PHIL final

Divination

Matter of rituals following tradition/ rules exactly. no room for sentiment.

1st cent. BCE- 3rd cent. AD

(early) Public

dependent on...

-auspices

-Sibylline oracles

-extispicy (entrails interpretation), haruspicy

Private

-more eclectic/ revealing

-traditional auspices> astrologers

-zodiac signs, movement of planets

after some evolution under the Empire...

Public

-auspices+sibylline no longer play primary role

-interpretation of prodigies gained importance

Private

-unification+extension across empire

Divination, 1st century BCE

Divinatory consultation=automatic technique

'divine will the ability to change the natural order to announce whatever it pleases'

deliberate+precise

recitation of prayer that revealed gods' agreement with whoever was consulting them

-NOT DIRECT/ empirical prayer

referred to specific QUESTIONS

-yes/no responses

organized under control of magistrates

2 types of Auspices: auspices and auguries

Auspices

(signs) requested from the gods

-deal with a FUTURE public action

taking of auspices> magistrates (consultation of Jupiter)

essential before any public action was initiated

range from an ambiguous remark to natural catastrophes

e.g. 'bird signs,' observation of chickens eating habits etc.

Magistrates

observation limited to 'bird signs'

had supreme authority over all divination processes

-est. significance of signs

-whether or not to consult Sib/ foreign oracles

renewing auspices? entrance/ leaving defined spaces across Rome

Augurs

'inaugurate,' announce oblative auguries noticed by themselves/others

(signs) declared themselves on their own accord

god willed!

advisors to magistrates

-problems with auspices they encountered

Prodigies (vs. Portents)

Prodigy

'sufficiently serious' signs, 'true'

an accepted portent

reflect a mistake made during a sacrifice/ rite

accepted by STATE

-not to be accepted/ denied by magistrates

e.g. manifestations of god's wrath

portent

-nat'l or unnat'l sign

-can be unsolicited

-must be accepted by state to be a prodigy

Sibylline Books

3 books, contained prophecies, written in Greek

A Sibyl sold the books to King Tarquin

-rejected her three times, ea. time she burned half until he eventually bought them, realizing their importance

'Sibylline poetry'

-acrostics

considered directly inspired by the gods

-closed/ fixed collection of prophecies!

prescribed rituals, VERY Roman in character

(83 BCE) destroyed in a fire but replaced by 3 more (considered a Roman talisman/ amulet)

Augustus moved books to Apollo temple

Sibylline oracle

consulted when authorities were unable to alleviate the gods' anger by ordinary rites

concerned with interests of the state

-typically after a particularly alarming prodigy signifying a problem in the relationship bet. the Roman people and the gods

explanations for the event could be found the the books

consultation occurred privately upon the orders of a magistrate

composed oracles were then passed onto the senate+dictated to the people in form of an edict

Sibyls

prophetesses

-think 'witches'

Books contained words of Sibyl DIRECTLY inspired by gods

Cumaean Sibly sold orginal books to king

Dreams

type of sign

needed subsequent interpretation! (concerning legitimacy)

Prophecies

revelation of DIVINE WILL

-inspired/ inspiration

-about the FUTURE

Magic in Roman society

occurred in SECRET

thought to give personal advantage

-harm an enemy!

assc. with unexplainable events

considered TREASON

-unsupervised/ secretive nature made it dangerous to the state

-offenders put to death (Cornelian Law, 81 BCE)

incantations and potions/ poisons important

potions/ poisons

contributed to magic's 'secrecy'

*veneficium- potion/poison brewing

if someone died from a remedy given for their health>> brewer would be BANISHED

e.g. mola salsa

Defigere/ Defixiones

bind+immobilize

invoking curses by means of TABLETS>>defixiones

typically private to harm personal enemies (e.g. thief, legal disputes, love)

law not 'up to the task'

-'contract' inscribed on cursed tablets, letter-like

-contained in lead box

-buried in tomb, pit, water so that interested party can read it and pass it on to GODS OF UNERWORLD

