...The Preexistence of Jesus: Jesus’ Divine Origin and Identity in the Gospel of Mark Andrew Kutz REL 371 - New Testament Dr. Jason Bruner February 27, 2015 Introduction Bart Ehrman, a New Testament scholar and author of The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Church Writings, was once a strong proponent of the view that the Gospel of John, alone, presents Jesus as divine: Until a year ago I would have said – and frequently did say, in the classroom, in public lectures, and in my writings – that Jesus is portrayed as God in the Gospel of John but not, definitely not, in the other Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Nevertheless, over the course of writing his book How Jesus Became God, Ehrman admitted to a change of perspective, saying, “These [Synoptic] Gospels do indeed think of Jesus as divine.”As far as this statement, Ehrman and I agree. He does, however, clarify his position, as he posits a viewpoint that I will attempt to refute. For Mark, Jesus was adopted to be God’s son at his baptism. Before that, he was a mere mortal. For Luke, Jesus was conceived by God and so was literally God’s son, from the point of his conception. (In Luke Jesus did not exist prior to that conception to the virgin – his conception is when he came into existence). For John, Jesus was a pre-existent divine being – the Word of God who was both with God and was God at the beginning of all things – who became a human. Here he is not born of a virgin...
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...For centuries, people from diverse religions and cultures have searched for substantial data in order to better understand the true nature and identity of Jesus. Some contend that he was a prophet; others worship him as a god, while many others assert that he was merely a wise teacher with no link to the divine. In the second part of Graham Stanton’s book, The Gospels and Jesus, Jesus’ intentions, teachings, and downfall are examined and assessed with notable order and clarity, all in an attempt to resolve the fundamental question of Part II: who was Jesus of Nazareth? Stanton launches Part II with a chapter entitled “What do we know about Jesus of Nazareth?” Here, the debate as to whether or not Jesus existed is considered by exploring archaeological evidence from outside the gospels in an effort to establish what is known about Jesus. He cites various non-Christian, Jewish, and Christian sources after opening the chapter with a theory by G.A. Wells which argues that it was not until 100 CE that Jesus was worshipped as a “Savior” figure. Wells maintains that before 150 CE, there is no independent non-Christian support for the existence of Jesus and that the authors of the four New Testament gospels invented their traditions about the life of Jesus. As Stanton argues, this does not entirely make sense, since it is difficult to find signs of the convictions, emphases, and conflicts of the Christians of that period in the canonical gospels. Stanton continues to refer to...
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...Assignment notes Christianity vs. Judaism: The major differencesHere, in great brevity, is a summary of some of the major differences between Judaism and Christianity. | Principle | | Christianity | | Judaism | Nature of God | | Trinity | | Unity | Nature of Messiah | | Divine, Sin Sacrifice | | Only human, Righteous King | Atonement | | Blood Required | | Prayer and Repentance | Sin | | Everyone stained by Adam and Eve ("original sin") | | All begin with clean slate | Righteousness | | No one | | Within our power to choose | Satan | | Fallen angel | | Agent of God | Torah | | Written only | | Written and Oral | Commandments | | Not eternal or valuable | | Eternal and of ultimate value | Exclusivity | | Only Christians go to heaven | | All righteous have a place in the world to come. | Land of Israel | | Irrelevant | | Crucial | Jews | | Replaced by the church; or irrelevant | | God’s chosen people | Judaism is one of the world’s oldest religions, dating back up to 2000 years BC from the time when God first called Abraham to leave his home and follow Him. At that time, God made a covenant (or agreement) with Abraham in which He promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation and that one day his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan if Abraham followed him. God’s plan was gradually revealed through the Old Testament and built on with further promises to Moses, David and the prophets...
