Class Notes: 10-28-2002
Religion 203
Monday Nights 6-8:50

Handout given in class titled, “Ancient Stone Casket May Be Oldest Link To Jesus.”
Test scores are in and the professor has chosen to use a standard grading scale for grades. ( 90+=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, and 59 and below = F)
Also starting on October 29th you can go back to computer lab to see test questions and answers.

The Gospels

The Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
The Gospel of Mark talks about the “Desolating Sacrilege,” referring to a future tyrannical ruler, the Anti-Christ.
The book of Daniel refers to the prophecy about Antiochus Epiphanies. Antiochus persecuted Jews and desecrated the temple by sacrificing a pig to Zeus in it. The Antiochus Epiphanies were during second century B.C., Greek-Syrian rule.

Throughout the gospels, Jesus’ words about the end of the world, the second coming is couched in the indefinite future. Jesus and his followers believed his second coming was immanent.
The way it was spoke of sounded as if the second coming could happen at any time.

Reasons for the crucifixion of Jesus:
***Secular reasons:
Blasphemy- Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and the Messiah
Sedition-Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, meaning the “King of the Jews.” Sedition means to try to over throw the government and therefore it was feared that he would over throw Harrod.
Jesus criticized religious leaders, he charged the Pharisees of hypocrisies
Jesus prevented commerce in the Temple. He put a stop to the Sadducees selling animals for sacrifices for outrageous prices.

***Spiritual reasons:
To be a sacrifice for sin (once and for all). No more animal sacrifices after this point.
---You would be reconciled with God if you accepted Jesus and what he died for.

The Gospel of Mark refers to the Atonement, which is basically a ransom for many people’s sins.

The Last Supper instituted Communion
---Jesus’ blood poured out and His body broken, making a new covenant.

The old covenant said to follow God’s rules and he would reward you in life. If you sin ask for forgiveness and sacrifice an animal, also at the end of the year celebrate Yom Kippur and take care of all left over sins. Deut. 28 and the book of Job.

The new covenant says the have faith in Jesus and God. If you sin ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus’ death a payment for it. Your reward believing in God and Jesus would be eternal life and avoiding Hell. You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died for your sins, and that he raised from the dead.

Icthus means the acronym for IXOYE, which means Jesus, Son of God, Savior symbolized by a fish.

The Gospel of John:
John chapter 1---Jesus is the “Word” of God
The “Word” refers to a pre-incarnate Jesus
John 1:14 The word was with God and the word was God.
Jesus is a physical manifestation of God

There are two types of Gospels, the synoptic and John.
The Synoptic Gospels were Matthew, Mark and Luke
The Synoptic Gospels had ideas and beliefs of:
Low Christology---Less emphasis on Jesus’ identity and more about his teachings (The kingdom of God, exorcisms, healings, the law and wealth).
Jesus spoke to the masses only in parables
There was a belief in the Messianic secret
The enemies of Jesus were the Pharisees and the Sadducees

The Gospel of John was different; it had ideas and beliefs on:
Long metaphysical discourse on Jesus’ nature and his relationship with his Father
Full of “I am…”statements
Jesus is God in human flesh (John 1:1, 14-18 and 5:18)
No parables in the book
No belief in the Messianic Secret
The enemies of Jesus were the Jews


Three groups that Jesus didn’t like were the Pharisees who controlled the synagogues, and the emphasized following the rules exactly. Jesus considered them hypocrites. Another group were the Sadducees who controlled the Temple, and they were viewed as collaborators with the Romans. They were responsible for the selling practices in the Temple that Jesus destroyed. The last group is the Zealots, the advocated violence against the Romans, and Jesus was not an advocate of violence.

Being Born Again: (John chapter 3)
Being born from above, it’s a spiritual re-birth
John 1:12 shows the idea of being born again
---You start out as an enemy of God because you inherit the sins of Adam
---You ask for forgiveness
---God forgives on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice
Also look at John 3:16

Requirements for Salvation: (1 Peter 3:21, 1 Corinthians 1:17, Acts 2:37 and 16:30)
Repentance for sins
Faith
Water Baptism??? This is debated upon by Christians as to whether or not it is necessary.
---The instructor’s opinion is that it is not required to be baptized to be saved. He views it as an initiation ceremony (Romans 6).

The Doctrines of the Trinity:
There is only one God
The father is called God
The son is called God
The holy spirit is called God
Therefore the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the One God
3 persons, with one essence or nature, and each person is distinct


The Pentecost:
Pentecost is a Greek name for a Jewish festival
It’s the Christian name for the coming of the Holy Spirit; through this followers receive the “Gift of Tongues.” This gift allows people to speak in foreign languages in order to reach their multi-language audience


Saul of Tarsus becomes the Apostle Paul after he converts the Christianity
Before he was converted, he was a persecutor of the Jews
He converted when he fell from his horse and saw a blinding light, a vision of the resurrected Jesus, and heard Jesus’ voice.
Most believe him to be the 12th apostle that took Judas’ place.
Paul never actually saw Jesus in the flesh, he only knew him through visions