Final Flashcards
Know whether it is true or false that according to Ridderbos, Jesus demanded more than what the law and prophets demanded (p. 293).
False
Know Ridderbos’ definition of hypocrisy (p. 318).
According to Ridderbos, hypocrisy is the disagreement between what a man seems to be in the opinion of his fellow-men and what he is before God.
Know Ridderbos’ view regarding Peter and the rock in Matthew 16:18 (p. 359).
Peter is the rock in Matthew 16:18 and the church will be built upon his future apostolic activity. Peter is the disciple who made the confession that Jesus is the Christ and Peter also had a position of prominence among the fellow apostles in the early church.
Know what type of baptism Ridderbos explains John’s baptism to be (p. 382).
John’s baptism of repentance for the remission of sins clearly was eschatological in character. It served as a sign to assure that by way of conversion, the baptized would obtain the remission of sins to escape the wrath to come. This baptism also resembled the baptism of the proselytes; however, John’s baptism was within the Jewish nation. Thereby, John was making a separation between the ethnic sons of Abraham and the idea of the new and genuine people of God coming to the fore.
Know what Ridderbos presented as the two-fold motif of the Lord’s Supper (Ridderbos, p.398-399).
Ridderbos presented the two-fold motif of the Lord’s Supper as the expiatory death of Jesus and of an eschatological character. Jesus’ expiatory death points forward to his substitutionary sacrifice on the cross for the remission of sins. The eschatological motif speaks of the “new wine” Jesus will drink with His disciples in the kingdom of God and of the “fulfillment” of the Passover in God’s kingdom.
Know whether or not Ridderbos said that the word “bread” was used in rabbinical literature for unleavened (p, 420). I suggest you supplement this with my comments.
“Bread” was used in rabbinical literature for unleavened bread. Jesus instituted His Supper in connection with the Passover. On Passover, there was to be absolutely no leaven in the entire house where the meal was eaten. Thus, the bread used at Jesus’ institution of His Supper must have been unleavened.
Know which cup of the Passover Ridderbos said was the one Jesus had His disciples drink from (p. 424).
It was the third cup that Jesus had His disciples drink from. This third cup was taken after the meal over which thanksgiving took place and is known as “the cup of blessing” or “the cup of thanksgiving.”
Know what Ridderbos said Jesus meant when He said the kingdom would not come by observation (pp.473-474).
When Jesus said the kingdom would not come by observation, Ridderbos says this means that such observation will not be necessary in order to notice the coming of the kingdom. The appearance of the kingdom will be so overpowering that nobody will be in need of any indication nor will have any doubt at all of its arrival.
Know Ridderbos’ division of the eschatological speech in Mark 13 into three phases (p.484).
Ridderbos divided the eschatological speech in Mark 13 into three phases: the beginning of sorrows, the great tribulation, and the parousia of the Son of Man.
Know Ridderbos’ understanding of the term “generation” in Mark 13:30 (and parallels) (p. 502).
Ridderbos understood the term “generation” in Mark 13:30 to denote the pronouncement upon the certainty of the fulfillment, without any further limitation of the time. Jesus does not speak of this generation to denote the time of the future eschatological events, but to give assurance that those who reject His words will inescapably be involved in their fulfillment. Instead of intending a particular age or generation, it signifies an objectionable mentality.
Prepare a brief essay on the characteristics of Luke’s Gospel (Dyer, pp. 6-7).
Luke’s Gospel demonstrates an evangelistic intent by calling sinners to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ more than any other Gospel. Additionally, Luke’s Gospel is the most literary of the Gospels, the most comprehensive in its scope; and has an emphasis on prayer, women, children, joy and worship, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Prepare a list of evidences that Luke wrote his Gospel with an evangelistic purpose.
Luke opened his Gospel with an evangelistic intent for Theophilus would know the certainty of the things he had been taught (1:4). He also used more soteriological terms like savior (1:47; 2:11), redemption (1:68; 2:38; 21:28; 24:21), and salvation (1:69, 71, 77; 2:30; 3:6; 19:9). Luke uses the words “sinner,” “repentance,” and “faith” more frequently than any other Gospel, as well as including more soteriological material like in the parable of the sower (8:12), Jesus’ call to repentance (13:1-9), the rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31), and the parables on repentance (15:4-32).
Prepare a list of evidences or brief essay that the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel have an introductory function to his Gospel and Acts.
