Circumcision Controversy RE 101 Fall 2019 Dr. Wendland Genres of the New Testament • Gospels: • “History”: • Epistles/Letters: • Sermon: • Apocalypse: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Acts Most of the rest of the New Testament Hebrews Revelation 2 Peter and Cornelius A Surprising Meal Cornelius and Peter-Acts 10:1-33 4 • What is remarkable about Peter and Cornelius eating together? • How do you think this new relationship will change the community of people who follow Jesus? • What hard questions does the community need to ask itself in light of Peter’s having baptized Gentiles? Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles Becoming a follower of Jesus Paul’s Travels 7 Paul’s Travels 8 Acts 15:1-31—An Important Meeting 9 • What was the topic of this meeting? • What decision was made at this meeting? • What effect do you think this will have on the Jewish community in the future? Justification and Circumcision Another concern Genres of the New Testament • Gospels: • “History”: • Epistles/Letters: • Sermon: • Apocalypse: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Acts Most of the rest of the New Testament Hebrews Revelation 11 12 Pauline Epistles • Epistle = a letter • 1 Thessalonians • Galatians • First Corinthians • Philippians • Philemon • Second Corinthians • Romans circa 50 CE 50-55 CE Being Right with God 14 • Righteousness: being right in God’s eyes • Justification: being made right with God • How is one justified? How is one declared righteous? • Is it through keeping the Torah? • Is it through keeping the Torah AND trusting in Jesus’ death and resurrection? • Is it through trusting in Jesus’ death in resurrection? Galatians 15 • Works of the law: Living according to Torah or the Sinai Covenant • Circumcision: Symbol of the Sinai Covenant • Faith: Trust that God will justify apart from their fulfillment of the covenant Galatians 2 16 • Compare and contrast Galatians 2 with Acts 15:1-35. • What do you think accounts for the differences? • What is the conclusion that Paul reaches in 2:15-16? • Paul ultimately concludes that justification comes through faith not circumcision. How does this change the Jesus movement? Moral Discernment RE 101 Fall 2019 Dr. Wendland Paul: Slavery Slavery in the Roman Empire • • • • 3 Slavery is the purported ownership of another person Common but often not a permanent state in the Roman Empire Some slaves in the Roman Empire were able to own property Slavery in the Roman Empire was not particularly associated with race, but slaves were sometimes prisoners of war • Some forms of slavery included indentured servitude What we have seen so far • Galatians 3:27-29 • 1 Corinthians 7:21-26 4 Philemon 5 • Paul seems to want Philemon to free Onesimus • Paul does not tell Philemon to free Onesimus • Regardless, Paul tells Philemon to treat Onesimus as more than a slave Household Codes: Ephesians & Colossians 6 • Likely not written by Paul • Reflects the basic structure of the paterfamilias • Goal seems to be to conform in some ways to the culture at large Women in the Early Church Romans & 1 Corinthians Women in Paul’s Letters 8 • Galatians 3:27-29 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise. • Romans 16:1-16 • 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 • 1 Corinthians 14:33-40 Women in Paul’s Letters • Galatians 3:27-29 • Romans 16:1-16 • 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 • 1 Corinthians 14:33-40 9 Women in Paul’s Letters • Galatians 3:27-29 • Romans 16:1-16 • 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 • 1 Corinthians 14:33-40 10 1 Corinthians • Compare and contrast 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 with 1 Corinthians 14:33-40. • What is Paul’s concern? • What is his advice? • What does he base his advice upon? 11 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Theological Context: Hierarchy, source, and nature 12 1 Corinthians • Concentrate on what you have in common: Jesus Christ • Other Concerns: • Sexual ethics • Lawsuits within the congregation • Marriage • Food offered to idols • Head coverings • Holy Communion • Spiritual Gifts and worship • Conclusion 13 1 Corinthians 14:33-40 • Does it really say women should remain silent? • Did Paul really write it? • Canon within a canon 14 The West Wing and Ephesians • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVtCcacNUxQ 15 Endings RE 101 Fall 2019 Dr. Wendland Gender, capitalism, creation, and more 2 New York Times The Doomsday Prophet Who Says the Bible Predicted Trump A charismatic pastor in New Jersey (who also calls himself a rabbi) leads a church fixated on end times. 