DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON DIVINE REVELATION - DEI VERBUM

DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON DIVINE REVELATION - DEI VERBUM

Solemnly Promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI

November 18, 1965

PREFACE

1. Hearing the word of God with reverence and proclaiming it with faith, the sacred synod takes its direction from these words of St. John: "We announce to you the eternal life which dwelt with the Father and was made visible to us. What we have seen and heard we announce to you, so that you may have fellowship with us and our common fellowship be with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:2-3). Therefore, following in the footsteps of the Council of Trent and of the First Vatican Council, this present council wishes to set forth authentic doctrine on divine revelation and how it is handed on, so that by hearing the message of salvation the whole world may believe, by believing it may hope, and by hoping it may love. (1)

CHAPTER I - REVELATION ITSELF

2. In His goodness and wisdom God chose to reveal Himself and to make known to us the hidden purpose of His will (see Eph. 1:9) by which through Christ, the Word made flesh, man might in the Holy Spirit have access to the Father and come to share in the divine nature (see Eph. 2:18; 2 Peter 1:4). Through this revelation, therefore, the invisible God (see Col. 1:15, 1 Tim. 1:17) out of the abundance of His love speaks to men as friends (see Ex. 33:11; John 15:14-15) and lives among them (see Bar. 3:38), so that He may invite and take them into fellowship with Himself. This plan of revelation is realized by deeds and words having in inner unity: the deeds wrought by God in the history of salvation manifest and confirm the teaching and realities signified by the words, while the words proclaim the deeds and clarify the mystery contained in them. By this revelation then, the deepest truth about God and the salvation of man shines out for our sake in Christ, who is both the mediator and the fullness of all revelation. (2)

3. God, who through the Word creates all things (see John 1:3) and keeps them in existence, gives men an enduring witness to Himself in created realities (see Rom. 1:19-20). Planning to make known the way of heavenly salvation, He went further and from the start manifested Himself to our first parents. Then after their fall His promise of redemption aroused in them the hope of being saved (see Gen. 3:15) and from that time on He ceaselessly kept the human race in His care, to give eternal life to those who perseveringly do good in search of salvation (see Rom. 2:6-7). Then, at the time He had appointed He called Abraham in order to make of him a great nation (see Gen. 12:2). Through the patriarchs, and after them through Moses and the prophets, He taught this people to acknowledge Himself the one living and true God, provident father and just judge, and to wait for the Savior promised by Him, and in this manner prepared the way for the Gospel down through the centuries.

4. Then, after speaking in many and varied ways through the prophets, "now at last in these days God has spoken to us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2). For He sent His Son, the eternal Word, who enlightens all men, so that He might dwell among men and tell them of the innermost being of God (see John 1:1-18). Jesus Christ, therefore, the Word made flesh, was sent as "a man to men." (3) He "speaks the words of God" (John 3:34), and completes the work of salvation which His Father gave Him to do (see John 5:36; 17:4). To see Jesus is to see His Father (John 14:9). For this reason Jesus perfected revelation by fulfilling it through his whole work of making Himself present and manifesting Himself: through His words and deeds, His signs and wonders, but especially through His death and glorious resurrection from the dead and final sending of the Spirit of truth. Moreover He confirmed with divine testimony what revelation proclaimed, that God is with us to free us from the darkness of sin and death, and to raise us up to life eternal.

The Christian dispensation, therefore, as the new and definitive covenant, will never pass away and we now await no further new public revelation before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 Tim. 6:14 and Tit. 2:13).

5. "The obedience of faith" (Rom. 16:26; see 1:5; 2 Cor 10:5-6) "is to be given to God who reveals, an obedience by which man commits his whole self freely to God, offering the full submission of intellect and will to God who reveals," (4) and freely assenting to the truth revealed by Him. To make this act of faith, the grace of God and the interior help of the Holy Spirit must precede and assist, moving the heart and turning it to God, opening thy eyes of the mind and giving "joy and ease to everyone in assenting to the truth and believing it." (5) To bring about an ever deeper understanding of revelation the same Holy Spirit constantly brings faith to completion by His gifts.

6. Through divine revelation, God chose to show forth and communicate Himself and the eternal decisions of His will regarding the salvation of men. That is to say, He chose to share with them those divine treasures which totally transcend the understanding of the human mind. (6)

As a sacred synod has affirmed, God, the beginning and end of all things, can be known with certainty from created reality by the light of human reason (see Rom. 1:20); but teaches that it is through His revelation that those religious truths which are by their nature accessible to human reason can be known by all men with ease, with solid certitude and with no trace of error, even in this present state of the human race. (7)

CHAPTER II - HANDING ON DIVINE REVELATION

7. In His gracious goodness, God has seen to it that what He had revealed for the salvation of all nations would abide perpetually in its full integrity and be handed on to all generations. Therefore Christ the Lord in whom the full revelation of the supreme God is brought to completion (see 2 Cor. 1:20; 3:13; 4:6), commissioned the Apostles to preach to all men that Gospel which is the source of all saving truth and moral teaching, (1) and to impart to them heavenly gifts. This Gospel had been promised in former times through the prophets, and Christ Himself had fulfilled it and promulgated it with His lips. This commission was faithfully fulfilled by the Apostles who, by their oral preaching, by example, and by observances handed on what they had received from the lips of Christ, from living with Him, and from what He did, or what they had learned through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The commission was fulfilled, too, by those Apostles and apostolic men who under the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit committed the message of salvation to writing. (2)

But in order to keep the Gospel forever whole and alive within the Church, the Apostles left bishops as their successors, "handing over" to them "the authority to teach in their own place."(3) This sacred tradition, therefore, and Sacred Scripture of both the Old and New Testaments are like a mirror in which the pilgrim Church on earth looks at God, from whom she has received everything, until she is brought finally to see Him as He is, face to face (see 1 John 3:2).

8. And so the apostolic preaching, which is expressed in a special way in the inspired books, was to be preserved by an unending succession of preachers until the end of time. Therefore the Apostles, handing on what they themselves had received, warn the faithful to hold fast to the traditions which they have learned either by word of mouth or by letter (see 2 Thess. 2:15), and to fight in defense of the faith handed on once and for all (see Jude 1:3) (4) Now what was handed on by the Apostles includes everything which contributes toward the holiness of life and increase in faith of the peoples of God; and so the Church, in her teaching, life and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes.

This tradition which comes from the Apostles develop in the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit. (5) For there is a growth in the understanding of the realities and the words which have been handed down. This happens through the contemplation and study made by believers, who treasure these things in their hearts (see Luke 2:19, 51) through a penetrating understanding of the spiritual realities which they experience, and through the preaching of those who have received through episcopal succession the sure gift of truth. For as the centuries succeed one another, the Church constantly moves forward toward the fullness of divine truth until the words of God reach their complete fulfillment in her.

The words of the holy fathers witness to the presence of this living tradition, whose wealth is poured into the practice and life of the believing and praying Church. Through the same tradition the Church's full canon of the sacred books is known, and the sacred writings themselves are more profoundly understood and unceasingly made active in her; and thus God, who spoke of old, uninterruptedly converses with the bride of His beloved Son; and the Holy Spirit, through whom the living voice of the Gospel resounds in the Church, and through her, in the world, leads unto all truth those who believe and makes the word of Christ dwell abundantly in them (see Col. 3:16).

9. Hence there exists a close connection and communication between sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture. For both of them, flowing from the same divine wellspring, in a certain way merge into a unity and tend toward the same end. For Sacred Scripture is the word of God inasmuch as it is consigned to writing under the inspiration of the divine Spirit, while sacred tradition takes the word of God entrusted by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, and hands it on to their successors in its full purity, so that led by the light of the Spirit of truth, they may in proclaiming it preserve this word of God faithfully, explain it, and make it more widely known. Consequently it is not from Sacred Scripture alone that the Church draws her certainty about everything which has been revealed. Therefore both sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture are to be accepted and venerated with the same sense of loyalty and reverence.(6)

10. Sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit of the word of God, committed to the Church. Holding fast to this deposit the entire holy people united with their shepherds remain always steadfast in the teaching of the Apostles, in the common life, in the breaking of the bread and in prayers (see Acts 2:42, Greek text), so that holding to, practicing and professing the heritage of the faith, it becomes on the part of the bishops and faithful a single common effort. (7)

But the task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on, (8) has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church, (9) whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. This teaching office is not above the word of God, but serves it, teaching only what has been handed on, listening to it devoutly, guarding it scrupulously and explaining it faithfully in accord with a divine commission and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it draws from this one deposit of faith everything which it presents for belief as divinely revealed.

It is clear, therefore, that sacred tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church, in accord with God's most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that all together and each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.

CHAPTER III - SACRED SCRIPTURE, ITS INSPIRATION AND DIVINE INTERPRETATION

11. Those divinely revealed realities which are contained and presented in Sacred Scripture have been committed to writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. For holy mother Church, relying on the belief of the Apostles (see John 20:31; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-20, 3:15-16), holds that the books of both the Old and New Testaments in their entirety, with all their parts, are sacred and canonical because written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God as their author and have been handed on as such to the Church herself.(1) In composing the sacred books, God chose men and while employed by Him (2) they made use of their powers and abilities, so that with Him acting in them and through them, (3) they, as true authors, consigned to writing everything and only those things which He wanted. (4)

Therefore, since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings (5) for the sake of salvation. Therefore "all Scripture is divinely inspired and has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, for reformation of manners and discipline in right living, so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and equipped for good work of every kind" (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Greek text).