-accompanied with an object

-could 'fix' power with a special nail

women had tablets requested/ made

incantations

consider word ENCHANT

song, poem

Law

-spells preventing grain, crops, harvest- offender sacrificed to Ceres

-no one shall take away someone's harvest with incantations

*malum cantum incantarte- neg. reference to harmful incantations

Apollonius of Tyana

15-98 BCE

neo-pythagorean holy man

oracle

Biography written by Philostratus (220 BCE)

-possibly untrustworthy

-explicit reference to A. as holy man and NOT a MAGICIAN

-depicts A's cultural influence

-8 books

-birth/ life accompanied by portents>>GREATNESS

comparable to Jesus?

-healer

-superior KNOWLEDGE (SAGE)

-charismatic

-wandering teacher

-disciples, cult worshipping followers

-contact w/ officials/philosophers

-interprets omens, dreams

-shares perspective with Sages

-disapproves of blood sarifice

Apollonious cont' (Eleusinian mysteries etc.)

-initiated into cult of Demeter/ Persephone

-prophesied Mirvas coming into power

-councils people

-makes speeches justifying Pythagorean ideals

ascendes into heaven

creates a clear dichotomy bet. good v. evil, holiness being essentially good v. magic being evil

Apotheosis

elevation/exaltation of someone to the a divine level

-typical to Roman emperors (161 AD)

required this especially because the security of society depended on the people's complete faith in the gods

-also included complete faith in the political system. why? because apotheosis created gods out of emperors

-religion and politics depended completely on each other

rep. of imperial deification

Marcus Aurelius, Lucias Verus create column depicting A+F's apotheosis

-dedicatory inscrip.

-two sides depicting the decursio, or the ceremonial maneuvers as part of the deification ritual

-Roma's shield depicts the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus suckled by a wolf. saluting couple?

-A winged genius> carrying couple upward

-emperor has sceptre/ accompanied by EAGES

-figure holding the obelisk represents the Campus Martius (site!)

Damnito memorarie

'Damnation of memory'

-related to apotheosis

-form of dishonor that could be passed by the Roman Senate

-condemnation of Roman (elites) emperors after their deaths

-protected honor of the city

Attempt to deify oneself during one's lifetime=MADNESS, unfit rulers and disrespectful of the gods

often resulted in the destruction/ reworking of a statue to effectively erase the figure from memory/history

-statues, reliefs, coins etc.

-stricken from the record by order of the Senate.

e.g. Septimus Severus

Hebrew Bible (Pentateuch)

Abraham- second temple period

Pentateuch: first 5 books

-1. Genesis, 2. Exodus, 3. Leviticus, 4. Numbers, 5. Deuteronomy

author=Moses (?)

Genesis

1st book, all about BEGINNINGS/ RELATIONSHIPS

-Turkey/ Egypt/ Mesopotamia

Garden of Eden? bet. 2 rivers (T and E)

God initiates his covenant with man

God's provision of redemption

God responds to man's FAITH

Man= God's creation, not natural even

God blesses whole Earth

subjects/themes of Gen. 1st 3 books referenced in last 3 of Revelations

DOCTRINE: teaching/ instructions; moral lesson dictating action

many literary accounts!

-heavens and Earth

-Adam-Abraham

-Abraham (patriarch. account)

Exodus

1446- 1406 BCE

account of Israelites (Jewish nation) escape from Egyptians

God's will to be fulfilled by Israelites

crux, Jewish doctrine

MOSES

biography?

-mediator/ prophet, allowed in God's presence and tells the people what is said

-freeing Israelites

-holy man, superior to magicians

God's presence=concern for his people

-display of power

-fulfilling his promise

-how to apply principles of the commandments

TABERNACLE

-where God lives w/ his people

-diving furnishings/ anointing

Climax? exodus, covenant(?)

