Exam 1

Question 1

What are three barriers that separate our world from the world of the NT?

Answer 1

history, culture, language

Question 2

What language was the NT written in?

Answer 2

Greek

Question 3

What is scriptio continua and why was it used?

Answer 3

A style of writing used in antiquity that saved space on paper because written materials were expensive to produce.

Question 4

What was literacy like in the ancient world?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What type of society was the ancient world?

Answer 5

they were an oral society

Question 6

What were the primary writing surfaces used and how were they created?

Answer 6

papyrus- papyrus reed, parchment- sheepskin, vellum- calfskin

Question 7

What are
some pros and cons of each type of writing surface?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Approximately how many texts (manuscripts) of the NT do we have?

Answer 8

5,000 in greek
8,000 in latin
1,000 in other language
More manuscripts of the Bible exist than any other ancient text

Question 9

What is textual criticism?

Answer 9

the study of any written work of which the autograph is unknown, with the purpose of ascertaining the original text.

Question 10

Why does textual criticism matter?

Answer 10

It helps discover the earliest version of the text and helps understand the history of the text.

Question 11

Why are English versions of the bible different?

Answer 11

They all translate the greek writing differently

Question 12

How do different versions of the bible compare/contrast?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Why does understanding the genre of the NT documents matter?

Answer 13

If you don’t understand the genre you can read/interpret it incorrectly

Question 14

What types of documents are found in the NT?

Answer 14

Gospels, acts, epistles, revelation

Question 15

What are the genres found in the NT?

Answer 15

Ancient biography, Ancient historiography, letters/sermons, Apocalyptic

Question 16

What are some differences between ancient biography and modern biography?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What are some differences between ancient historiography and modern historiography?

Answer 17

Ancient: could include myth, thematic arrangement, overt agenda
Modern: analogy/correlation/cause-effect, chronological order, covert agenda

Question 18

How are NT letters different than typical ancient letters?

Answer 18

Oral Texts, designed to be heard, substitute for author’s personal presence, typically VERY brief, more like speeches or sermons

Question 19

What genre best describes Revelation?

Answer 19

Apocalyptic

Question 20

What three gospels are the Synoptic gospels?

Answer 20

Matthew, mark, luke

Question 21

Are the gospels photographs or portraits? Why does that matter?

Answer 21

Portraits- because they emphasize different/specific elements about a person

Question 22

Do historians think Jesus existed in history?

Answer 22

We have historical evidence that is incontrovertible and bipartisan

Question 23

What outsider testimony attests to Jesus in history?

Answer 23

Josephus and Tacitus

Question 24

What insider testimony attests to Jesus in history?

Answer 24

Matthew, Mark, Luke, “Beloved disciple”, Paul, Peter, James, Jude

Question 25

When was Jesus born?

Answer 25

between 2 and 3 BC

Question 26

What manner of man was he?

Answer 26

He was a quintessential Jew, skilled in argument and teaching, could read, multilingual, controversial

Question 27

What approach does Witherington ask a reader of the NT to take when reading the miracle stores?

Answer 27

Do not view them as violations of natural law or out-of-the-ordinary events

Question 28

What is the “historical Jesus” conversation about?

Answer 28

It considers the historical and cultural contexts in which Jesus lived and who he was as a person.

Question 29

Consider George Tyrrell’s point: Jesus scholars are prone to peer down the well of history looking for Jesus, only to see their own reflection. How does this comment speak to you academically and spiritually?

Answer 29

Academically, it can force you to look at it from a scholarly viewpoint, keeping your analysis critical and historically accurate.
Spiritually, it encourages you to look inward and see if your life and heart reflects Jesus

Question 30

Consider the connection between one’s history and one’s values.

Answer 30

The history of the Jews shows a long line of harsh rulers and abuse, whereas the values of the Jews reflect what they view as a separate group

Question 31

Who has political control in the period of the NT events?

Answer 31

the Greeks

Question 32

What are the key values discussed by Witherington:

Answer 32

honor-shame, patriarchy, collectivist personality, religiosity, reciprocity, limited good

Question 33

define honor-shame

Answer 33

Honor was given at the expense of another, which caused shame upon the other person

Question 34

define patriarchy

Answer 34

men ruled, and women stayed in the home and cared for the family

Question 35

define Collectivist personality

Answer 35

not how one stands out from the crowd, but how one fits in with the crowd. Gender, geography, generation

Question 36

define religiosity

Answer 36

religion and politics intertwined

Question 37

define reciprocity

Answer 37

a barter economy

Question 38

define limited good

Answer 38

not everything had infinite resources