12. However, since God speaks in Sacred Scripture through men in human fashion, (6) the interpreter of Sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words.

To search out the intention of the sacred writers, attention should be given, among other things, to "literary forms." For truth is set forth and expressed differently in texts which are variously historical, prophetic, poetic, or of other forms of discourse. The interpreter must investigate what meaning the sacred writer intended to express and actually expressed in particular circumstances by using contemporary literary forms in accordance with the situation of his own time and culture. (7) For the correct understanding of what the sacred author wanted to assert, due attention must be paid to the customary and characteristic styles of feeling, speaking and narrating which prevailed at the time of the sacred writer, and to the patterns men normally employed at that period in their everyday dealings with one another. (8)

But, since Holy Scripture must be read and interpreted in the sacred spirit in which it was written, (9) no less serious attention must be given to the content and unity of the whole of Scripture if the meaning of the sacred texts is to be correctly worked out. The living tradition of the whole Church must be taken into account along with the harmony which exists between elements of the faith. It is the task of exegetes to work according to these rules toward a better understanding and explanation of the meaning of Sacred Scripture, so that through preparatory study the judgment of the Church may mature. For all of what has been said about the way of interpreting Scripture is subject finally to the judgment of the Church, which carries out the divine commission and ministry of guarding and interpreting the word of God. (10)

13. In Sacred Scripture, therefore, while the truth and holiness of God always remains intact, the marvelous "condescension" of eternal wisdom is clearly shown, "that we may learn the gentle kindness of God, which words cannot express, and how far He has gone in adapting His language with thoughtful concern for our weak human nature." (11) For the words of God, expressed in human language, have been made like human discourse, just as the word of the eternal Father, when He took to Himself the flesh of human weakness, was in every way made like men.

CHAPTER IV - THE OLD TESTAMENT

14. In carefully planning and preparing the salvation of the whole human race the God of infinite love, by a special dispensation, chose for Himself a people to whom He would entrust His promises. First He entered into a covenant with Abraham (see Gen. 15:18) and, through Moses, with the people of Israel (see Ex. 24:8). To this people which He had acquired for Himself, He so manifested Himself through words and deeds as the one true and living God that Israel came to know by experience the ways of God with men. Then too, when God Himself spoke to them through the mouth of the prophets, Israel daily gained a deeper and clearer understanding of His ways and made them more widely known among the nations (see Ps. 22:29; 96:1-3; Is. 2:1-5; Jer. 3:17). The plan of salvation foretold by the sacred authors, recounted and explained by them, is found as the true word of God in the books of the Old Testament: these books, therefore, written under divine inspiration, remain permanently valuable. "For all that was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Rom. 15:4).

15. The principal purpose to which the plan of the old covenant was directed was to prepare for the coming of Christ, the redeemer of all and of the messianic kingdom, to announce this coming by prophecy (see Luke 24:44; John 5:39; 1 Peter 1:10), and to indicate its meaning through various types (see 1 Cor. 10:12). Now the books of the Old Testament, in accordance with the state of mankind before the time of salvation established by Christ, reveal to all men the knowledge of God and of man and the ways in which God, just and merciful, deals with men. These books, though they also contain some things which are incomplete and temporary, nevertheless show us true divine pedagogy. (1) These same books, then, give expression to a lively sense of God, contain a store of sublime teachings about God, sound wisdom about human life, and a wonderful treasury of prayers, and in them the mystery of our salvation is present in a hidden way. Christians should receive them with reverence.

16. God, the inspirer and author of both Testaments, wisely arranged that the New Testament be hidden in the Old and the Old be made manifest in the New. (2) For, though Christ established the new covenant in His blood (see Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25), still the books of the Old Testament with all their parts, caught up into the proclamation of the Gospel, (3) acquire and show forth their full meaning in the New Testament (see Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:27; Rom. 16:25-26; 2 Cor. 4:6) and in turn shed light on it and explain it.

CHAPTER V - THE NEW TESTAMENT

17. The word God, which is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe (see Rom. 1:16), is set forth and shows its power in a most excellent way in the writings of the New Testament. For when the fullness of time arrived (see Gal. 4:4), the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us in His fullness of graces and truth (see John 1:14). Christ established the kingdom of God on earth, manifested His Father and Himself by deeds and words, and completed His work by His death, resurrection and glorious Ascension and by the sending of the Holy Spirit. Having been lifted up from the earth, He draws all men to Himself (see John 12:32, Greek text), He who alone has the words of eternal life (see John 6:68). This mystery had not been manifested to other generations as it was now revealed to His holy Apostles and prophets in the Holy Spirit (see Eph. 3:4-6, Greek text), so that they might preach the Gospel, stir up faith in Jesus, Christ and Lord, and gather together the Church. Now the writings of the New Testament stand as a perpetual and divine witness to these realities.

18. It is common knowledge that among all the Scriptures, even those of the New Testament, the Gospels have a special preeminence, and rightly so, for they are the principal witness for the life and teaching of the incarnate Word, our savior.

The Church has always and everywhere held and continues to hold that the four Gospels are of apostolic origin. For what the Apostles preached in fulfillment of the commission of Christ, afterwards they themselves and apostolic men, under the inspiration of the divine Spirit, handed on to us in writing: the foundation of faith, namely, the fourfold Gospel, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.(1)

19. Holy Mother Church has firmly and with absolute constancy held, and continues to hold, that the four Gospels just named, whose historical character the Church unhesitatingly asserts, faithfully hand on what Jesus Christ, while living among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation until the day He was taken up into heaven (see Acts 1:1). Indeed, after the Ascension of the Lord the Apostles handed on to their hearers what He had said and done. This they did with that clearer understanding which they enjoyed (3) after they had been instructed by the glorious events of Christ's life and taught by the light of the Spirit of truth. (2) The sacred authors wrote the four Gospels, selecting some things from the many which had been handed on by word of mouth or in writing, reducing some of them to a synthesis, explaining some things in view of the situation of their churches and preserving the form of proclamation but always in such fashion that they told us the honest truth about Jesus.(4) For their intention in writing was that either from their own memory and recollections, or from the witness of those who "themselves from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word" we might know "the truth" concerning those matters about which we have been instructed (see Luke 1:2-4).

20. Besides the four Gospels, the canon of the New Testament also contains the epistles of St. Paul and other apostolic writings, composed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, by which, according to the wise plan of God, those matters which concern Christ the Lord are confirmed, His true teaching is more and more fully stated, the saving power of the divine work of Christ is preached, the story is told of the beginnings of the Church and its marvelous growth, and its glorious fulfillment is foretold.

For the Lord Jesus was with His apostles as He had promised (see Matt. 28:20) and sent them the advocate Spirit who would lead them into the fullness of truth (see John 16:13).

CHAPTER VI - SACRED SCRIPTURE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

21. The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God's word and of Christ's body. She has always maintained them, and continues to do so, together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of faith, since, as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and Apostles. Therefore, like the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture. For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life. Consequently these words are perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture: "For the word of God is living and active" (Heb. 4:12) and "it has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32; see 1 Thess. 2:13).

22. Easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the Christian faithful. That is why the Church from the very beginning accepted as her own that very ancient Greek translation; of the Old Testament which is called the septuagint; and she has always given a place of honor to other Eastern translations and Latin ones especially the Latin translation known as the vulgate. But since the word of God should be accessible at all times, the Church by her authority and with maternal concern sees to it that suitable and correct translations are made into different languages, especially from the original texts of the sacred books. And should the opportunity arise and the Church authorities approve, if these translations are produced in cooperation with the separated brethren as well, all Christians will be able to use them.

23. The bride of the incarnate Word, the Church taught by the Holy Spirit, is concerned to move ahead toward a deeper understanding of the Sacred Scriptures so that she may increasingly feed her sons with the divine words. Therefore, she also encourages the study of the holy Fathers of both East and West and of sacred liturgies. Catholic exegetes then and other students of sacred theology, working diligently together and using appropriate means, should devote their energies, under the watchful care of the sacred teaching office of the Church, to an exploration and exposition of the divine writings. This should be so done that as many ministers of the divine word as possible will be able effectively to provide the nourishment of the Scriptures for the people of God, to enlighten their minds, strengthen their wills, and set men's hearts on fire with the love of God. (1) The sacred synod encourages the sons of the Church and Biblical scholars to continue energetically, following the mind of the Church, with the work they have so well begun, with a constant renewal of vigor. (2)

24. Sacred theology rests on the written word of God, together with sacred tradition, as its primary and perpetual foundation. By scrutinizing in the light of faith all truth stored up in the mystery of Christ, theology is most powerfully strengthened and constantly rejuvenated by that word. For the Sacred Scriptures contain the word of God and since they are inspired really are the word of God; and so the study of the sacred page is, as it were, the soul of sacred theology. (3) By the same word of Scripture the ministry of the word also, that is, pastoral preaching, catechetics and all Christian instruction, in which the liturgical homily must hold the foremost place, is nourished in a healthy way and flourishes in a holy way.

