HISTORY: THE DISCOVERY AND INVESTIGATION OF PAST PERSONS, PLACES, AND EVENTS IN ORDER
TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF HISTORY.
The reliability, trustworthiness of the Gospel writers (witnesses) and their written records, the
Gospels…
The Church teaches that a person can know objective truth.
To discover and know the Church, one discovers and knows Jesus Christ.
To discover and know Jesus Christ, one discovers and knows the Church.
We can know Jesus Christ’s history and personality.
There is no Church apart from Jesus Christ.
Without the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, there would be no Church.
NO RESURRECTION, NO CHURCH [or Antonian, or San Antonio (or Spanish missionaries)], or United
States, or Christianized England (British Empire) or… Europe.]
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE HINGE OF HISTORY, ALL HISTORY.
Based on the evidence, it is reasonable to accept the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as historically
true.
JESUS CHRIST: IDENTITY AND MISSION
To know who he is, we have to study his historical background. Exploring his historical
background requires studying Judaism and the history of the Jews.
(Where did he come from? Who were his parents? With whom did he associate? Who were his friends?
What did he do? What did his friends have to say about him? When did he die?)
Jesus taught that he was God.
Jesus’ miracles indicate that he had divine authority.
Jesus’ Resurrection…
Jesus: Divine and Human, God and Man, Eternal Son of God, Second Person of the Trinity,
Logos
John’s Prologue: In the beginning (recalls the opening of Genesis)
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] He was in the beginning with God;
[3] all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
[4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
[5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
What does Johns Pro. say about JC/?
God freely creates the cosmos.
(He is not forced to create, nor is he dependent on creation; he doesn’t need the cosmos.)
God freely creates humankind.
God’s creation is good. Every creature, in its own way, reflects God’s freedom.
God gives human persons freedom – human freedom.
(Humans are free first and foremost by virtue of God’s graciousness.)
The first man and woman reject their creaturehood, their dependence on God, and
subsequently misuse and abuse their freedom; they freely sin (Original Sin).
Which of the elements above is not part of the two creation accounts of Genesis?
In contrast to the popular account of man’s origin – evolutionary theory (and mythologies of the
ancient world that taught that man’s life was one of resignation to fate), what does the Genesis,
the Judeo-Christian, perspective protect?
If Original Sin did not occur, then ?
From the Church’s standpoint, what are two major problems with the popular understanding of
Darwinian evolutionary theory?
Evolutionary theory denies the reality of divine activity in the creation and development of the
human person and reduces, if not rejects, the reality of human freedom.
The doctrine of Original Sin is not often seen in a positive light. Why is it a positive teaching?
Man’s freedom and responsibility
In regards to the background of Jesus Christ, why do we start our considerations with the
creation of the cosmos?
4.
Beginnings: The Cosmos and the Church
(Comparing Two Different, Valid Forms of Knowledge)
Science (Astronomy): Origin of Cosmos
Revelation (Ecclesiology): Beginning of the Catholic Church
1. Object: Expanding Cosmos / Universe 1. Object: Worldwide, Growing Church
2. Claim (theory): Caused by Big Bang
2. Claim: Caused by Jesus Christ’s Resurrection from dead
3. Observers: No Eyewitnesses
3. Observers: Eyewitnesses and Written Records
4.
4.
In regards to the beginning of the Catholic Church, why is the Resurrection important to
examine?
For what reason or reasons is accepting the Resurrection of Jesus Christ more reasonable than
accepting the Big Bang Theory of the Universe’s beginning?
A polytheistic world – exemplified by the Romans and their empire, with the emperors soon
claiming divine status and authority
The Jews, Judaism in a polytheistic ocean
Historical Background to Jesus Christ: Polytheists and Monotheists
Romans and Jews: Comparing Two Different Religious Worldviews
Romans
Jews
1. Roma Aeterna, Sacred City
1. Jerusalem, Holy City
2. People and City protected by the gods
2. People and City protected by God
3. Sacrificial Worship / Temples
3. Sacrificial Worship / TEMPLE
4. Morality
4. Morality
5. Emperors claim divine status and
5. Holy People Waiting for the Messiah
authority
6. Epicenter of Western Civilization
6. Epicenter of Western Civilization
The Jews, Israel, Jerusalem, Temple
Jews
Jerusalem
Temple
• God freely establishes People
• Monotheistic
• Capital city of the Jews
•
• Presence of God
• Sacrifice
Mary – Mother of Jesus, Mother of God, Virgin, New Eve
Why was Mary protected from Original Sin – Her role in our redemption.
THE CHURCH: IDENTITY AND MISSION
The Church receives her identity and mission from Jesus Christ.
Jesus as bridegroom before his Passion, Jesus as Divine Husband after
Trinity is One God, Jesus is One Person, God is Holy, God’s message / Revelation (Christian
Faith) is for all people, Father sends Son (Jesus is the Apostle par excellence)
The Church is the one, chaste Bride of Christ
Identifying the Church - FOUR MARKS (characteristics):
ONE (John), HOLY (Luke), CATHOLIC (Mark), APOSTOLIC (Matthew)
(Unity, good, universality, missionary)
Two Fundamental Dimensions / Aspects / Components: Divine (spiritual) and Human (visible)
Divine: guiding light of the Holy Spirit and Christ’s constant presence
Human: life and actions of men and women / every cultural and historical situation
Map of Jesus Miracles.
God the Father – God the Son / Jesus Christ – Apostles (Peter) – Bishops (Pope, bishop of
Rome)
Apostolic Succession - Family, Lineage, Continuity, Sign of True Church
Petrine Office: Task of the Pope following Jesus handing the keys to Peter