Final Exam Questions Flashcards
What two key Old Testament figures is Matthew’s genealogy structured around?
David and Abraham
What does form narrative criticism study?
To analyze the oral forms or units of traditions
Who dominated the Sanhedrin in Jesus’ day?
The Sadducees
Most people in the Roman Empire were from what “class”?
The Lower Class
What is the comparison between the number of miracles in Mark’s Gospel versus the other three Gospels?
Strong Emphasis on Jesus’ authority in teaching and in miracles
Which Gospels tell us anything about Jesus’ childhood?
Luke
Which is the only Gospel relating that at the transfiguration, Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were discussing Jesus’ coming “departure” or exodus in Jerusalem?
Mark
Whose Gospel places an emphasis on Jesus as the savior for all people?
Luke
What is a “redactor”?
An editor
Whose Gospel has a larger number of Aramaic words than the other two Synoptics?
Mark
The healing of Jairus’s daughter is an example of which Gospel writers concise style?
Matthew
At which two significant events does a voice from heaven address Jesus in Mark?
Baptism and Transfiguration
What is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament called?
The Septuagint (LXX)
Who probably established the Qumran community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls?
The Essenes
Which Gospel is considered to have been written first by most NT scholars?
Mark
In reference to the text, what does “Synoptic” mean and what are the Synoptic Gospels?
“Viewed together” Matthew, Mark & Luke
According to John Dominic Crossan, what did Jesus heal or cure?
He did not cure diseases but rather healed illnesses
What was the basic premise of the history of religions school?
All religions develop from simple to complex
Who authored- The Quest for the Historical Jesus?
Albert Schweitzer
Who was likely the most influential NT scholar of the 20th century?
Rudolf Bultmann
During what period was Historical Criticism first applied to the Bible?
The 17th and 18th century during the Enlightenment
Where have most radical attacks on the historical Jesus in recent years (1980s-90s) come from?
The Jesus Seminar
Which “criteria of authenticity” claims that a saying of Jesus is authentic if it appears neither in the teaching of Judaism nor in the teaching of the first-century Christianity?
Criteria of Dissimilarity
Is there evidence in Johns Gospel of an eyewitness accounts?
Yes
According to the text, did the Gospel writers feel at liberty to paraphrase, interpret or rearrange the words of Jesus or the events of his life
With an translation there is always going to be some differences so Yes
What is the relationship do biases and presuppositions have with the writing of history?
All writing is subjective to a degree
Would most NT scholars assert that in most cases we have the exact words of Jesus?
No we don’t have the ippsissma verba (exact words) but the ipsissima voc (authentic voice)
Do all four Gospel writers follow chronological order as they report events?
No
How might most of the alleged contradictions between John and the Synoptics be explained? (particular thees)
By recognizing John like the Gospel writers, included, omitted, abbreviated, arranged, edited and interpreted the materials
What was likely the language Jesus spoke?
Aramaic
Which Gospel reports three Passovers?
John
Which Gospel is famous for abbreviating accounts?
Matthew
Which Gospel is the most interpretive of the Gospels?
John
What is the concept of General Trustworthiness as it relates to the Gospel writers’ reliability?
If a writer or historian can be demonstrated to be generally reliable, then the benefit of the doubt may be given to that writer in disputed cases
Do all translations involve some level of interpretations?
Yes for instance Aramaic- Greek
How did Jewish authorities treat the “prophets” and “messiahs” arising prior to Jesus?
Poorly, they were rejected
How well known was John the Baptist in Palestine?
Well-known
What was Jesus’ central message concerning?
Gods kingdom and the need for people to repent of their sins and submit to Gods rule
Which Gospel provides us with the most information concerning the length of Jesus’ ministry?
John
What are the two most likely dates for the year of Jesus’ crucifixion?
Friday, Nisan 15 (Passover) in either AD 30 or 33
Who feared that a revolt from John the Baptist’s preaching would bring the Roman legions and spell disaster for the temple.
Herod Antipas
What act of kindness was Mediterranean culture founded on?
Reciprocity
What date did the pagan feast of Saturnalia typically fall on?
December 25
Joseph’s occupation, traditionally translated “carpenter:, might have him working with what materials? (more than wood)
Metal or Stone
Is there any information about Jesus’ childhood given in the Gospels?
Only in Luke with the Passover visit to Jerusalem when he was 12
From whose perspective is Lukes birth narrative told?
Mary’s
Who ordered the census, requiring Joseph and Mary to return to Bethlehem?
Caesar Augustus
Archelaus was whose son?
Herod the Great
What familial relationships would most Roman Catholics theologians have said are shared between Jesus and His siblings? (following the interpretation of Jerome)
Cousins
Which Gospel provides the only biblical account Jesus’ childhood?