Second Temple (period)

historically, 2 temples were built consecutively

DESTROYED

1st> King Solomon

-place for Jewish sacrifice

-destroyed by Babylonians

2nd>rebuilt @ end of period (70AD)

-remains make up Western Wall

3rd temple to come=JUDAISM

*Bar Kohba Revolt- Jews wanted to rebuild temple but were banned by Romans

dome of the rock, holy spot!

arc of the covenant

Abraham's attempted sacrifice of Issac

Muham. ascension

Jewish practice, belief and worship (terms)

diaspora- disperse. Jews exiled from Israel

Gentile- non Jewish person

idolatry- worship of a created object

Mosaic Law- 10 commandments

Pharisees- (2nd cent. BCE) member of Jewish party; traditional mosaic law;

teaching of the elders; RIGOROUS; teachers

Sanhedrin- Highest/supreme court; like a council

Synagogue- public worship; bringing together people in a specific place; religious instruction

Theocracy- Government, God as king; laws administered by priestly order

Judaism within the Roman Empire

Largely independent Jewish Palestine

Hereditary priests assisted by Levites

-only ppl who could offer sacrifices. Legal/ religious authorities

Jewish law covered ALL LIFE, not simple temple worship

Core Jewish Beliefs

1. Only 1 true God

2. Covenant bet. God and the Jews

-call of Abraham and circumcision

-exodus from Egypt

-revelation of divine law to Moses on Mt. Sinai

Mosaic law: first 4 commandments>> God+Man

last 6>> man+man

*think Genesis

3. God will always redeem people, people always remain true to Yahweh

Prohibition of Images

1. 2nd commandment!

*not sweeping prohibition. in temples/ sacred space, not in conflict w/ God.

restriction in scope

-secondary Gods (idol) are the focus

4 parts of an 'idol'

-wooden frame

-adorning/ covering precious metals

cloak

mask (cutic?)

correlated with Greek+Roman rel.

-venerated material, not idea

-man-made

Yahweh

-never add or take away from

-presence is non-iconic, rather VOICE, LIGHT, WIND

emphasis on spoken word

The Gospel of Mark (terms)

Christology- theology which deals with Jesus Christ (gospels)

eschatology- study of the end of things, whether the end of an individual life, end of the age, or the end of the present world/ beginning of the World to Come

Magi- The 'wise men' who came to adore Jesus in Bethlehem

parable- story that illustrates a lesson ('said')

Passion narrative- 1/3 of Mark (extended w/ intro). no chpts/ verses/ punct.>>meant to be read aloud

Synoptic gospels- Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels because they include many of the same stories, sequence, and wording

The Gospel of Mark

What Jesus DID

-teachings

-intxns

-travel

-miracles

John Mark>> assc. with Peter who had intimate knowledge of Jesus' teachings/life

-preaching by Peter shaped/formatted by MARK

Amount of other synop. gospels shared with Mark?

Matt>91%

Luke>53%

overlap, possiblily of 1 central document?

-oral tradition, written fragments...

*Mark as document? predates other 2

Audience? JEWS

-Jesus=Rabii

besides Jews maybe?

-Aramaic words/ Jewish customs explained

The Gospel of Mark cont' (occasion, purpose, themes)

composed, Rome (67 AD), Nero

64 AD>FIRE

-blamed Christians

-Mark wrote to emphasize/ preface persectuion and 'suffering to recieve glory'

-Cross= human caused+DIVINE NECESSITY

Jesus' suffering

arrest>trial>persecution>death>ressurection

-dicipleship

-Jesus' teachings

emphasis on TITLE, less accounts than other gospels

-Mesianic secret

silence about who he is/ what he's done

-Trinity

unconcerned w/ explaination

Language was 'quick'

was beginning of gosps

The Gospel of Mark cont' (Jesus' life/ portrayal)

1. Baptism

-J. the Baptist+Jesus, Jordan River

2. Temptation+Teaching

3. Miracles

4. Passion Narrative

geography/ travels were highlighted

NOT biography

unadorned account of Jesus' ACTIONS

Mark conveys...

