Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Bible Alive Jesus Christ Six: The Holy Family & the Hidden Years


Here are questions from the sixth class of Bible Alive: Jesus Christ, meeting Tuesday nights. To follow you will need to read the book Jesus Christ: Fundamentals in Christology, by Roch Kereszty, o. cist.
ISBN-10: 081890917X
ISBN-13: 978-0818909177
It can be ordered here NOTE: YOU NEED to read the book.

Assignment: Answer Questions for class two and read Jesus Christ: Fundamentals of Christology Chapter Three pp. 93-106.

1. How does the mystery of the Holy Family shed light on the mystery of religious communities, ecclesial communities, and Christian marriage?

2. According to the New Testament, Jesus is the “Son of David.” What historical evidence do we have for the Davidic descendance of Jesus? What is the theological meaning of this title?

3. Compare the story of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple with the call of Samuel (1 Sam 2:19-3:19). What are the similarities and what are the differences?

4. Comment on the theological meaning of Jesus’ “private life” before his public ministry.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Bible Alive Jesus Christ Five: The Beginning of the Gospel


Here are questions from the fifth class of Bible Alive: Jesus Christ, meeting Tuesday nights. To follow you will need to read the book Jesus Christ: Fundamentals in Christology, by Roch Kereszty, o. cist.
ISBN-10: 081890917X
ISBN-13: 978-0818909177
It can be ordered here NOTE: YOU NEED to read the book.

The following questions cover pp. 72-81, which you NEED to read.
Class Five Questions:

1. Explain the analogy between the mystery of Jesus’ virginal conception and the mystery of his resurrection.

2. How can you show that the tradition of the virginal conception of Jesus does not derive from the Hellenistic religions?

3. How is the mystery of the virginal conception prepared for in the Old Testament?

4. What is the theological meaning behind Jesus’ virginal conception? What is common to both Matthew and Luke? What is special to Matthew and what is special to Luke?

5. What can be shown historically about the fact of the virginal conception?

6. How is faith related to what is historically demonstrable? (Show the analogy between the fact of the empty tomb and the early pregnancy of Mary.)

7. What can and cannot be proved from the New Testament concerning “the brothers and sisters of Jesus”?

8. What arguments does Bauckham present in favor of the Epiphanian view regarding “the brothers and sisters of Jesus”?

9. How did Church tradition develop regarding the perpetual virginity of Mary?

10. How is the perpetual virginity of Mary connected with the mystery of her universal motherhood?

11. How is the mystery of Mary’s perpetual virginity related to the mystery of the Church?


You might also wish to explore indepth the differences between the Matthean and Lucan Infancy Narratives at a wonderful scholarly resource. For a presentation on the Gospel of Matthew's Infancy Narrative, click here. For a presentation on the Gospel of Luke's Infancy Narrative, click here. Then, for a conclusion based on what has been discovered in both narratives, click here.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Bible Alive Jesus Christ Four: Historical Facts & Resurrection Faith



Here are questions from the fourth class of Bible Alive: Jesus Christ, meeting Tuesday nights. To follow you will need to read the book Jesus Christ: Fundamentals in Christology, by Roch Kereszty, o. cist.
ISBN-10: 081890917X
ISBN-13: 978-0818909177
It can be ordered here NOTE: YOU NEED to read the book.

The following questions cover pp. 48-71, which you NEED to read.
Class Four Questions:

1. What facts connected with the origin of resurrection faith can be established by the historian? In particular, how do you prove the historicity of the empty tomb?

2. Explain the theories that deny any form of resurrection.

3. Explain the various interpretations of the resurrection of Christ.

4. Interpret the epistemological status of the appearances of Jesus:

a. What extreme interpretations should be excluded?

b. What does it mean that the appearances were revelatory signs of the Risen Christ?

c. In order to recognize an appearance of the risen Christ, what else did the disciples need beside sense perception? Why was sense perception not sufficient to recognize the identity of the Risen Lord?

d. Were the appearances historical events? Explain.

e. How are the appearances related to the sacraments?

f. How does the fact of the empty tomb contribute to our understanding of the reality of the Risen Christ?

5. How can history, philosophy, and theology contribute to the credibility of the resurrection of Jesus?