Christianity Historical Background Quest for the Historical Jesus
Christianity: Historical Background Quest for the Historical Jesus Josephus, Pliny Jesus of Nazareth (5 BC? -27 AD? ) • Jewish Rabbi • Faith Healer • Exorcist
Christianity • • • Began as a Jewish Sect in 1 st Century Christ = Greek Christos = Hebrew Meshiah Jesus Christ = Jesus the Messiah Jewish Sect Stand-alone Gentile Religion Also claimed to be the Son of God Virgin Birth stories in Matt. & Luke (not in Mark, implied in John) • Crucified and followers claimed resurrection
Christianity: Historical Background • Main sects of Jews at the time of Jesus: • Zealots: – advocated a violent revolution against Rome • Sadducees – Advocated cooperation with Romans. Controlled the temple destroyed in 70 A. D – Made $$ selling sacrifices in “flea market” in temple court
Christianity: Historical Background • Pharisees – Controlled synagogues, grudging cooperation with Romans – focused on the teaching the Torah and strict obedience to it
The Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin
The New Testament • 4 Gospels (religious biographies) = “good news” about Jesus the Messiah, Son of God • The Acts of the Apostles (early Church history - Peter and Paul) • Letters of Paul • Other Letters • The Revelation of John or Revelation (no “s”!) a. k. a. the Apocalypse of John
Mark • Earliest, shortest gospel, 60 -65 A. D. • No birth narratives • Empty tomb, but no resurrection appearances (2 endings tacked on later) • Petrine tradition from John Mark • Roman Audience
Matthew • • 2 nd Gospel - 65 -70 A. D. Based on Mark Jewish audience Focuses on Jesus as Messiah, teachings on the Law
Luke • • • 3 rd Gospel 70 - 85 A. D. Gentile physician Pauline tradition Gentile Audience Historical method, chronicler Also wrote Acts
John • Last Gospel - 90 -100 A. D. • Based on account from John, the “beloved disciple” • Genile audience, Jesus’ enemies = “The Jews” • Non-synoptic gospel • No parables • No focus on immanent apocalypse • Focus on eternal life now through Jesus
Gospel of Mark Parables: Cryptic sayings or stories • Publicly given • Privately explained • Kept outsiders in the dark • Taught the faithful
Gospel of Mark Cont. The Parable of the Sower (Ch. 4) • A parable about parables • Four types of soil = four types of people – Road (hard-hearted? Satanic victims) – Rocky (shallow, fearful of persecution) – Thistley (focused on everyday life, money) – Fertile (receptive, have “ears to hear”)
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