Calendar Updates

Freshmen & Sophomores:

Please check the homework calendar for assignments this weekend. It was updated yesterday.

Thanks,
Mr. McGravey

SOPHOMORES: Matthew's Gospel Study Guide

Intro. to Matthew
• Jesus’ Identity:
– Matthew 1:1-25
• Genealogy of Jesus (1:1-17)
– What is the point of the Genealogy?

• Importance of the women: Relationship to the O.T.; Are they Israelites?; Connection between Mary/Joseph?

• Joseph: What is his response to Mary's pregnancy?

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Historical Background to Matthew:

• When does he write? What does he rely on?; What three places are suggested as locations for his authorship?

Historical Context II:
• Christian Jews were driven out of synagogues in the 80's...Why?
– Jesus's Family into Egypt...Similarities to the O.T.? Why and who is important in these two texts?

Audience -- Who is Matthew's audience? How do we know this? Examples of Hebrew terms used by Matthew?

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Angels & Demons: [This is NOT in your text]
-Birth of Jesus
• Matthew 1:18ff:
• “…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:”

• Order of God's Creation in relation to Angels (Angels: Day 5, Humans: Day 6)

Hierarchical Organization
• St. Thomas Aquinas & St. Denis:
• Divide angels up into three hierarchies each of which contains three orders

Functions of Angels - What are the functions? What is their primary function?

• Gabriel:
– First seen in Daniel
– What does Gabriel announce?

New Testament Demons:
• During the N.T. Era: the idea of 2 spiritual kingdoms has been clearly established.

• Jesus: References to Satan as “the Prince of this world” [John 12:31]; Other mentions?

Angels in Babylonian Literature

Angels in the New Testament
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5 Themes in Matthew [Discourses]
- You have read about the five discourses in your reading.
- Make sure you are familiar with the general concepts your textbook presents.
- KNOW IN DETAIL: Theme [Discourse] 1 -- we spend a good deal of time going over the different parts of this theme, including the passages provided in the notes.

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Know, espeically, the notes from Matthew 1-2
- The Genealogy
- The angel to Joseph in the dreams
- Know the birth story
- Herod's involvement
- Why do they go to Egypt? Significance? Gnostic gospels in Egypt?

Be familiar with the MAIN THEMES from chapters 1-6 in MATTHEW'S GOSPEL! You should be able to give articulate where Jesus is, who he is with, and what he primarily preaches about.

KNOW:
-From chapter 5-6: Matthew discusses THEME [Discourse] ONE [1].

** KNOW THE MATERIAL COVERED IN THE TEXTBOOK

Freshmen: Islam Study Guide

Islam:
• Foundations
– Faith in Allah
– Faith in his prophet, Muhammad (the last and greatest of prophets)
– Observance of the 5 Pillars

Foundational Belief
• “There is no God by Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet”
• No other god stands besides Allah

Ancestry:
• Direct line of Abraham (Ibrihim) and Islam through the Patriarch, Ishmael
• Who is Isaac?
• Who is Sarah?
• Who is Hagar?
• What was the promise given to Hagar? Who is the fulfillment of this promise?
• What city becomes important to both Judaism and Islam? What city is considered the center for Islam today?

History
• 622 C.E. (A.D.) - brought to life in Saudi Arabia
• People were struggling with a variety of different cultural things -- what are those 4 things?

• Contact with Judaism and Christianity, had occurred for centuries before (even to the point of war)
– Christians for Near East, Egypt, and N. Africa

• Muhammad’s message in the beginning: not monotheism

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Differences & Similarities Bwtn Islam/Christianity/Judaism

Quran / Koran -- What is its importance? Who provides it? Who shares it with the people of the Arabian Penninsula?


Muhammad
• “The Seal of the Prophets” & 3 Other titles given in class lecture
• Born 571 C.E. in Makkah (Mecca)

• Parents: were members of the Quraish, a leading tribe in the city

• Age 9

• Age 25: Hired by wealthy woman to manage business
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Muhammad: Messenger of Allah

7 Acheivements of Muhammad

The Dome of the Rock

The Quran
• Islam: cannot be understood without the Quran

• The Hadith

4 Major Themes of the Quran:


Marriage
• There is no ritual, just a signing of a piece of paper and traditionally, a recitation from the Quran
• Men: allowed to have 4 wives in traditional countries
• Men & Women can divorce



Supplemental Information Provided in Class on Friday, November 9, 2006.
- Information regarding Jihad / Qital