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WELCOME to CBISA March 16, 2019 Catholic Epistles. Catholic Bible Institute of Southern Arizona in the Diocese of Tucson. Intro Psalm 119:33-40 Reading: Revelation 3:19-20 Intercessions Canticle of Zechariah. Opening Prayer:. 8:30 Daily Mass in OMOS Church ( optional )
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March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles WELCOMEto CBISAMarch 16, 2019Catholic Epistles Catholic Bible Institute of Southern Arizona in the Diocese of Tucson
Intro • Psalm 119:33-40 • Reading: Revelation 3:19-20 • Intercessions • Canticle of Zechariah March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Opening Prayer:
8:30 Daily Mass in OMOS Church (optional) 9:15 Welcome & Opening Prayer 9:30 Session 1 (incl. Q&A and/or Table-Group Discussions) 10:45 Break 11:00 Session 2 (incl. Q&A and/or Table-Group Discussions) 12:30 Lunch 1:30 Session 3 (incl. Q&A and/or Table-Group Discussions) 2:45 Break 3:00 Session 4 (incl. Q&A and/or Table-Group Discussions) 4:20 Final Announcements & Closing Prayer 4:30 Clean-up & Departure March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Daily Schedule
From “Dynamic Catholic” • Donation Requested: $3 each (or 2 for $5) March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Books of the Month:
Reflection Paper, e-mailed to your reader by Feb. 23: • On Col 1, orEph 4, or1 Tim 3–4, or2 Tim 2, or Titus 1–2 • Follow Guidelines from Lilac Handout from August Readings for Today, March 16: Catholic Epistles • BIBLE: Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1 & 2 & 3 John, Jude • BROWN: Chapters 12-14, 32–36 • POWELL: Chapters 23-28 (1st ed.; or 24-29 in 2nd ed.) • RALPH: Chapters 22–27 March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Year 1 Syllabus(Salmon HO from Aug.)
“Hebrews” & “Catholic Epistles” • Use of the Catholic Epistles in the Lectionary for Mass • Overview: Definitions, Literary Genres, Authors, Dates • The so-called “Letter to the Hebrews” • Christ as Victim and High Priest • Definition and Models of Faith March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Session 1:
Hebr: Sundays, Ord.Time, Years B & C James: Ord.Time, Year B, Sun. 22-26 1 Peter: Easter, Yr A 1 John: Easter, Yr B 2 Pet, 2/3 John, Jude:rarely; weekdays See HO, pg. 2 March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Catholic Epistles in Lectionary
Jan. 16, 2016 – Life & Letters of St. Paul NT Letters & Epistles • Definitions: • Letter – personal, actually sent to indiv. or cmty • Epistle – more formal, literary text, like “encyclical” • Distinctions: • Pauline – written by (or attributed to) St. Paul • Undisputed (authentic) vs. Disputed (deutero-Pauline) • Pastoral Letters; Letters from Prison • Catholic – written by other apostles TO broader groups • Hebrews, James, 1/2 Peter, 1/2/3 John, Jude
Catholic Letters in Canonical Order • Hebrews (13 ch. / 303 vv. / 4953 words) • James (5 / 108 / 1742) • 1 Peter (5 / 105 / 1684) • 2 Peter (3 / 61 / 1099) • 1 John (5 / 105 / 2141) • 2 John (1 / 13 / 245) • 3 John (1 / 15 / 219) • Jude (1 / 25 / 461)
Issues of Composition History: • By whom? (attributed author) • To whom? (recipients named?) • When? (date) • Where? (location) • What? (literary genre) • How? (language) • Why? (purpose) • See HO, pg. 3-4 March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Catholic Epistles: Overviews
Turn to ONE neighbor (or at most two), and briefly share: What were your overall impressions as you read the Epistle to the HEBREWS? What stood out for you or surprised you? How did reading this text affect you? March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Initial Sharing in Pairs:
Definitely notby Paul • Not even explicitly attributed to him. • Contrary to all other letters & epistles, the opening of Hebrews doesn’t name its author. • For centuries, it was counted as 14th work in Pauline corpus, mainly because the ending mentions Timothy (see Heb 13:23). • Literary genre: Heb is not really a “letter”; rather, a “homily” (scripture-based sermon). March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles “Epistle” (?) to the “Hebrews”?
