Eusebius--Book Ten

Eusebius' final pages are among the most optimistic in all of historical literature. Why is Eusebius so positive and so hopeful about the future? In particular, why is he so positive about Constantine? What is Constantine doing that makes Eusebius feel that the Roman world is exactly on the right track? Do you feel Eusebius is missing anything here?

Eusebius on Heretics and Heresy

in Book 7 of his History of the Church, Eusebius discusses several figures whom he regarded as heretics, among them Paul of Samosata, Sabellius, and Novatian (whom he calls Novatus). Do you agree with Eusebius' evaluation of these men? Are they truly heretics? If so, is false doctrine the central problem, or does something else seem to be involved? What techniques does the church seem to be using in dealing with the divisions caused by such men? Does the "surgery" in each case seem successful or not?

Persecution (Extra Credit)

Like any historian, Eusebius is only as good as his sources. When it comes to 2nd century persecutions, his sources are sometimes excellent (e.g., Justin Martyr) and sometimes not quite as reliable. Nevertheless, while one might question some of the details he includes, Eusebius is an excellent source for understanding the reasons Christians were persecuted and the reasons Christianity was able to grow despite the persecutions.

Read through some of the martyrdom sections in Books IV and V of Eusebius' History of the Church. Sections you might find particularly useful are 4:14-17 (which includes an account of the martyrdom of Polycarp) and 5:1-3 (which includes the martyrdom of Blandina).

What do you find in these sections that helps explain Roman persecution of the Christians or helps explain the perseverence of the Christians despite the persecutions?

New Testament Apocrypha (Extra Credit)

The Early Christian Writers site includes most of the New Testament Apocrypha (pseudegriphal works that Eusebius would have called "really spurious") and the works of the men who came to be called the Apostolic Fathers (books accepted by the church as orthodox in doctrince, though not authoritative).

Please choose either one of the Apocryphal books or the Apostolic Fathers (the first nine on the link here). What is your evaluation of this book? Is it a book to die for? Does it seem to you useful and/or interesting? Or is it a book you wouldn't mind seeing burned by government officials? Why?

The Deuterocanonicals (Extra Credit)

Please read through a portion (one or two chapters is enough) of any of the Deuterocanonical books (the books included in Catholic and Greek Orthodox Bibles, but not ususally included in Protestant Bibles). I recommend especially Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), but the other books are worth looking at as well.

Note what you find particularly interesting in the selection you read. Would you ever read through the Deuterocanonicals on your own? Why, or why not?

If you have fallen behind on the blogs, you meet do additional entries on other Deuterocanonical books. [Please note: the link I give here has a pretty idiosyncratic list of the Apocrypha. "Bel and the Dragon" and "Susannah" are usually just called "additions to Daniel" and that's where you will find them in most Catholic Bibles.]

Esusebius--Book III

Please read Book III of Eusebius' History of the Church. What do you see in this book that would be particularly worth adding to an essay on the strengths/weaknesses of Eusebius as a historian? Was there anything you found particularly interesting here?

Eusebius Books I and II

We are going to have to move through material pretty quickly next week. In order to expedite matters, I would appreciate it if you would read as much as you can of the first two books (not chapters) of Euesebius of Caesarea's History of the Church.

What do you find interesting in these books? What do you find not so interesting?

Revelation--Discussion II

Please read Revelation 13-22, concentrating on the last four chapters. Again, cite a verse or two from this section that show particularly well the beauties of this book or that show how difficult the book is to understand and interpret.

Please read the first 12 chapters of Revelation for Thursday's class.

Do you find Revelation a difficult book? A beautiful book? Something of both? Cite a verse or two from the first 12 chapters that particular shows either the beautiful side or Revelation or the difficulties of figuring out this book.

I Peter

None of us likes the feeling that we have failed at something, but, sooner or later, all of us seem to fail--and sometimes we feel like we have failed the really big test: life itself.

Peter certainly could understand the feeling that one is a failure: it was a feeling he sometimes shared. In I Peter, however, he provides us with a recipe for true success in life.

Please read through all of I Peter. Cite below a verse or two that seem to you to be particularly good examples of Peter's advice for success in life. Explain why you chose these particular versees.

Ephesians

Please read all of Ephesians. Choose one of the questions below and select a verse that particular helps in answering that question.

1. What seem to be the most import ethical challenges the Ephesian Christians are facing?

2. In what ways does Ephesians seem different than Romans and Corinthians?

3. What specific standards does Paul set for servants, masters, children, wives, and husbands? Is he right is saying that the husband is the “head” of the wife? How do Paul’s ideas differ from those of contemporary society?

4. What is Paul’s advice to leaders on handling ethical problems?

James

Please read my list of study questions on the Epistle of James (the first nine questions on the link here), and then James itself. Suggest an answer to one or two of the study questions and cite or two a verse from James in support of your answer.

