Faithology - Background & Beginnings 1 Background and Beginnings.

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Faithology - Background & Beginnings 1 Background and Beginnings

Transcript of Faithology - Background & Beginnings 1 Background and Beginnings.

Page 1: Faithology - Background & Beginnings 1 Background and Beginnings.

Faithology - Background & Beginnings

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Background and Beginnings

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Jewish History(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)

† Most Catholics have some vague memories about Jewish history… At best they can recall only a few things they have learned in school or read. But more than a vague memory is needed if they are to understand the beginnings of Christianity, for Christianity is a mid-Eastern religion imported to the West.

† It takes its roots from Judaism.

† Its early theology and liturgy are grounded in Jewish terms and ways and in the cultural context of Israel, an Eastern country, not a European one.

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Jewish History(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)

AbrahamAbrahamGod’s promise to him and his son Isaac that

they would father a great nation

JacobJacobIsaac’s son (later called Israel) has

twelve sons who were to head the twelve

tribes

God’s Chosen PeopleGod’s Chosen People

Identity adopted by early Church (the “new” People of

God)

Identity reasserted as recently as Vatican II; L.G. 2 refers to the Church as the

“People of God”

Twelve ApostlesTwelve Apostles

JosephJosephRemember the

multicolored coat? Sold into slavery but in

time became the Prime Minister of

Egypt

Settlement in Settlement in EgyptEgypt

Years of prosperity followed by oppression and slavery when the Hittites gained control of Egypt

““I am Joseph, your I am Joseph, your brother!” (Gn 45:4)brother!” (Gn 45:4)Pope John XXIIIPope John XXIII

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Jewish History(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)

MosesMoses“Let my people go!”

Freed from bondage, wandered in the Sinai

wilderness for 40 years. Entered into the

“Promised Land.”

Period of the Period of the KingdomKingdom

Covenant (Ex 19:3-25)Covenant (Ex 19:3-25)

TorahTorah

Hebrew language Hebrew language developed (mesh of developed (mesh of

Canaanite & Aramaic)Canaanite & Aramaic)

Philistine ThreatPhilistine Threat SolomonSolomonIsrael becomes a “player” as a nation!

Samuel appoints Saul Samuel appoints Saul KingKing

ScripturesScriptures

Division between Judea Division between Judea & Israel& Israel

Kingdom temporally Kingdom temporally unites but separates after unites but separates after

threat diminishesthreat diminishes

Division between Judea Division between Judea & Israel& Israel

Temple BuiltTemple Built

Jerusalem Jerusalem internationalizedinternationalized

multiculturalismmulticulturalism

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Jewish History(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)

Civil WarCivil War

Assyrian Assyrian Invasion/ExileInvasion/Exile

721 B.C.E.721 B.C.E.

North (Samaria) separate North (Samaria) separate from the South (Judea)from the South (Judea)

Samaritans:Samaritans:1. only Pentateuch2. Mt Gerizim (Holy of Holies - not Jerusalem temple!)

Samaria conqueredSamaria conquered1. Jewish Elite deported1. Jewish Elite deported2. Jewish peasantry stays and mixes with non-Jewish inhabitants

Babylonian Babylonian CaptivityCaptivity

587 B.C.E.587 B.C.E.

Babylonian Babylonian DefeatDefeat

538 B.C.E.538 B.C.E.Persia defeats Babylon

Judea conqueredJudea conquered1. Temple razed2. Jews carried off into captivity

Judea survives until 587 Judea survives until 587 B.C.E.B.C.E.

Covenant Re-examinedCovenant Re-examinedNew emphasis on spiritual deliverance, restoration of the Davidic monarchy, and a Messiah. The Torah become even more important.

Jewish people & faith Jewish people & faith now all over the worldnow all over the world

Exile endsExile endsSome Jews chose to remain where they were settled and other return to their homeland

Temple RebuiltTemple Rebuilt516 B.C.E.516 B.C.E.Judeans:Judeans:

1. Samaritans half breeds and heretics2. Jerusalem Temple (Holy of Holies - not Mt Gerizim!)

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Jewish History(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)

Formative AgeFormative Age

Alexander the Alexander the Great defeats Great defeats

PersiaPersia

331 B.C.E.331 B.C.E.

Liturgy assumes its Liturgy assumes its definitive shapedefinitive shape

Synagogue emerged as Synagogue emerged as an established institutionan established institution

Hellenization via Egypt Hellenization via Egypt occursoccurs

1.1. Alexandria & Philo of AlexandriaAlexandria & Philo of Alexandria2. Septuagint

Rededication of Rededication of the Templethe Temple

165 B.C.E.165 B.C.E.

Civil WarCivil War

63 B.C.E.63 B.C.E.Rome intervenes

Hellenization ContinuesHellenization ContinuesTwo camps:1. Sadducees

• Conservative• Nationalistic• Isolationistic

2.Pharisees• More Liberal• Torah Centered

(perhaps legalistic)Seleucids of AntiochSeleucids of AntiochDesired an empire uniform in

culture and religion - “corrupted” Judaism

Jerusalem under Jerusalem under Roman controlRoman control

1.Thousands of Jews forced into slavery

2.Jerusalem becomes a Roman protectorate under the leadership of the Sanhedrin and Herod

3. Upon Herod’s death, territory divided up - each section under a governor, e.g. Pilate, 26 - 36 C.E.

Works of the Hebrew Works of the Hebrew Bible assembled in an Bible assembled in an authoritative fashionauthoritative fashion

Maccabee RevoltMaccabee Revolt