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...Christianity stand two figures: Jesus and Paul. Jesus is regarded by Christians as the founder of their religion, in that the events of his life comprise the foundation story of Christianity; but Paul is regarded as the great interpreter of Jesus' mission, who explained, in a way that Jesus himself never did. The Question of what t would Jesus himself have thought of Paul?. But Jesus never knew Paul, the two men never once met. The disciples who knew Jesus best, such as Peter, James and John, have left no writings behind them explaining how Jesus seemed to them or what they considered his mission to have been. Did they agree with the interpretations disseminated by Paul in his fluent articulate writings. Nor did they perhaps think that this newcomer to the scene, spinning complicated theories about the place of Jesus in the scheme of things, was getting everything wrong. Paul claimed that his interpretations were not just his own invention, but had come to him by personal inspiration; he claimed that he had personal acquaintance with the resurrected Jesus, even though he had never met him during his lifetime. Such acquaintance, he claimed, gained through visions and transports, was actually superior to acquaintance with Jesus during his lifetime. Which is why when it comes to discussing the relation between Jesus and Paul, it is better to begin with Paul. Due to the fact Paul is more easily known than Jesus. Which can be admitted on all sides. Jesus wrote nothing; all the records...
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...A comparison of the three monotheistic religions in the Middle East reveals that all believe in one God who governs the universe and to whom we are responsible for our actions on Judgment Day. It is the differing views on interpretation of God's word that sets each apart from the others. Judaism According to tradition, God entered into a special relationship with the Jews when he spoke directly to them at Mt. Sinai: if they would acknowledge Him as their ultimate God and agree to obey His laws, He would acknowledge the Jews as his special people and promised them the land now known as Israel. The Torah, the Holy Book of Judaism, is God's will expressed as commandments. There is no mortal person alone who governs the Jewish faith but each rabbi is the instrument of his own synagogue in order to relay God's oral commandments to the congregation. Jewish tradition dictates that prayers be given three times a day: morning, afternoon, and evening. No work is allowed on the Sabbath so that Jews can spend the day in prayer, study, rest, and family feasting. The Jews believe the Messiah has yet to make himself known to those here on earth. It is their belief that virtue and obedience will be rewarded in the next life and that the suffering and forced exile they have endured will be addressed at the end of time. Christianity Christians believe in one God and that Jesus Christ was sent by him to convey God's love to those here on earth. Though seen as being...
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...Appendix D Part I Define the following terms: Term Definition Ethnic group people of the same race or nationality who share a culture Anti-Semitism an attitude or policy of hatred and hostility toward Jewish people Islamophobia hatred or fear of Muslims or of their politics or culture Xenophobia A person who is fearful of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples Persecution The act or practice of persecuting on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs that differ from those of the persecutor. Religious group is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity. Part II Select at least 1 religious and 1 ethnic group not your own from the list below. • Religious groups (based on http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/affiliations-all-traditions.pdf) o Christianity • Evangelical Protestant • Mainline Protestant • Historically Black Churches • Roman Catholic • Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Orthodox (Greek, Eastern) o Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform) o Buddhism (Theravada or Mahayana) o Islam (Sunni, Shia, Sufism) o Hinduism • Ethnic groups (based on divisions in U.S. Census Bureau documents) o Asian (Asian descent) o Black (African descent) o Hispanic and Latino (South or Central American descent) o Pacific Islander (Polynesian descent) o White (European descent) Part III Answer the following...
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...Historical Jesus INTRODUCTION Over the centuries scholars from around the world have written a lot about religion, its meaning, relevance and contribution to humanity. There have been many speculations upon the nature and historical background of Jesus Christ. Many scholars have tried to dig into the few clues as to His identity and come up with a human side to which we can all relate. The study of Christianity and how it relates to Jesus Christ is very important to the whole world. Concerning the issue of Christianity, for example, the majority of people are taught in most schools and churches that Jesus Christ was an actual historical figure and that the only controversy regarding him is that some people accept him as the Son of God and the Messiah, while others do not. While the historicity of Jesus is the most debated subject in the field of religion today, the most enduring and profound controversy in this subject is whether or not Jesus Christ really existed. This paper will discuss who Jesus is, the controversy and biblical sources based on the views of scholars surrounding the historicity of Jesus. Finally, this paper will give Biblical evidence that Jesus existed. WHO IS JESUS? It is generally accepted that Jesus was truly a man who walked the earth 2000 years ago. Almost every religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, excellent teacher or a Godly man. The Bible tells us, “I and the Father are one.” This indicates that Jesus was...
