THEO

Module 1:

1.The Patriarchs (Founding Fathers)

 Abraham (Father of the Chosen People) → God promised him many descendants and the
Promised Land (Canaan).

 Isaac (Son of Abraham).

 Jacob (Son of Isaac) → Had 12 sons who became the leaders of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

 Joseph (Jacob’s son) → Sold into slavery in Egypt but became a powerful governor.

2. Slavery in Egypt & Moses’ Leadership

 The Israelites lived in Egypt but became slaves under a new Pharaoh.

 Moses was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus).

 Plagues on Egypt: The last plague (death of firstborn) led to the Passover.

 Exodus: Israelites escaped Egypt and crossed the Red Sea.

 Mount Sinai: God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

3. Entering the Promised Land

 40 years in the desert: God provided manna (bread) and water.

 Joshua led the people into Canaan after Moses’ death.

 12 Tribes settled in the land.

 Judges (Leaders): God appointed leaders (like Samuel) in times of crisis.

4. Kingdom of Israel

 First King: Saul → Chosen by God through the prophet Samuel.

 Second King: David → United Israel, made Jerusalem the capital.

 Third King: Solomon → Built the Temple of Jerusalem (Ark of the Covenant placed inside).

 After Solomon's Death → Kingdom split:

o Israel (North) → Conquered by Assyrians in 721 B.C.

o Judah (South) → Conquered by Babylonians in 587 B.C.

5. Foreign Rule & the Coming of the Messiah

 Babylonian Exile: Jews taken to Babylon; later allowed to return and rebuild the temple.

 Greek Rule (Alexander the Great): Tried to force Greek religion on the Jews.
  Maccabees: Led a successful revolt and won temporary freedom.

 Roman Rule (63 B.C.): Jews were conquered by the Romans.

 Prophecy of the Messiah: The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of a Savior.

 Jesus Christ was the Messiah, but many did not recognize Him.

1. Etymological Meaning of Christology

GREEK
- Khriein
“anoint” GREEK
LATIN OLD ENGLISH - Christ
- Khristos
- Christus - Crist
HEBREW “anointed”
- masiah
“Messiah”

 Christology is the branch of theology that studies the person, nature, and role of Jesus Christ.

2. Real Meaning of Christology

 Christology is not a single definition but a theological reflection on who Jesus is.

 Key themes in Christology:

o Incarnation (God becoming human in Jesus).

o Resurrection (Jesus rising from the dead).

o Dual Nature (Jesus as both fully divine and fully human).

📌 Personal Definition:
"Christology is a theological reflection on the religious significance of Christ."
➡️This means that Christology is not just an academic study but a personal experience of Jesus in daily
life.

3. Experiencing Christ in Daily Life

💡 Reflection makes life meaningful and connects us with God. Without reflection, life is just an ordinary
routine. Christology teaches us to recognize God’s presence in three ways:

1️⃣ Christ in Nature

 Signs of God’s presence in creation:

o Sun, trees, animals, even small insects.

 o The beauty of nature as a manifestation of God's love.

 Self-Reflection:

o How often do we stop to appreciate God's presence in nature?

o Have you felt God's presence in a sunset, a breeze, or a quiet place?

2️⃣ Christ in People

 Seeing Christ in others:

o Family members, friends, teachers, strangers.

o Every act of kindness and goodness is a reflection of Christ.

 Self-Reflection:

o Who in your life reminds you of Christ?

o Have you been Christ to others through your actions?

3️⃣ Christ in Events

 Finding God in every situation:

o Good events: Successes, happy moments, answered prayers.

o Difficult events: Disappointments, failures, challenges.

 Self-Reflection:

o Have you ever been in a tough situation and later realized God was guiding you?

o Have you ever blamed God for something but later saw His greater plan?

M2

1. Meaning of "Gospel"

 Derived from Greek: Euangelion (εὐαγγέλιον) = "Good News".

 Why is it Good News?

o It is all about Jesus Christ, who is Himself the Good News.

o The Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) are the ones who proclaim the Good News.