Luke
In which OT book is Bethlehem prophesied as the birthplace of the coming ruler?
Micah
The Gospels report that Jesus had how many brothers?
Four
Did John the Baptist ever have doubts that Jesus as the Messiah?
Yes
Who asked Herod for the head of John the Baptists?
Salome
Why was Herod’s marriage to Herodias such a problem for John the Baptist?
Because he was married to his brothers wife (after divorce)
Some speculate that John the Baptist may have had contact with which monastic community?
The Essenes
John the Baptists’s ministry was across the Jordan from what territory?
Samaria
What are the most undisputed historical event of Jesus’ life?
His Baptism
By what means did Herod Antipas have John the Baptist killed?
Execution
Does Hebrew poetry normally rhyme?
No- parallel lines (synonymous parallelism)
According to text, when Jesus speaks of blessing for the “poor”, which referring to?
Both literal and spirtual
How did Jesus feel about the eternal validity of the law?
Affirmed and Ignored
What was the “tradition of the elders”?
The oral law later transcribed in the rabbinic writings
What is the relationship between the study of miracles to scientific investigation and historical research?
It is outside the realm of strict scientific investigation
When the disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus on behalf of John If he is the “coming one”, what did He say?
He told them of all the things he had been doing Alludes to Isaiah
The most significant philosophical opposition to the miraculous came from which 18th century philosopher?
David Hume
Who was the Jewish charismatic rabbi, whose prayers for rain were reportedly answer?
Honi the Rainmaker
According to the text, what was the primary purpose for Jesus’ healings and exorcisms in the Synoptic Gospels?
He viewed them as a spiritual assault on Satan and revealing of the presence and power of the kingdom in his ministry
The accounts in the Gospels where Jesus raises people from the dead are best understood as what or by what term?
Resuscitation’s or Revivifications
Under whose authority did Jesus heal someone, or to cast out demons?
His own authority
Who is considered the most prominent of the disciples?
Peter
Who was the first of the apostles to be martyred?
James
Traditionally, who is believed to be the youngest of the apostles?
John
The phrase “Our Lord Comes!” is translated from which Aramaic phrase?
Maranatha
What was Jesus’ favorite title for himself?
Son of Man
The OT predictions concerning God’s salvation and the Gentiles took two distinct streams in Judaism. With which did Jesus identify?
2nd one- affirms not the subjection of the nations but their salvation
The Greek word amen comes from a Hebrew word meaning what?
Confirmed or Verified
According to most contemporary scholars today, who must have played some role in Jesus’ death- the Romans or the Jewish authorities?
Both
The evidence confirms that Jesus was executed by the Romans under what charge?
Sedition
Historical evidence confirms that in Jesus’ day, the charge of blasphemy could be made against someone for doing/ saying what?
More than just uttering the divine name of God. Other things like idolatry, arrogant disrespect of God, or insulting his chosen leaders.
How did Jews carry out capital punishment?
They used stoning
How did the Romans carry out capital punishment?
They used crucifixion
According to the Mishnah, when/where was the Sanhedrin NOT allowed to meet?
At night on the eve of Passover or in the high priests home
Jesus was first sent to whom? (the former priest)
Annas
During The Passion week, Jesus found the money changers in what part of the Temple?
The Court of Gentiles
What location did Jesus carry His cross to? ( where he was crucified)
The Place of the Skull
Know the Events of the Passion Week
Triumphal Entry
Cursing the fig tree, Cleansing of the temple
Withered fig tree seen by disciple, temple controversies, Olivet discourse
No mention of events- Wednesday
Last Supper, Betrayal and Arrest, Trial before Annas and Caiphas
Morning before trial by the Sanhedrin, Trial before Pilate and Herod, Crucifixion and Burial
Dead in Tomb
Resurrection and Ascension
What would virtually no credible historian today deny about Jesus’ life/death?
That he was crucified in Judea under orders from Pontius Pilate in AD 30
Is there a well developed theology of the Resurrection in the OT?
No only in Daniel 12
In what way is the Jewish claim that the disciples stole the body (Matt:28:11-15) indirect evidence for the resurrection?
It confirms that the tomb was empty
The women were told to tell the disciples to go where?
Galilee
What group did not believe in the afterlife or the resurrection of the body?
The Sadducees
Which Gospel recounts Jesus’ appearance to two disciples as they were traveling to Emmaus?
Luke
Where did the disciples receive the Great Commission?
On a Mtn in Galilee - Mt of Olives
Which writer, who provides the earliest testimony of the resurrection, claims that more than 500 people saw Jesus alive?
Paul
According to the Gospels, Jesus was buried in whose tomb?
Joseph of Arimathea
How was the Pharisees’ piety and spiritual devotion received by the people?
They were admired
Which Gospel provides information concerning the early life of John the Baptist?
Luke