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...Hebrew Israelites HUM/130 Dr. John McGinn February 15, 2013 (Your Title Page looks good.) Hebrew Israelites An Israelite is a descendant of the scriptural patriarch Jacob. Jacob was the Grandson of Abraham and the son of Isaac. Jacobs name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28) and his descendants were called Israelites which denotes they are the children of Jacob or the Children of Israel. The Suffix “ITE” means a descent from. “ISRAEL-ITE” means a descendant of their father Jacob whose name was changed to Israel, but the question still remains, “Who are the modern day Hebrew Israelites”? How are Christian central beliefs different than an Israelites? (Work on opening paragraph - especially the thesis statement for your paper.) A Hebrew is a Descendant of the scriptural Patriarch Abraham. He is the first to be called Hebrew (Genesis 14:13). The Most High made a Covenant with Abraham and his seed. The Title Hebrew was passed on from Abraham to his Son Isaac and Isaac son Jacob and to Jacobs 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel. The Israelites were known and called Hebrews mainly by outsiders or foreigners. The name means one who crosses over, or wander. It is also derived from Eber, which means "one who emigrates" and "beyond, on the other side." Abraham and his posterity being called Hebrews in order to express a distinction between the races east and west of the Euphrates River. It may also be derived from Heber, one of the ancestors of Abraham...
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...Jesus & Mohammed Paper Catherine A. Johnson HUM/130 Religions of the World September 21, 2014 Roy Shaff Jesus & Mohammed Paper The two most influential men in religious communities and throughout the nation are Jesus and Muhammad. Many individuals are followers of these men for reasons of their own particular beliefs and rituals. Nations have used their words as the foundation of their countries cultures and laws. During the 1st century Jesus’s teachings to the world’s inhabitants were the root of beliefs. At the beginning of the 7th century, Muhammad’s words are most familiar as teachings were sacred among his followers. Who were these men and what changes did they make to our world; that people today compare them to one another. Today, 1.8 billion Muslims revere Muhammad as one of the great prophets. Whose name is well known in the Arab lands, for the reason of uniting a disparate group of nomad Arabs into a powerful force for their God; six hundred years earlier, a man by the name of Jesus Christ was known as the greatest of all prophets. In just three short years Jesus Christ had changed the world with his presence. Within a few generations after he left earth, the power and might of the Roman Empire was enveloped by the phenomenon of Christianity, and today it is the world’s largest religion with over 2 billion followers. Life of Jesus Christ In an obscure village in the Roman province of Palestine, Jesus Christ was born about 6 B. C. in Bethlehem. During...
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...we must dive deep into the Biblical teachings and share the primary foundation of their beliefs. “Christianity is a faith based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus” (Fisher, 2005, pg. 284). In the beginning of this story we must start with Jesus’ mother, the Virgin Mary was visited by an angel, whom told her that she would conceive a baby and he would be the Messiah. She should name him Immanuel, which means God with us. An angel visited Joseph as well, who told him that Mary was blessed by the Holy Spirit and would have a son, who would save the people from their sins. Mary and Joseph obeyed God, the baby was born in a stable, laid in a manager and they called him Jesus, meaning God with us (Matthew 1:18-25, New International Version). At the age of 30, Jesus started his mission and selected a group of 12 disciples to help him share his message. He went place to place and preached about God’s love, he performed miracles, such as feeding a multitude of people from five fish and two loaves of bread (Matthew 14:18-20). As Jesus continued his journey he was joined by many followers as they were in awe of his words and teachings (Matthew 7:28). Meanwhile, the stirring of the Messiah followers brought about fear in the King. The King felt threatened that he may be overthrown by Jesus and his...
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...both Mark and Matthew were written in the second half of the first century, the SynApoc must also belong to this period or even precede it. In my opinion, however, for various reasons, it is highly questionable whether the customary and generally accepted dating of Mark's gospel around 70 CE is correct. Whoever concerns himself with the question of when the Synoptic Gospels arose quickly notices that he has hit upon a genuine weak point in the scholarly study of the New Testament. While elsewhere New Testament scholars bring to bear on particular exegetical questions an extravagant richness and admirable knowledge of historical details, they become remarkably curt with regard to the dating of the Synoptic Gospels. This can hardly surprise in view of the limited, vague criteria employed T I. The Synoptic Apocalypse and the Dating of the...
