faithology - background & beginnings 1 background and beginnings
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Faithology - Background & Beginnings
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Background and Beginnings
Faithology - Background & Beginnings
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Jewish History(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)
† Most Catholics have some vague memories about Jewish history… At best they can recall only a few things they have learned in school or read. But more than a vague memory is needed if they are to understand the beginnings of Christianity, for Christianity is a mid-Eastern religion imported to the West.
† It takes its roots from Judaism.
† Its early theology and liturgy are grounded in Jewish terms and ways and in the cultural context of Israel, an Eastern country, not a European one.
Faithology - Background & Beginnings
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Jewish History(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)
AbrahamAbrahamGod’s promise to him and his son Isaac that
they would father a great nation
JacobJacobIsaac’s son (later called Israel) has
twelve sons who were to head the twelve
tribes
God’s Chosen PeopleGod’s Chosen People
Identity adopted by early Church (the “new” People of
God)
Identity reasserted as recently as Vatican II; L.G. 2 refers to the Church as the
“People of God”
Twelve ApostlesTwelve Apostles
JosephJosephRemember the
multicolored coat? Sold into slavery but in
time became the Prime Minister of
Egypt
Settlement in Settlement in EgyptEgypt
Years of prosperity followed by oppression and slavery when the Hittites gained control of Egypt
““I am Joseph, your I am Joseph, your brother!” (Gn 45:4)brother!” (Gn 45:4)Pope John XXIIIPope John XXIII
Faithology - Background & Beginnings
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Jewish History(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)
MosesMoses“Let my people go!”
Freed from bondage, wandered in the Sinai
wilderness for 40 years. Entered into the
“Promised Land.”
Period of the Period of the KingdomKingdom
Covenant (Ex 19:3-25)Covenant (Ex 19:3-25)
TorahTorah
Hebrew language Hebrew language developed (mesh of developed (mesh of
Canaanite & Aramaic)Canaanite & Aramaic)
Philistine ThreatPhilistine Threat SolomonSolomonIsrael becomes a “player” as a nation!
Samuel appoints Saul Samuel appoints Saul KingKing
ScripturesScriptures
Division between Judea Division between Judea & Israel& Israel
Kingdom temporally Kingdom temporally unites but separates after unites but separates after
threat diminishesthreat diminishes
Division between Judea Division between Judea & Israel& Israel
Temple BuiltTemple Built
Jerusalem Jerusalem internationalizedinternationalized
multiculturalismmulticulturalism
Faithology - Background & Beginnings
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Jewish History(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)
Civil WarCivil War
Assyrian Assyrian Invasion/ExileInvasion/Exile
721 B.C.E.721 B.C.E.
North (Samaria) separate North (Samaria) separate from the South (Judea)from the South (Judea)
Samaritans:Samaritans:1. only Pentateuch2. Mt Gerizim (Holy of Holies - not Jerusalem temple!)
Samaria conqueredSamaria conquered1. Jewish Elite deported1. Jewish Elite deported2. Jewish peasantry stays and mixes with non-Jewish inhabitants
Babylonian Babylonian CaptivityCaptivity
587 B.C.E.587 B.C.E.
Babylonian Babylonian DefeatDefeat
538 B.C.E.538 B.C.E.Persia defeats Babylon
Judea conqueredJudea conquered1. Temple razed2. Jews carried off into captivity
Judea survives until 587 Judea survives until 587 B.C.E.B.C.E.
Covenant Re-examinedCovenant Re-examinedNew emphasis on spiritual deliverance, restoration of the Davidic monarchy, and a Messiah. The Torah become even more important.
Jewish people & faith Jewish people & faith now all over the worldnow all over the world
Exile endsExile endsSome Jews chose to remain where they were settled and other return to their homeland
Temple RebuiltTemple Rebuilt516 B.C.E.516 B.C.E.Judeans:Judeans:
1. Samaritans half breeds and heretics2. Jerusalem Temple (Holy of Holies - not Mt Gerizim!)
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Jewish History(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)
Formative AgeFormative Age
Alexander the Alexander the Great defeats Great defeats
PersiaPersia
331 B.C.E.331 B.C.E.
Liturgy assumes its Liturgy assumes its definitive shapedefinitive shape
Synagogue emerged as Synagogue emerged as an established institutionan established institution
Hellenization via Egypt Hellenization via Egypt occursoccurs
1.1. Alexandria & Philo of AlexandriaAlexandria & Philo of Alexandria2. Septuagint
Rededication of Rededication of the Templethe Temple
165 B.C.E.165 B.C.E.
Civil WarCivil War
63 B.C.E.63 B.C.E.Rome intervenes
Hellenization ContinuesHellenization ContinuesTwo camps:1. Sadducees
• Conservative• Nationalistic• Isolationistic
2.Pharisees• More Liberal• Torah Centered
(perhaps legalistic)Seleucids of AntiochSeleucids of AntiochDesired an empire uniform in
culture and religion - “corrupted” Judaism
Jerusalem under Jerusalem under Roman controlRoman control
1.Thousands of Jews forced into slavery
2.Jerusalem becomes a Roman protectorate under the leadership of the Sanhedrin and Herod
3. Upon Herod’s death, territory divided up - each section under a governor, e.g. Pilate, 26 - 36 C.E.
Works of the Hebrew Works of the Hebrew Bible assembled in an Bible assembled in an authoritative fashionauthoritative fashion
Maccabee RevoltMaccabee Revolt