25. Therefore, all the clergy must hold fast to the Sacred Scriptures through diligent sacred reading and careful study, especially the priests of Christ and others, such as deacons and catechists who are legitimately active in the ministry of the word. This is to be done so that none of them will become "an empty preacher of the word of God outwardly, who is not a listener to it inwardly" (4) since they must share the abundant wealth of the divine word with the faithful committed to them, especially in the sacred liturgy. The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the "excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:8). "For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ."(5) Therefore, they should gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text itself, whether it be through the liturgy, rich in the divine word, or through devotional reading, or through instructions suitable for the purpose and other aids which, in our time, with approval and active support of the shepherds of the Church, are commendably spread everywhere. And let them remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and man may talk together; for "we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine saying." (6)

It devolves on sacred bishops "who have the apostolic teaching"(7) to give the faithful entrusted to them suitable instruction in the right use of the divine books, especially the New Testament and above all the Gospels. This can be done through translations of the sacred texts, which are to be provided with the necessary and really adequate explanations so that the children of the Church may safely and profitably become conversant with the Sacred Scriptures and be penetrated with their spirit.

Furthermore, editions of the Sacred Scriptures, provided with suitable footnotes, should be prepared also for the use of non-Christians and adapted to their situation. Both pastors of souls and Christians generally should see to the wise distribution of these in one way or another.

26. In this way, therefore, through the reading and study of the sacred books "the word of God may spread rapidly and be glorified" (2 Thess. 3:1) and the treasure of revelation, entrusted to the Church, may more and more fill the hearts of men. Just as the life of the Church is strengthened through more frequent celebration of the Eucharistic mystery, similar we may hope for a new stimulus for the life of the Spirit from a growing reverence for the word of God, which "lasts forever" (Is. 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:23-25).

Notes in Synoptics and Acts (SCS Reviewer)

1. NOTES IN SYNOPTICS AND ACTS

LECTURE NO. 1

3 Main Divisions of the Land of Israel

-the Israelites do not want to call the promised land as Canaan because they are reminded of the 1^st settlers there, the Canaanites

-the Israelites do not want to call the promised land as Palestine because they are reminded of their neighbors, the Philistines

-Ergo, they call it as Eretz - Israel

-Galilee

-where we could see the first public life of Jesus

-its towns were:

-Nazareth

-where Jesus grew up

-where coming from Capernaum he entered the synagogue and read the scroll: “The Spirit of the Lord rests upon me…”

-the son of Joseph is from Nazareth – Jesus the Nazorean

-Cana: change water into wine, but it is in John

-Sea of Galilee-Lake Tiberias-Lake of Gennesareth

-Jesus walked on the water of Galilee

-the first disciples were called while mending their nets on the shores of Galilee

-Jesus taught at the boat of Peter while people are listening in the sea of Galilee

-Bethsaida/Capernaum/Miggal = Magdala (Tower)

-Capernaum is the village of Kaper Nahum

-Simon had a house in Capernaum where Jesus entered and healed Peter’s mother-in-law

-Magdala is famous of Mary Magdalene (one woman of Galilee who followed Jesus and provided resources for Jesus and His disciples)

-Woe to you Orasene, woe to you Bethsaida and you Capernaum be brought down…” (lament of Jesus though they witness the saving deeds of Jesus, they remained stubborn)

-Gadarra/Jerassa

-where there is a story of a strong man possessed by a devil who can break even chains

-Phoenician

-it is Gentile territory

-the cure of woman with flow of blood (Syro-Phoenician woman)

-where great sailors and merchants reside at that time

-Samaria

-the Story Of A Good Samaritan

-10 lepers cured and one came back who is a Samaritan

-passed by Samaritan village in going to Jerusalem (at the end of his public ministry) , but not allowed and so James and John (Sons of Zebedee/Sons of Thunder because of their temper) told Jesus to call on fire from heaven and destroy them yet they were reprimanded by Jesus and they went other way

-in the early period of Christianity, Samaritans were converted to the faith through the preaching of deacon Philip (talking to Eunuch and asking for baptism)

-it was the capital of the Northern kingdom wherein in 722 BC it was destroyed by the Assyrians under Nebuchadnezzar

-then, the people were exiled to Nineveh

-their God, the God of Israel is YAHWEH (elohim, adonai, el shaddai, shabaoth, shekennar)

-Judea

-its important city is Jerusalem (the center of political and religious life)

-where the triumphant entry of Jesus happened

-Paschal events happened: arrest/passion/death/resurrection

-in Luke, Ascension happened in Bethany/in Mark it is in ___________________, for Matthew there is no mention of Ascension because its emphasis is on the permanence of Jesus in His disciples – “I am with you until the end of time/”

-where journey to Emmaus took place (the disciples were with Jesus but they did not notice)

-then, the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 587/586 BC

-then, the Judeans were exiled to Babylon (thus, they long to return to their native place)

-Psalm 137 (Rivers of Babylon): sad song during the exile to Babylon

-the Babylonians were defeated by the Medes and Persians under Cyrus the Great and he allowed the exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple, cities and lives wherein their leaders are Ezra, Nehemiah and a descendant of Davidic dynasty, Zerubbabel

<-the temple they rebuilt was smaller because they are poor as coming from exile (no money)

-even they are free they are still subjects to the power of their neighbors (the generals of Alexander the Great divided their territories)

-the Ptolemaic dynasty in Southern Kingdom, while in the Northern Kingdom the Seleucid dynasty

-the Seleucid emperor would like to impose Hellenistic culture though residents of Assyrians since they are of Greek descendants

-Israelites resisted because they have their own traditions (e.g. old man Eleazar who was forced to eat pork instead accepted martyrdom)

-Antiochus prohibited circumcision and would like for everyone to participate in the games from which the players are naked so as the Jews would feel ashamed because they are circumcised

-some Israelites operated again themselves in order to cover their circumcision which resulted to a revolt against Assyrian leaders under Matthatias assisted by his sons; they became victorius and rulers which were called as Maccabeans (Judas Maccabeus: it means “hammer” – a great warrior)

-the Hasmoneans got the crown and even the high priesthood (i.e. Jonathan)

-then Simon (?)

Rome: ruled by Pompey (East) and Julius Caesar (Gaul). Julius Caesar brought with him his legion (crossing the river of ______________) to Italy that made Pompey afraid and fled away from Italy.

Pompey

-they have a territory named Akra which is a pro-hellenist (one who follows Greek culture, from the word “hellas” who are the forefathers of Greeks)

-Romans established the Decapolis (10 city-states) – a conglomeration of city states

Herod the Great

- his father is the prime minister of the Hasmonean region who maneuvered everything so that his son may be king

- thus, Herod the Great became king after the rule of Hasmoneans

- he is not a Jew by blood but an Idomean

- Herod married a Hasmonean princess (i.e. Marian) wherein later on he ordered to be killed as suspected organizing a coup d etat against him, since she is related to Cleopatra who was the lover of Mark Anthony

Herod and His Kingdom

- one has to go to Rome and ingratiate himself to more powerful senators and consuls like Pompey and Julius Caesar

- he ascended to the throne in 37 BC getting the power from Hasmoneans who were divided among themselves

- he got Gaza (a Philistine city where Samson courted women and slept with a harlot, and when woke up there are many women around from which he carried a gate along the way to protect himself that shows how strong he is)

- expanded the cities of Caesarea and Samaria = remained as Sebaste; he is ergo a great builder

- Caesarea Philippi: one episode is when Jesus asked, Who do you say that I am? (this is enlarged by Philip = the son of Herod who inherited the Northern kingdom at the death of his father)

1. Mark: “You are the Christ of God.”
2. Matthew: “You are Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

- Brutus and Cassius killed Caesar. Octavius defeated Brutus and Cassius. Mark Anthony fought with Octavius yet he lost and so spent time with Cleopatra in Egypt and later on committed suicide. Octavius remained as the highest ruler by winning in that naval battle.

- Matthew 2:1 ff. – shows that Herod the Great was still alive when Jesus was born

- Herod died on 4BC when Christ was 2 years and below; thus Jesus was born around 6 BC

- Luke: mentioned as the “King of Judea” (Judea refers to the whole if Israel from the perspective of the Romans)

- he has a fortress named Herodian, a hill with a port, because he is afraid of Cleopatra of Egypt; this is also the place where he was buried – near Bethlem, i.e. Masada, near the dead sea

- when he died, three of his sons became successors called as Tetrarch or Ethnarch (Herod Antipas, Philip & Herod Archelaus)

Herod Archelaus

- a corrupt leader so the Romans removed him from power and be replaced by a Roman procurator/governor

- the seat of Roamn procurator is in Caesarea Maritima (near the sea port = maritime)

- to whom Joseph was afraid and so they fled to Nazareth; thus Scripture was fulfilled that the Messiah would be called the Nazorean

Herod Antipas in Galilee

- beheading of John the Baptist on his birthday as requested by the daughter of Herodias (Salome = “shalom” = peace)

- fiction: Salome was a spoiled princess who fell in-loved with John but John did not mind because he is a prophet and so the love has turned into hatred

- Salome married to his uncle Herod Philippi

- Jesus called Herod as a fox

- he is the Herod of the passion of Christ (when Pilate knew that Jesus was a Galilean he asked to bring him into trial before Herod yet Herod returned him to Pilate; from then they became good friends)

- cemetery: unclean place for the Jews/has problem with the resurrection

- Idomean: south of Judea

- Machaerus: where John the Baptist was put into prison

- Antonia: a garrison of Roman soldiers especially during festivals

- Ethnarch: ethos = people (ruler of people)

- Tetrarch: ruler of the third part

- Jamnia: after the fall of Jerusalem the rabbi gathered here and formally proclaim to exclude the Jewish Christians from synagogues and temple

Josephus Flavius

- he is a good writer of history

- a traitor of the Israelites because he was a former commander of army who surrendered to the Romans

- his benefactor is from the Flavian family and so use it as name to honor them

Emperor Nero (64 A.D.)