Structure of Hebrews(vs. most Ancient Letters; Jan. HO, p. 23)
Introduction (1:1-3) • Superiority of Jesus as God's Son (1:4—4:13) • Superiority of Jesus' priesthood (4:14—7:28) • Superiority of Jesus' sacrifice & ministry (8:1—10:18) • Faith & endurance: availing oneself of Jesus' priestly work (10:19—12:29) • Injunctions about practice (13:1-19) • Conclusion: blessings and greetings (13:20-25) March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Structure of Hebrews? (HO, pg. 5)
Most of Heb is a theological treatise: • many biblical quotations & interpretations • only a few scattered words of exhortation • Heb 12-13 filled with explicit exhortations: • esp. calling for perseverence in running the race, endurance in disciplinary suffering, steadfastness in faith, harmony among believers, mutual love, care for prisoners, hospitality to strangers, morality in sexual relationships, respect and obedience for leaders, sharing of goods, prayer for one another, praise of God, etc. March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Purpose of Hebrews
Names/Titles: • Jesus; Son; Christ • Jesus is superior to all others: • Prophets; Angels; Moses; Joshua; Aaron • Greater than any Jewish High Priest • Psalm 110:4 • “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (NRSV) – Huh? March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Christology of Hebrews (pg. 6)
Priests – Heb. kohen; Gk. hiereus= “cultic officials, who offer sacrifices, serve in temples” • Most religions have “priests”, not just Judaism & Xnty • Presbyters / Elders – Heb. zaqen; Gk. presbyteros= “older men, local community leaders” • Cf. English presider, to preside, president, etc. • Holy / Sacred – Heb. qadosh; Gkhagios = “set apart, dedicated to God” (vs. secular, common) • Sacrifice – Heb. zebach; Gk. thusia = “offerings to God” (animals, grains, fruits; later spiritualized) • Eucharist – Gk. eucharistia = “thanksgiving”(at first a ritual meal, later seen more as a sacrifice) Priesthood – Defs.
“Priests” in the OT • At first, anywhere; later: Jerusalem Temple • “Priests” in the NT • mostly those in Jerusalem/Jewish temple • only Heb. calls Jesus a priest: but is he? how? • “holy/royal priesthood” = whole community(1 Pet) • “Priests” in the Church • Apply the both/and approach March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Priesthood in the Bible (pg. 9)
Can Jesus be considered a “priest”? • Acc. to Hebrew Bible criteria: NO! • All priests are from the Tribe of LEVI • But Jesus is from the Tribe of JUDAH • Only “Hebrews” considers Jesus a priest • But one of a different sort: Melchizedek • From the times of Abraham, not just Levi! March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Jesus, the Great High Priest
March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Gen 14:Abraham & Melchi-zedek
HO, pg. 6: Chart comparing Jewish (High) Priests and Jesus, as Priest and Sacrifice March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Jesus’ Priestly Ministry
“Faith” in Epistle to the Hebrews (HO, pg. 5) • Heb 11:1 – “Now faith is… • the assurance of things hoped for, • and the conviction of things not seen.” • “assurance” • Gk. hypostasis (“substance, nature, essence”) • “conviction” • Gk. elenchos (“verification, evidence”) • References: • “things hoped for” = future realities • “things not seen” = spiritual realities
Models of Faith in Hebrews • Heb 11 – Ancestors in Faith (OT) • Intro, Creation, Abel, Enoch, Comment, Noah • Abraham, Comment, More Abraham • Isaac, Jacob, Joseph • Moses, Israelites crossing Red Sea • Israelites at Jericho; Rahab at Jericho • Many others • Heb 12:1 – “Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith” • Heb 13 – Living Faith in Practice
Dynamics of Faith in Hebrews • Comments by the Author: • “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (11:6) • “All these died without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them...” (11:13-16) • All these OT figures died without having received the fulfillment of God’s promises! (11:39-40) • A “great cloud of witnesses,” examples for us
Dynamics of Faith in Hebrews • “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses… let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.” (12:1-3)
Benedict XVI: Porta Fidei 13. One thing that will be of decisive importance in this Year is retracing the history of our faith, marked as it is by the unfathomable mystery of the interweaving of holiness and sin. While the former highlights the great contribution that men and women have made to the growth and development of the community through the witness of their lives, the latter must provoke in each person a sincere and continuing work of conversion in order to experience the mercy of the Father which is held out to everyone. During this time we will need to keep our gaze fixed upon Jesus Christ, the “pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:2): in him, all the anguish and all the longing of the human heart finds fulfilment. The joy of love, the answer to the drama of suffering and pain, the power of forgiveness in the face of an offence received and the victory of life over the emptiness of death: all this finds fulfilment in the mystery of his Incarnation, in his becoming man, in his sharing our human weakness so as to transform it by the power of his resurrection.In him who died and rose again for our salvation, the examples of faith that have marked these two thousand years of our salvation history are brought into the fullness of light.
