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The Gospels . Byzantine Online Fall 2013 Sandra Collins, Ph.D. Week 1 Introduction. Sandra ( Sandee ) Collins scollins@bcs.edu 412-321-8383, ext. 23
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The Gospels Byzantine Online Fall 2013 Sandra Collins, Ph.D.
Week 1 Introduction • Sandra (Sandee) Collins • scollins@bcs.edu • 412-321-8383, ext. 23 • "For what could God have more generously and abundantly provided in the divine writings than that the same words might be understood in various ways," (De doctrina Christiana, 3.27,28).
BIBLE: introduction and terms • Old Testament (Christian) • Tanakh (Jewish) • Hebrew Bible (academic) • Torah (lit. “teaching”)= can be only first five books or a reference to the totality of the Old Testament • Jews read the Bible descriptively • Christians order the text to fit a predictive reading
Geography and dates • BCE = Before Common Era • CE = Common Era • Judea (4th century BCE-1st century CE) • Palestine (Latinized Philistia; 135 CE to 20th century CE) • Israel (1948-)
HISTORY • Alexander the Great and Roman Occupation (333 BCE-63 BCE) • Imposition of Hellenistic (Greek) cultural norms • Septuagint (LXX): Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures,Alexandria, ~250 BCE • Establishment of Herodian kings (roughly 37-4 BCE Herod Agrippa, or Agrippa the Great, ruler of Judea (10 BC – 44 AD)
Jesus the Christ • Jesus (roughly 4 BCE – 33 CE) • Life corresponds with Roman occupation of Judea • Pax Romana, or Roman peace • Killed by Roman authorities for sedition, or attempt to set up rival kingdom to that of the emperor of Rome, which is treason. • Image (Augustus Caesar [63 BCE-14 CE]; Chiaramonti Museum, Braccio Nuovo).
Paul and earliest Christianity • Period of 54-70 CE • Paul • Apostle to the Gentiles • Earliest NT writings we have • Gospels • Roughly 65-90 CE • Mark is earliest; John the latest • 70 CE • Pivotal historical moment • Temple is destroyed by Rome • Great diaspora, or expulsion, of Jews from Judea • Image: Existing southern steps of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem.
Johannine Christianity • Roughly 90 CE and following • Gospel of John; Johannine Letters; Revelation • Strong pneumatology • Trinitarian doctrine has its roots here
“The Gospels are narratives.” • Image: • The ending of the Gospel of Luke from Codex Alexandrinus, a 5th century copy of the Septuagint (Greek OT) and New Testament found in Alexandria, currently in the British Library.