Jesus> MAN

incarnate form

Jesus> diety

*think Messianic secret

The Gospel of Mark cont' (What Mark wants us to know)

Title/ first line- similar/ ties with Pentateuch

An introduction to Jesus>9 Ch. of Galilean affairs

Ends with RUMORED resurection

women told to give reports...

PASSION PREDICTIONS (by Jesus)

ending, no description of ressurected Jesus> possibly indicates scrolls were lost

-ending made up by scribes?

Mes. secret> why Jesus not considered a Mesiah in his lifetime

understanding/misunderstanding

"awe," question identity

recognizes Jesus? READER

diciples/ others hardened

Messiah vs. the people's suffering (Mark)

What is a Messiah??

"Who do people think I am?"

-Mark wants reader to understand a new type of Messiah

*writing=quick/ apocalyptic

(Peter's) misunderstanding= mesiah will not suffer, the Jewish people will

Jesus rebukes him- no glory and angels

tell no one until AFTER ressurection! FAITH

DIVINE NECESSITY> has to die, has to suffer

-everyone must suffer> Mark's direct addressal of the audience

Miracles

Jesus

-teacher+miracle worker by word+touch

Miracles couple TEACHINGS

-different than magician>Faith

Mark wants to concieve Jesus' wanting to serve not be served (M. secret)

Responses are critical

Healing

-Exorcism

-Raising from the dead

Physical transformations

Defiance of nature

-Nature mriacles

Miracles cont' (Healing)

-touch

-word

male/female/children

DIVERSE

Exorcism> casting out/ commanding

-largest/ most powerful performed

-sympotoms like an 'ailment'

Raising from the Dead

e.g. Roman soldier's daughter

Lazarus>WORD

get up and walk from death

apostles CAN'T heal (only specific situ.)

Miracles (Physical Transformations)

e.g. water to wine

loaves and fishes

reaction is important> lack of astonishment

ate and were satisfied

Miracles (Nature)

e.g. walking on water

storm at sea

reaction? astonishment

Range of Responses

Jews> counter voice

Apostles> questioning

calm accpetance>

public acclaim>

puzzlement>

ACCUSATION, black magic

exaggeration in gospels?

miracles alone do not move ppl to accept mircacle worker

-TEACHINGS/ explaination are most critical (distinguish from magic)

WITNESSING ressurection? abs confidence in Jesus as God's son

Reactions come from...

wittnesses

disciples

Jesus

Jews

author

Acts 1-12 (gen)

Author? Luke

introduced? Acts of the APOSTLES

-apostles are witnesses of Jerusalem+Judea+Samaria

-endowed with holy spirit (to write Bible) AFTER Jesus' ascension

provide LINK to JESUS

-Jesus will come back the way he's left!

Acts Ch. 1

author/introduction/outline

Jesus> ascends

12 apostles (minus Judas)> back to 'full ranks'

-replacement guided by Holy Spirit

Apostles> witnesses of resurrection=AUTHORITES

Holy Spirit> fire, breath, wind

Acts Ch 2.

pentecoste

-50th day after passover (Jewish calendar)

Disciples FILLED with HOLY SPIRIT

-fire/ wind

-different languages!

emphasizes importance of understanding- must come FIRST

Peter addressing crowd

-summarizes events

gospel, Jesus' death/ resurrection

-repentence+baptism

-languages>spread the teachings!

