poverty, denied divorce.

Dualistic, Pessimistic, Day of Reckoning Coming, Judgment Imminent

The Essenes (the pious) - cont.

The Eschatological War:

will be fought between the Sons of Light and the

Sons of Darkness (dualism)

readings: War Scroll 1:5-15

Community Rule 3:15-30 (practically quotes Gathas)


The raising of the dead was a doctrine that was developing

among some Jewish sects in the 2nd century.

A Dead Sea Scroll has an amazing correlation with the

teachings of Jesus:

"And he will glorify the pious on the throne of the eternal Kingdom.

. . .

And the Lord will accomplish glorious things which have never

been as . . .

For he will heal the wounded, and revive the dead and

bring good news to the poor."

Scroll 4Q521 dated to ca. 90 BCE

Compare to Isa 61:1 and Matt 11:4-5 and Luke 7:22-23


There are also major differences:

exclusive and secretive

believed in the Platonic immortal soul and

its preexistence

Mesopotamian

Persian

Indo-European

Egyptian



Greece

ISRAEL Jewish Sects

1000 622 586 170 4 49Monarchy Joshia Abomination Birth of Jerusalem Exile of Desolation Jesus Council

The Development of Christianity - John, Jesus and Paul

ZealotsSadducees JohnPharisees Jesus MovementEssenes Paul others

Alexander333

Early Christianity

JesusThis generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.Matt 24: 34

"The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed . . . for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you." Luke 17:20-21


Jewish-Christians

Orthodoxy

PaulineChristians

Gnostics




Greek

The First Christians

The Movement was not called Christian until the 40s where it got that name at Antioch

Earlier it was called the Way or Nazarenes

The original focus was on the Jewish homeland in Galilee, then Jerusalem

Peter was the original head of the Jerusalem church then replaced by James, the brother of Jesus

Scholars designate them as Jewish-Christians (later called Ebionites and branded as heretics)

And then came Paul...


Jewish-Christians

Orthodoxy

PaulineChristians

Gnostics




Jewish-Christians

50's 100'sPaul's Gnosis Missions "Catholic" Dark Ages Schism End of Middle Ages 300's 476-1000 1054 476-1450

Orthodoxy


GreekPhilosophy

Eastern Orthodox

Roman Catholic

Gnostics

Pauline Christians

Crusades 1095 - 1291

Development of Christianity to theEnd of the Middle Ages

Cathars 1050Waldensians 1173 Wycliffe 1380 Huss 1415

Francis Assisi 1206 Aquinas 1273

TopicBible

TRINITY Matt 3:16-17, 1 Cor 8:4-6God is one Being that exists eternally in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person is eternally distinct, eternally coequal, and eternally one God. The word trinity is not in the bible, but is used to describe a concept that is in the bible. It describes the relationship of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. a. Each being distinct b. Each being God.

HOLY SPIRIT Acts 5:3-4, 13:4, Luk 12:12, 1 Cor 2:13, Heb 2:4Third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit teaches us, comforts us, directs us, and gives us gifts for the witness of God.

JESUS CHRIST John 1:1, Heb 1:8, 1 Tim 3:16, Phil 2:6The Son of God. Second person of the Trinity. Born of the virgin Mary and has two natures: divine and human.

CHRIST'S RESURRECTION John 20:27, Acts 10:40-41Christ was resurrected physically in the same body He died in.three days after he was crucified.

CHRIST'S RETURN 1 Thes 4:15-17Christ will return physically for those who believe in Him.

HEAVEN and HELL 1 Pet 1:3-4, John 17:20,24, Luke 12:4-5, John 14:6, Heb 10:28-31When all are judged they will either spend eternity in heaven with God or they will spend eternity in hell separated from God. Where you go is determined by your faith in Christ or lack of faith. For all those that accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Hell is a literal place of torment for those that don't accept Christ.

GOD: Attributes & Existence God is all knowing (omniscient), all-powerful (omnipotent), everywhere (omnipresent), and exists eternally unchanging. First person of the Trinity.

SALVATION John 3:16, Eph 2:8-9Salvation is by faith alone. Out of salvation flows justification and good works, however good works can do nothing to save you. All those that accept Christ as Lord and Savior will spend eternity in the presence of the Lord.

WORD OF GOD The Old and New Testaments are the inspired, inerrant Word of God. Nothing shall be added or taken from them.

TopicBible

TRINITY Matt 3:16-17, 1 Cor 8:4-6God is one Being that exists eternally in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person is eternally distinct, eternally coequal, and eternally one God. The word trinity is not in the bible, but is used to describe a concept that is in the bible. It describes the relationship of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. a. Each being distinct b. Each being God.

HOLY SPIRIT Acts 5:3-4, 13:4, Luk 12:12, 1 Cor 2:13, Heb 2:4Third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit teaches us, comforts us, directs us, and gives us gifts for the witness of God.

JESUS CHRIST John 1:1, Heb 1:8, 1 Tim 3:16, Phil 2:6The Son of God. Second person of the Trinity. Born of the virgin Mary and has two natures: divine and human.

CHRIST'S RESURRECTION John 20:27, Acts 10:40-41Christ was resurrected physically in the same body He died in.three days after he was crucified.