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...Islamic Teachings around the World Islamic Teachings around the World Islam is a highly misunderstood religion, with regard to Muslim’s beliefs, values, and goals. Many of the Muslim practices are different throughout the world depending on the local culture. Islam is the second largest religion with Christianity being first. In 2000 Islamic followers were 1.2 billion, which was 22 percent of the world population. According to Clark (2003) this percentage makes Islam the fastest growing major religion. This paper will research the teachings of Islam, compare the three major religions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, and point out similarities and differences in different countries. The history of Islam including the Qur’an will be discussed. The dissimilarity between radical Islamic extremist groups and Islam will be discussed. History of Islam Muhammad, at age 40, was visited by the angel Gabriel in the year 610 A. D. to be God’s prophet. He was given the mission of convincing others who worshiped many gods that they should submit to one God. Although Muhammad had few followers in the beginning he continued to teach his revelations in Mecca. In 622 A.D. Muhammad and his followers moved to Medina where the first Muslim community began, this is considered the first year in the Muslim calendar. In the years that followed the Muslim armies overtook most of Arabia, India, and Spain. Some communities were converted to the Islam faith peacefully while others...
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...* How does your selected religious group differ from other religious groups (such as in their beliefs, worship practices, or values)? My selected religion is Judaism; Judaism is a religion that is based on the Old Testament, that the Jews call the Torah. Judaism is based on the belief of God. The Jews do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and are still waiting on his coming. According to Kriger (2010) According to the American Jewish Identity Survey of 2001 (Mayer, Kosmin, & Keysar, 2003), nearly 5.3 million people in the United States are Jewish (as measured by self-identification or by heritage). Jews are often referred to as one group; however, as with other ethnic groups, the Jewish people are diverse. Modern Jews have a shared history and common ancestry, leading back to the time of the Hebrew Bible, but they have since spread throughout the world. The countries in which Jews have lived have influenced their culture. For instance, Indian Jews have incorporated the caste systems into their daily lives, whereas Chinese Jews have incorporated Confucian ideas into their practices (Langman,1999) Sephardi Jews (families of Spanish descent) have integrated Spanish culture into their foods and have created a Hebrew-Spanish hybrid language known as Ladino (Langman, 1999). The Ashkenazi Jews account for nearly 80% of the worlds Jews and represent the majority of Jewish identity in the United States (Elazae,!992; Langman, 1999) and are those whose ancestors lived...
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...University of Phoenix Material Appendix D Part I Define the following terms: |Term |Definition | |Ethnic group |A group sharing a common or distinctive culture, religion, language, or likeness. | |Anti-Semitism |Discriminating against, or prejudice, or hostility toward Jews. | |Islamophobia |Hatred or fear of Muslims or their products or their culture. | |Xenophobia |An unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange. | |Persecution |A program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, and or subjugate a group of people based on their | | |religion, race, or beliefs. | |Religious group |A set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of common religious creed, beliefs,| | |doctrines, practices, or rituals. | Part II Select at least 1 religious and 1 ethnic/racial group not your own from the list below. • Religious groups (based on http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/affiliations-all-traditions.pdf) ...
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...lives. When I read this quote in context I felt like Jesus was telling the disciples that he will not be with them much longer and that the disciples need to take care of the people that will support their teaching and the message of the kingdom of God. Hamm feels that this verse is primarily about Jesus, his prediction of his impending death, and letting the disciples know that they have limited time with him. Hamm also states that Mark would like the reader to see Jesus as “king-like”, the Messiah. Hamm also believes that this quote is used in political policies not to aid others (i.e. the poor, uneducated), however Hamm feels that this works only if the quote is taken out of context. Like Hamm, I believe that the quote implies a need to help others that are less fortunate then ourselves. I did not see this verse as...
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