Ch. 6

1. Culture and Values, 6th
Ed.
Cunningham and Reich

4. Biblical tradition + Graeco (Greek)-Roman
Culture has produced the West as we know it
today
Hebrews did not contribute great art, significant music,
philosophy, or science
Greatest contribution was the collection of many books
that form the Bible

5. Children of Israel, Israelites, Jews, Hebrews
Jews – from the area around Jerusalem known as Judaea
Historical Periods:
Period of the Patriarchs
Origins were in Abraham the patriarch (father) of the tribe
Abraham left Mesopotamia and settled in Canaan on the east
coast of the Mediterranean about 2000 B.C.E.
Divided into twelve tribal areas
Went to Egypt at request of Joseph who had risen to high office
in Egypt after his enslavement there
Period of the Exodus
Egyptians enslaved the Hebrews (possibly around 1750 B.C.E.)
Moses led them out of Egypt
Exodus means “going out”
One of the central themes of the Bible

6. Period of the Conquest
Books of Joshua and Judges
Struggles with Canaanites and Philistines to conquer the
land
The United Monarchy
3 kings: Saul, David, and Solomon
High point of political power – consolidation of Canaan
and rise of monarchy
Construction of the temple in Jerusalem during
Solomon’s reign (see p. 140, fig. 6.1)

7. Divided Kingdom and Exile
After death of Solomon, Israel split: Northern and
Southern Kingdoms (Judah and Israel)
Jerusalem was still the center
Northern Kingdom (Israel) conquered by Assyrians
Southern Kingdom (Judah) conquered by
Babylonians, Solomon’s temple destroyed
(Babylonian Captivity – 587 B.C.E.)

8. Artist’s rendition of Solomon’s Temple

9. The Return
520 B.C.E. – return to Jerusalem and rebuilt temple
Led by foreign rulers and eventually ruled by Rome
Roman Conquest, 63 B.C.E.
Temple destroyed again in 70 B.C.E after a Jewish revolt
(see p. 140, fig. 6.2)
Jews did not hold political power in their homeland
again until 1948, when the state of Israel was
established

10. The Spoils of Jerusalem, from the Arch of Titus, Rome, c. C.E. 81
The seven-branched candelabrum (a menorah) is carried as part of the
booty after the Romans sacked the city of Jerusalem.

11. “Bible” ⇒ Byblos, Greek name for city where
papyrus reed came from and was used to make
books
3 groups of books in Hebrew Bible: The Law, the
Prophets, the Writings
The Law – first five books of the Bible
Torah – Hebrew word for “teaching” or “instruction”
The Prophets – writings attributed to the great
moral teachers of the Hebrews
Prophets spoke with the authority of God
“Prophet: derives from the Greek work “one who speaks for
another”

12. Writings – wisdom literature, prose & poetry
Psalms, Job, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes
P. 141, fig. 6.1 – list of books of the Bible
Hebrew canon (modern Bible) – established C.E. 90
The books in the Old Testament as we know it
Christians added the 27 books that make up the New
Testament to the Hebrew canon
Septuagint - Books of the Old Testament found in the Greek
version of the Hebrew Scriptures
 P. 141, fig. 6.2 – list of deuterocanonical books
 Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians accept Septuagint

13. Bible is THE central document of this faith
(Judaism & Christianity)
Document for worship and rule of faith
Serves as moral guide, and anchor for ethical and
religious stability
Bible has directly and indirectly shaped our law,
literature, language, ethics, and social outlook
Not a philosophical treatise
It is a sacred book
Ideas from the Bible have enormously influenced the
way we think about and see the world

14. 1. Biblical Monotheism – One God who is good and is
involved in the arena of human history
Conceived of as a person not an impersonal force
Creation story makes 3 basic assertions:
God exists before the world and speaks creation into
existence
God pronounces creation as “good”
Humans are the crown of creation
Material world is a gift from God and humans are obliged to
care for it and be grateful for it
God deeply involved in the world
Creates and sustains the world and chose a particular people
to be vehicle and sign of divine presence in the world

15. Covenant (testament)
Relationship between God and the Hebrew people
Summed up: “I will be your God; you will be my people.”
Biblical covenant may be based on language of ancient
marriage customs
Relationship between God and Israel is as close as husband and
wife
Renewed covenant = New Testament, central claim of
Christianity

