Chapter 1 Condensed

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1 Introduction three primary divisions: Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism thousands of distinct denominations and sects years from 30 to 150 ac, beginning of Christianity through the first half of the second century Jewish Jesus of Nazareth went about Palestine preaching and attracting followers crucifixion by the Roman governor, his Jewish followers continued to preach proclaiming him as Jewish Messiah Christianity a sect of Judaism in Roman Palestine Gentiles (non-Jews) Some of these factions disappeared from history, while others survived and developed into forms of Christianity that still exist today preserved collections: the New Testament, the Apostolic Fathers, the New Testament Apocrypha, and the Nag Hammadi Library THE NEW TESTAMENT writings from the first and second centuries, New Testament . The New Testament as Christian scripture scriptures , sacred writings that members of the religion consider especially authoritative or important Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) , a collection of documents pertaining to the history and religion of ancient Israel and Judaism. New Testament , collection of twenty-seven writings pertaining to Jesus and the early Christian church. Old Testament and the New Testament make up the Christian Bible , a word means “books.”

The New Testament as testament Testament = Covenant = An agreement between two parties God entered into two covenants or agreements. old covenant (Old Testament) = agreement with Israel: “I will be your God and you will be my people” (Leviticus 26:12) new covenant (New Testament) = agreement with all nations Jewish perspective, God made one covenant with Israel Judaism there is neither an “old covenant” or “new covenant,” only the covenant. No “Old” Testament, but simply the Hebrew Scriptures. Contents of the New Testament The New Testament contains the following books in the order given. Frequently the names of these books are abbreviated, as indicated. BOOKS ABBREVIATIONS Gospels Matthew Matt Mark Mark Luke Luke John John Acts Acts of the Apostles Acts Letters ascribed to Paul Romans Rom First Corinthians 1 Cor Second Corinthians 2 Cor Galatians Gal Ephesians Eph Philippians Phil Colossians Col First Thessalonians 1 Thes Second Thessalonians 2 Thes First Timothy 1 Tim Second Timothy 2 Tim Titus Titus

Contents of the New Testament The New Testament contains the following books in the order given. Frequently the names of these books are abbreviated, as indicated. Philemon Philem Non-Pauline letters Hebrews Heb James James First Peter 1 Pet Second Peter 2 Pet First John 1 John Second John 2 John Third John 3 John Jude Jude Apocalypse Revelation Rev Types of literature New Testament, four of literature: gospels (4), a book of Acts (1), letters (21), apocalypse (1). 1. gospel (good news), contains stories about Jesus and/or sayings from him. Only 4 made it to the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 2. Acts , relates the deeds of some person or group. The Acts of the Apostles describes beginning of Christian church/ its spread in the Roman world. 3. letters (epistles), written by Christian leaders to churches/individuals for instruction and exhortation. Thirteen claim to be written by the apostle/missionary Paul. 4. apocalypse (revelation), give secret information from God, often end of history. Many apocalyptic writings survive from before and after Jesus, only Revelation is in New Testament.

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Chapters and verses Matthew 5:3–10 = Book of Matthew, fifth chapter, verses 3 through 10 THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS As churches limited the New Testament to twenty-seven books, other writings declined in importance. Some works have disappeared while others are preserved in only a few copies. 1672, J. B. Cotelier assembled early Christian writings that he called “Works of the holy Fathers who flourished in apostolic times.” 1699, renamed to Apostolic Fathers . Mostly letters from church leaders to churches instructing them in true faith and practice. Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles), give directions for rituals/organization of church. Shepherd of Hermas (apocalypse), visions and revelations a prophet claimed to receive. Contents of the Apostolic Fathers Letters of Ignatius Other letters Ephesians First Clement Magnesians Epistle of Barnabas Trallians Polycarp to the Philippians Romans Philadelphians Manual of church order Smyrnaeans The Didache To Polycarp Apocalypse The Shepherd of Hermas Three other writings in this collection are later than the period we are studying and will not be considered here: Second Clement, Martyrdom of Polycarp, and Epistle to Diognetus.