- blamed the Christians for burning Rome

- the time when the two great apostles, Peter and Paul, died

- in the year 68 A.D. Nero died by committing suicide

- after his term, there were lots of civil wars and so there was a need to have a strong emperor

- thus, Vespasian, the strongest and best of all, went to Rome to take the royal crown

- Titus, his son, finished the war in 70 A.D. (he paraded the prisoners and sold them as slaves in the market place)

Bethlehem

- census: Joseph with Mary went to register

- they returned to Nazareth they were originally from there

- in Matthew, Joseph seemed to have a house in Bethlehem

- they ended up in Nazareth because Joseph was afraid of Archelaus

- Issue: Was Joseph from Bethlehem or from Nazareth? (not sure because the evangelists were interested in theological motif not on historical facts)

- what is historical is Jesus grew up in Nazareth

- Jesus is a carpenter (in Greek, a carpenter = artisan, i.e. tekton)

- Sepphoris = Jesus, perhaps, was a daily worker there building amphitheaters and government building; this could also be the place where he learned Greek (hypocritai = masks), while he learned Hebrew in synagogues and Aramaic in the use of his daily language

- Migdal = a tower that serves as a lighthouse for fishing

- Capernaum = base of Jesus’ activity

Jerusalem: A Pilgrimage City

- center of political and religious affairs

- the original occupiers of Jerusalem were Gebusites before King David took it

- also called in reference to the mountain where it is stood – Mt. Zion

- religious center because of the Temple (King Solomon built it yet David was the first to think of it: not built because he was a warrior, i.e. his hands with blood)

- since King Solomon had no rivals thus he was a man of peace and diplomacy

- materials: bricks = cedars of Lebanon

- Holy of Holies: it is at the heart of the Temple (only a high priest can enter the Holy of Holies once a year, i.e. the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, wherein he uttered the divine name - YHWH)

- Court of the Gentiles: the place for the uncircumcised

- Ark of the Covenant: a sample of manna (586: when the temple was destroyed)

The Political and Social World

- How did the people felt the presence of Rome? = taxation

- Rome allowed the Jews not to participate in civil liturgies because they respected monotheism

- Sanhedrin: this is the Jewish court consists of high priest, former high priests, Sadducees, nobles and experts. They have no power of condemning a person to death (e.g. Jesus accused og blasphemy still needed to be brought to Pilate and Herod, but except for Stephen whose case was linching?)

- What taxes did they pay?

1. temple tax

· a male Jew pays this for the maintenance of the temple and sustenance of the priest

· Jesus: although, we are children of God the disciples are not exempted from it

2. need tax

· it costs one denarius, i.e. equal to one day’s wage, paid annually

· Jesus: give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is to God

3. commercial goods tax/produced tax

· the one gathered by tax collectors like Matthew

· aracabala = like a “toll gate”

4. tithe

· a portion of one’s income to be paid to the priest/Levites

· e.g. fruits, animals or money in thanksgiving for what the Lord has given

5. sacrifices

· rich: bulls and cows

· middle class: sheep and goats

· poor: turtle doves and young pigeons

· these are paid to temple authorities wherein they:

1. get the blood and spread it on the altar and sprinkle it to people

2. the fat of animal is burned (odor is sweet)

3. the body is divided: the better portion goes to the priest & Levites, while the rest to the offerer

· Question to Paul: if buy meat in a market offered to pagan gods? “If you are strong in your faith, never mind. But if you know and others came to know its from pagan gods, do not eat it, not for your sake, but for the sake of not scandalizing anyone.”

Religious Parties and Sects

1. Essenes

· seen in the writing of Josephus Flavius

· Qumran: a gathering of people living in a community like a monastic

· led by a teacher of righteousness

· hid their writings on the caves overlooking a monastery discovered in 1947 where they found existing oldest documents (e.g. scroll of Isaiah, etc.)

2. Pharisees

· Pharisee friends of Jesus: Nicodemus & Simon the Pharisee

· they were mostly lay people respected by many and called as rabbi (my great one: Rabbon & Rabboni)

· paras or perush = separated from common people because they are thought of observing the law well and so they belittle others

· Jesus was not that antagonistic to rabbis

· Don’t call anyone rabbi! (This could be words of Jewish Christians who were driven out of synagogues put in the mouth of Jesus to have a greater impact: in reference to Matthew)

3. Scribes

· they know how to write

· writing is rare because they were only reserved for the educated

· they are more of professional secretaries

· they are notaries (amanuenses = dictate letter)

· sometimes they were rabbi

4. Sadducees

· Sadok = priest

· they debate on the resurrection because they did not believe in it, with which Pharisees did

· Leverit law: brother took over as husband when one died

· Jesus silenced the Sadducees (Which is the greatest commandment? - lawyer)

5. Zealots

· they are zealous for the law

· later to be called Sicarii (daggers)

· hid a dagger underneath their cloth and stabbed Romans and Jews who are collaborators of the Romans

LECTURE NO. 2

Excursus

- Nazareth: it comes from the word nazir which means “consecrated” and neser which means “bud”

- Jerusalem: He wept…I did not recognize Jesus as Messiah!

- Dead Sea Scrolls: it consists of the book of Isaiah, their own writings, The war and Damascus scrolls

- Sikkar: Samaritan woman and Jesus in the well (John)

Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (around the hill country of Judea)

birth of John the Baptist

Magnificat (Canticle of Mary)

Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus)

- Kerem: vineyard (not live here for there’s no protection – cities are usually built on a hill – ein, i.e. spring)

- Nain: raising of the widow’s son (Luke 7:11-17)

- Mt. Hermon or Mt. Tabor: Christ’s transfiguration (he led them to a high mountain)

- Temptation of Christ: a mountain near Jericho

- Bethany: where Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived

Synagogue

- where there are Sabbath services

1. singing of the psalms (they memorized it because few knew how to read and copies were expensive)
2. reciting of shama (Listen, O Isarel…)

· greatest commandment from Rabbi: “You shall love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength.”

3. blessings

· blessing of Aaron (i.e. priestly blessing): “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord shine his face upon you and be merciful. May the Lord look at you with kindness and give you peace.” (1^st reading of New Year)

4. reading from the law (scrolls)

· there is a cabinet where they kept the scrolls, like our blessed sacrament, which they consider as a sacred place

5. would give a sermon on the law

· Jesus gave a sermon: today you hear it fulfilled

- the president of the synagogue was the one who donated the place and structure of the synagogue

· some pagans who are attracted to Jewish religion contributed for the building of the synagogue

- there’s no sacrifice in the synagogue only in the temple

· the Levites helped the priest to sacrifice (butchers)

· sacrifice should come from the heart (i.e. justice, mercy and peace) and not from the aroma or odor of the offering

· pigs were unclean animals

· during the time of Eli, the ark of the covenant was in Sheloh and the Lord was displeased with the sons of Eli because even it was offered, they already got their part; this abusive priest died in a battle against the Philistines

· Passover Lamb: kill it at the altar, bring it home and they eat it

Great Festivals

1. Passover (Pesach)

· e.g. they shed blood for the offerings of gods (lamang-lupa)

· passing over from slavery to freedom

· night of the Passover: prepare the lamb and get the blood and paint it in the doorpost (hyssop plant)

· on midhnight: the angel of death will come to Egypt and kill the first-born sons

· this is a story of remembering, ziccaron (ziccar means “to remember”)

· young boy: he asked “What does it mean?” then the pater familia (i.e. eldest) would retell the story of the Exodus

· anamnesis: remember what the Lord has done (Corinthians: “I pass on to you what I’ve received from others so that you will remember!”)

· Synoptics: at the end of his life, Jesus only celebrates one Passover and that is before his death

· John: Jesus celebrated three Passovers that hint Jesus’ 3 years of ministry:

a. when he went to the temple

b. in Galilee when he multiplied bread and feed the five thousand

c. Jerusalem: before he died

· Mazzot = unleavened bread (they are in a hurry to leave because there’s no time to leaven their bread)

· Haroshet = bitter herbs ( bitterness of their slavery)

· leaven = unvlean and inclined to evil (e.g. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees – i.e. hypocrisy)

· Parable of Jesus: she hid the leaven (it means that not everything in the kingdom should be clean because even some good things could come from the unclean)

· this is equivalent to our Holy Week (a movable feast because it depends on a lunar calendar)

2. Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

· count 7 weeks after the spring grain harvest (49 days) and so the 50^th day is this celebration

· celebration of the farmers’ offering, their first fruits thanking the Lord for the gift of land

· for Christians: descent of the HS (seen in the Acts of the Apostles by Luke), but for John the descent happened on the day of resurrection itself – a fruit of the resurrection; thus for John it is a single event [returns to the Father/ascends to the Father/spirit is given]

· birthday of the Church: it marked the spread of faith through a mighty wind and tongues of fire

· but, for Jews it is the feast of the spring harvest

3. Tabernacles

· Sukka: a booth made up of twig of trees decorated by leaves and fruits

· celebration of the fall harvest

· they have 2 activities in this celebration:

a. the priest from the temple go to the spring and get water while praying for the rain (similar to a rain dance, because if there’s no rain, there is hunger: procession from the temple to the spring, i.e. Spring of Gijon, where Solomon was anointed)

b. they light a candle (menorah – lampstand with 7 or 8 candles) “I am the light of the world!”

