Midterm (all quizzes)

Question 1

Please number these people from earliest (1) to latest (3). If their lives overlap, consider the time when they were most influential.
Paul
Jesus
John (the Evangelist)

Answer 1

Paul - 2
Jesus - 1
John (the Evangelist) - 3

Question 2

What is the Greek-derived term for the genre of revelation literature, in both Judaism and Christianity?
a) doxology
b) apocrypha
c) apocalypse
d) evangelism

Answer 2

c) apocalypse

Question 3

The “synoptic” gospels include…
a) Matthew
b) Luke
c) Mark
d) John

Answer 3

a) Matthew
b) Luke
c) Mark

Question 4

The New Testament was originally composed in which language?
a) Aramaic
b) Hebrew
c) Latin
d) koine Greek?

Answer 4

d) koine Greek

Question 5

The technical term for the theological framework based on the view that Jesus Christ has replaced the Mosaic covenant is:
a) supersession
b) patristics
c) heresy
d) pentateuch

Answer 5

a) supersession

Question 6

What Latin word for “letter” is traditionally used for the letters of St. Paul?
a) litterae
b) epistula
c) missio
d) miscellanea

Answer 6

b) epistula

Question 7

“Christ” comes from the Greek word meaning…
a) reigning as king
b) serving God
c) anointed
d) lamb

Answer 7

c) anointed

Question 8

“Gospel” means, essentially:
a) holy book
b) important letter
c) biography
d) good news

Answer 8

d) good news

Question 9

What, according to Paul or others, are two of the chief problems facing Christianity within a Jewish context? Briefly explain.

Answer 9

1) NOT obvious that this will extend beyond Jews/Judaea
2) can non-Jews be Christians? do you need to become a Jew first?
3) do we need circumcision before becoming a Christian, etc.
4) inability to participate in later apocalyptic/messianic movements

Question 10

Briefly summarize our earliest (i.e. 1-st and early 2nd century) non-Christian sources on Christianity, naming at least two non-Christian writers

Answer 10

Non-Christian writers on Christianity are Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus. Non-Christian sources are used to study and establish the historicity of Jesus, which include Jewish sources such as Josephus, and Roman sources such as Tacitus. Josephus writes on Jewish sources with references to Jesus and the origins of Christianity. Among his works (in Greek) are: Jewish War, Jewish Antiquities, Life of Josephus. Tacitus referred to Christ, his execution by Pontius Pilate and the existence of early Christians in Rome in his final work, Annals.

Question 11

Please match these writers with their important work:
1) Paul, 2) Justin Martyr, 3) Irenaeus of Lyon, 4) Luke
a) First Apology, b) Against Heresies, c) Epistle to the Romans, d) Acts of the Apostles

Answer 11

1) Paul - c) Epistle to the Romans
2) Justin Martyr - a) First Apology
3) Irenaeus of Lyon - b) Against Heresies
4) Luke - d) Acts of the Apostles

Question 12

What is the Greek-derived term for a person who rejects a faith once accepted?
a) heretic
b) autodidact
c) apostate
d) evangelist

Answer 12

c) apostate

Question 13

Which two terms specifically refer to underground burials (of varying elaboration)?
a) tumulus
b) catacombs
c) hypogeum
d) necropolis

Answer 13

b) catacombs
c) hypogeum

Question 14

The term “extramural” refers to the common ancient practice, carried on for a while by Chirstians, of placing burials:
a) outside the city walls
b) near the house
c) within a sanctuary temenos
d) on a hill

Answer 14

a) outside the city walls

Question 15

Which remarkable ancient lady is traditionally credited with finding the Holy Sepulchre, and could thus be considered the “mother” of NT archaeology?
a) Thecla
b) Helena, the mother of Constantine
c) Theodora, wife of Justinian
d) Poppaea Sabina, wife of Nero

Answer 15

b) Helena, the mother of Constantine

Question 16

Which types of decoration were most common in Christian burials (choose all that apply)
a) gold glass
b) mable statuary
c) cypress tress
d) frescoes

Answer 16

a) gold glass, d) frescoes

Question 17

What Latin word meaning “dovecote” also refers to a place for the storage of cremation urns?
a) hypogeum
b) catacombs
c) columbarium
d) mausoleum

Answer 17

c) columbarium

Question 18

What is an important difference of Christian from pagan burial and why?

Answer 18

The main difference is that most pagan burials involve cremation by burning the dead body to ashes toward which Christians were very suspicious. While Christian burial was as usual and extramural (Normative Roman Burial), which means people were buried outside the city walls. They were also offered collegia - burial payment for the poor, who can’t afford a great stone.

