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Jesus Before Christianity

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Similar to and different from John the Baptist ... Canonical vs. noncanonical. What was going on in Jesus' lifetime? Roman occupation since 63 BCE ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Jesus Before Christianity


1
Jesus Before Christianity
  • Albert Nolan

2
The historical Jesus
  • Sources about Jesus
  • 4 gospels in Bible
  • Not biographies, but faith statements
  • A few Roman references
  • The ongoing life of various Christian communities
  • What does the historical Jesus mean?
  • Historical context
  • Historical basis for Christian beliefs

3
What do we know about Jesus?
  • Born ca. 4 BCE Crucified ca. 30 CE
  • Observant Jew from Galilee
  • Similar to and different from John the Baptist
  • Gathered disciples and preached about the Kingdom
    of God
  • healed, exorcised demons
  • Invited many to eat with him

4
Gospels
  • Purpose
  • Date written 40-60 yrs after Jesus
  • Preceded by oral tradition
  • Time of persecution, uprising against Romans
  • Time of Jewish crisis
  • Canonical vs. noncanonical

5
(No Transcript)
6
What was going on in Jesus lifetime?
  • Roman occupation since 63 BCE
  • Competition among Jewish groups
  • Apocalypticism
  • Catastrophic event, bringing judgment
  • End of world, beginning of new world
  • Honor and shame society

7
Jewish groups
  • Zealots
  • Fought against Romans (66-70 CE)
  • Wanted political independence for Israel
  • Pharisees
  • Religious reformers
  • Used oral traditions (Torah) to revise and renew
    practice
  • Focus on religion did not interfere politically
  • Sadducees
  • Priests
  • Controlled Temple in Jerusalem
  • Conservative rejected oral Torah, allied with
    Romans
  • Essenes
  • Judaism in Jerusalem corrupt, beyond saving
  • Apocalyptic end of world coming
  • Withdrew to desert
  • Focus on purity of true religion within this
    small group

8
Archaeological remains of Essene community, near
Dead Sea, Israel
9
Qumran cave, Israel used for storage by Essenes
10
John the Baptist
  • Jesus cousin, older by six months
  • Prophet
  • Message of judgment on Israel from God
  • Denounce false religion, economic injustice
  • Destruction is coming on Israel looming showdown
    between Jews and Romans
  • Preach repentance

11
Icon of John the Baptist Greek on scroll
Repent, yall Symbols axe, severed head, hairy
coat
12
Overview Nolan
  • Method know historical Jesus by looking at his
    intentions and choices
  • Choice 1 Baptized by John
  • Choice 2 identified with the poor and oppressed
  • Principal suffering shame and disgrace (29)
  • compassion suffering with
  • Method Start with Jesus actions (praxis), go to
    his preaching, return to our praxis

13
Praxis
  • Miracles
  • Healing
  • Meaning of illness
  • Exorcism
  • Table fellowship

14
Luke 4
  • When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been
    brought up, he went to the synagogue on the
    sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to
    read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was
    given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found
    the place where it was written The Spirit of
    the Lord is upon me,   because he has anointed
    me     to bring good news to the poor.He has
    sent me to proclaim release to the
    captives   and recovery of sight to the
    blind,     to let the oppressed go free, to
    proclaim the year of the Lords favour.
  • And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the
    attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the
    synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say
    to them, Today this scripture has been fulfilled
    in your hearing.

15
Luke 6 Sermon on the Plain
  • Then Jesus looked up at his disciples and
    saidBlessed are you who are poor,   for yours
    is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are
    hungry now,   for you will be filled.Blessed
    are you who weep now,   for you will laugh.
  • Blessed are you when people hate you, and when
    they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on
    account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day
    and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great
    in heaven for that is what their ancestors did
    to the prophets. But woe to you who are
    rich,   for you have received your consolation.
    Woe to you who are full now,   for you will be
    hungry.Woe to you who are laughing now,   for
    you will mourn and weep.
  • Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that
    is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
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