16. 2. Ethics
Bible is not primarily an ethical treatise; it is a
theological one
Humans are created in “the image and likeness of God”
(Genesis 1:26)
Sets moral code for individuals and society
Ten Commandments – given by God to Moses
Prohibitions; positive commands: dos and don’ts

17. Ethics and Prophetic writings
Hebrew “nabi”
Prophets speak with God’s authority
Primary concern was calling people back to the covenant
and warn them about the ways the people failed the
covenant
Not primarily concerned with the future; Did speak of the
coming Messiah, however
Critics of social injustice, defenders of poor
“called” to preach
Not a hereditary caste in ancient Israel
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Jonah, Elijah, Elisha

18. Models and types
Until modern times, relatively few Jews or Christians read
the Bible on an individual basis
Literacy was rare; books were expensive; leisure was limited
Bibles were read to people in public gatherings in
synagogues and churches
Events, stories, characters in stories serve as models
Instruction and illumination
Contemporary impact of biblical tradition
Literature
Art
Social institutions
Book of Exodus events are often invoked to justify a desire for
freedom from oppression and slavery

19. Life of Jesus
Born a Jew during the reign of Roman Emperor
Augustus in land of Judea
4 Gospels – all we know about Jesus comes from these
books
“Gospel” means “good news”
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Gospels are religious documents, not biographies
Contain historical data about Jesus, as well as theological
reflections about the meaning of His life and the
significance of His deeds

20. Prophetic tradition of Jesus – foretold of his coming
Psalm 22:16-18
16
For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced[c]
My hands and My feet;
17
I can count all My bones.
They look and stare at Me.
18
They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.

21. Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

22. Parables, Beatitudes
Moral stories
He preached the coming of God’s kingdom
Reign of justice and mercy, enemies would be overcome
Jesus taught on life of repentance, love of God and neighbor,
compassion for the poor, downcast, and marginalized
This antagonized Jewish religious leaders and ruling Romans
Set His own life as an example
Jesus as Christ, the Messiah (Hebrew “Messiah”)
Death by crucifixion – punishment so degrading that it
could not be inflicted on Roman citizens
Significance of resurrection
Early Christian church insisted that Jesus overcame death
It is a centerpiece of Christian faith and preaching

23. Saul of Tarsus (Paul)
A Jewish zealot, a Pharisee, before his conversion
Tireless missionary – made three long journeys through
cities on the northern shore of the Mediterranean
Changed Christianity from a religious movement within
Judaism to a religious tradition that could embrace the non-
Jewish world of the Roman Empire
Preached to the Gentiles (non-Jews)
Insisted that non-Jewish converts would not have to adhere
to Jewish customs, especially circumcision
Theological letters to groups of believers – Romans,
Galatians, Philippians, Corinthians, etc.
Executed by the Romans around C.E. 62 in Rome

24. By the end of the 1st
century, communities of Christian
believers existed in most cities in the Roman Empire
Social factors for growth
Peace in Roman empire
Facility of travel: good system of safe roads
Koine – common language of the empire (language of
the New Testament)
1st
preached in a network of Jewish centers
Religious factors for growth
Growing pagan interest in monotheism
Emphasis on salvation, freedom from sin
Mutual aid and charity for its members
No class distinction

25. First martyrs died before the movement spread
outside Jerusalem because of the resistance of the
Jewish establishment
Claudius expelled Christians from city of Rome
Nero’s Circus – persecution in C.E. 64
Christians were covered in oil and burned; used to light
Nero’s gardens
Sewn in animal skins and attacked by dogs
Crucified
Nero provided his own gardens for the display
Claudius, Decius, Valerian, Diocletian – empire-wide
persecution

26. The number of Christians was sufficient enough that
by C.E. 64, Emperor Nero could make Christians
scapegoats for a fire that destroyed the city of Rome
(probably set by the emperor’s own agents).
See page 144

27. Christians seemed secretive:
Own network of communication
Kept away from active life in the political realm
Refused to pay homage to state gods and goddesses
Christians seen as traitors to the state
Refusal to express pietàs (combo of love and reverential
fear)
Pietàs was to be expressed to parents of family; family
to state, and state to the gods
Christian refusal to express pietàs struck at the heart of
civic order