4. New Year

· Rosh-ha-shanah (head of the year)

· it happened during the month of Nisan

5. Yom Kippur

· this is the Day of Atonement

· the only day that the high priest could enter into the Holy of holies

6. Hanukkah

· this is the rededication of the temple: desecrated by Antochus (where there is a great abomination of building a statue of the pagan god in the altar and sacrificed a pig)

· Judas Maccabeus rededicated the temple.

· today, especially in US, it is the Feast of Lights which is equivalent to our Christmas

Brief Comments on the Study Questions (pp. 49 – 50)

1. Hasmonean rulers – Pompey invaded Jerusalem and built the Decapolis – Herodian dynasty

2. [for no. 3: temple tax] Levites: there was no territory given to them by Joshua for they are for an exclusive service of the Lord)

3. [for no. 4] e.g. Paul: he had dual citizenship (Jewish and Roman) and so, before he was imprisoned there was first a trial and he was not crucified but only decapitated

4. [for no. 5] Levites were from the tribe of Levi, are physically complete and trained in the house and temple

· Priest = higher than the Levites and were the ones who offer sacrifices, prayer and blesses the people (e.g. Annas, Caiphas, Zechariah)

· Levites = sing songs, assist in sacrifice, maintenance of order and discipline in the temple

· Sadducees = woman married to husband (they do not believe on the resurrection): no more husband and wife because they are like angels [Now: obedience to the law is greater than sacrifice]

· Essenes = were rebels against the priest/separated themselves and live in a community, one of which is Qumran by the shore of the dead sea/the reason why they were in desert because they prepare the way of the Lord

5. [for no. 6] Expectations of Jewish Groups on the following:

A. “anointed king” like David

· this is a Davidic messiah

· restores the fallen kingdom of David

· political Messiah and a king leader

· e.g. Joseph in line of David, Bethlehem is the clan of David, Jesus, the Son of David

B. “anointed priest”

· the true and pure priest is the Messiah

· Messiah of the house of Aaron (from Qumran community)

C. new covenant

· Jeremiah 31:31 – “The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”

· even the Qumran people were seeing their life or a new covenant with Yahweh

· Jesus Christ established the new covenant with his blood

· Testamentum = covenant = berit

D. God’s rule or kingdom

· not a place, but a reality that God is King

· explain it through images and metaphors, i.e. parables

E. judgment of the world

· God will come and put things aright

F. Son of Man

· Ezekiel: it is a human being

· Daniel 7:13 – “As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him...”

· speaks of it sometimes in terms of its suffering (i.e. suffering Messiah)

· glorious Messiah on Mt. 25:31-32 – "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

G. resurrection or heavenly exaltation of the righteous

· Israelites then: sheoul (the dead is the place of the dead)

· Influence of Greeks that the soul is immortal (the just will be raised from the dead)

· Parable of Lazarus and Dives

Dan Jeroboam

- Dan: temple of god and not god

- Jeroboam: holy place in the North

- Bethel and Shiloh are holy places

The Life of Jesus

- the Gospels are not strictly biographies

- Theophilus to Faith: that we may have a deeper knowledge of the faith and that we may believe and in believing have eternal life

- the Gospel originated from faith to faith (they only selected materials passed on to them by the word of mouth)

- thus, these are documents of faith

- 3 Stages in the Formation of Gospels (life situation – sitz im leben)

1. Jesus of Nazareth (6 BC to 27 A.D.)

· refers to the historical Jesus

· Do you think the disciples call him kyrios, Lord? How about as Son of God? Abba?

· perhaps, they call him rabbi or rabboni

· they also call him Prophet: teaching them the will of God

· Taumatorgos (miracle worker or wonder)

· their own understanding is a Messiah as the Son of David

2. Church and Apostles

· start to call Him: kyrios or Lord, Son of God, Soter or Savior, Christos and Logos

3. Evangelists

· no one of the evangelists had seen and heard what Jesus said and did

· all of these come from oral tradition

· from the interpretation of Church and apostles

· a special grace of inspiration as sacred writers

· Synoptics: infancy narrative

· Luke: Magnificat (Song of the Anawim): Mary alone could sing that song coz it fits God’s plan

· Matthew: he arranged the Sermon on the Mount/he presents Jesus as the “New Moses”

· Mark: Jesus returned to Nazareth at the middle of His public ministry (for Luke he began it at the onset because it is after his theology: The spirit of the Lord…that would serve his theological purpose) – Isaiah’s Song of the Suffering Servant

· Creative contribution of Evangelists: present Jesus in a higher plane or level

LECTURE NO. 3

Gospel – revelation of Jesus

inspiration of the Holy Spirit

perspective of the evangelist

Jesus before the Gospels: 40 years after His death

Recover what Jesus did and said

Historic-critical method: At times questions the Gospels (its canonicity)

More emphasis on the historical Jesus

A Jesus accepted by the canon, in contrast to the Apocryphal Gospels which is not accepted as binding in faith and morals

Does Jesus has a personal secretary writing His words and teachings? NONE. If you want to be a teacher follow a known teacher in to order to become a rabbi.

Calling of Disciples

- people saw he could do miracles

- he was a good teacher – teaching with authority

- he has an attractive personality

- he could be a prophet or the Messiah

- Do they entertain privileges so follow Jesus? (e.g. the mother of the Sons of Zebedee in Matthew, while in Mark it was James and John themselves)

- Thus, some of them have selfish reasons.

- the disciples were quarreling: who of us was the greatest? (placed a little child)

- later on, the teachings of Jesus were preserved and to remember them was to group them

A. Miracle Stories

- it can easily attract attention that’s why it is the first group (e.g. pilgrimage to Agoo, Manaoag, Lipa etc.)

- what is miraculous now? [extraordinary/beyond the law of nature]

- in the ancient times, they are extraordinary events (dunamis = dynamic/teressa – mighty, something that suprises you/taumatorgosi – something suprising or mighty extraordinary acts)

a. nature miracles – calming of storms/Jesus walking on the waters, cursing the fig tree, multiplication of bread, changing of water into wine in John: parable in action

b. healing miracles – blind man (Barthemeus), 2 blind men, 10 lepers, Syro-Phoenician woman (look at her as dog), Canaanite woman, healing of paralytic (Mark: touched roof – Palestinian house/Luke: tiled roof – Gentile house), mother-in-law of Peter in Capernaum

c. exorcism

· why the men was strong and he can break the chain? Because the demons who possessed him were legions, “for we are many”

· Mary of Magdala: cast out 7 demons

· Beelzebul (prince of demons): a kingdom divided in itself can’t stand

· By the finger (power) of God, I cast out demons!

d. raising from the dead

· Lazarus, daughter of Jairus, raising of widow’s son, i.e. in Nain (Lk. 7)

· Raising up back to their natural life VS. Jesus’ entry to His glory (i.e. as 1^st born of the dead)

· If Jesus could raise back to life the dead, he has give power too to Peter (Tabitha, Dorcas, Gassel & Enias) and Paul (Utychus).

- then, there is no clear distinction between what is normal and supernatural. So, not all miracles of Jesus could be considered as strictly supernatural

B. Pronouncement Stories

- e.g. while walking pick up grains and eat (Jesus was criticized)

Pronouncement: the Son of Man has authority over Sabbath; it can’t be taken as absolute especially for more noble reasons [greater law: satisfy one’s hunger – David ate bread even only priest can]

If rescue an animal, how much more a human being during Sabbath?

- Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar? [Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar…]

- John 8: a woman was caught in adultery [Let him without sin cast out the first stone!]

- Samaritan woman: some of theme were accepted as Christians (in John)

- like that of Moses, not a Davidic Messiah

C. Sayings and Parables

- e.g. beatitudes

- Love your neighbor as you love yourself!

- It is better to give than to receive. (Acts 20: speaking to the Ephesian leaders – There is more happiness in giving than receiving.)

- It is not what enters a stomach that makes a person unclean; it is what comes out from the heart or mouth.

- Sayings = LOGIA of Jesus (in Gospels, usually accompanied by settings or stories)

- Why some are preserved?

· have something to do with their present life-challenges

· what Jesus taught us; for us to be guided (e.g. married – divorce/not scandalized/7 times 7)

· were most helpful to the situation of early Christian communities

- Parabole (sideness = throw) – to throw at the side so that it will make you think and awaken your imagination

- Meshal/meshalim

· it could be a simple/pity saying

· it could also be a riddle (e.g. riddle of Samson: out of the eater comes food, out of the strong comes something sweet = lion and honey)

- metaphors or stories common in the Gospels (OT: Parable of the Lamb told by Nathan to King David as a protest to his adultery with Bathsheeba)

- Mark 4: collection of Parables

- Matthew: 3^rd collection/discourse of Matthew 13 = eschaton

- Luke: he did not collect (Jesus was traveling.)

- John does not use the word paroimia – figure of speech (e.g. I am the Good Shepherd!)

- e.g. Parable of the Sower and Seed (innate power of the word to grow in itself)

- he throws on the seed to:

a. rocky ground

b. ground thorns

c. dead because the sun dries up

d. rich soil

- Luke 15:1-32 = Parable of the Lost Sheep (also in Matthew 18:12-14)/Lost Coin/Lost Son

- Parable of the Talents (1 talent/5 talent/10 talent = invested and gained another talents)

- Parable of the Great Supper/Wedding of the Son of a King [a. he bought a field, b. married a wife]

- Eschatological Parables:

· Parable of 10 Virgins (alma & almot / betulah & betulot)

· Parable of the Harvest (wheat and weeds)

· Parable of the Judgment of Nations (Mt. 25 – separate goats from sheeps)

· Parable of the Good Servant

· Parable of the Tenants (burn their cities)

· Parable of the Good Samaritan

· Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

· Parable of the Mustard Seed

· Parable of the Yeast

· Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

D. Instructions for Disciples

- missionary discourse in Matthew 10

- Our Father in Aramaic but received in Greek

TWO-SOURCE THEORY

Mark Queleh

M Matthew Luke L

- Queleh: no physical evidence but seen in the early materials of Matthew and Luke

- Mark was the interpreter of Peter.

