Chapter Three
Greco-Roman Impacts on Early Church Interpretation


1. Idealised Interpretation of the Law at the Beginning of the Church
(Outcome of the Jerusalem Council, Acts 15)


Answers Questions
048 Did the tensions between Judaism and Hellenism (c/f pagans of the time) show up in the New Testament?
049 Did St Peter himself appear to be confused about whether or not he should keep the Jewish law against eating with Gentiles?
050 Were there any “signs” that God intended Gentiles to be included as followers of Jesus?
051 Were there a variety of ways in which early Christians thought of an “end time”?
052 Were there differences in thinking amongst New Testament writers?
053 Does Luke present the idea that God has an overall destiny or “plan” for the followers of Jesus?
054 Do you think Luke “glossed over” some of the complexities of the Church Council in Acts 15?
055 What problems could arise from an over-stress on external laws and rituals?
056 At the Church Council in Acts 15 who seemed to be the leader of the Church?
057 If there was a “conservative” church leader who do you think it was?
058 Do you think the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 was a turning point in the story of the Church?
059 Do you think the early converted Jews helped form a base for the Church?
060 Did Luke show a good knowledge of Greek culture?
061 Were there different manuscript versions of the Church Council (Acts 15) ?
062 Did the Western text (which stressed moral rather than dietary outcomes from the Council) have credibility with early church writers?

2. Mark's Historical Situation and his use of Extended Chiasmus

Answers Question
063 Do you think ancient writers could have used literary patterns like – the cat, dog, horse, rooster, horse, dog, cat (which is a chiasmus construction)?
064 Sometimes a chiasmus pattern could be in the mind of the reader. Do you think the chiasmus would be clearer if the pattern consisted of place names?
065 If ancient writers did use key words as in a chiasmus pattern, would these patterns likely be decorations only or would they have a specific purpose?
066 If Mark were using a chiasmus pattern of place names as Jesus went from place to place this could have a dramatic effect. How would it present Jesus?

3. Hellenistic Influence on First Century Christian Theology

Answers Question
067 Would early church leaders be trying to establish credibility for the message of Jesus with sophisticated pagans?
068 What dominant Greek philosopher would early church leaders need to take into consideration?
069 Would early Christians need to modify Greek philosophy to suit their beliefs?
070 What do you know of a Logos?
071 If early Church leaders were using the concepts of Greek philosophy do you think they held this to be more important than their faith or less important than their faith?
072 Do you know if St Augustine had a particular interest in a Greek philosopher and if so which one?
073 Did the early church quickly understand beliefs such as the Trinity or was it a considerable time before they clarified this?
074 Did the church finally agree Father and Son were of the same substance?
075 A literal translation of Acts show the Athenians thought Paul was an “ignorant plagiarist” Why would this be so?

4. Early Gospel Interpreters e.g. Origin and Augustine, the Neo-Platonist

Answers Question
076 Some of the Old Testament passages present God in humanlike terms. Did early theologians such as Origin reinterpret these and if so how?
Answers Question

5. The Damaging Effects of Salvation History and a one-sided view of Christianity

Answers Question
077 Arguably theologians of the early 20th century thought of Christianity as only being based upon Judaism. They also thought it is only the Christians who inherit the promises of the Old Testament. Can you see where this idea could lead?
078 Could you give some sort of explanations as to how extremely learned New Testament scholars could also be members of the Nazi party?
079 If it is believed the Christians are the true heirs of the Old Testament (c/f salvation history) where would this leave the Jews?
080 Could the idea have existed that Jews were obsolete and letting them participate in public life would be a retrograde step? Would this idea have been widespread?
081 Did Judaism and Hellenism merge in 1st Century Palestine or have they remained separate types of social structures?
Workshops - one gospel at a time, on Mark. Matthew, Luke, Luke's Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of John

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