Chapter 21

The Judeo-Christian Bible and Subsequent History

Evolution of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Greek Scriptures Evolution of Hebrew biblical canon

Completed by late first century CE Influenced by rabbis at Jamnia

Hebrew biblical canon ends at 1 Chronicles Christian New Testament begins at Matthew;

ends at Revelation

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Hebrew Bible (continued)

Christians: their canon as fulfillment of Old Testament covenant promises

New Testament reflects dominance of figure of Jesus Christ

Place of Revelation in canon reflects impact of apocalypticism in early Christian thought

1 Clement, 2 Peter, and the delay of the Parousia

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Constantine the Great

Roman emperor 306-337 CE Issued Edict of Milan (313 CE) Decreed religious toleration for Christians Hailed by some Christians as realization of

Christ’s sovereignty over the world

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The Church and the Secular World

Christianization of Roman Empire led to espousal of realized eschatology

Renewed emphasis on individual, personal elements of eschatology

Christianity continued to struggle with various challenges over the centuries

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Shocks and Readjustments

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The Rise of Islam

Founded by Muhammad in seventh century Incorporates traditions from Judaism and

Christianity Muhammad the last and greatest prophet of

Allah, the only God Allah demands Islam (“submission”) from all Aggressive spread of Islam into previously

Christian areas of Europe and Asia in Middle Ages

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The Split Between the Western and Eastern Churches Dispute over papal authority caused schism

between papacy at Rome and patriarchate of Constantinople

1054 CE: final split between Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church

Recent attempts at reconciliation

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The Protestant Reformation

Spurred by Martin Luther’s criticisms of Roman Catholicism in sixteenth-century Europe

Championed primacy of Scripture over church tradition as basis of Christian teaching

Resulted in rapidly proliferating Christian denominations

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Exploration and the Scientific Revolution Challenges to conventional belief have

included Discoveries of hitherto unknown continents and

civilizations Scientific challenge to and overthrowing of the

geocentric view of the universe Great advances in biology and geology

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Exploration and the Scientific Revolution (continued)

Many theologians have responded by looking at the scriptures as more metaphorical than literal

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The Ongoing Debate

Different religious groups have responded in different ways to science’s revolutionary claims

The multiplicity of contemporary Christian denominations reflects the rich variety of thought embodied in early Christian life and literature

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Summary

Rapid growth of Christianity during and after Constantine I

Challenges to Christianity by Islam, internal schisms

Challenges to Christianity by modern science

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