- Matthew its source was Mark.

- Queleh which means “source”.

- Matthew and Luke made use of the Q source, while having their own unique-special contribution.

Excursus

- Apocryphal Gospels: also known as the Gospel of Thomas which is not inspired Gospel

- Didache: refers to the Teachings of the 12 Apostles which is not accepted as canonical

- for some, they did miracles for the sake of profit, for Jesus he did not want anyone to know about it

- Jesus taught with authority.

· some refer to their own rabbis (generation of rabbis)

· for Jesus, His reference is Himself

· Jesus got His teachings from the Heavenly Father (Matthew 11) who speaks through His Son and not anymore in varied ways.

· What he is conveying to the people is the Word of the Lord now and then.

· Jesus speaks with radicality.

· Jesus speaks about relationship in the new age – the time of fulfillment has come through his coming.

Jesus and His Followers

a. Disciples (those belonging to the inner circle/those who are intimate to Him)

- Dodeka: 12 disciples which represent the 12 tribes of Israel (they are “itinerant people”)

- Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and Zaccheus

b. Crowds

- e.g. rich young man (ask not to be in the crowds but in the inner circle)

- Matthew = Matthew / Mark = Levi [for Matthew, to enter the 12]

- the 1^st disciples of Jesus were former disciples of John (Andrew and his brother Simon)

- however, in Mark it was mentioned that these two were “fishermen” [immediately they left their boats and parents and followed Jesus]

- Thus, the evangelists were not really sure of the historical facts.

- Is Bartholomew really Nathaniel?

- The 12 Apostles

1. Simon
2. Andrew
3. James the Great
4. John
5. Thomas
6. Bartholomew
7. James the Less
8. Philip
9. Jude Iscariot
10. Jude Thaddeus
11. Simon the Zealot
12. Matthew

- Boamergesi = Sons of thunder!

Who is John the Beloved?

- According to Raymond Brown: he was with Jesus at the beginning but not with the 12 and was called the other-disciple.

· he formed a community (many followers of him because he was a respected hero in that community either in Philistine or Ephesus)

· the disciple whom Jesus loved: his teaching was put into writing by the disciple of the beloved disciple [has authority over the 12]

· more important is the authority behind this writing (final say/final authority)

Importance of the number 12

- when Judas betrayed his ministry, one of them left and so there was a need to replace him

- select from the two followers: Matthias and Barsabas Justus

- they chose by lot and Matthias was selected and all throughout the Gospel was silent about him

Elders and Presbyteroii (overseer)

- no successor for each individual apostle perhaps appointed to take the role of apostles

- teach flock and watch over the flock to sanctify (celebrate the sacraments)

- also needs to govern

- Acts of the Apostles: there were 12 chosen by Jesus; but others not chosen were also called apostles

- Apostoloi = “send”

- this is related to mission as sending of missionary

LECTURE NO. 4

Summary of the Laws and Prophets: “Do to others what you like others to do to you!”

Pogion = logia

p. 68: “With him the people is already facing an exceptional time.” (the Kingdom has come and is in you)

Sayings on Discipleship

- He who loves his mother…more than me is not worthy of me.

- Take up your cross…

- Whoever puts his hand on the plough and keeps looking back is not worthy of the kingdom of heaven.

- Of all those born of woman, who is the greatest? John the Baptist! But the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than him.

- Blessed are your eyes because they see, blessed are your ears because they hear; many kings and prophets long to see what you have seen, and hear what you have heard. (privilege of disciples)

- Paul: emphasized that he is an apostle when his authority is being put into question

· he compares himself with the 12: I am not anymore lesser with them in terms of suffering and labor. I have worked more than them.

· Paul and Barnabas: when they go to Antioch, teachers and prophets led them; yet Peter went there and so there’s chaos

Presbyteroi

- meaning “overseer” or “elders”

- this is a kind of model for the bishop

- first they are disciples

· matethai – to be with Him or learners

· apostoloi – that He might sent them later

- teaching of Galilee: He sent His disciples ahead of Him

- after the Ascension, there is the great commissioning

- Father of Peter: Jonah

- James: 1^st apostle to be killed by Herod Agrippa; he was arrested along with Peter

Josephus Flavius

- Truth: during the time of Jesus it was relatively peaceful.

- then was a former movement leader in Galilee under Vespasian yet he surrendered and so was considered as traitor

- Josephus said that there are too many rivalries among rebels and so they loose

- Yet the Zealots at the time of Jesus were not yet active.

- what is prevalent are Brigands = robbers (dangerous travel)

The Trial and Death of Jesus

- a historical fact even told by outside sources

- crucifixion: used by Romans, Greeks (to generals who abused and got loss/mutinous soldiers/defeated generals): as a warning to other generals (Cartagenians: if you are a general then you loose then don’t go home)

- later on, applied to slaves with grievous crimes (e.g. slave killed the master)

- for the Jews there is a curse for those crucified: you are cursed by God.

- Jesus, thus, became a curse of God for us. (He was the one who carried our sins.)

- Yehohanan: has family tomb are rich persons – virgin tomb

- How long will you be on the cross?

1. break bones
2. man can live before he died for 2 days due to affixation or lack of oxygen
3. just for 3 hours Jesus died (12nn to 3pm)

· this was fast (Joseph asked for His body to Pilate and Pilate was surprised it was very fast)

· Passover = Sabbath

· breaking the legs hastened the death of those crucified

· they did not break legs in fulfillment of the Scriptures

· not break: considered as a Passover lamb

- His crime is blasphemy to Sanhedrin (Messiah, the Son of the Most High – tore his garments as a sign for sorrow)

- not only violated Sabbath but he was also a threat to the temple: “destroy the temple and in 3 days rebuild it…”

- Pilate was asking that it must be a political cause. Thus, he referred to instigating rebellion (King of the Jews – INRI – Iesus Nazorean Rex Ieadorum – Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews)

- Procula: wife of Pilate

- Pilate was said to have killed a lot of Samaritans in a war and so was pulled out by the emperor.

Passion’s Biblical Characters

1. Peter

· Mark: before the cock crows twice/Matthew: no “twice”

· he denied Jesus three times

· in John he cut the ear of the high priest servant, Malchus yet in Mark: one of the bystanders and in Matthew: one of the disciples of Jesus

· he wept bitterly which is a sign of reconciliation

2. James and John

· the intimate disciples of Jesus who were sleeping at Gethsemane

· John: the beloved disciple of Jesus at the foot of the cross???

3. Herod Antipas

· trial before him

· expecting to do miracles but he sent them back to Pilate

4. Barrabas

· it literally means the “Son of the Father” (Bar + Abba)

· perhaps, his name is also Yeshua

· and so, Christians try to suppress that name out of respect for Jesus because he is a thief

5. Judas Iscariot

· he betrayed Jesus with a kiss

· Matthew: 30 pieces of silver/pay the soldiers not to tell that the body of Jesus is lost

· Hanged himself: in Matthew, the high priest bought the land for strangers, , while in Luke, Judas bought the land

· Acts of the Apostles: stomach burst out – pill of blood = accident

· 2 things are sure: tragic event(dehalderama) and bloody thing

· in Matthew, his basis is the story of Ahethopet when he rebelled against Absalom he became an adviser of the enemy who later on hanged himself

· in Luke, he referred top Antiochus who is considered as an enemy of God and died of cancer of stomach (this is considered as daba or karma)

· Herod Agrippa: talking to Sidonians had stomach burst out and died because an angel struck him because he appropriated himself with divine dignity and for killing James the Great

6. Simon of Cyrene

· Mark: Alexander and Rufus were his sons

· Cyrus: North African territory of Rome

· Mediterranean of black race? Why was he from Africa? [he came from Jews in diaspora who made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover

· Why in John there is no Simon of Cyrene? In the theology of John, He is king. He must do everything. He doesn’t need a Simon of Cyrene.

7. Women of Jerusalem

· they wept for Jesus

8. Caiphas

· the high priest that year

· one who confronted Jesus (in John, he interrogated Jesus)

· He advised the Jews that it is better for one man to die that the whole Israel or nation to perish.

9. Annas

· the husband of her daughter

· faither-in-law og Caphas

· list of high priest when referred to: the high priest of the house of Annas

10. Joseph Arimatea

· he asked the body of Jesus from Pilate and buried Jesus in his tomb

11. Two Thieves

· they are known to be as Dimas and Estas who are crucified with Jesus

· Mark and Matthew: they joined the people in humiliating Jesus (these Gospels are not concerned with them)

· Luke: Jesus although was dying was still thinking of the good of those who have done Him evil (Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing!)

· Lestai which means thieves (Romans) and revolutionaries (Jews); this depends on one’s own point of view

12. Veronica

· this is not biblically based

· 6^th station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

· Vero + ica = true image or icon

· P. 76 (# 7 question) [ Peter – Linus – Cletus – Clement]

“disciples of Jesus” = other followers of Jesus

Who is Jesus in the eyes of Pilate?