2. Who is Jesus According to the Gospels?

The Gospels are not biographies but portraits that present different aspects of Jesus' identity and
mission:
Gospel Focus Representation of Jesus Intended Audience

Matthew (70-90 Jesus as the Fulfillment of Old Testament

Jewish readers
AD) Messianic King prophecies

Jesus as the Servant

Mark (70 AD) Power and miracles Roman/Gentile readers
of God

Jesus as the Son of Compassion, humanity, care for Greek audience (philosophy,
Luke (85-90 AD)
Man the weak wisdom)

Jesus as the Son of Universal audience (all

John (90-100 AD) Divinity, eternal existence
God believers)

3. Differences in the Four Gospels

 Birth & Childhood of Jesus → Only found in Matthew & Luke.

 Ministries of Jesus:

o Matthew & Mark → Galilean Ministry (North).

o Luke → Perean Ministry (East of Jordan).

o John → Judean Ministry (South, in Jerusalem).

 Last Week of Jesus' Life:

o All four Gospels focus extensively on the Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

o John devotes nearly half of his Gospel (7 chapters) to Crucifixion Day.

4. Unique Emphases in Each Gospel

 Matthew → Quotes Old Testament prophecies to prove that Jesus is the Messiah.

 Mark → Focuses on Jesus' miracles to show His divine power.

 Luke → Highlights Jesus' compassion toward the poor, outcasts, and sinners.

 John → Explains Jesus' divine nature, with deep theological reflections.

5. Purpose of the Gospels

 To introduce us to Jesus rather than record His life in exact historical order.

 To reveal His identity as the Messiah, Servant, Man, and God.

 To inspire faith: They provide a divine revelation, not just a historical account.
1. The Three Stages of Gospel Development

The material in the Gospels went through three distinct stages before being written:

1. What Jesus Said & Did (Historical Stage)

o Jesus’ teachings and actions during His public ministry (c. 30-33 AD).

o If we had a video recording, this would be the true biography of Jesus.

2. Oral Tradition (Preaching Stage)

o The apostles and early preachers spread Jesus' message after the Resurrection.

o The "Easter Faith" shaped their preaching—Jesus was proclaimed as the Risen Lord.

3. Written Gospels (Evangelists' Stage)

o The evangelists collected, edited, and arranged material to fit their themes.

o These writings reflected the teachings of the early Church and its growing communities.

2. When and Where Were the Gospels Written?

Date
Gospel Location Notes
Written

Mark c. 68 AD Rome First gospel written, focuses on Jesus' suffering.

 Date
Gospel Location Notes
Written

Matthew c. 80s AD Antioch (Syria) Connects Jesus to Jewish tradition, written for Jewish Christians.

Greece or Written by an educated writer (Luke), emphasizes Jesus’

Luke c. 85 AD
Syria compassion.

John c. 90-100 AD Ephesus Theologically deep, written for a universal audience.

3. The Synoptic Gospels & The "Synoptic Problem"

 Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called "Synoptic Gospels" because they share many similarities.

 John is different in structure, style, and content.

The "Synoptic Problem"

 Scholars noticed that the first three Gospels have a lot of overlapping material but also
differences.

 The question: How are these Gospels related? Did one copy from another?

Key Issues:

1. Which Gospel was written first?

o Most scholars agree Mark was written first (Markan Priority).

2. Did later Gospels use earlier ones as sources?

o Matthew and Luke used Mark as a source.

o They also share material not found in Mark, suggesting another lost source called “Q”
(from the German Quelle = "source").

3. What about unique content?

o Matthew has material unique to him (M Source).

o Luke has unique material (L Source).

Breakdown of Gospel Content

Source % in Matthew % in Luke

Mark's material 80% used 65% used

"Q" material (sayings of Jesus) Found in Matthew & Luke Found in Matthew & Luke

Unique material "M" (Matthean source) "L" (Lukan source)

4. The Gospel of John: A Unique Gospel

 Written later (c. 90s AD), possibly in Ephesus.

 Developed by the Johannine school (followers of the “Beloved Disciple”).

 More theological than the Synoptics, focusing on:

o Jesus as the eternal Word of God (Logos).

o Long theological discourses rather than parables.

o High Christology—Jesus as fully divine.

