New Testament Survey Flashcards
Antiochus Epiphanes
Ruled the Seleucid Empire during the 2nd century BC. Hostile to the Jewish people. Took military control over Jerusalem. Desecrated the temple and caused sacrifices to cease.
Alexander the Great
Macedonian king and conqueror – unbeaten in battles. Defeated Darius and seized his throne. Conquered the Persian Empire. Most lasting legacy was the spread of Greek culture.
Apocalyptic
Having to do with future, large-scale events that have been revealed prophetically in a dream or vision; symbolic, hidden truth is revealed; prophet interacts with either God or an angel
Apocrypha
A collection of books which were helpful historically and theologically but did not make it into the canon.
Augustus
Emperor of the Roman Empire during the time of Jesus’ birth. The consolidator of the Roman Empire. Continued in the footsteps of his predecessor, Julius Caesar, who had started Rome on the road to imperialism. Defeated his enemies in a civil war around 30BC, and then reigned for decades after that. Served as a symbol of the Roman Empire as a whole.
Diaspora
A New Testament Greek term used to describe believing Jews spread out all over the Roman Empire for a variety of reasons. Its beginnings go back to the time of the Babylonian exile.
Domitian
The emperor of the Roman Empire from AD81 - AD96. He persecuted Christians and insisted on emperor worship, ordering that he must be addressed as “lord and god.”
Emperor Worship
A Roman cult which first appeared during the reign of Herod the Great, in which the emperor was worshiped as a god. Became compulsory. Jews were exempt from the requirement to participate for a while.
4QMMT
One of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered at Qumran in 1947. Provides information on the nature of Second Temple Judaism as well as on the origins of the Qumran community.
Essenes
A very conservative Jewish sect that existed during the time of Second Temple Judaism. Wanted to see a renewal of Israel and a purification of Israel. Radical. More withdrawn from everyday life than the Pharisees. Some participated in an ascetic communal life. It is likely that the Jews at Qumran were Essenes, and that they penned the Dead Sea Scrolls. Saw themselves as the “true Israel.”
Alexander Jannaeus
The Hasmonean King of Judea from 103 BC to 76 BC. Declared himself high priest. Involved in conflict with pharisees.
Psalms of Solomon
One of the Apocrypha. A collection of songs. One of the songs excoriates General Pompey for his invasion of Judea.
Epicureans
Followers of an atheistic philosophy developed by Epicurus. This philosophy taught people to seek as their primary aim a pleasant and smooth life. They ridiculed the teaching of Paul and appear to have been highly thought of in Athens.
Diatessaron
A harmony of the four Gospels connected into a single narrative. The Diatessaron (as a proper noun) refers to the diatessaron created by Tatian, a Christian apologist and ascetic.
Murotorian Canon
The oldest known canon, or list of books of the New Testament. Written in Latin. Only a single, incomplete copy has been found. It was named after the person who found it, Muratori.
Hasmoneans
Members of a Jewish priestly family in Judea in the 1st and 2nd centuries BC that included the Maccabees.
Herod Antipas
Ruled as tetrarch in Galilean Perea from 4 BC to AD 39.
Herod the Great
King from about 37 BC to 4 BC. Jesus is born during his reign. Considered a half-Jew. Shrewd and capable ruler. Many building projects. In a power struggle with the Hasmoneans. Has strong support in Rome. A bit paranoid – kills off everyone he perceives to be a threat, including most of his family members. Does try to maintain a facade of Jewishness, although Pharisees don’t trust him. Sponsors and builds up the temple.
Zacchaeus
A short, wealthy tax-collector in Jericho, who climbed a tree in order to see Jesus. He drew Jesus’ attention, and as a result of Jesus’ interaction with him, he repented of his sinful ways.
Maccabees
Jewish family that pulled together an army that took control of Judea and founded the Hasmonean dynasty. They expanded the boundaries of Israel, reducing the influence of Hellenism and brought about a restoration of Jewish political and religious life.
Cornelius
A “God-fearing” Roman centurion whose story is described in Acts 10. Prays to God and an angel appears to him in a vision and tells him to send for Peter, which he does. At the same time, God sends Peter a dream indicating that God shows no partiality, but that salvation is open to all who seek after Him and believe. Peter preaches to Cornelius and Cornelius is saved.
Tobiads
One of the leading aristocratic families during the time of the Maccabees. Favored the Hellenization of the Jews. Deposed Onias.
Passover
a feast that celebrates the delivery of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Celebrated in the early spring.
Pentecost
Anti-Babel. When the Spirit descended on the apostles and other disciples while they were in the upper room. A sound as of a mighty rushing wind filled the house and flames that resembled tongues of fire rested on them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance. Is celebrated 40 days after Easter.
Scribes
During NT times, members of the Pharisees, public teachers, came into frequent conflict with Jesus. Concerned with the Law, copying and teaching it and supplementing it with their traditions. Prior to NT times, acted as high officials, writers, prepared and issued decrees in the name of the king.
Philo
a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who tried to fuse Greek philosophy with Jewish philosophy
Ptolemies
a hellenistic kingdom that succeeded Alexander the Great in Egypt. Battled with the Seleucids in the North. Because Palestine was right in the middle, it was like the bond that the two dogs were fighting over.
Qumran
A community of Essenes located about 10 miles south of Jericho. Produced and preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Sadducees
Members of a Jewish sect that denied bodily resurrection and existence of angels. Focused on the Pentateuch rather than on the prophetic literature. Party of the aristocracy. The high priesthood was in their hands. Held positions of authority. But do not appear as a separate sect after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Samaritans
Name given to the new and mixed inhabitants of Samaria who had been brought in to repopulate the land by the king of Assyria after the original inhabitants went into captivity. They mixed with the remaining Jewish inhabitants. They gradually abandoned idolatry and partially adopted the worship of God. However the Jews of Jerusalem refused to allow them to worship with them and so they set up a rival temple on Mt Gerasene, and when that was destroyed, at Shechem. Looked down on by the Jews.
