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The New Testament Cover Image
The New Testament, 4/e
Stephen Harris, California State University - Sacramento
The Judeo-Christian Bible and Subsequent History

Outline


I. The evolution of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Greek scriptures

  1. The evolution of the Hebrew biblical canon
    1. Completed by late first century C.E.
    2. Influenced by rabbis at Jamnia
  1. Hebrew biblical canon ends at 1 Chronicles
  2. Christian New Testament begins at Matthew, ends at Revelation
  3. Christians see their canon as fulfillment of Old Testament covenant promises
  4. New Testament canon reflects dominance of the figure of Jesus Christ
  5. Place of Revelation in canon reflects impact of apocalypticism in early Christian thought
  6. Books of 1 Clement and 2 Peter deal with delay of the Parousia

II. Constantine the Great, Roman emperor 306-337 C.E.

  1. Issues the Edict of Milan 313, decreeing religious toleration for Christians
  2. Hailed by some Christians as realization of Christ's sovereignty over the world

III. The church and the secular world

  1. Christianization of Roman Empire led to espousal of realized eschatology
  2. Renewed emphasis on individual, personal elements of eschatology
  3. Shocks and readjustments
  1. The rise of Islam
    1. Founded by Muhammed in seventh century
    2. Incorporates traditions from Judaism and Christianity
    3. Muhammed the last and greatest prophet of Allah, the only God
    4. Allah demands Islam ("submission") from all
    5. Aggressive spread of Islam into previously Christian areas of Europe and Asia in Middle Ages
  1. The split between the Western and Eastern Church
    1. Dispute over papal authority caused schism between papacy at Rome and patriarchate of Constantinople
    2. 1054 C.E.: split between Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church
    3. Recent attempts at reconciliation
  1. The Protestant Reformation
    1. Spurred by Martin Luther's criticisms of Roman Catholicism in sixteenth-century Europe
    2. Championed primacy of Scripture over church tradition as basis of Christian teaching
    3. Resulted in rapidly proliferating Christian denominations
  1. The fragmentation of Christendom
    1. The proliferation of denominations
    2. Splintering of doctrinal "core" of medieval Christianity an actual reflection of diversity within the New Testament itself
  1. The continuing centrality of the figure of Jesus in Christian faith
    1. The ethics of Jesus a promising guide for humankind
    2. Jesus' personal welcoming of all persons regardless of social class
    3. Belief in Jesus' resurrection as a sign of the deep impact Jesus had on his followers

IV. Summary

  1. Rapid growth of Christianity during and after Constantine I
  2. Challenges to Christianity by Islam, internal schisms








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