Spring Blitz 2009:
Social Anthropology: Introduction to Early Christian Context

This page contains links to important course documents and resources.

THINK GREEN! Try to use the electronic documents and save paper!

Syllabus: Pages | PDF

Course Outline: DOC | PDF

Final Summary Reflection: DOC (Work in progress--Subject to change)

Readings, Assignments, and Other Resources

Reading Journal

Class Reaction Journal

Class Reaction Journal Questions:

Day 1:

1. Why is it important that we understand the context of the first centuries (BCE and CE) as we study the Bible?

Day 2:

1. The Mesopotamia video called attention to parallels between Assyrian/Babylonian culture and Judaism. So what? Discuss how truth can be true in more than one culture at the same time.

What do the events of the video mean for first century Christianity?

2. Comment briefly on some of the connections between Hellenism and first century Christianity.

Day 3:

1. Through our discussions up to the invasion of Pompey (Rome) that ended the Maccabees period, what has been the most interesting topic and why?

Day 4:

1. N/A

Day 5:

1. N/A

Day 6:

1. Explain this illustration:

Day 7:

1. NA

Day 8:

1. N/A

Day 9:

1. Summarize in a few sentences the evidence (e.g. what our authors had to say) about literacy in the Mediterranean area. So what?

Tests and Quizzes

Summary Reflection

The following questions (and perhaps others) will appear on the Summary Reflection assignment. You will be provided a word document with the questions, but this will allow you to be thinking about them as we go through class.

1. Imagine you are an early first century Galilean.  You wake up in Jerusalem to go to work as a potter (or other craftsman).

Describe your day including imagined encounters with other Jews, with Gentiles, with Roman officials and with Temple officials.  Discuss the ideologies and attitudes that “walk with you” through the streets (Legacy of being conquered and exile, apocalyptic attitudes and thoughts, Hellenism, Hasmonean era independence and loss thereof, Judaism, Pax Romano, etc.)

Focus on your thoughts about these people—how do they make you feel?  What worries (if any) do they generate?  What assurances (if any) do they offer?

2. Around the second century BCE, the land of Israel was part of the Seleucid domain.  Hellenism was an influential cultural phenomenon at that time.

What are some of the results of the Jews encounter with Hellenism?  What effect did Hellenism have on the development of Christianity?  (Consider, for example, Greek as a language.)  What challenge did the encounter with Hellenism call into light that persist for Jews and Christians, even into the twenty-first century?

3. Discuss the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE and its implications for Judaism and Christianity.

4. Pick a biblical text--a few verses--and reflect on it in light of the concepts covered in this class. Quote the Bible text, then write your reflections. You ought to be able to view it in at least one of the major course concepts (e.g. post-conquest, post-exile thought; Hellenism; Hasmonean independence; Judaistic thought; apocalyptic thought; pax Romano; shame/honor; family;kinship; slavery).

5. Which reading was most exciting to you and why? Which was least exciting and why? Which video do you remember most and what about it do you remember?

6. How will you incorporate your experiences in this course into the future that you imagine for yourself?