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ATTENTION! I MAY HAVE FOUND A MORE READABLE FORMAT FOR THESE NOTES. GO BACK
TO THE MAIN PAGE AND YOU WILL SEE ANOTHER ICON ENTITLED, "NT DAILY NOTES." I
THINK THIS IS BETTER! CHECK IT OUT. BR. MIKE
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NT Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Welcome Back.
Here’s what we did today
• 1. I distributed your textbooks and recorded the number of book. You are
responsible for the well being of this textbook.
• 2. I distributed the NT Class information sheet. It is online also.
o Refer to this document for year-long class information.
• 3. Remeber. ST__P __ D and Sh __ t __P!
o There are no “u’s” or “I’s” in these words.
• You must bring your NAB Catholic Youth Bibles to class tomorrow and every day.
• You may borrow a CYB from Campus Ministry if necessary. There are copies of
the CYB in the Padua Library.
• Helpful hints: Review your notes EVERDAY!
• Get a binder with sheet protectors and dividers. Look to NT Class
Information Sheet for more information.
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Thursday, August 27, 2009.
Today we arranged the seating chart and assigned class numbers. If where you
are sitting is not “good” for you, then please see me so we can make the
necessary changes.
Our class discussion was rather free flowing.
• We began by writing down reasons why NOT to study the New Testament and
reasons why we should study the New Testament.
o It’s a good idea to recognize your own preconceptions and understandings
when attempting to fulfill any task.
o Remember, the Bible is the #1 book in the world. More people own bibles than
any other book ever published. In this country our moral codes and legal
system can find their roots here. Yet, how many of us know what the Bible
REALLY says. Welcome to New Testament.
o A bit of review. The individual books of the Bible are NOT in chronological
order. (We learned this in Old Testament: Gen I was written AFTER Gen II and
the Psalms predate these!)
o In the New Testament we commonly refer to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
This is how they appear in the Bible. However, Mark was written BEFORE
Matthew. Knowing this will help us understand the writings themselves.
o I asked classes to tell me which stories they know from the New Testament.
The Resurrection Story was the most common: Jesus rising from the dead.
However, we discovered that it was difficult to articulate what we meant by
saying such things as “Rising from the Dead” and “Saving us from Sin.” GOOD!
Now we begin!
o
• The Point of the above was to help us figure out where we are in terms of
our knowledge and feelings about Scripture. This gives us a starting point
from which to work.
•
• REMEMBER, YOU MUST BRING YOUR BIBLE TO CLASS EVERY DAY!
• IF YOU LOST YOUR BIBLE, YOU MAY BORROW ONE FROM CAMPUS MINISTRY. OR YOU MAY
PURCHASE ONE. IT MUST BE THE NAB, CYB!!!!!
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Friday, August 28, 2009
You received your first Homework Assignment today. I gave you a handout with
questions on it. The name of this assignment is HW 1.1. It is due Tuesday,
September 1.
Our prayer today used the song “Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord” While it was
playing you read the responses to the questions, “ Why not to study the NT,
and why we should study the NT.
Focus on where you are in your thoughts, feelings and beliefs.
NO ONE suggested we study the NT because we find out that God loves us and
wants us to be HAPPY! (This is the reason the Pope wants us to study the
Bible!)
We then moved on to the Gospel reading for this coming Sunday. You may access
the readings for everyday of the week via www.usccb.org.
We quickly looked at the Gospel and began asking questions of it. For
example: Who is Jesus? What is a scribe? What is a Pharisee? What does the
text mean about hand washing and purification? Who are the disciples? And so
on. Asking questions is a major part of this course!!!! Go for it.
In the Gospel, Jesus is speaking with the Pharisees and Scribes about
handwashing and following traditions. He then calls these religious leaders
hypocrites!
OUCH….These are the men responsble for interpreting and enforcing the Law!
Jesus was not the God that these people were looking for and hoping for. Jesus
did not fit their understanding of God and they eventually killed him for it!
OUCH!!!!
God is asking us to change our perspective – to see with the eyes of our
hearts! Try doing the pen exercise at home with your folks….
What’s the point of all this? Here are some questions to reflect on.
• If God is above us, looking DOWN on us, what implications does this have on
your understanding of God and yourself.
• If God became human, in the person of Jesus, what does this say about God?
What does this imply for us?
• Jesus eventually stooped down and washed his disciples feet! Hence, humans
then have God below them! What is God trying to tell us?
•
Get READY>>>>>>>.here we Go!!!!!
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Monday, August 31. 2009 NT
Today we continued our discussion about “perspective.” We used the Lectionary
reading from Sunday, 8/30 (Mk 7) and Matt 5:38-42 to help us to understand
the importance of understanding how our world interacts with the biblical world.
In Mk 7 we see Mark using parenthesis to explain handwashing.
• Why would Mark do this? It could be that Mark’s audience was not Jewish!
Probably so.
• Also, the passage is NOT speaking of hand washing as we do today.
• Jesus’ adversaries in this passage are not the “average Joe.” The Pharisees
and the Scribes were RELIGIOUS leaders. Hence Jesus is shaking up the
RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES! It would be inappropriate to think of hand washing in
the 21st is what Mark is referring to.
o Jesus calls the RELIGIOUS LEADERS “hypocrites.” Yikes! Strong words.
o The passage seems to be more about the temptation of those in power to stay
aloof from the poor and the lowly. Jesus informs that the religious leaders
should STOP separating themselves from the poor.
o We saw the above in our prayer today…..
o
o Lord,
let our hearts be close to you.