Luke presents the first two chapters of his Gospel to introduce the theme of salvation for his two-volume work. Firstly, John the Baptist’s supernatural conception has several important elements. John means “Jehovah is Merciful.” His parents’ names are important as well. Zacharias means “Jehovah Remembers” and Elizabeth means “My God is an Oath.” These three names are all found in Zacharias’ prophecy in 1:72, 73. These names are significant because they show that John will bring a message of salvation that prepares the people for the Messiah. Secondly, Gabriel’s words to Mary emphasize salvation (1:30-33). Mary will call her Son Jesus, which means “Jehovah Saves,” who will be the Son of the Highest and the Son of David who will sit on David’s throne for eternity. Thirdly, when Elizabeth went to visit Mary, she recognized Mary to be carrying the Messiah. In Mary’s Magnificat (1:54, 55), the redemptive themes of remembrance, mercy, and oath come to the forefront once again. Fourthly, the shepherds announce that Jesus is the Savior, who is Christ the Lord (2:11), the only reference to Jesus as the Savior in the Synoptic Gospels. Lastly, when presenting Jesus to the Lord, Simeon cries out that in Jesus, he has see the Lord’s salvation to all peoples, including the Gentiles. This is an important theme picked up in Luke’s second volume, Acts.
Prepare a brief essay on the account of the rich man and Lazarus. Is it a parable? If so, in what sense. If not, why not? Is the account true to reality? Also, you may use Ridderbos, pp. 327-328.
To be honest, I am still wrestling over this question and have not come to a conclusion. My whole life I have taken this account as a parable and did not realize that people viewed this as an historical event, which shows my ignorance. The evidence given in class is somewhat persuasive, so I am mulling over these ideas, but have not as of yet been convinced to change my mind. I am still convinced that this passage is a parable even if it does not follow the standard form of a parable and includes the names of individuals. Whether this passage is taken as a parable or as an historical event, the reader must comprehend the doctrines which it contains: namely, the Scriptures are sufficient for salvation. For even witnessing such a miracle as a dead man coming to life will not awaken someone who is spiritually dead. This power rests in the hands of God alone. Moreover, I do believe that this parable is true to reality: the reality of the eternal torments of hell. However, there is substantial evidence to prove that this passage can be taken literally. The two most convincing arguments are 1) no other parable includes people’s names – this account names Lazarus, Abraham, and Moses – and 2) this passage does not give the normal form of a parable; instead, it has the form of a narrative. Conversely, I believe the meaning of the names are symbolic to understanding this passage. Abraham is the father of faith, Moses and the prophets summarize the totality of the Old Testament, and Lazarus means “The Lord is my Help.” In conjunction, these names are driving at the reality that to become a son of Abraham is only by God’s help in understanding the Scriptures to place their faith in Christ. Furthermore, the parable of the Prodigal Son, though not mentioning names, is more in the form of a narrative. In addition to these arguments, there are other Scriptural passages that help explain the more difficult items in this account. Souls do not have fingers, eyes, ears, or vocal cords; yet Samuel spoke to Samuel from the grave (1 Sam 28:7-19) and Elijah and Moses appeared in human form on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). Another difficult detail is the reality of a conversation between someone in heaven and hell. This certainly is an uncomfortable thought, but the possibility cannot be outright rejected because of its uncomfortableness. Yet, it is this last detail that, in my opinion, is insurmountable to believe that this passage is an historical event. From my perspective, it defies reason and goes against the testimony of the Scriptures as a whole. The mere improbability of conversations between those in heaven and hell stands in contrast to how the Bible promotes the doctrines of heaven and hell. I believe taking this passage as an historical fact brings in too much weight on an isolated story in Scripture to stand on its own.
Prepare a brief essay on the characteristics of John’s Gospel (Dyer, p. 9).
John’s Gospel was written so that the readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing in Him may have eternal life. Unique characteristics of this Gospel includes more teaching about the Holy Spirit than the other Synoptics, a prevalence of abstract concepts (light, darkness, life, and truth), more titles for Christ (the Word, the Only Begotten Son, the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the True Bread, the Light, the Good Shepherd, the Door, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Resurrection, the Vine), there are no parables, no account of Jesus’ virgin birth, baptism, temptation, or transfiguration, and includes no more than 20 days of Jesus’ ministry.
