RS10 Discussion Questions

Shadow

1 Corinthians

Pergamum

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1. Describe Andreas' beliefs about God, the Romans, and the Jews' plight.
2. What can you say about the Roman system of government?
3. What is the theological dilemma created by Rome's world domination?

1. Who is Pilate? How is he portrayed? Does he seem sincere? Reasonable? How does Thiessen's portrait compare & contrast with our glimpses of Pilate in the New Testament?
2. Thiessen defends his decision to move people and events around (e.g., Bannus) to illustrate conditions in Jesus' day. Do you think this narrative strategy is justified? Are ther risks?
   

1. What does you think of Andreas' reasoning, and his decision? What would you have done in his situation?
2. How would you distinguish between the philosophies of Bannus and Barabbas? Do you identify more readily with one than the other?

1. Do any contemporary groups remind you of the Essenes? Why?
2. Why would the Romans care about an isolated wilderness sect? About John the Baptist?
3. How would you summarize the competing arguments of Metilius and Andreas about Jewish monotheism (belief in the existence of only one God)?
4. What do you think of the repeated claim that the Jewish God is on the side of the losers and the weak?

1. This community at Qumran is the group we think guarded the documents known today as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Click here for more detailed information on this community and their scrolls--perhaps the single greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th century. Click here to learn more about the origins of the group.
2. Can you explain the appeal of this group to fellow Jews?
3. What aspects of the Essene community would cause concern to the Romans? What aspects would seem benign?
4. Are you able to draw further connections between the Essenes and any contemporary groups?

1. Andreas decides that the word on the street about John's death was "court gossip." Thiessen (following Josephus, Ant. 18.118) adds that the "real reason" likely had to do with Antipas' fear of rebellion. (Be sure to read footnote 6) Read carefully Mark 6:17-28 and then the following excerpt from Josephus' Antiquities. How are the two versions (Mark and Josephus) similar? How do they differ? Could both versions be reliable?
   But to some of the Jews the destruction of Herod's army seemed to be divine vengeance, and certainly a just vengeance, for his treatment of John, surnamed the Baptist. For Herod had put him to death, though he was a good man and had exhorted the Jews to lead righteous lives, to practise justice towards their fellows and piety towards God, and so doing to join in baptism. In his view this was a necessary preliminary if baptism was to be acceptable to God. They must not employ it to gain pardon for whatever sins they committed, but as a consecration of the body implying that the soul was already thoroughly cleansed by right behaviour. When others too joined the crowds about him, because they were aroused to the highest degree by his sermons, Herod became alarmed. Eloquence that had so great an effect on mankind might lead to some form of sedition, for it looked as if they would be guided by John in everything that they did. Herod decided therefore that it would be much better to strike first and be rid of him before his work led to an uprising, than to wait for an upheaval, get involved in a difficult situation and see his mistake. Though John, because of Herod's suspicions, was brought in chains to Machaerus, the stronghold that we have previously mentioned, and there put to death, yet the verdict of the Jews was that the destruction visited upon Herod's army was a vindication of John, since God saw fit to inflict such a blow on Herod.
2. Click here for a nice gif of Herod's family tree. Confused yet?
3. Chuza calls Jesus "a Galilean prophet." How would you define a "prophet"? Do think this rightly applies to Jesus?

1. How would you compare the "war on terror" being planned by the Roman administration of Pilate and the one currently be waged by the U.S. administration of George W. Bush? Do they share any elements? How are they fundamentally different?
2. Is ancient Jewish monotheism incompatible with the Roman policy of inclusion and toleration of foreign deities (see esp. p.64)? Was rebellion inevitable?

1. Read the account of Susanna and Tholomaeus' first son, Philip, and then read Mark 12:1-9. Does this change the way you read Jesus' story? If yes, how?
2. Read about the second son, Jason, and then compare it to Matt 20:1-16. Does Jason's situation influence the way you read Jesus' parable?
3. Consider the impact of Bartholomaeus' decision to follow Jesus on his family. What do you think of his parents' perspective? Are Jesus' demands reasonable?

1. Is Jesus' message good news for the rich?
2. Is there ever a time when Jesus' followers, like the Zealots in this chapter, should resort to violence to accomplish the will of God?

1. What are the chief differences and similarities between the teachings of Jesus and the Zealots?
2. What about Jesus and his movement would seem attractive, at least initially, to the Zealots?
3. What was it, according to Barabbas, that prevented the Jews from being absorbed into Greek or Roman culture? For additional background to the episodes described, go here.

1. Begin to watch for the terms honor and shame in this novel. Track how they are used. Why are they so comon?
2. Watch, also, for the relationship between "politics" and "religion." Were these two spheres separate? How are they related?