The Christians
Wed., Jan. 23,02
Class notes

Next time: 1) Borg handout
2) 3 biblical readings
3) Wilson pp. 25-27

Today: 1) Jewish background of Jesus
2) In-class biblical interpretation - Luke 18:15-30 NRSV
3) Jewish teaching + ministry

·Worship Analysis Assignment Requirements were given
·Handout on growth rate for religions in the U.S.
·Questions on reading and discussion of syllabus topics
·"In the Wake of Goddesses" by Tikua Fryman Kensky was mentioned for 
personal reading if interested


5 points to be clear on Judaism 

1.Monotheist view of God
·Important view in Judaism that is inherited by Christianity
2.Covenant 
·Important notion
·Promise or agreement between God and Jews (or people of Israel)
·People's side of Covenant = ethical and ritual laws
·Rituals very concerned with purity
·Purity important because God is holy, therefore God's people must be 
holy
·Defining holy as set apart- through ritual practices- doing different 
things than others around you
·Which is more important Ethical or Ritual?

3.Political History
·Beginning as nomadsà tribal judgesà Kings (David/Soloman 1000BCE)à 
foreign rulers (1st Century Roman Empire)
·1st CE double taxation existed; Jews taxed by Romans and Temple, which 
totaled about 35% of income
·Kings had messianic expectation (ruler) because of Isaiah (profit) had a 
vision 

4.Common interpretations of Judaism in 1st CE
a) Sadducees 
-Priestly rulers who ran the temple
-Placed great significance on ritual purity
b)Pharisees
-Leaders of synagogues who cared about individual purity through ritual
c)Zealots 
-Wanted to over through foreign rule
d)Kingdom of God Movements
-One group was Essenes-communes-apocalyptic
-Another group was led by wandering healers + rabbi/teachers


We then did the in class biblical interpretation