-addresses New Covenant

MAN+JESUS

Foil? counterpt. for Peter's argument

-accusations of drunkennesss/ mocking

2:42> fellowship! breaking of bread

unique teaching from God being 'clothed' by model

Acts Ch. 3

Peter heals lame boy

-temple of Solomon; public+historic

emphasis of authority/teachings+demonstration/ WITNESSING

3:19> repentance

Tells crowd to REPENT

-change of mind/will=transformation of life

1. must FIRST turn from SIN

2. THEN you can turn TO GOD

Response?

emphasis on MESSIAH

explicit links to old Judaism

-fulfillment of Abraham/ other prophets' prophecy , its Jesus' prophecy TOO

Acts Ch. 4

BIGGER CROWD

3000-5000 ppl

-diverse audience

repsonse? problems for Sanhedrin

what do we do with this man?

can't deny miracles

must stop it! (these men from speaking anymore)

^^Christian perspective

preparation for later conflict

positive and negative examples (of beh)

Barnabus v. Ananias and Sapphira

immediate sign>>prayers have been heard/answered

filled w/ Holy Spirit

BOLD declarations

most compelling?? RESURRECTION

(according to Luke)

Acts Ch. 5

Events?

Barn v. Ananias and Sapphira

word for Church used for first time

-purity/ reputation important

women specified as believers

Handkerchief reference? potency of God's power and healing and mercy

Acts Ch. 6

12 apostles, large number leads to conflict?

Jewish fellowship

2 types of Jews

1. Hebraic (hebrew)

2. Greecian (greek)

-7 chosen(by apostles)

'DEACONS'

-Philip+Stephen (power, grace, angelic face)

-vocal about how they wanted to be rep.

-wanted spiritual ministry

-care for the needy

12 and 7 can perform miracles!

-evidence for growth in church 'ranks'

w/ growth comes conflicting ideals/ customs bet. groups

think 6:6- laying on of hands...

Acts Ch. 7

Stephen's accusations+speech

-audience (Sanhedrin) shapes his defense

- declares worship of God not limited to temples>Sanhedrin's drum up charges by manipulation of his words causing...

purposeful misrepresentation

continuity

-reframing traditions/covenant of circumcision

-mention Joseph+Moses>ties to Jesus

accuse accusers

-Israel rejecting God's chosen people...

-those circum. not acting like members of the covenant

circum ears NOT consecrated

-killed Jesus

7:39 historical references from Genesis

Acts Ch. 8

Stephen becomes 1st Christian martyr

-stoned by Sanhedrin

'falls asleep' sees Jesus>>Stephen's just life

Foreshadowing to SAUL (persecutor)

imed. result of stoning?

-persecution, Church underground

-scattering

-increased # WITNESSES

Simon Sorcerer>>neg example/ foil

-no demonstrations of his magic

-selling of RELICTS? NEVER

-faith is not genuine> heart not right with God

8:16 Baptism

-gifts given= not enough

HOLY SPIRIT most important/ necessary

8:14, Evangelic efforts will have standards!

Acts Ch. 9

point of stories with SAUL

-travels to Damascus, conversion, Miracles, Jews plot against him

Saul- worst Pharisee, resp. Stephen's stoning

Damascus? commercial/ larger city, easier to spread the word

'why do you persecute me?'

-light, has to close eyes>> blindness

remarkable vision

2nd vision- returned sight

Saul=chosen INSTRUMENT

convers of arch persecutor= Gods power

Tabitha/ Dorca's funeral

-Peter brings back to life

-like Jesus but he PRAYS

Pete eats w/ non-Jew Simon

-defy Jew custom, dietary restrc

Acts Ch. 10

Angel before Cornelius

-ex. of bringing important ppl together

Apostle Peter (there b/c he's hungry)+ Cornel.

Trance=God's direct communication

Heavens=lrg decending sheet (vision)

God not shown>VOICE

3rd Vision- sheet back to heaven

-P. out of trace>>now called SIMON

Jews (apostles) accepting Gentiles

10:28 P. shall not call any man unclean

Baptism of G. Christians!

Speaking in tongues

fulfill gospel plans!

*messages to ppl of Israel is Jesus' message

Acts Ch. 11

circums. Jews don't accept Peter>> Peter/ God prompt acceptance

-nothing God's made clean=unclean

BAPTISM=common factor?