5. Why Were the Gospels Written?

1. The Delay of Jesus’ Second Coming (Parousia)

o Early Christians expected Jesus to return soon (Acts 1:11), but as time passed, they saw
the need to write things down.

2. To Preserve the Message for Future Generations

o As eyewitnesses began to die, the need for a written record became urgent.

3. To Teach & Instruct the Growing Christian Community

o Each Gospel was written for a specific audience:

 Matthew → Jewish Christians

 Mark → Persecuted Christians in Rome

 Luke → Gentile converts

 John → Universal audience, emphasizing Jesus’ divinity.

M3

1. Galilee: The Heart of Jesus’ Ministry

 Location: Northern region of Palestine.

 Economy: Agriculture and fishing (Lake of Gennesaret).

 Cultural Mix: Surrounded by Greek cities, but mainly Jewish.

 Key Towns:

o Nazareth: Jesus’ hometown.

 o Capernaum: Trading hub; Jesus’ home base during His ministry.

o Cana: Site of Jesus’ first miracle (water into wine).

 Key Fact: Many of Jesus' apostles were fishermen from Galilee (Mark 1:16-29).

2. Samaria: The Land of the Outcasts

 Location: South of Galilee.

 People: Samaritans—a mixed population, not considered true Jews.

 Religious Differences:

o Jews worshipped at the Temple in Jerusalem.

o Samaritans worshipped at Mt. Gerizim and followed only the first five books of Moses.

 Key Events:

o Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42).

o Jesus stayed in Samaria and performed many miracles.

3. Judaea: The Region of Jerusalem

 Location: Southern region of Palestine.

 Geography: Dry, mountainous, and less fertile than Galilee.

 Key Towns:

o Jerusalem: Religious, cultural, and political center; Jesus died here.

o Bethlehem: Jesus’ birthplace.

o Jericho: One of the oldest cities in the world.

o Qumran: Home of the Essenes, a Jewish sect that wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls.

 The Dead Sea: Found in this region, known for its extreme salinity.

4. Jerusalem: The Spiritual & Cultural Center

 Significance:

o The Temple: Believed to be God’s dwelling place.

o Pilgrimage Site: Jews visited at least once a year.

 o Roman Administration: Governed from Caesarea, but Jerusalem remained the spiritual
heart of Judaism.

 Key Events:

o Jesus taught, performed miracles, and was crucified in Jerusalem.

📜 The Political Scene: The Herodian Dynasty & Roman Rule

1. Herod the Great (37–4 BC)

 Ruled Palestine as a Roman vassal king.

 Famous for grand building projects (e.g., the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem).

 Known for his ruthless and paranoid rule, especially in his later years.

 Ordered the Massacre of the Innocents (Matthew 2:16-18).

2. Division of Herod’s Kingdom (After 4 BC)

Region Ruler Notes

- Cruel and incompetent ruler.

- Exiled to Gaul in 6 AD due to complaints.
Judaea, Samaria & Idumaea Archelaus
- These areas became a Roman province, ruled by a
prefect/procurator (e.g., Pontius Pilate).

- Ruled during Jesus’ ministry.

Herod - Criticized by John the Baptist, later had him executed
Galilee & Perea
Antipas (Mark 6:14-29).
- Exiled to Gaul in 39 AD.

Trachonitis, Gaulanitis, - Most successful ruler among Herod’s sons.

Philip
Batanaea & Auranitis - Ruled peacefully.

3. Roman Rule

 After Archelaus was removed (6 AD), Judaea became a Roman province.

 Roman officials ruled Judaea:

o Prefects (6-41 AD): Pontius Pilate was one of them.

o Procurators (from 44 AD): More control given to Roman governors.

 Political tension was high:

o Romans and their Jewish collaborators (like tax collectors) were unpopular.

o Jewish Zealots wanted to overthrow Roman rule.

o Pharisees and Sadducees had power over religious matters.

💰 The Economic Scene: Widening Gap Between Rich & Poor

Issue Impact

Heavy Taxation Burdened common people; tax was collected by corrupt officials.

Corrupt Tax Collectors Tax collectors (publicans) overcharged to enrich themselves.

The Rich Got Richer Landowners and elite priests accumulated wealth.

The Poor Got Poorer Small farmers, fishermen, and artisans struggled under high taxes and debt.