OTHER RELEVANT LITERATURE Old quotations, fragments, more complete works published as New Testament Apocrypha (The Apocryphal New Testament) Apocrypha (hidden writings), don’t belong to New Testament, Apostolic Fathers, or “Church Fathers.” Infancy Gospel of James and Thomas, provide stories about Jesus’ birth and childhood. The Gospel of Peter, Jesus’ trial, death, and resurrection that differs from New Testament. Acts of John, Paul, and Thomas, tell various stories about these apostles Apocalypse of Peter, Jesus tells the apostles the rewards/ punishments of final judgment. The Nag Hammadi Library 1945, In Nag Hammadi discovered a jar of 45 writings in Coptic (ancient Egyptian) language, the contents of a Gnostic Christian library Texts date from the 4th century and translations of Greek texts from the 2nd or at least reflect ideas that were current at that time. Now been translated to English as The Nag Hammadi Library (The Nag Hammadi Scriptures) Gospel of Thomas, collection of sayings attributed to Jesus. Apocryphon (secret book) of John, revelation given by Jesus to John the origin of the world from Gnostic perspective THE HISTORICAL-CRITICAL METHOD New Testament can be studied confessionally (religiously, theologically) or academically. Confessional, reader seeks guidance for life, edification, instruction in Christian faith. Academic, understand without ascribing normative status to it. Treat all religions the same Historical-critical method/historical criticism, used to understand this same as other history. First, scholar is concerned with history. Second, scholar exercises his faculties of reason and judgment.

Differences from the confessional approach Historical-critical method differs from confessional approach in several ways. 1. Confessional, text from past to present, guidance/encouragement it gives in present. -Historical method, from present to past, what it meant to person who wrote, and people whom it was written. Understand/explain past, Find out what happened/why. Locating events in time/space and understanding them in the context of the culture/beliefs. -Scholar of historical method seeks to understand the political/cultural/religious climate of Palestine and the Greco-Roman world. -Uses background knowledge to interpret texts, help understand the events/ideas/customs expressed in texts. -Understand how New Testament came about/who wrote/why written/when written/historical circumstances led to it/ original writers intended say/what literary used express themselves. 2. Confessional = theological. Speaks about what God thinks/says/does/intends. -Historical = non-theological. History, God out of history, cannot speak about his activities. -History, events could be observed by anyone religious or not, stood right place/right time. -Historians able to observe history, not divine but human activity. 3. Non-theological character of historical method affects the way historian deals with New Testament. -Confessional point of view, Christians regard New Testament as inspired word of God. -Historian focuses on human character of New Testament, who wrote/when/where/why. 4. Christian regards New Testament as word of God, privileged status over other literature. -Historian, no theory of inspiration, focus on human character, not use theological principles. -Historian not take from past at face value, questions/evaluates to determine it authentic, whether it accurate/reliable, whether been altered from originally wrote. -Historian no special status to New Testament, treat like other document from past. Does not come with assumption they authentic/reliable/free of error. Make judgment only after investigation. Nor assume all New Testament agree with another. Open to possibility different authors of New Testament present different perspectives. 5. Confessional benefit religious life, see New Testament as primary source of benefit, make New Testament primary attention. Other literature disregard because not scripture. -Historian purpose to study history, not focus on New Testament, examine all literature that shed light on Christianity. Writings not become scripture as valuable as writings that did.

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One value of a historical perspective New Testament play in promoting anti-Jewish sentiment. Produced during strife between followers of Jesus and Jewish. Include severe denunciations/criticisms of Jew and religion. When take New Testament as scripture, influenced to adopt negative attitude to Jew. Inquisition of Middle Ages, Christians persecute Jew, convert them or expel them from Christian countries. Christian leaders aware of problem, sought ways establish positive Jew-Christian relations. ABBREVIATIONS FOR DATES CE (“common era”) is used instead of AD (“in the year of our Lord”) to refer to dates after the birth of Jesus. The abbreviation BCE (“before the common era”) appears instead of BC (“before Christ”) to refer to dates prior to the birth of Jesus. Most scholarly writing has abandoned the abbreviations AD and BC out of deference for non-Christians, who do not consider Jesus as “Lord” or “Christ.” REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. Define or identify: New Testament, scriptures, Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, Bible, CE , BCE . 2. Describe the four types of literature that the New Testament contains. 3. Distinguish between the New Testament, the Apostolic Fathers, the New Testament Apocrypha, and the Nag Hammadi Library. 4. Explain the two aspects of historical criticism. 5. Explain how the historical-critical method differs from the confessional approach to studying the Bible.

Chapter 1 Condensed

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