Exam #4: Hebrews-Revelation Flashcards
What are some notable passages in Hebrews?
- Hebrews 13:18-25 (“…the great shepherd of sheep…”)
- 1:1-4 (“…heir of all things…reflection of God’s glory…superior to angels…”)
- 13:8 (“Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever”)
What are some noteworthy facts about Hebrews?
- the author is unknown (possibly Paul)
- audience is not mentioned either (to the Hebrews? to Gentiles??)
- theme(s): Jesus’ supremacy
- Hebrews: What Time Is It?
- “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors…In these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whose sacrifice was once and for all…yet once more (quoting Haggai)” - Jesus’ divine nature & human nature (“perfect” and being “made perfect”)
- Jesus is greater than previous divine revelation, angels, Moses, Joshua (better rest), Aaronic priesthood (instead: order of Melchizedek - better covenant, sacrifice, sanctuary)
- Qal wahomer (“light and heavy”)
- Dr. Mary Healy:
- OT in Hebrews 3-4 (Psalm 95, Genesis 2, Numbers 13-14
- our earthly pilgrimage
- the ‘rest’ of the land, sabbath, and temple pointing to greater, eternal rest in Christ
Melchizedek (Genesis):
- Psalm (“you are a priest forever according to M”)
- Jesus IS a high priest, though he did not descend from Aaron
- Jesus is greater than those in the priestly line of Aaron
“Hall of Faith”:
- “By faith…” (Abraham and Sarah who could not have children on their own, the prostitute Rahab, Moses and the parting sea, etc.)
- “Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses…” (encouragement!)
What are some notable facts about the book of James?
Author: James
Audience: the twelve tribes in the Dispersion (ethnic Jews OR Christians as new Israel under twelve apostles, ethnic Jews that are part of the Dispersion or Christians away from their true home with Christ)
- “The letter of James is a circular letter for Judeo-Christian immigrants experiencing economic difficulties and suffering from a society that is hostile to their ethnicity and their Christian faith.” - Tamez (the strengthening of faith, encouragement, resistance)
“Two-Way” Theology:
- this way OR that way; the narrow path or wide path; wickedness or godliness
- “hearers of the word but not doers” (ref. to Sermon on the Mount in Matthew discussing the wise man, & Psalm & Proverbs - wisdom vs. foolishness)
Appeal to common sense:
- “You do not even know what tomorrow will bring…” (4:13-16)
Wisdom “from above”:
- asking God for wisdom, what kind of wisdom comes from above?
- “…if any of you lack wisdom, ask God, but do not doubt…” (more about receptivity)
- what wisdom IS vs. what it isn’t
Greco-Roman Rhetoric:
- rhetorical questions, addressing anticipated objections (more about style)
- “These conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? … Adulterers! Do you not know that…?” (4:1-5)
- James includes similar teachings to Jesus in Matthew
Faith & Works:
- Paul (“justified by faith”) vs. James (“What good is faith without works?”)
- “…faith apart from works is barren…”
- the law = loving others
Rich/Poor dynamic
What are some notable verses in James?
- 5:19-20 (“whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death…”)
What’s going on in 1 & 2 Peter?
Author: Peter
Audience: the exiles of the Dispersion
What are some notable verses in 1 & 2 Peter?
- “Through Silvanus…” (5:12-14)
- “Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles.” (2:12)
- “You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do…” (4:3-4)
- “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people…” (2:9) ref. to Exodus, being a “holy nation”
- the suffering of a people (suffering is not a surprise, but it isn’t hopeless either; God’s justice; continue in faithfulness)
Peter’s Purpose:
- to declare “the true grace of God” (5:12)
Suffering & Household Codes:
- what if slaves are treated unfairly by their masters? look to Jesus and his persecution (he did not fight back but entrusted himself to God who judges)
- he’s mostly talking to people who are stuck in their situations and is not encouraging the tolerance of abuse
- husbands should not be harsh with their wives but rather treat them as the “weaker vessel” (meaning they are biologically less physically strong and have less power in society at the time, so in that sense they must represent the family)
Verses in 2 Peter:
- “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
- “So I will always remind you of these things…” (allusion to coming death)
- the “scoffer”
- “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things…”
History & Theology Ethics:
- Jesus’ first coming = observable event
- Jesus’ second coming = ensured event, time is unknown
- God’s past actions support this
What is going on in Jude?
Author: Judas (brother of James)
Audience: unidentified
Purpose: address local concern (heretics who put spiritual experiences above OT and Jesus’ teachings, leading to moral laxity…same in 2 Peter)
- reference to noncanonical literature in Jude (v. 9)
1-3 John
- light/darkness imagery
- emphasis on truth (“the truth will set you free”)
- emphasis on incarnation (“the word became flesh”)
- “abiding” in God/Christ
- God’s love and our love (“for God so loved the world”)
- joy’s completion
- false teachers who claimed they didn’t sin
- hope in being made like Jesus
- truth as something to walk in
- God’s active/costly love = our example
2 John = faithful living and avoiding false teaching
3 John = faithful living and and exhortation to support right teachers
- conflict over teachers and which ones get to be supported