Emigration More than half the population left Palestine for economic survival.

Political Scene during the time of Jesus

 Palestine
o Occupied by Rome
o Roman Emperors:
 Augustus Caesar
 Tiberius Ceasar
o Herod – King of Palestine until Jesus’ birth
 Great Builder – rebuilt the empire
 Very cruel
 Killed family because afraid of being overthrown

The Religious and Political Groups in Jesus’ Time

1 The Sadducees: Aristocratic Priests
1️⃣
 Powerful temple priests, controlled the Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling
council).
 Accepted only the Torah, rejecting oral traditions.
 Denied resurrection and afterlife (Mark 12:18-27).
 Wealthy, politically influential, cooperated with Rome.
 Lost power after the Temple’s destruction (70 AD).
2 The Pharisees: Law Keepers & Synagogue Leaders
2️⃣
 Largest sect (~6,000 members).
 Accepted Torah + Oral Law (rabbinic interpretations).
 Believed in resurrection & afterlife (Acts 23:6-9).
  Many were hypocritical, criticized by Jesus (Matt. 23:1-15).
 Survived after 70 AD → Modern Judaism follows their teachings.
3 The Essenes: Monastic & Mystical Sect
3️⃣
 Lived in isolated desert communities (Qumran).
 Preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls.
 Rejected the Temple & its priests as corrupt.
 Practiced ritual purity, daily baptismal washings, and communal
meals.
 Believed in soul immortality, but denied bodily resurrection.
 John the Baptist may have been influenced by them.
4 The Zealots: Radical Jewish Nationalists
4️⃣
 Anti-Roman rebels, started revolts against Roman rule.
 Simon the Zealot, one of Jesus' apostles, was part of this group
(Luke 6:15).
 Jesus was wrongly accused of being a Zealot leader at His trial.
 Led the 66 AD revolt, causing Rome to destroy Jerusalem (70 AD).
 Their last stand was at Masada (73 AD), where many chose suicide
over Roman capture.

📌 Key Takeaways
1. Sadducees → Aristocrats, temple priests, no resurrection.
2. Pharisees → Strict law-keepers, believed in resurrection.
3. Essenes → Isolated, mystical, Dead Sea Scrolls.
4. Zealots → Political rebels, fought Rome.

The Religious and Political Groups in Jesus’ Time

1️⃣ The Sadducees: Aristocratic Priests

 Powerful temple priests, controlled the Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling council).

 Accepted only the Torah, rejecting oral traditions.

 Denied resurrection and afterlife (Mark 12:18-27).

 Wealthy, politically influential, cooperated with Rome.

  Lost power after the Temple’s destruction (70 AD).

2️⃣ The Pharisees: Law Keepers & Synagogue Leaders

 Largest sect (~6,000 members).

 Accepted Torah + Oral Law (rabbinic interpretations).

 Believed in resurrection & afterlife (Acts 23:6-9).

 Many were hypocritical, criticized by Jesus (Matt. 23:1-15).

 Survived after 70 AD → Modern Judaism follows their teachings.

3️⃣ The Essenes: Monastic & Mystical Sect

 Lived in isolated desert communities (Qumran).

 Preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls.

 Rejected the Temple & its priests as corrupt.

 Practiced ritual purity, daily baptismal washings, and communal meals.

 Believed in soul immortality, but denied bodily resurrection.

 John the Baptist may have been influenced by them.

4️⃣ The Zealots: Radical Jewish Nationalists

 Anti-Roman rebels, started revolts against Roman rule.

 Simon the Zealot, one of Jesus' apostles, was part of this group (Luke 6:15).

 Jesus was wrongly accused of being a Zealot leader at His trial.

 Led the 66 AD revolt, causing Rome to destroy Jerusalem (70 AD).

 Their last stand was at Masada (73 AD), where many chose suicide over Roman capture.

📌 Key Takeaways

1. Sadducees → Aristocrats, temple priests, no resurrection.

2. Pharisees → Strict law-keepers, believed in resurrection.

3. Essenes → Isolated, mystical, Dead Sea Scrolls.

4. Zealots → Political rebels, fought Rome.