Let us reach out to our neighbor even when we are busy or tired.
Let us tear down walls when we would rather let them stand.
We want this, not because it is easy
but because it is hard.
Visiting a prisoner, offering a smile, feeding the hungry
Be within us so that whatever we do,
we do with your love.
The world will know we are your disciples
not because our hands are clean,
but because they are soiled
with the mark of your
people.
o (This prayer was found on the website: www.liturgy.slu.edu. Take a look at
this website to help understand the readings and the Mass!)
o
Our next example of why it is important to study the NT was done using Mt 5:38-42
• Here we heard some familiar sayings: “eye for and eye” and “turn the other
cheek.”
• We discovered that eye for and eye is NOT an equation for revenge, but a
measure to ensure that the punishment fits the crime.
• We discovered that “turning the other cheek” is NOT about letting people hit
us again and again.
o NO! It is about standing up for yourself NONVIOLENTLY.
o Those in power in the First Century would keep others down by using the back
of the right hand to strike and knock down their wives, children and
employees. This was done to show their power and might.
o Jesus is telling the ones hit to STAND UP for themselves and face their
oppressors but do it without violence.
o By “turning the other cheek” the one hit catches the oppressor “off guard”
and stops the violence.
o Christianity is NOT for wimps! It would take guts for the one hit to stand
up and face his oppressor! Hence this is a “hard saying” of Jesus. We might
be tempted just to hit the guy back. But what good would that do. Violence
breeds violence, right?
• The other two examples of the reading are other methods of being non violent
when someone wrongs you.
o “If someone sues you for your tunic, give them your cloak” this would
embarrass the one doing the suing.
o “Walk another mile.” This would embarrass the enemy and put him at risk of
breaking the law. He would think twice about asking someone to carry his load!
Remember, HW 1.1 is due tomorrow.
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Today I collected HW 1.1
• We discussed various examples of how to answer questions in complete
sentences and why this is important.
We then began to put the New Testament into perspective in terms of Salvation
History. The following is a review from your OT class.
KNOW THIS FOR A QUIZ on Thursday.
Ok. be sure to be able to whip up a quick timeline at any time. For example.
God Speaks Exodus Monarchy Exile
2000 BC 1290 BC 1000 BC 587 BC
0
Abraham Moses Saul, David, Solomon
Jesus
You should be able to take your “Sprint Through Salvation History page and
outline it easily. For example.
• 1. Founders and the Promise
o God Speaks to Abraham a nomad
o God makes a covenant with Abraham: make descendents a blessing and give
them a home (Canaan)
o This promise is fulfilled in Christ.
o Abraham’s descendants: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph (Patriarchs)
• 2. Exodus of the Israelites and the Covenant.
o Abraham’s descendents move to Egypt because of a famine
o Eventually they are enslaved and call to God to get them out of Egypt.
o Moses is selected to free the Israelites!
o Moses receives 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai → The People of God.
o Wondered 40 years in the desert.
• 3. Taking Over the Promised Land
o Joshua led battles to take over Canaan
o Organized selves into 12 tribes (12 sons of Jacob)
o Judges were their leaders.
o Became settled and agricultural
• 4. Nation and the Temple.
o David the most famous king, (But Saul was first)
o Solomon (David’s son built the Temple)
o Jerusalem = capital of Judah
• 5. Kings and Prophets
o Solomon dies/ nation splits in two. North = Israel South = Judah.
o Kings practiced Idolatry (ouch!)
o Prophets challenge kings and comfort people who were being oppressed
o Assyrians conquer the Northern Kingdom (Israel)
o Babylonians conquer Southern Kingdom (Judah, Jerusalem is capital)
o Temple is destroyed by Babylonians.
• 6. Babylonian Exile and Jewish Dispersion
o While in Exile prophets encourage people to be faithful to God
o Second Isaiah = God was the only God = monotheism
o Exile = 50 years
o Persians (under King Cyrus) conquer Babylonians.
o Persians allow Exiles to return to Judah (now called Jews)
o Not all Jews went back, but settled elsewhere. They are called the Jews of
the Dispersion or the Diaspora. Jerusalem is their capital.
o IMPORTANT: during the time of the Exile is when the Hebrew Scriptures began
to be collected and recorded as we know them today!
• 7. More Oppressors
o Greek (Alexander the Great) conquers Persians
• Overlords of Jews for over 300 years
o Romans defeated Greeks and captured Jerusalem in 63 BC.
• Tolerant yet very oppressive.
o Jews hope and pray for God to save them with a messiah. . . .
o
• 8. Jesus the Savior:
• Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise
• Story of Jesus and growth of early Church is found in the New
Testament.
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009 NT
I returned HW 1.1. They were really well done.
Today we almost got done with Salvation History
We will have a quiz covering up to the Exile period.
I put a copy of the slideshow we covered in class today on the website. It is
in the download section under “Salvation History Q&A.”
I also put together a picture slide show for those of you who are more
artistic and visual. It is under “Salvation History Pics.”
I may have told you to look over HW 1.1 for the quiz…..uh, what was I
thinking? That would be way too much. Hold off, we will do that one later.
The quiz tomorrow is simply on SALVATION HISTORY.
Good luck.
Check notes for yesterday for entire written notes for salvation history!