Question 19

What are some of the possible differences of the Christian family from its pagan counterparts, according to any part of the New Testament? Explain

Answer 19

the pagan idea of family is much more open and modern of the medieval idea of family that is spread in Christian societies.
Family in Paul: Colossians 3:18 – 4:1: 18Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.19Husbands, loveyourwives, and be not bitter against them.20Children, obeyyourparents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.21Fathers, provoke not your childrento anger,lest they be discouraged.22Servants, obey in all thingsyourmasters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:23and whatsoever ye do, doitheartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
1 Timothy 5:1: Rebuke not an elder, but intreathimas a father;andthe younger men as brethren;2the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

Question 20

ASK

How does the genre of Christian apologetics develop, and how is it different (if it is) from its pagan antecedents. Give examples.

Answer 20

Christian apologetics is the condemnation of idolatry and exhortation to the faith, which defends Christianity. In general, the “apology” in pagan sources tends to be, at least putatively, based in a court system. As an example we can take Socrates’ Apology, which is presented as a defense speech in court. Christian apologetics start out like this, but they move away from the court framing. Christian apologetics have taken many forms over the centuries, starting with Paul the Apostle in the early church and Patristic writers such as Origen, Augustine of Hippo, Justin Martyr and Tertullian, then continuing with writers such as Thomas Aquinas.

Question 21

What are some key types of Christian poetry, and who writes them? Give examples.

Answer 21

Kinds of ancient poetry: epic (very long, follows heroes and gods), lyric (shorter, often for ritual contents), hymns (in pagan antiquity can fall into either of the epic or lyric category, but tend to be more like lyrics).
Avitus - bishop of Vienna (De spiritualis historiae gestis: hexameter poem on biblical themes), Prudentius (“the Battle for the Soul”, “the Origin of Sin”, etc), Paulinus of Nola (hymns celebrate St. Felix of Nola), Juvencus (his biblical epic —> Evangeliorum Libri Quattor, mostly based on Matthew) - all writers of Christian poetry. Greek poetry is about deeds of gods and heroes: Iliad, Odyssey, and other cyclic poems.

Question 22

Considering the New Testament, choose one pre-existing genre that it develops. Which part of the NT does this, and how creatively? Be specific.

Answer 22

New Testament genres: Gospels (biography, wisdom literature, history), Acts (straight up history), Epistles (letters, morals, philosophy), Revelation (apocalypse).

Question 23

Please put the instigators of some form of persecution in chronological order, from earliest (1) to latest (4)
Pliny, Decius, Diocletian, Nero

Answer 23

Pliny - 2
Decius - 3
Diocletian - 4
Nero - 1

Question 24

The word martyr comes from the Greek word meaning:
a) hero
b) witness
c) soldier
d) priest

Answer 24

b) witness

Question 25

Which Roman emperor was responsible for the so-called Great Persecution?
a) Nero
b) Trajan
c) Diocletian
d) Theodocius

Answer 25

c) Diocletian

Question 26

The chit you were given to prove that you had sacrificed during the general imperial sacrifices was called a:
a) libellus
b) papyrus
c) diploma
d) dismissal

Answer 26

a) libellus

Question 27

Which remarkable ancient lady is traditionally credited with leaving to us her own prison diary before martyrdom?
a) Thecla
b) Perpetua
c) Blandina
d) Eulalia

Answer 27

b) Perpetua

Question 28

Burial near the relics or bodies of saints is called, in Latin “burial…”
a) pro bono
b) ad sanctos
c) ab initio
d) et cetera

Answer 28

b) ad sanctos

Question 29

Which is our earliest martyrdom account after the Acts of the Apostles?
a) Polycarp
b) Stephen
c) Eulalia
d) Felix

Answer 29

a) Polycarp

Question 30

What are 2 reasons it is difficult for us to reconstruct the history of persecution of Christians in the Roman empire?

Answer 30

General dislike for Christians arose from their refusal to worship the gods of Rome, which was expected of those living in the Roman Empire. It is difficult for us to reconstruct the history of Christians persecution, because many martyrs are not known and the historical evidence is lost. Some persecutions were not Christian specific, such as Decian Persecution. Potential emphasis on Christians own heroism and suffering, therefore its hard to be sure of numbers involved in the persecutions. Some people ceased to be Christians 3 or more years. One form of persecution gave way to another, a legacy which has lasted until our own day.

Question 31

Briefly evaluate the importance of martyr-stories in the early church, addressing literariness and change over time.

Answer 31

Martyrologies (the branch of history or literature that deals with the lives of martyrs) & Hagiographies (the writings of the lives of saints).
Christ’s death and resurrection could be seen as the most important principle of Christianity, so martyrdom imitated that holy act. Accordingly anyone who became a martyr was guaranteed immediate residence in heaven. All martyrs were regarded as saints and the remains of Martyrs are used as relics in shrines.
Literariness - As literature. Sometimes these writings are very literary or may take a form of somewhat a popular literature genre, not too deeply literary.
Sometimes these writings are valuable about the social norms or the lives of women and the day to day of lives at these times. Gaps to be filled: named and unnamed biblical characters, regions unpeopled by martyrs.