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Background and
Beginnings
Faithology - Background &
Beginnings
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Jewish History
(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)
† Most Catholics have some vague memories about Jewish history… At best
they can recall only a few things they have learned in school or read. But more
than a vague memory is needed if they are to understand the beginnings of
Christianity, for Christianity is a mid-Eastern religion imported to the West.
† It takes its roots from Judaism.
† Its early theology and liturgy are grounded in Jewish terms and
ways and in the cultural context of Israel, an Eastern country, not a
European one.
Faithology - Background &
Beginnings
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Jewish History
(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)
Abraham
God’s promise to him
and his son Isaac that
they would father a
great nation
God’s Chosen People
Identity adopted by early
Church (the “new” People of
God)
Jacob
Isaac’s son (later
called Israel) has
twelve sons who were
to head the twelve
tribes
Twelve Apostles
Joseph
Remember the
multicolored coat?
Sold into slavery but in
time became the
Prime Minister of
Egypt
Settlement in
Egypt
Years of prosperity
followed by oppression
and slavery when the
Hittites gained control
of Egypt
“I am Joseph, your
brother!” (Gn 45:4)
Pope John XXIII
Identity reasserted as
recently as Vatican II; L.G. 2
refers to the Church as the
“People of God”
Faithology - Background &
Beginnings
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Jewish History
(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)
Moses
“Let my people go!”
Freed from bondage,
wandered in the Sinai
wilderness for 40
years. Entered into the
“Promised Land.”
Covenant (Ex 19:3-25)
Period of the
Kingdom
Hebrew language
developed (mesh of
Canaanite & Aramaic)
Philistine Threat
Israel becomes a
“player” as a nation!
Samuel appoints Saul
King
Torah
Scriptures
Solomon
Kingdom temporally
unites but separates after
threat diminishes
Division between Judea
& Israel
Division between Judea
Faithology - Background &
& Israel
Beginnings
Temple Built
Jerusalem
internationalized
multiculturalism
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Jewish History
(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)
Assyrian
Invasion/Exile
Civil War
721 B.C.E.
Babylonian
Captivity
Babylonian
Defeat
587 B.C.E.
538 B.C.E.
Persia defeats Babylon
North (Samaria) separate
from the South (Judea)
Samaria conquered
1. Jewish Elite deported
2. Jewish peasantry stays and
mixes with non-Jewish inhabitants
Judea conquered
1. Temple razed
2. Jews carried off into captivity
Exile ends
Samaritans:
Some Jews chose to
remain where they were
settled and other return to
their homeland
1. only Pentateuch
2. Mt Gerizim (Holy of Holies - not
Jerusalem temple!)
Judea survives until 587
B.C.E.
Judeans:
1. Samaritans half breeds and
heretics
2. Jerusalem Temple (Holy of
Holies - not Mt Gerizim!)
Covenant Re-examined
New emphasis on spiritual
deliverance, restoration of the
Davidic monarchy, and a Messiah.
The Torah become even more
important.
Jewish people & faith
now all over the world
Faithology - Background &
Beginnings
Temple Rebuilt
516 B.C.E.
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Jewish History
(from the Bausch, Chapter 1)
Formative Age
Alexander the
Great defeats
Persia
Rededication of
the Temple
165 B.C.E.
Civil War
63 B.C.E.
Rome intervenes
331 B.C.E.
Liturgy assumes its
definitive shape
Hellenization via Egypt
occurs
1. Alexandria & Philo of Alexandria
2. Septuagint
Synagogue emerged as
an established institution
Seleucids of Antioch
Hellenization Continues
Two camps:
1. Sadducees
• Conservative
• Nationalistic
• Isolationistic
2.Pharisees
• More Liberal
• Torah Centered
(perhaps legalistic)
Desired an empire uniform in
culture and religion - “corrupted”
Judaism
Works of the Hebrew
Bible assembled in an
authoritative fashion
Maccabee Revolt
Faithology - Background &
Beginnings
Jerusalem under
Roman control
1.Thousands of Jews
forced into slavery
2.Jerusalem becomes a
Roman protectorate
under the leadership of
the Sanhedrin and Herod
3. Upon Herod’s death,
territory divided up - each
section under a governor,
e.g. Pilate, 26 - 36 C.E.
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