English 2332 Unit 6 Study Guide


(Return to the Unit 6 Home Page) Unit 6 Study Guide *The New Testament* The "books" of The New Testament are divided basically into two collections, the four "Gospels" recording the events in the life of Jesus, an Aramaic Jew of the first century A.D. and a collection of letters ("epistles") allegedly written by his followers providing instructions and guidance for the new congregations of followers that began to appear in the Middle East and throughout much of the Roman Empire. "Matthew," perhaps the second oldest of the Gospel manuscripts after "Mark," was written for a Jewish audience, concerned about Rabbinical law and lineage to the House of David; "Luke" was written by a Greek, probably for a later Greek congregation. All three share bits of common text, indicating origins in an even older document, generally referred to as the "Q" document. Only Luke contains the tradition of the "immaculate conception" and Virgin birth. "Matthew" contains the "Sermon on the Mount" and, with "Luke," many of the parables--allegories with abstract spiritual references. *Confessions of St. Augustine* Aurelius (St.) Agustine (354 - 430 A.D.) was the first major theologian of early Christian church, his essays, including his autobiographical "Confessions," the world's first autobiography, and "City of God," a treatise on the Christian concept of the Kingdom of God. These and other doctrinal essays were some of the most influential writings of the early church. With his appointment as Bishop of Hippo in North Africa in 395 A.D., Augustine weilded a heavy authority and set about to rid the Western church of scisms and heresy, acts that did much to systematize religious doctrine and to stabilize it as an institution. Readings Read the Introduction to The New Testament, pp. 960 - 961 Read selections from The New Testament, pp. 962 - 975 Read the Introduction to St. Augustine's Confessions, pp. 1004 - 1005 Read selections from Confessions, pp. 1005 - 1032 Study Questions 1) What ties Jesus to the Hebrew lineage and the prophesies? 2) Identify personal attributes of Jesus that he espouses in the lessons of his parables. 3) How does Jesus modify Hebrew rabinical law? 4) In what sense does Jesus see himself as the fulfillment of Jewish prophesy? 5) Trace Augustine's spiritual growth and the influence of his mother. 6) Explain the role of mysticism and revelation in his conversion. 7) Idenfity specific miracles that seemed to confirm Augustine's faith and professions. 8) Account for Augustine's increasing asceticism and rejection of the physical world as he entered his ministry and religious vocation. Key Concepts Jesus as Divinity Unlike The Koran, the holy scriptures as revealed to Muhammad, that holds Jesus in respect as one of a long line of divinely inspired Middle Eastern prophets, for the early churches that sprung up throughout the Roman Empire after his death, Jesus is nothing less than the "Son of God," along with the "Holy Ghost," a companion in the divine trinity with God, the Creator. Believed to have been resurrected three days after his crucifixion by the Romans, his disciples reported his appearances on several occasions before his final "ascension into heaven." The concept of "redemption," a formula of related beliefs, centered on the acceptance by faith in Jesus as the savior of mankind from genetic depravity inherited through Adam's original sin, became the foundation of Christian communities and the "good news" of which Christians were charged to deliver to a "gentile" world of unbelievers and sinners. The Christian process of redemption, circular in its implications for the believer, was supported by a systematic logic of deductive argument that defied critical examination and resisted challenges to its fundamental precepts through institutionalized sanctions against such "heretics," even to the point of torture and horrific executions of the person's physical body and the excommunication (condemnation) of the degenerate's soul to an eternity in hell. The Discrimination Against Sense Perception and Physical Experience Essential to the Christian world view is the rejection of sense experience in deference to the "spiritual" interests of the soul. Essentially Aristotelian in its recognition of the division between body and spirit, the natural world and the divine, Augustine rejects an early life focused primarily on physical sensation and pleasures, and is converted, by divine inspiration, to a life of contemplation of eternal spiritual truths revealed through the divinity of Jesus, the Christ, Son of God, and to service to the church. This page was last modified on January 17, 2006, and is maintained by Dr. Geoffrey A. Grimes.