2. Objectives
See the philosophical path towards individualism
See
Recall the biblical overview of community
Recall
Understand community as a context
Understand
Relate community life in the synodal themes
Relate
4. A Biblical Overview
Of Community
Look at the story of humanity’s
creation. “Let us make men in our
image, after our likeness”
(Genesis 1:26). People were
created with an inner need to
connect with each other. God
makes this clear about Adam. “It
is not good that the man should
be alone” (Genesis 2:18).
5. • This human need brings out one of
the tragedies of the Fall. Sin broke
our community with God (Genesis
3:8), and it devastated our ability to
build community with one another.
What happened at the Garden? Adam
and Eve shifted blame (Genesis 3:12-
13), their sons Cain and Abel
quarreled, and brother killed brother
(Genesis 4:5- 8): a graphic picture of
how sin hinders our ability to create
true community.
6. What happened at the
Garden? Adam and Eve
shifted blame (Genesis 3:12-
13), their sons Cain and Abel
quarreled, and brother killed
brother (Genesis 4:5- 8): a
graphic picture of how sin
hinders our ability to create
true community.
7. Bible relates that God’s
redemption of our falleness
always involves the building,
or rebuilding, of
communities as places of
growth. The nation of Israel
serves as an example of a
community and its impact.
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8. Old Testament
• In the Old Testament chapter twelve of the book of Genesis tells the story
of the community of Israel and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and their families. The book of Exodus tells the story of the people of
Israel who for forty years were led by Moses to Canaan. In this work God
spoke to his people through Moses, the tabernacle and the Ten
Commandments (GILBERTO, 2014). For the People of Israel the main
moral and divine Law was the Ten Commandments, the civic educational
pillar of the people were questions about obedience and worship of God.
With a role as a spiritual educator, it was up to Moses to analyze and
respond to God’s guidance and make the best decisions for the people of
Israel. After Moses’ death the decisions for the people are made by
leaders of the families, which led to the organization of the 12 tribes of
Israel that were led by Prophets, Judges, and Priests in whom the last of
them was Samuel (GERSTENBERGER, 2007).
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9. After Samuel’s death, the community of Israel
asks for a king according to the Canaanites (1
Sam 8:5,20), by prophetic definition and by
popular election (1Sm 10.1ss; 11.14ss), the
king named is Saul. The second king of Israel
is David(1 Sm 16:1). After David’s death,
Solomon takes the throne and implements
significant changes to the Community of Israel
with the construction of military fortresses, a
palace and temple, trade routes, growth of
intellectual culture, and educational
expressions with art and poetry.
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10. Rehoboam, son of Solomon, becomes
king and the territory of Israel was
divided into two, in the North, the
kingdom of the Ten Tribes, called the
Kingdom of Israel in the South, the
Kingdom of the Two Tribes, called the
Kingdom of Judah, whose capital
remained Jerusalem, which after the
invasion of Babylonian
Nebuchadnezzar suffers educational
influences in the political and cultural
field (ALEXANDER , 2015).
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11. New Testament
• In the New Testament period we
find some characteristics of the
communities. The religious Temple
was the center of the community,
as an educational space that was
learned the Laws and was also a
center of exchange, of political
and social articulations (GASS,
2007).
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12. Pentecost
Jesus before ascending to heaven reintegrates the
relationship between his followers with God through
the Holy Spirit, “And I will pray to the Father, and he
will give you another Comforter, that he may be with
you forever” (JOHN 14:16) The coming of the Holy
Spirit marks the identity of the first Christian
community and a new story for the followers of
Christ. He taught early Christians to face
persecution and testify of a new life. This meant a
re-education, adopting a new spiritual and moral
posture in the community.
13. For example, the book of Acts of the Apostles
talks about the identity of the first Christian
communities:
a) Experience in brotherhood: communion,
breaking bread and prayers (At. 2: 42);
b) All had everything in common (At. 2: 44.45) –
willingness (At. 4: 32);
c) Institution of diaconia – a group of men to care
for those in need (At. 6: 1-6);
d) Importance given to women in the church –
dorcas example leadership in charitable works
(At. 9:36).
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15. Jesus and the
Human Context
• Jesus was a person who lived within a human
context, that is, belonged to a family, worked, had
political opinion, and an economic condition.
Jesus was from a simple village called Nazareth.
Its residents were marginalized and poor, treated
as incapable and thieves (JOHN 1:46; 7: 52).
However, Jesus worked as a carpenter and was an
honest citizen, paying taxes to priests and
Romans (MARK 12:13).
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16. Jesus and the
Divine Context
• Within a divine context, Jesus
inaugurates a new history
between God and humanity, as
the Apostle John the Word
became flesh and dwelt among
us. (JOHN, 1:14) from this fact, it
is no longer the God who spoke
only through prophets and
priests, but rather the God who
participates and lives in human
existence, feels, sympathizes and
especially loves.
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17. The Real Threat to
Community is
Taking GOD out of human affairs.
18. Context: The Stage of
Philosophical Studies
(Discipleship)
Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis
Sacerdotalis
• Seminarians should become
accustomed to training their
character, they should grow in
their strength of spirit, and they
should learn human virtues,
such as "sincerity of mind, a
constant concern for justice,
fidelity to one's promise,
refinement in manners,
modesty in speech coupled
with charity."
19. • Along with the
accompaniment of
formators, to attain the
solid physical, psycho-
affective and social
maturity required of a
pastor, it is useful to have
exercise and sports,
along with preparation for
a well- balanced lifestyle.
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20. • This process of formation is
intended to educate the
person in truth of his being
and in self-control. It is
meant to overcome all
kinds of individualism,
and to foster the sincere
gift of self, opening him to
generous dedication to
others.
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