3 Commemorative Coin 4 I Am Jesus Video Game 5 “Samson” by Regina Spektor • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p62rfWxs6a8 6 Bible and Music 7 Find a song—preferably NOT a song written for religious/worship use—that references a character or narrative in the Bible. • What is the song? What is the Bible reference? • How does the song use the reference? (Tell the biblical story? Make a parallel? Provide an alternate narrative? Mock? Agree? Disagree?) • How does reading the passage(s) in the Bible help you better understand what is going on in the song? • Optional: how does the musicality (melody, rhythm, etc) communicate the themes you are finding? What is the Bible? • Holy literature of Christianity and Judaism • Word of God • Roadmap for life • God’s self-revelation • A witness to the character of God • Outdated tome • Cultural icon • Tool of oppression 8 Christian Community RE 101 Fall 2019 Dr. Wendland Corinth 2 3 • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynhH6tPeFLo 1 Corinthians 1-4 • Stop arguing over your teachers and focus on what you have in common—the Cross • The power of the cross: foolishness to the world is God’s wisdom • All teachers can do is point to the cross 4 1 Corinthians • Concentrate on what you have in common: Jesus Christ • Other Concerns: • Sexual ethics • Lawsuits within the congregation • Marriage • Food offered to idols • Head coverings • Holy Communion • Spiritual Gifts and worship • Conclusion 5 Case Study: Eating Idol Meat 6 Most of the meat sold in the market place comes from the Greek temples where it was part of a religious observance. Additionally, there are public meals at the temples where it is important for one to be if one wants to participate in city politics or in order to keep up on business dealings. Finally, there are situations where one does not know where the meat comes from. As new converts to Christianity—or the part of the Jewish tradition that follows Jesus—these people want to know what to do. Some in the community contend that since there is only one God, none of these “sacrifices” count, so there is no harm in eating. Others say that it’s wrong to eat such meat because it seems like one is acknowledging another god. How would you respond? Paul’s Guiding Principles • All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial (6:12) • Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (8:1) 7 3 More Case Studies 8 How might Paul’s ethic apply in each of the following circumstances? • Some members of the congregation are feeling proud that they are able to “speak in tongues,” that is pray in a language given them by the Holy Spirit. • When the congregation gathers for sacred meals, everyone brings their own food. If someone is unable to provide their own food because of economic circumstances, they just sit and watch others eat. 3 More Case Studies 9 How might Paul’s ethic apply in each of the following circumstances? • Some members of the congregation are feeling proud that they are able to “speak in tongues,” that is pray in a language given them by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:1-19 • When the congregation gathers for sacred meals, everyone brings their own food. If someone is unable to provide their own food because of economic circumstances, they just sit and watch others eat. 11:17-22 Revelation RE 101 Fall 2019 Dr. Wendland 1 Corinthians • Compare and contrast 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 with 1 Corinthians 14:33-40. • What is Paul’s concern? • What is his advice? • What does he base his advice upon? 2 1 Timothy 2:8-16 • Pastoral Letters • 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus • Written later than the other Pauline letters • Written to individuals rather than communities • Say they are written by Paul, but this seems suspect. 3 The West Wing and Ephesians • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVtCcacNUxQ 4 Paul (and Pseudo-Paul) on Women 5 • In Christ, no distinction between male and female. • Greets both men and women as leaders in Church • Men and women should maintain separate dress when prophesying and leading worship • Women should be silent in the congregation • Women should dress modestly and have no authority over men Revelation RE 101 Fall 2019 Dr. Wendland Predicting the End of the World? 7 Myths about Revelation • Accurately and literally predicts future events. • Written by those who have political power. • Characterizes God as malevolent or exceedingly violent. • Predicts that the world will end when Israel is a nation. 8 Parts of the Whole Structure of Revelation 10 Structure of Revelation • Letters to the Churches: • God as Creator and Lamb: • Destruction of Evil: • New Creation: 2-3 4-5 6-20 21-22 11 Letters to the Churches • Persecution • Assimilation • Complacency SO • Stand strong and worship the Lamb, who will reign. 12 13 Structure of Revelation • Letters to the Churches: • God and the Lamb: • Destruction of Evil: • New Creation: 2-3 4-5 6-20 21-22 Worship the Lamb: 4-5 14 Structure of Revelation • Letters to the Churches • God as Creator and Lamb • Destruction of Evil • New Creation 2-3 4-5 6-20 21-22 15 Terrors in Revelation • Seals • Trumpets • (worship) • Dragons and Beasts • Bowls • Battle of Babylon • (worship) Revelation 6-8 (worship) Revelation 8-9 Revelation 12-13 Revelation 15-16 Revelation 17-18 16 17 Structure of Revelation • Letters to the Churches: • God as Creator and Lamb: • Destruction of Evil: • New Creation: 2-3 4-5 6-20 21-22 18 Rev 13 Rev 20 Satan & Beast seek to rule Faithful reign with Christ Faithful are imprisoned Satan is imprisoned Faithful are slain Faithful are resurrected New Heaven and New Earth • What hopeful images do you see in Revelation 21-22? • What images do you recognize from other parts of the Bible? 19 Apocalypse: What is revealed? • God’s work in the midst of seven churches • Promise that God will overcome whatever evil is in their midst: • Persecution • Assimilation • Complacency • The end is as the beginning. • God will overcome. 20
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