Benedict XVI: Porta Fidei • By faith, Mary accepted the Angel’s word and believed the message… • By faith, the Apostles left everything to follow their Master (cf. Mk 10:28). They believed the words with which he proclaimed the Kingdom of God… • By faith, the disciples formed the first community, gathered around the teaching of the Apostles, in prayer, in celebration of the Eucharist, holding their possessions in common… (cf. Acts 2:42-47). • By faith, the martyrs gave their lives, bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel… • By faith, men and women have consecrated their lives to Christ, leaving all things behind so as to live obedience, poverty and chastity… • By faith, across the centuries, men and women of all ages, whose names are written in the Book of Life (cf. Rev 7:9, 13:8), have confessed the beauty of following the Lord Jesus wherever they were called to bear witness to the fact that they were Christian: in the family, in the workplace, in public life, in the exercise of the charisms and ministries to which they were called. • By faith, we too live: by the living recognition of the Lord Jesus, present in our lives and in our history.
“That’s What Faith Must Be” • Song by Michael Card (YouTube 1:12) Refrain:To hear with my heart, to see with my soul,To be guided by a hand I cannot hold,To trust in a way that I cannot see,That’s what faith must be. Verse 3:Now I understand that there is a keyIt's Jesus in me, a realityThat God is in Christ and that Christ's in meThat with faith I see what is unseen.
Summary: Biblical Foundations of Faith • Old Testament – God is faithful, so trust/obey/act • Synoptic Gospels – Trusting in Power of Jesus • Gospel of John – Believing for Eternal Life • Acts of Apostles – Faith in Response to Kerygma • Letters of Paul – Justification by Faith of Jesus • Epistle of James – Faith and Good Works • Epistle to the Hebrews – Definition & Models • [other Catholic Epistles & Book of Revelation]
Questions? Comments? Discussion? • May your own faith continue to deepen! • Audio-CD Program (Now You Know Media): What Is Faith? Gift, Mystery, Life!
Who, for you, are the best biblical examples of faith/believing? Why? March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Table-Group Discussions
Overview of Jude, esp. its use of Scripture Authorship, Authenticity, Dating of James Literary Genre & Contents of James Contrasts between James and Paul on Faith & Works March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Session 2: James & Jude
Structure/Outline • Authorship/Authenticity • Use of Scripture & Non-canonical texts • Rhetorical Techniques March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Epistle OF Jude (pg. 10)
Letter Opening (vv. 1-2): • 1: Sender & Recipient: "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James... to those who are called, beloved in God..."2: Formal Greeting: "may mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance." Letter Body (vv. 3-23): • 3-4: Occasion and Theme: "Contend for the faith" against "ungodly intruders" • 5-7: Three examples of the punishment of unbelief and disobedience: Israelites, rebellious angels, Sodom & Gomorrah • 8-10: Three charges against the "dreamers": they defile flesh, reject authority, slander angels • 11: Three more biblical examples of people who cause sin, error, rebellion: Cain, Balaam, Korah • 12-13: Polemic descriptions of the ungodly: waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wild waves, wandering stars • 14-15: Prophecies of Enoch against those who are ungodly in deed and speech • 16: More accusations against the "malcontents": grumbling, lust, boasting, flattery • 17-18: Predictions of Jesus' Apostles against the ungodly: scoffers who indulge their lusts • 19: These people are worldly, devoid of Spirit, and cause divisions • 20-23: Appeal to "beloved" to build themselves up &help others with faith, prayer, love, mercy, etc. Letter Closing (vv. 24-25) • 24-25: Concluding Doxology March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Epistle of Jude: Outline