- He was a troublemaker to the religious leaders.

- from political trial to religious trial

- Pilate perhaps was superstitious

3 Unresolved Historical Questions on the Trial

- to try a person at night is illegal (not really a formal trial because the priests want to get rid of Jesus)

Assignment: read ahead on Proclaiming the Kingdom, Parables and Lord’s Prayer

LECTURE NO. 5

in John there’s no agony in the garden (Jesus is not alone; although everybody abandons me I am not alone coz the Father is with me)

John – mentioned of cohort. And so, the Romans were also involved in Jesus’ arrest.

Jesus heals and the restores the severe ear [Luke]

Acts of the Apostles: if it is of God, you can’t do anything against them; if it is of men it will self destruct – Theudas and Judas the Galilean [Acts 5:36 ff. – “So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God."]

Pilate resides in Caesarea Maritima.

Jerusalem = palaces of Herod (Pilate not stayed here because he was a Gentile)

Antonia = Roman garrison or fortress which is near the temple – Pilate was here.

Pilate and Herod: even enemies became friends on account of Jesus (antipathy: Galileans went to the temple – Pilate mixed their blood with their sacrifices)

Judgment of Pilate: I find no crime of this man – If you released him, you have no friend of Caesar!

Procula’s Dream: it is all about Jesus’ innocence (it is found in Matthew – all about dreams, e.g. dream of Joseph)

Mount Calvary: in Latin it is calvarium which means “skull place”; in Hebrew Golgotha (this is outside the city walls)

10 lashes less one to Paul – punishment of synagogue

Scourging at the Pillar – a Roman punishment (leather belt with spikes)

Jesus carried the horizontal beam of the wood; the vertical one is already fixed in Mt. Calvary.

Crucifixion: lower slaves/hardened criminals

Suicide by stabbing oneself or drinking hemlock: for the rich [e.g. Socrates: poisoning the mind of the youth]

Last Words of Jesus

1. Mark: Eloi…eloi

2. Matthew: Eli…Eli

3. Luke: a) Father forgive them… b) Amen, I say to you…(Dimas) c) In manus tuas…

4. John: a) Woman… b) I thirst… c) It is finished.

(Wedding at Cana) (Samaritan woman) (will of God)

Mark: a lonely death – death of man abandoned by God

Luke: Jesus as wounded healer – one who forgives and think of others even suffering

Centurion: indeed, this man was the Son of God…

- prove Son of God by being faithful until the end

- 3 hours of darkness/temple curtains was torn from top to bottom

Jesus died with total confidence of God.

Phenomenal Signs

- darkness over land

- curtains torn from top to bottom

- earthquake: tombs were opened and bodies rose and show themselves in some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem (according to Matthew) [with the death of Jesus the eschatological time has come]

Chapter 4: Preaching of Jesus (alahut adonai/basileia toteo)

- not a kind of a place separated for own world but the way God acts and governs the created world

- my ways are not your ways

- the Kingdom of God has arrived (already here)

The Fullness of the Kingdom

- no more tears

- the Church = new city

- descending from heaven

perpetrators of Jesus: he comes from the deomon; He is driving out the lesser evil (Beelzebul: Lord of the Devils)

Acts of Apostles: Ananias and Sapphira – lied to the HS (Acts 5:1 ff)

The best way to speak about the Kingdom is to open it for interpretation and common ordinary lives of people. (meshal and parabole)

[e.g. shrub turned into fig tree – small reality can become big]

Who were able to inherit the KOG? Children [bought farm/bought animals/married my wife]

Parable of Workers Hired on Different Time

Parts of Matthew

1. Mt. 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount) = Mt. 7:28 – When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching. [Beatitudes, Our Father
2. Matthew 10 (Discourse on Mission: calling of disciples and sent them) = Mt. 11:1 – “When Jesus finished giving these commands to his twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.”
3. Matthew 13 = Discourse on the Parables (speak to them at length)/Mt. 13:53 – “When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there”
4. Matthew 18 = Discourse on the Community/Mt. 19:1 – “When Jesus finished these words* , he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan..”
5. Matthew 24 and 25 = Eschatological discourses/Mt. 26:1 - When Jesus finished all these words, he said to his disciples…)

Torah = talks about the will of God/Wisdom = human reflections/experiences (e.g. Sirach – look at the ants = hardwork)

LECTURE NO. 6

24 July 2007

Asphalt sea = also known as Dead Sea

Ein kerem – the place of Mary

Town Builder/12 Foundations (Lk. 18)

Nazareth – where one can found the Basilica of Annunciation

Silver Star – Basilica of Nativity

the oldest existing Church

Franciscan Monks: guardians of holy places

In OT prophets: Elijah and Elisha raised dead people. (one day children were teasing Elisha: “bald headed”. Elisha called down the animals and killed the children.

Antiochus Epiphanes: before the revolt of Maccabees

Sheoul (hades) – place of the dead (dark place where there is no more praise of God and some kind of shadowy existence)

Description of death: You will go and lie with your fathers.

For some: it is only the just

For others: both for the just and the wicked; the latter punishment and the former eternal life

Jesus: resurrection is a vindication of God (God will vindicate you!)

e.g. Maccabees 7 brothers: mother encouraged them to martyrdom – “I might lose you at this life but I know I will recover you back!”

Influence of Greeks and Persians: the idea of permanence of souls (body decays, while soul continues to live)

Why Jesus was cursed by God?

- he died by crucifixion

- when JC rose from the dead God vindicates it

- in the eyes of the Jews, it is a blasphemy to claim being the Son of God and also violating the laws of the Jews yet in the end God still vindicates Jesus

- JC is the first born of the dead

- ascended – seated at the right hand of the Father – reigning in glory

Why the Pharisees did not believe?

- resurrection will still be at the end of the ages

- when he rose from the dead the eschaton – last time – has already started

- there is no real account that Jesus arose because no one has seen

- empty tomb: disciples came to steal his body

- appearance of Jesus

- 1^st account of the Appearance of Jesus: Paul (50-51 AD) – 1 Cor. 15:3 ff. (For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared to Kephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.)

· tradition at Luke 24:33-34 (So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!") = THUS, therer is an individual appearance to Peter who is the KEPHAS

· then to the 12

· 500 brothers at once (Why is this not in the Gospel? The Evangelists either do not know about this or they know but not know totally the context.)

· James (bishop of Jerusalem): one of the pillars of the Church in the Acts of the Apostles

o from whom Paul will have conflict or some of his disciples especially regarding pagans

o James was not a believer during Jesus’ lifetime until Jesus appeared to him.

o He was a relative of Jesus and yet he does not believe in Him. However, the risen Christ has appeared to him directly and so he gained the respect of Christians as a leader

Luke 3:23 – “When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age. He was the son, as was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli…”

- He started His ministry 30 years of age

- He died 27/28 A.D.

Mark: an angel appeared to women – Go and tell his disciples that He will see you in Galilee.

Luke: narrative of appearances (stay with us it is already evening – Mane nobiscum Domine!)

Matthew: ask Pilate to put some Roman guards at the tomb

John: tomb was empty (ask the gardener)/appearing to the disciples without Thomas

- c.f. John 21 (Appearance to the 7 Disciples/Jesus and Peter/The Beloved Disciple)

- on the 3^rd day He rose again…God raised Him up…Spirit is there too…(Jesus never outs Himself equal to the Father in the Gospels)

- the Son of God humbled Himself (not like Adam and Eve who wanted to be like “God”)

- nakedness: becoming a threat to one another

- kenosis – empty Himself of the Godhead

- resurrection of Jesus: the beginning of Christology – WHO IS JESUS?

- this is followed by the question WJAT JESUS DID? Thus, the beginning of Soteriology – Jesus as Savior

- it is also about Jesus (c.f. Gospels) during His lifetime and after the resurrection from the dead

Who is Jesus?

- religious leaders? (it depends because not all Pharisees are antagonistic of Jesus)

§ not believe: threat to the temple

Beelzebul (The Lord of the Flies)

Violating the Sabbath

Eat with unwashed hands = disciples

§ Nicodemus: we know that you are a teacher from God because nobody would be able to do these things unless God is with Him

- the relatives of Jesus think that He is out of His mind! (crazy)

- his cousins felt that He should have continue His job, build His family and support Mary and remain in Nazareth and yet He chose to be an itinerant preacher – going around the places

- he often stayed at Capernaum

- Mark: has no interest in Mary (Who is my mother? Who are my brothers and sisters? Whoever does the will of God!)

- thus, our relatives are not blood relationship but those who listen to the WOG and keep it

- Ancient times: if you want to survive stick with your family!

- thus, Jesus has destroyed that structure and yet by founding another structure

- Herod: he thought of Jesus as John the Baptist risen from the dead because he could do miracles

thus, he received this news with apprehension because he killed John the Baptists

- Pilate (before the Passion, could he had inkling about Jesus)

§ a man attracted to the crowd and so there’s a need to pay attention to Him because He might create trouble

§ perhaps, he sent spies to spy on Jesus

Why the people gathered around Jesus?

- he would heal – a prophet of God

- teach them with authority

- Everybody is looking for you! (Simon) Let us go to other towns and villages. (Jesus)

In the Synoptic Gospels before His resurrection, how did Jesus show His relationship with God? Tell people about God?

- ABBA: when Jesus prays – my Father

- his being Son of God is different from the sonship of His disciples

- Abba, if it is possible let this cup pass me by!