CHRIST'S RETURN 1 Thes 4:15-17Christ will return physically for those who believe in Him.

HEAVEN and HELL 1 Pet 1:3-4, John 17:20,24, Luke 12:4-5, John 14:6, Heb 10:28-31When all are judged they will either spend eternity in heaven with God or they will spend eternity in hell separated from God. Where you go is determined by your faith in Christ or lack of faith. For all those that accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Hell is a literal place of torment for those that don't accept Christ.

GOD: Attributes & Existence God is all knowing (omniscient), all-powerful (omnipotent), everywhere (omnipresent), and exists eternally unchanging. First person of the Trinity.

SALVATION John 3:16, Eph 2:8-9Salvation is by faith alone. Out of salvation flows justification and good works, however good works can do nothing to save you. All those that accept Christ as Lord and Savior will spend eternity in the presence of the Lord.

WORD OF GODThe Old and New Testaments are the inspired, inerrant Word of God. Nothing shall be added or taken from them.

Conservative /Traditional Scholars

EpistleGroup of EpistlesDate Written Author Date Written Author

RomansMajor55-56 CEPaul55-59 CE (Ch.1-15)Paul

1 CorinthiansMajor54-55Paul55+Paul

2 CorinthiansMajor55-56Paul55+Paul

GalatiansEarly48Paul48-62Paul

EphesiansPrison61PaulBefore 95 CEUnknown

PhilippiansPrison62Paul54-62Paul

ColossiansPrison61Paul54-90Probably Paul

1 ThessaloniansEarly51Paul50-51Paul

2 ThessaloniansEarly51Paul75-90 probablyUnknown

1 TimothyPastoral62Paul100-150 CEUnknown

2 TimothyPastoral64Paul100-150 CEUnknown

TitusPastoral63Paul100-150 CEUnknown

PhilemonPrison61Paul59-62Paul

ConservativeTraditional Scholars

EpistleLikely Target AudienceDate WrittenAuthor Date Written Author

HebrewsA Jewish Christian Group65 CEUnknown60 - 93 CEPerhaps Priscilla

JamesJewish Christians outside of Judea45James, brother of Jesus100 -125 CEUnknown

1 PeterJewish Christians being persecuted65Apostle PeterBefore 64 to after 112 CEPerhaps Peter

2 PeterChristians everywhere67Apostle Peter125 - 150 CEUnknown

1 JohnEphesus Church85Apostle Johnbefore 117 CEUnknown

2 JohnChristian woman85 - 90Apostle JohnUnknownSame as 1 John

3 JohnPersonal friend90Apostle JohnUnknownUnknown

JudeA specific but unknown group67-73 CEJude, brother of Jesusafter 100 CEUnknown

ItemMatthew, Mark, LukeJohn

First event mentionedJesus' birth (baptism in Mark)Creation of the world

Authors: according to conservative ChristiansApostle Matthew; Mark and Luke, co-workers of PaulApostle John

Authors: according to liberal ChristiansUnknown authors2 or more unknown authors

Virgin birthMentioned in Matt, LukeSome interpret John 1:45 as denying the virgin birth

Jesus as Son of God...From the time of birth or baptismFrom the time that the universe was created

Description of JesusJesus' humanity emphasizedJesus' deity emphasized

Preaching styleBrief one-liners; parablesEssay format

True parablesManyNone

Jesus' theologyDeviated little from 1st century CE liberal JudaismLargely separate from Judaism

Response expected from the reader Respond to God's will as expressed in the Mosaic lawRespond to Jesus as the definitive expression of God's will or revelation

Kingdom of GodMain themeBackground theme

Exorcism of demonsManyNone

Poor and suffering peopleFocus of his ministryRarely mentioned

Scribes (teachers)26 references to scribes, who are puzzled and angered by Jesus' teachingsNo references at all.

Miracles performed by JesusMany; "nature miracles," healings, and exorcismsFew; "nature miracles"

Jesus references to himselfRareFocus of the gospel, including the many "I am" sayings

Basis of personal salvationGood works, helping the poor and needyBelief in Jesus as the Son of God

Duration of ministry1 year3 years

Location of ministryMainly GalileeMainly Judea, near Jerusalem

Aggravated assault event in the Temple courtyard:Near the end of his ministryNear the start of his ministry

Ceremonial event at the Last Supper:Communal meal Foot washing

Who carried the cross?SimonJesus

Visitors to the tomb on Sunday with Mary Magdalene?One or more additional womenNone; Mary Magdalene went alone

ItemMatthew, Mark, LukeJohn

Miracles performed by JesusMany; "nature miracles," healings, and exorcismsFew; "nature miracles"

Jesus references to himselfRareFocus of the gospel, including the many "I am" sayings

Basis of personal salvationGood works, helping the poor and needyBelief in Jesus as the Son of God

Duration of ministry1 year3 years

Location of ministryMainly GalileeMainly Judea, near Jerusalem

Aggravated assault event in the Temple courtyard:Near the end of his ministryNear the start of his ministry

Ceremonial event at the Last Supper:Communal meal Foot washing

Who carried the cross?SimonJesus

Visitors to the tomb on Sunday with Mary Magdalene?One or more additional womenNone; Mary Magdalene went alone

jesus' good news freethinkers 02-19-09

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