Exam 1 Flashcards
What are three barriers that separate our world from the world of the NT?
history, culture, language
What language was the NT written in?
Greek
What is scriptio continua and why was it used?
A style of writing used in antiquity that saved space on paper because written materials were expensive to produce.
What was literacy like in the ancient world?
10-20% of people were literate
Writing was a specialized skill only obtained by the elite
The word was spread by someone reading it to groups of people
What type of society was the ancient world?
they were an oral society
What were the primary writing surfaces used and how were they created?
papyrus- papyrus reed, parchment- sheepskin, vellum- calfskin
What are
some pros and cons of each type of writing surface?
papyrus: lightweight, nonporus, reusable; rotted in humid weather, more fragile
parchment: heavier, absorbs the ink, one-time use; withstands humidity, more durable
vellum: heavier, absorbs the ink, one-time use; withstands humidity, more durable
Approximately how many texts (manuscripts) of the NT do we have?
5,000 in greek
8,000 in latin
1,000 in other language
More manuscripts of the Bible exist than any other ancient text
What is textual criticism?
the study of any written work of which the autograph is unknown, with the purpose of ascertaining the original text.
Why does textual criticism matter?
It helps discover the earliest version of the text and helps understand the history of the text.
Why are English versions of the bible different?
They all translate the greek writing differently
How do different versions of the bible compare/contrast?
Formal: word for word (focuses on words and grammar)
Functional: sense for sense/ thought for thought (focuses on the meaning)
Paraphrase: paraphrased into the translators own words
Why does understanding the genre of the NT documents matter?
If you don’t understand the genre you can read/interpret it incorrectly
What types of documents are found in the NT?
Gospels, acts, epistles, revelation
What are the genres found in the NT?
Ancient biography, Ancient historiography, letters/sermons, Apocalyptic
What are some differences between ancient biography and modern biography?
Modern biographies focus on character development over a lifetime. Ancient biographies, in contrast, typically assume that character is unchanging. The ancient biographer does not share the entire life of an individual
What are some differences between ancient historiography and modern historiography?
Ancient: could include myth, thematic arrangement, overt agenda
Modern: analogy/correlation/cause-effect, chronological order, covert agenda
How are NT letters different than typical ancient letters?
Oral Texts, designed to be heard, substitute for author’s personal presence, typically VERY brief, more like speeches or sermons
What genre best describes Revelation?
Apocalyptic
What three gospels are the Synoptic gospels?
Matthew, mark, luke
Are the gospels photographs or portraits? Why does that matter?
Portraits- because they emphasize different/specific elements about a person
Do historians think Jesus existed in history?
We have historical evidence that is incontrovertible and bipartisan
What outsider testimony attests to Jesus in history?
Josephus and Tacitus
What insider testimony attests to Jesus in history?
Matthew, Mark, Luke, “Beloved disciple”, Paul, Peter, James, Jude