- wherever and whenever He prays, He says Abba (not call God our God)

- the post Easter Jesus: made the historical Jesus in singular relationship and oneness with His Abba (Her and my Father are one!)

- Matthew 11:27 – “All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”[this illustrates a deep relationship between Jesus and His Father]

- Abraham = Father / Moses = lawgiver

LECTURE NO. 7

Essenes

- ritual washing

- separated from the Temple

John’s Baptism

- it is not repeated unlike the Essenes, but it is only once

- it follows Isaiah

Key to the Holy Sepulchre: it is given to a Moslem family

Church of Mt. Beatitudes: on a hill overlooking the lake – Sea of Galilee

With the resurrection came the beginnings of Christology…

- in the light of the resurrection of the dead through the Holy Spirit

- Servant (ebed) of Yahweh: this will be applied to Jesus as well (Messiah, Son of God, etc.)

- Ho huious tou anthropou / ben ha adam / ben eno(a)sh : Son of Man

- in Israel, those anointed are the king, prophet and also a high priest

- when one receives the HS, it is already a kind of anointing (what is important is not the ceremony but the GIFT – the effect of the anointing – the RUAH)

- e.g. Saul was anointed king (if you killed him, the Lord will avenge)

- Idomean Tribes: a tribe living South of Judea (the descendants of Herod)

- Neser: a bud will spring from the fallen tribe of David

- Essenes 2 Messiah: David’s line and Aaron’s side

- Mark 15:39 - “When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

- Christ = mentioned in Caesarea Philippi

- Mark 8:31-33. The First Prediction of the Passion. [Jesus as the Suffering Messiah]

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

- Jesus understands His messiahship both as a suffering servant and a Son of God.

Son of Man: Ho huious tou anthropou / ben ha adam / ben eno(a)sh

- Daniel 7:13 –“As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him,…”

- Ancient One = God (his clothing was snow bright: similar to Transfiguration)

- Jewish perspective: the people of God is represented by the Son of Man

- Enoch: What happened to him?) God took him! God intervenes personally. (Genesis 5:24 – Then Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer here, for God took him.)

- Psalm 8:5-7 – “What are humans that you are mindful of them, mere mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them little less than a god, crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them rule over the works of your hands, put all things at their feet:”

§ he is a human being: being man is significant

§ bar enosh

- Ezekiel 8: he was also called as the Son of Man

- 2 Senses of the Son of Man

1. suffering Son of Man
2. glorious Son of Man (Matthew)

- Maranatha: the Lord will come

- Angels: bene-elohim

- Nephelim: heroes of all (nephal are creatures destined for downfall)

- c.f. Psalm 2:7 – “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD, who said to me, "You are my son; today I am your father.”

§ the Son of God here is a Davidic king

§ ergo, the Son of Man is still a higher title in the Old Testament

- sometimes, the Son of God refers to a righteous person (i.e. Israel and the king at the day of his anointing)

Lord

- before (“sir” or “master”) and after (God) the resurrection

- Peter: Stay away from me Lord for I am a sinful man! (this is a higher title)

- one acknowledges one’s sins because he has seen the epiphany of the Lord

- Isaiah: burning ember and charcoal

- OT = lord = elohim (i)

- El shaddai = God of the mountain

- the title Lord is applied in the light of his glorious resurrection

- Lord Jesus is out of high respect (that Jesus will come very soon)

§ Luke: Jesus will return until the Gospel has been preached.

§ Paul from 1 Cor. 16:22 – “If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. Maranatha!”

- the Lord in the past refers to “God’s agent”

- today, the Lord mostly refers to the Holy Spirit:

§ Dives in Misericordia

§ Redemptor Hominis

§ Dominum et Vivificantem (The LORD and Giver of Life0

- Paul writing around 51-54 A.D., while Mark 70 A.D. and Matthew 80 A.D.

- Philippians 2:6-11 – “Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

§ this is called the kenotic hymn

- Providence 8:22 ff – "The LORD begot me, the first-born of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;…”

§ this is under the part of the Discourse of Wisdom

§ hokmah elohim – the “wisdom of God”

§ hokmah: imagines himself as a master plan of God

§ later on interpreted by rabbi as Torah (he creates the world)

§ John: all creation exists with the LOGOS as pattern (he emphasized the dignity of Jesus as higher than the angels given the fact that the Jews has a strong angelogy)

§ John 8:58 – Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM."

§ Miracle at Cana: the water saw its Creator and so it blushed (it turned into red wine)

- Prosthenteon = WORD (attuned to God)

- Malachi = messenger

LECTURE NO. 8

Gospels

- perhaps there is kodigo – not the whole Gospel yet is written

- Luke 1:1 – “Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us,” (perhaps this refers to Mark and Quelleh)

- this is not oral because the expressions are the same (thus it must be something written)

- Luke: 72 disciples/ministers of the Word, i.e. preachers & evangelists (not witnesses yet its source are witnesses)

- this is taken in an orderly experience

The Gospel of Mark

- MARK: there are early testimonies that is why we refer to him as “written” (e.g. Papias: this is in Egypt, bishop of Hierapolis: “holy city”)

- Mark is the bishop of Alexandria

- what Papias said was recorded by Eusebius (1^st Christian historian) – this came from what the elder said

- Mark was the interpreter of Peter: Peter remembered accurately the things said and done by the Lord but not in order.

- Peter adapted to the needs of his time (Jews, Romans and pagans)

- this is considering the fact that Rome is a cosmopolitan (a world within a city)

- Acts 12: 12 – “When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is called Mark, where there were many people gathered in prayer.”

- his cousin is Barnabas (his 1^st mission is Cyprus – native place of Barnabas, perhaps, he joined because Mark has also relatives there)

- then to Turkey/Asia Minor but only Barnabas because John Mark returned to Jerusalem because he was still young

- when he matured, he compiled this Gospel

- Paul + Silas and then Barnabas + Mark

- in the Book of Revelation’s fallen is Babylon (Babylon refers to Rome which is an evil city, a harlot): it is a house of sinners – a city that persecuted Christians

- the Gospel was written in Rome while he was visiting Peter in prison

- with Mark, the Gospel became an orderly story with a beginning and ending

- the apostles were old and dying and so there is a need TO PRESERVE (nihil obstat by the apostles)

- the fact that it was used by Christians and was copied reveals that it is authoritative (it even reached Luke in Syria)

- codex: a book with front page and back page and then bound like a book

scroll: it is being rolled

- Aramaic words used by Jesus that were preserved: talitha koum / ephphatah / rakka / eloi / kurban (dedicated to God)

- as a writing Mark’s Gospel as simple (he was not that familiar with Jewish custom), on the other hand the Book of Revelation was not mainly concerned with syntaxes and grammar but only with IMAGES

- Silvanus was the editor of Mark (amanuenses of Paul: a scriptwriter)

- Matthew and Luke on the Temptations of Jesus (Matthew: its last temptation was on the mountain, while in Luke it was on the Temple)

- in Mark, Jesus was with the wild beast

- in Mark, Jesus is the suffering Son of Man and is not only seen as a worker of wonders

- “Messianic secret” (Do not tell anyone…it must be understood WELL)

- On Discipleship: of all the Evangelists, Mark presents the disciples in a darker light (the disciples did not understand who Jesus us)

- The positive aspects of the disciples in Mark: they left everything and who among them was the greatest

- Mark 8:27 – Who do you say that I am? in Caesarea Philippi (You are the Christ…yet later on a suffering Christ)

- Temptation of Jesus: use your power and do not welcome suffering

- Mark has no infancy narrative – Jesus is the Son of God (Mk. 3:31 – “His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him…” JESUS AND HIS FAMILY)

Luke: deeper insight on Mariology

Matthew: it comes first because it is used for catechism during that time (it is an effect of recent historical studies – discovering Mark as first to be written)

· everything has been in Matthew

· this is called the canonical order vs. chronological order

· the basic text for teaching catechism

· e.g. Letters of Paul (this is written according to the order of importance, at times also in accordance to length or according to usage)

· what we know only comes with a modern historical research

Ministry of John the Baptist

- the career of Jesus really started with the career of John the Baptist

- it was not Jesus who was baptizing but His disciples

- they were baptizing Jesus in His name: a baptism of repentance

- baptism with Spirit: people are baptized in His power; in His name

- John the Baptist in John?

· the disciples of John baptized too

· not diminished John but put in proper perspective – in preparation for the Lord’s coming

· similar to a malachi – I am sending a messenger ahead of you! (malach – angel/messenger)

· he was dressed in camel and eat locust and wild honey (this is natural to his kind of lifestyle)

· we are reminded of prophet Elijah (Ahab)

- Baptism of Jesus: a manifestation or EPIPHANY

· this is like the infancy narrative of Mark

· “let it be for a time”

- he was among the wild beasts: probably Matthew and Luke knew the 3 temptations, Mark only the horror and danger of the desert (e.g. Daniel) / [Adam: helped by the angel before the wild beasts]

- Mark: only two apostles have story – Levi and Judas

- Style of Mark: he breaks the story with a story and then continues the story (Markan Sandwich)

- e.g. Mark 3:21 (Family of Jesus = Story of Beelzebul):

· makes us see how different people looked at Jesus differently

· power to heal and to exorcise demons

· he has an eschatological family: based not on blood but on faith to God (faithfulness to His will)

- Parables on Chapter 4

· collection of the parables of the kingdom

· only the “seed grows of itself” (what was not present in other Gospels)

· not depend on the work of human beings but on the power of GOD