Jesus Before Christianity Recovering a more authentic picture of Jesus’ life

Context and Purpose Written 1976 Written 1976 Content: What can we know about Jesus historically? Content: What can we know about Jesus historically? Central: his preaching on the Kingdom of God Central: his preaching on the Kingdom of God How do his actions bring the Kingdom? How do his actions bring the Kingdom? Purpose: What does this mean for people today? Purpose: What does this mean for people today? Example: El Salvador Example: El Salvador

What do we know about Jesus? Born around 4 BCE; Crucified around 30 CE Born around 4 BCE; Crucified around 30 CE Observant Jew from Galilee Observant Jew from Galilee Similar to and different from John the Baptist Similar to and different from John the Baptist Gathered disciples and preached about the Kingdom of God Gathered disciples and preached about the Kingdom of God healed, exorcised demons healed, exorcised demons Invited many to eat with him Invited many to eat with him

What was going on in Jesus’ lifetime? Roman occupation Roman occupation Competition among Jewish groups Competition among Jewish groups Apocalypticism Apocalypticism Catastrophic event, bringing judgment Catastrophic event, bringing judgment End of world, beginning of new world End of world, beginning of new world Honor and shame society Honor and shame society

Kingdom of God Turns expectations upside down Turns expectations upside down Like prophets’ call for justice Like prophets’ call for justice A new time: when God’s justice would rule A new time: when God’s justice would rule Focus on liberating people from what binds them (salvation) Focus on liberating people from what binds them (salvation) Disease, demons, social judgment, poverty Disease, demons, social judgment, poverty New kinship New kinship “Radically egalitarian” “Radically egalitarian” Welcomed children (the insignificant) Welcomed children (the insignificant)

Contrasts Salvation as after death vs. breaking into the world now Salvation as after death vs. breaking into the world now Religion or politics vs. religion AND politics Religion or politics vs. religion AND politics Divinity vs. humanity Divinity vs. humanity Superhuman vs. supremely human Superhuman vs. supremely human Suffering as redemptive vs. need to alleviate suffering out of compassion Suffering as redemptive vs. need to alleviate suffering out of compassion Example: El Salvador Example: El Salvador Killed by Jews vs. killed by Romans Killed by Jews vs. killed by Romans insurrection insurrection

Divinity Christian doctrine: Council of Chalcedon (451) Christian doctrine: Council of Chalcedon (451) Jesus is fully human and fully God Jesus is fully human and fully God Of the same being as the Father (Council of Nicea, 325) Of the same being as the Father (Council of Nicea, 325) Cannot separate or confuse his divine and human natures Cannot separate or confuse his divine and human natures Emerges out of worship practice Emerges out of worship practice Pray to Christ Pray to Christ Cannot violate monotheism (Judaism) Cannot violate monotheism (Judaism) This belief comes from the people; not imposed by the emperor This belief comes from the people; not imposed by the emperor

Questions What characteristics of Nolan’s sketch of Jesus are significant for world problems today? What characteristics of Nolan’s sketch of Jesus are significant for world problems today? What does it mean to have faith in Jesus, according to Nolan? What does it mean to have faith in Jesus, according to Nolan? Belief in divinity Belief in divinity P. 166: what are our preconceived ideas of what God is like? P. 166: what are our preconceived ideas of what God is like? P. 170: need to read the signs of our times P. 170: need to read the signs of our times

Characteristics of Religion Defining the Sacred Defining the Sacred What is it? What is it? How is it beyond ordinary experience? How is it beyond ordinary experience? How is in manifested in human experience? How is in manifested in human experience? How does it order human life? How does it order human life? Transcendence vs. immanence Transcendence vs. immanence Prophetic, sacramental, or mystical? Prophetic, sacramental, or mystical? Doctrine of “incarnation” and sacraments Doctrine of “incarnation” and sacraments