-ppl accept>> even Gentiles are given chance at repentance...

Barnabus- inspecting evangelical standards (teaching with Saul)

11:26 CHRISTIANS=BELONGING to CHRIST

Acts Ch. 12

Peter's escape from prison

-angel, physical strike of P.>>command to follow him

P.>thinks its a vision

Holy spirit's guidance> fall of chains, opening of gates etc.

P. comes to alone> has NO DOUBT

-huge # guards

-chains

Events NOT repeated

why not?

not like Moses (intermediary, e.g. tabernacle)

P. = INTERPRETING, not divine revelation

-distinguishing audience>>very CHRISTIAN

Herod's death

struck down

claims himself a god when still living!

-consumed by worms

-opposed to glorious death

Acts, purposes

-historical, Christian origens

TEXTUAL

-defense to Jewish-Gentile audiences

-Evangelical

-guide for Pagans

-depicts triumph of Christianity in face of persecution

-depicts H. Spirit, NOT MAN, guiding successes

-missionary activities

Acts Ch. 14

(46-48 AD)

Paul's first missionary journey, Barnabus

Where? large cities=large numbers, easy to spread word

14:8-18 Turkey/Lystra/Derbe

-Paul heals crippled man

Response? (pagan audience) crowd calls Paul: Jupiter, Barn: Zeus

want to offer sacrifices

angers the 2, tear cloaks Jewish anguish

-depicts Roman rel. like its flimsy/ unfounded, Romans like children?

Romans won't be punished for their misunderstanding

-specific frame, truncated

embedded beliefs challenged

Church Council's Letter to Gentile-Christians

15:22-28

must refrain from...

-food from sacrificed animals

-blood

-meat of strangled animals

-sexual immorality

centralization/ standardization

-important for missionary works

-few requirements (less of a task/burden?)

distinct target audience (ease into change?)

emphasis>> JEWS v. CHRISTIANS

council>>authorities/ overseer

*text+word

Acts Ch. 17

Riot in Ephesus (Paul v. blacksmith)

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and
does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he
needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else

Gnostic Christians

taught that some esoteric knowledge (or Gnosis) was necessary for salvation from the material world>>created by some intermediary figure (or demiurge) instead of God.

Syncretism

-simplified+fundamental changes

-diverse perspective

early Church fathers

-claim authority

-foraging orthodoxy

-declaring heresies

4 Pillars of the Church

The Apostles Creed
The Seven Sacraments
The Ten Commandments
The Lord's Prayer

4 for 4 gospels

-heretical to argue for any deviation than more/less than the 4

man, lion, bull, eagle

4 gospel writers

Gnosticism (and Heresy)

Heresy>> chosen thing/ opinion; NT/ early Church

Sect/school of philo

Used in Pauline Letters

-protest group

-divisive action (against heresies)

End of 1st cent. early church fathers

-error in theoology (concerning what's heretical?)

Theosophy- knowledge of divine things

gnosis> knowledge

theo>divine

sophy> wisdom/ knowledge

Formation of the cannon

imp. regarding Church Authority

METHODICAL INTERPRETATION>> who has authority to interpret

attempt to highlight shared Christian understandings to created unified Church/ people

-heresy important b/c sep. is important when you want to standardize

2nd Century Gnostic Sects

*Nag Hammadi texts

diversity/ spread of gnosticism

1. Cosmology

Good v. Evil (pre-cosmic catasrophy)

-spirit v. material world

visible v. invisible

God=spirit

divine (Sophia) gives brith in mat. world

-imprisoned in mat. world/ body

2. Mankind

Elect Souls- divinity trapped in matter (pre-cosmic catas.)

-saved by redeemer (Christ)

sent by God

teachings

instructions to pass soul into heavens

no punishment/ monothe. implications

3. The Body

Body of Christ v. man

Man- free soul, invest in spirit

asceticism

PHIL final

Philosophy 2610 with Meredith, Hallie at University of Colorado Boulder

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