Paul's Letter to the Romans

We will probably have some trouble with discussing II Peter after the long Spring break, so we will go right on to Romans for next time.

For Tuesday after spring break, please read as much as you can of Paul's letter to the Romans. From the chapters you read, pick out a verse or two that you think is a particularly important part of Paul's recipe for helping Jewish and gentile believers get along with one another. Cite also a verse you find particularly puzzling and explain why you find this verse hard to understand. Alternatively, you might take a stab at explaining the verse another student found difficult/confusing.

Have a great break.

Jude/II Peter

We will be finishing our discussion of 1 Corinthians Thursday and moving on to Jude and II Peter. Please read *all* of Jude and II Peter (only four chapters total) and be ready to discuss those books.

Pick out one verse from Jude and one verse from II Peter that you find particularly interesting, important, or hard to understand, and comment below on what you find interesting, difficult, or important in those verses.

I Corinthians

Please read as much as you can of I Corinthians. If you are short of time, read Chapters 1-3, Chapters 6-7, and Chapters 12-13. Choose any one verse in I Corinthians you think particularly interesting, important, or hard to understand, and explain why you think this verse interesting, important, or hard to understand.

Acts (Session II)

Please read Chapters 13-28 of Acts. Choose a verse from this section that seems to you particularly important in explaining the rapid growth of the early church. Note how this verse sheds light on the leadership, finances, organization, etc. of the first Christians or what the verse shows about conditions in the Roman empire that may have been conducive to the spread and growth of Christianity.

Acts--Discussion I

What is one ingredient you think would be essential (or at least important) to the success of a new religious movement? Please read the first 12 chapters of Acts and see if you can find an example of the 1st century church either having or not having that ingredient.

The Gospel of John--Discussion II

Please read Chapters 11-22 of John's gospel.

Your 4th MT study question notes that, while the Gospel of John is in some ways very different from the synoptic gospels, it often complements and suplements the synoptics.

Choose a verse from the assigned chapters and a "parallel" verse from one of the synoptics on the same subject (e.g., money, leadership, faith, etc.). Compare and contrast the two verses.

The Gospel of John--Discussion I

Please read Chapters 1-11 of John's gospel, concentrating on the first four chapters. Cite one thing John includes that *isn't* in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Suggest a reason that this material may have been more important to John than to the synoptic writers. What is John's purpose in including the "extra" material?

The Synoptic Problem (Extra Credit)

Read a portion of the Gospel of Mark and a parallel passage in the Gospel of Matthew. Which version of the passage (if either) seems to you to be most likely the original version? Why?

You might find the online Gospel synopsis here some help, since it allows you to scroll through each gospel and put parallel passages side by side.

Be not called Rabbi, Rabbi (extra credit)

The Bible in general and the gospels in particularly have strong warnings to those who consider themselves to be great teachers and examples. Look again at the warnings to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 and/or the implied criticisms of religious leaders in Luke 20. Pick out one warning you would particularly like *your* teachers/leaders/professors to pay attention to, and explain why that warning is particularly important.

The Gospel of Luke--Discussion II

Please read Chapter 13-24 of the Gospel of Luke. Look at the list of passages "special" to Luke, i.e., passages that occur in Luke's gospel only (Section VI of the outline I passed out in class). Choose one or two of these passages and speculate on why Luke chose to include this material while Matthew did not. If others have commented on this passage before you, say whether you agree with their suggestions or not.

If you do not have the outline I passed out, see the online version here.

Luke--Discussion I

We will finish up our discussion of Matthew next time. I hope we will at least get a start on the Gospel of Luke. Please read through Chapters 1-12 or the Gospel of Luke.

Luke has been called "the most beautiful book ever written," and it is, for many people, their favorite gospel. Pick out a verse or passage that you think particularly well shows why people find this gospel attractive and explain your choice of this particular book.

The Gospel of Matthew--Discussion 2

Please read the remaining chapters of the Gospel of Matthew (Ch. 15-28). Pay special attention to Chapters 21-23, chapters that particularly well show Jesus' challenge to the religion of the scribes and Pharisees. Choose a verse or summarize a passage that seems particularly important to you and do one of the following:

1. Explain why you think this verse/passage is the best/most memorable in the assigned reading.

2. Explain how this verse/passage ties to the theme that Mattthew is a "gospel for those who think they don't need the gospel."

The Gospel of Matthew I

Please read Chapters 1-14 of the Gospel of Matthew. Concentrate especially on Chapters 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount. Please pick a key verse from the assigned chapters and do one of the following:

1. Explain why you think this verse the key to understanding what the selection is about.

2. Explain why you think this verse is the best/most memorable in the assigned reading.

3. Explain why you think this verse is the most difficult/hard to understand in the assigned chapters.