Authorship & Authenticity: • Letter attributed to "Jude" (actually, Ioudas or "Judas" in Greek), the "slave/servant" of Jesus and "brother" of James(v. 1). But Who Is This? • Popular name in 1st-century; variation of "Judah," one of 12 sons of Jacob, patriarchs of 12 tribes of Israel. Several people named "Jude/Judas" in NT; which one is meant here? • Certainly not "Judas Iscariot" –already dead (cf. Matt 27:3-10; Acts 1:16-20; to avoid negative associations, many NT translations call the others "Jude," rather than "Judas"). • Probably not the "apostle" Jude/Judas, son of James" (Luke 6:16 only), since Jude 17 refers to "apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ" as a group distinct from himself. • Probably not "prophet" Jude/Judas (a.k.a. Barsabas), sent w/ Silas from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 15:22-33). • Most likely the Jude named in Gospels along with James & others as Jesus’ "brothers" (Mark 6:3; Matt 13:55); their families were prominent leaders of early Christians in Palestine (Eusebius, EH 1.7.14; 3.19-20). • Many scholars have doubted it was really written early and/or by someone so close to Jesus • They propose it was more likely written pseudepigraphically in late first or early second century. • Recent studies suggest the letter might well be authentic & early (from the 50's?) • Family & descendants of Jude were influential early Christian leaders; would have preserved his letter. • Letter seems to rely on Hebrew versions of Jewish scriptures, rather than Greek LXX quoted in rest of NT. • Presupposes strong familiarity with early Jewish apocalyptic traditions & oral teachings of apostles. • Nothing in the letter itself forces us to conclude that it must be late & pseudepigraphic. March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Epistle of Jude: Main Issues
Use of Scripture and Non-Biblical Texts: • Letter never directly quotes from OT, but alludes to several OT characters: • v. 5: Israelites in the desert, who died in wilderness due to faithlessness (Num 14:1-35); • v. 6: angels (or "sons of God"), who mated with mortal women (Gen 6:1-4; as per 1 Enoch 6-19); • v. 7: people of Sodom & Gomorrah, who sought sex with angels visiting Lot (Gen 19:4-11); • v. 11: Cain, who slew brother Abel (Gen 4:1-16) & was first "heretic," acc. to Jewish traditions; • v. 11: Balaam, who led Israel into apostasy (Num 25:1-4; 31:8, 16); • v. 11: Korah, who led rebellion against Moses (Num 16:1-35). • Also quotes from & alludes to some non-biblical ancient Jewish sources: • apocryphal "1 Enoch" – alluded to in v. 6; directly quoted in vv. 14-15; • apocryphal "Assumption of Moses" – quoted in v. 9; may have influenced polemic of v. 16. • Quotes from some "predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ," namely: • "In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts" (vv. 17-18); • But this quotation is not found anywhere in the canonical NT books; • Instead, it must belong to other oral traditions not included in the NT. March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Jude: Main Issues
Ep. Jude not only quotes from & alludes to popular ancient Jewish lit. (canonical & non-canonical), but also uses other interesting rhetorical techniques, including parallelisms and triadic (3-fold) illustrations: • Direct accusations against the "ungodly": • socially: they’ve infiltrated community (v. 4a), but only seek their own benefit (v. 12), divide community (v. 19); • morally: they pervert grace of God into licentiousness (v. 4c, 18), and do other immoral actions (vv. 8, 16a); • theologically: "deny our only Master & Lord, J.C." (v. 4d); their speech is slanderous & bombastic (vv. 10, 16b). • Harshly polemical descriptions of the ungodly: • compare them with evil people of the past (see "Use of Scripture" above) • describe them w/ metaphorical images: waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wild waves, wandering stars (vv. 12-13) • Direct appeals to the recipients of this letter: • "contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (v. 3) • "remember the predictions of the apostles" concerning the ungodly (v. 17) • "build yourselves up on your most holy faith..." (vv. 20-21) • "have mercy on some who are wavering, save others..., have mercy on still others" (vv. 22-23) • Encouragement, prayers and blessings for the recipients of the letter: • Recipients: "to those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father, and kept safe for Jesus Christ" (v. 1b); • Initial Blessing: "May mercy, peace, and love by yours in abundance" (v. 2); • Concluding Doxology: "Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing..." (v. 24). March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Jude: Rhetorical Techniques
Structure/Outlines • Ch. 1 Intro; Ch. 2-5 Expansion • Authorship/Authenticity • Disputed: Which “James”? • Faith & Good Works • (we’ll come back to this) • Ethical Teachings of Jesus • Compare Matthew, esp. Sermon on Mount March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Epistle OF JAMES (pp. 11-12)