28. Apologists – Christian writers wrote about moral code
of Christianity, beliefs, and reasons for not worshiping
Roman deities
Tried to answer charges against them
Protested roles as scapegoats
Justin Martyr (100-165), apologist
Wrote two apologies asking for toleration and trying to
explain Christian religion
He was scourged and beheaded in Rome in C.E. 165
Emperor Constantine
Issued a decree in Milan allowing Christianity
toleration as a religion in C.E. 312

29. Little significant art dates before the 4th
century because
of illegal status of Christian church
Catacombs: underground cemeteries have some art
Significant because they provide us with visual evidence
about early Christian beliefs and customs
Burial places for Christians
Were not hiding places or secret places of worship
Categories of Artistic Material:
Frescoes (wall paintings done on wet plaster)
Found frequently in catacombs (fig. 6.3)
Most depict biblical subjects the reflect hope of salvation
and eternal life
Common themes:
Salvation; Communion meal; Virgin and Child (fig. 6.4)

30. Christ Teaching the Apostles

31. Virgin And Child

32. Glass and Sculpture
 Sculpture is rare before 4th
century
Statue: Christ as Good Shepherd – has classical borrowings
(fig. 6.5)
Common theme of the “good shepherd”
Glass disks with gold paper cutouts pressed into them
Found in Jewish and Christian catacombs
Decorative motif on individual tomb slots
Carved sarcophagi (fig. 6.6, 6.7)
Became more common and elaborate after the period of
Constantine

33. Good
Shepherd

36. Inscriptions
Each tomb was covered by a slab of marble that was
cemented into place
On slabs: Name, date of death, decorative symbol
Anchor = hope
Dove with an olive branch = peace
Fish – Greek letters the spell out “fish” considered an
anagram for the phrase “Jesus Christ, Son of God and
Savior”
One of the m0st common images
Shorthand way of making a profession of faith

38. Small town in present-day Syria
Evidence of religious tolerance and coexistence
Town was destroyed and covered by desert sands
Religious buildings on “Wall Street” (a north/south street
that ran along the city wall)
Contained Christian house church with intact frescoes, temple
to a Semitic god, temple to Zeus (Roman Jupiter), Jewish
synagogue with frescoes (fig. 6.9), and cult of Mithra meeting
place
Reveals complex religious existence of the time
Artistic mingling of Eastern and Roman styles
Precursor of Byzantine art

39. The Crossing of the Red Sea

40. Emperor Constantine (C.E. 306-337)
2 of the most famous churches in Christendom are
associated with Emperor Constantine
Basilica-Style Churches (fig. 6.10 & 6.11)
Nave with 2 parallel aisles; nave was intersected by a
transept
Current site of St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican)
Church was built on remains of a basilica built by Constantine
Basilica style became a model for later church architecture
Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem) (fig. 6.12)
Built in the basilica style
Jesus’ burial site – domed structure behind the basilica

41. St. Peter’s Basilica

42. Church of the Holy Sepulchre

44. Music of early church drew on Jewish sources
Singing/Chanting sacred texts at religious services
Christians adopted the Jewish practice of reciting scripture
reading
Standardized series of prayers and scripture readings
Singing was generally left to trained choruses who well-knew
the recitations
Congregation would join with standard response: “Amen,”
“Alleluia”
Exception – in congregations of high Jewish numbers, the
congregants would join the chant

45. Music became more complex as it feel into the hands of
professionals
Professional Chorus vs. Single Cantor
Church authorities worried that the professional choirs
were more concerned with performance than worship
In C.E. 361, a provincial council of the Christian church
in Laodicea ordered there should be only one cantor for
each congregation
Cantor – paid performer

46. Christian suspicion of music was reaction against Greek
doctrine of ethos
Instrumental music = declared unsuitable
Music should express religious truth alone
Not invoke passions or strong emotions
Too reminiscent of pagan customs
Standardization form of vocal music
Responsorial – cantor intoning lines from the Psalms and
congregation responding with a simple repeated refrain
Antiphonal – parts of the congregation (or cantor and
congregation) alternating verses of a psalm in a simple
chant tone
No illustration of music texts with notation before the
9th
century exist