Transcript Chapter Six: Jerusalem and Early Christianity

Chapter Six:
Jerusalem and Early Christianity
Culture and Values, 6th Ed.
Cunningham and Reich
Jerusalem and Early Christianity
 Biblical tradition + Graeco-Roman Culture
 Children of Israel, Israelites, Jews, Hebrews
 Period of the Patriarchs
 Period of the Exodus
 Period of the Conquest
 The United Monarchy
 Divided Kingdom and Exile
 The Return
The Hebrew Bible and Its Message
 “Bible”  Byblos
 The Law, the Prophets, the Writings
 Hebrew canon (C.E. 90)
 Septuagint
 Moral guide, ethical and religious stability
 Not a philosophical treatise
Basic Motifs of the Bible
 Biblical Monotheism
 God exists before the world
 God pronounces creation as “good”
 Humans are the crown of creation
 God deeply involved in the world
 Covenant (testament)
 Renewed covenant = New Testament
Basic Motifs of the Bible
 Ethics
 Moral code for individuals and society
 Ten Commandments
 Prohibitions, positive commands
 Prophetic writings
 Critics of social injustice, defenders of poor
 Reminders of the covenant
Basic Motifs of the Bible
 Models and types
 Events, stories, characters as models
 Contemporary impact of biblical tradition
 Literature
 Art
 Social institutions
The Beginnings of Christianity
 Life of Jesus
 Gospels
 Prophetic tradition of Jesus
 Parables, Beatitudes
 Jesus as Christ, the Messiah
 Significance of resurrection
Christianity Spreads
 Saul of Tarsus (Paul)
 Tireless missionary
 Non-Jewish converts
 Theological letters
 Social, religious factors for growth
 Peace, facility of travel, koine, audience
 Emphasis on salvation, freedom
 No class distinction
Christian Persecution
 Nero’s Circus
 Claudius, Decius, Valerian, Diocletian
 Christians as traitors to the state
 Refusal to express pietàs
 Apologists
 Justin Martyr (100-165)
 Emperor Constantine
Early Christian Art
 Catacombs, underground cemeteries
 Frescoes
 Salvation; Communion; Virgin and Child
 Glass and Sculpture
 Christ as Good Shepherd, glass disks
 Carved sarcophagi
 Inscriptions
 Name, date of death, decorative symbol
Dura-Europos
 Evidence of religious tolerance and
coexistence
 Religious buildings on “Wall Street”
 Complex religious existence
 Artistic mingling of Eastern and Roman
styles
 Precursor of Byzantine art
Constantine and
Early Christian Architecture
 Emperor Constantine (C.E. 306-337)
 Edict of Toleration
 Basilica-Style Churches
 Current site of St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican)
 Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem)
 Jesus’ burial site
Early Christian Music
 From Jewish traditions
 Chanting sacred texts
 Professional Chorus vs. Single Cantor
 Greek doctrine of ethos
 Instrumental music = unsuitable
 Standardization of vocal music
 Responsorial, antiphonal
Chapter Six: Discussion Questions
 Discuss contemporary examples that illustrate the
permeation of the biblical tradition in our culture.
 Explain why Nero and other Roman emperors were
unwilling to tolerate Christianity. From a political
standpoint, was the severity of punishment inflicted
on Christians warranted? Why or why not?
 Consider the archeological findings of Dura-Europos.
In what ways does history over-simplify past events?
In two thousand years, what will future generations
assume about our culture, religions, and religious
tolerance? Explain.