I. Epistolary introduction (1:1) II. Introduction of major themes (1:2-27) • Enduring trials (1:2-4, 12-15) • Prayer and divine wisdom (1:5-8) • Rich and poor (1:9-11) • Wisdom from above (1:16-18) • The use of the tongue (1:19-21) • Doers of the word (1:22-27) III. Development of major themes (2:1—5:20) • Rich and poor in the assembly (2:1-13) • Doers of the word (2:14-26) • The use of the tongue (3:1-12) • Prayer and divine wisdom (3:13—4:10) • Doers of the law and judging one's brother (4:11-12) • Rich and poor and the pursuit of wealth (4:13—5:6) • Endurance of trials (5:7-11) • On swearing (5:12) • Prayer and faith (5:13-18) • The recovery of a brother (5:19-20) March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles James: Contents/Outline
Who is "James"? Which “James”? • Name "James" is English equivalent of Greek Iakobus, thus a variation of "Jacob." • Original "Jacob" of OT was grandson of Abraham (Gen 25:19—36:43) • Jacob's 12 sons (Gen 29:31—30:24; 35:16-18) became patriarchs of "Twelve Tribes of Israel." • Thus, this name was very popular among Jews of every generation. • Several men named "Jacob/James" in NT: • James, son of Zebedee, brother of John - one of first four disciples of Jesus (Mark 1:19-20; Matt 4:21-22); one of twelve "apostles" (Mark 3:17; Matt 10:2); actually one of 3 or 4 closest to Jesus in his public ministry (Mark 5:37; 9:2; 13:3; 14:33; pars.); killed by King Herod Agrippa I around 40 CE (Acts 12:2). • James, son of Alphaeus- another of the twelve apostles (Mark 3:18 & par.), little is known about him. • James, father of Judas - father of yet another of the twelve apostles (acc. to Luke 6:16 & Acts 1:13). • James, "brother" of the Lord - listed first among four "brothers" of Jesus in the Synoptics (Mark 6:3; Matt 13:55; cf. Mark 3:31-34; Matt 12:46-50); later becomes leader of early Christian community in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1Cor 15:7; Gal 1:19; 2:9); Paul calls him an "apostle" (Gal 1:19); there are some tensions between Paul & some "people from James" who insist non-Jewish Christians must be circumcised (Gal 2:12). Acc. to Josephus (Ant. 20.9.1), James was stoned to death in early 60's, at time of high priest Ananus II. • Author identifies himself as "James, a servant/slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:1). • Christian tradition & biblical scholars generally agree that the author is the fourth James listed above. • But some scholars suggest letter is pseudepigraphic (written by someone else, after death of James). March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles James: Author & Authorship
Many similarities, esp. w/ Sermon on Mount (Matt 5–7); not exact parallels. March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles James: Ethical Teachings (cf. Matt)
Dangers of Riches • Esp. James 1:9-11; 2:1-7; 5:1-6 • Dangers of the Tongue • Frequent theme; many analogies! • Forgiveness of Sins & Anointing the Sick • Mostly James 5:13-20 March 16, 2019 – Catholic Epistles Other Themes in James (p. 12)
FAITH - in Paul’s Letters • Key Concept for Paul • Very frequent use of “faith” vocab. • Many short creedal statements: • Focus on Jesus’ Death, Resurrection, Parousia • Focus on Jesus’ relation to Father and Spirit • Trio of Theological Virtues:Faith, Hope, Love
Paul: Dynamics of Faith • Rom 10:9-17 – “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. / For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. // But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? / So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.”
Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, Love • 1 Corinthians 13 “…if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. / Love is patient; love is kind… It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. / And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” • Combined in other Pauline letters: • 1 Thess 1:2-3; 5:8 • Phlm 4-5 • Eph 4:1-6
Paul’s Letter to the Galatians • Gal 2:16 “We know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through the faith ofJesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.” • Meaning of “Justification”? • Not a state of being, but a process! • “Faith OF Jesus” vs. “Faith IN Jesus”? • Cf. Gal 3:22; Rom 3:22, 26; Phil 3:9
Faith and Love in Galatians • Gal 5:5-6 “For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. / …the only thing that counts is faith working through love.”
Epistle of James • Main Themes of James: • Faith in Action, Enduring Trials, • Riches, Speech, Undoubting Prayer • Sample Texts in James: • 1:22-27 – “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves… Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” • 2:1 – “My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” • 2:5-8 – “Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith…?” / “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”