Pharisees
Members of a Jewish sect with a focus on purity and zeal. Very concerned about keeping the Sabbath and keeping the Torah. Developed an “oral Torah,” which was a series of traditions or ways of interpreting the Torah that ostensibly came down to them from Moses.
Seleucids
a Macedonian dynasty located north of palestine that ruled over Syria. It continually was at war with the Ptolemies in the south, and fought over Palestine, which lay in between.
Septuagint
The Ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, produced in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC in Alexandria, Egypt. It was the Bible of most New Testament Christians.
Tobit
An apocryphal book. Was included in the Septuagint. Fragments of it were found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Tells the story of an Israelite named Tobit. He was a devout Jew and captive in Ninevah. Wisdom literature.
Synagogue
Jewish place of gathering, worship, and instruction
Temple
First used to describe the Tabernacle, commonly used in Scripture to refer to the “sacred house erected on the summit of Mount Moriah for the worship of God.” In the NT, the word is used variously to describe Jesus’ human body, believers, the Church, and Heaven.
The religious and sacrificial center of the nation. A gathering place and unifying symbol. Beautiful. Source of pride. Economic powerhouse and had great military potential.
Letter of Aristeas
A letter describing the formation of the Septaugint, specifying that King Ptolemy Philadelphus sponsored its creation for his library and seventy scholars.
Pompey
A Roman general who invaded Judea in 63 BC, effectively ending Judean independence. He entered the temple and even went into the Holy of Holies. Disputes within Jewish leadership led to Pompey’s invasion.
Which two gospels have the greatest amount of discourse (teaching) material?
Matthew and John
Which gospel was most likely written for a Jewish audience?
Matthew
With which saying does Jesus conclude the episode with Zacchaeus?
“Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
When do the disciples in Luke 24 recognize Jesus?
When He broke the bread.
What does Jesus mean when He says, “My kingdom is not of this world?”
He means that His kingdom is based on love rather than power, unlike other kingdoms of the world that Pilate would be familiar with.
In John’s gospel, which discourse follows immediately after the feeding of the five thousand?
The “Bread of Life” discourse.
Where did Onias IV set up a rival temple around 160 BC?
In Egypt, in the district of Heliopolis.
List four Hasmonean rulers.
Aristobulus I
Alexander Jannaeus
Alexandra Salome
Aristobulus II
Which gospel was addressed to an individual?
Luke
According to the lectures, what does Jesus see as the center of Torah?
The commandments to love God and love neighbor.
What is the attitude of the Psalms of Solomon towards the Roman general Pompey?
It excoriated him – described him as an arrogant, lustful man.
What is the attitude of Josephus towards the Roman general Pompey?
He saw him as a noble conqueror forced to invade Judea by the exigencies of politics. He called him “virtuous” for not touching the money or valuables in the temple.
Which group within first century Judaism had control of the high priesthood?
Sadducees.
Which group within first century Judaism were the precursors of “rabbinic Judaism?”
Pharisees.
What four categories summarize Jesus’ public ministry?
- Teaching and preaching the Kingdom of God
- Calling disciples
- The mighty works
- Facing opposition
Name two Apocryphal books in which maintaining Jewish identity is a key theme.
Judith
4 Maccabees
Which gospel is characterized by the interplay of signs, discourses, and feasts?
John
Which gospel appears to have been written first according to most contemporary scholars?
Mark
In which gospel does the Sermon on the Mount appear?
Matthew
According to the lectures, what are the four key themes of the Gospel of Luke?
- Christ
- Crisis
- Community
- Commission
Which gospel devotes the most attention to hospitality?
Luke
Jesus’ cry on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” comes from which Old Testament text?
Psalm 22:1
Give three types of “mighty works” performed by Jesus during His public ministry.
Healing
Exorcisms
Nature miracles
Name the two gospels in which the birth of Jesus is recorded.
Matthew and Luke
Who are the rather surprising additions to Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus?
Ruth and Rahab
Which gospel has a particular emphasis on fulfillment of prophecy?
Matthew
List the four pillars of first century Judaism according to N.T. Wright.
Temple, Land, Torah, People
List five aspects of the Temple’s significance.
1) Magnificent buildings. A source of pride for 1st Century Jews around the world.
2) An economic powerhouse.
3) The religious and sacrificial center of the nation and the Diaspora.
4) A religious communal place to preserve Jewish identity. A unifying symbol for Jews.
5) It had great military potential.
According to the lectures, the theme of purity unites which two stories in the gospel of Mark?
The story of Jairus’ daughter and the story of the woman with the flow of blood
Which four geographical references in Acts 1 form a kind of outline for the book as a whole?
Jerusalem
Judea
Samaria
Ends of the earth
The Pentecost event in Acts 2 stands in contrast to which important Old Testament story?
The story of Babel in Genesis 11.
List four principles used in the formation of the New Testament canon.
The selected items needed to be apostolic, catholic, orthodox, and in traditional use.
In what chapter of what book does Jesus evaluate John the Baptist’s relation to the Old Testament prophets and the Kingdom of God?
Matthew 11
In what chapter of what book does Jesus demonstrate that the entirety of the Old Testament teaches about Him?
Luke 24 (24:27)
Name four Jewish feasts which are referred to in John’s gospel.
- Passover
- Tabernacles
- Dedication
- Sabbath
List six “signs” which Jesus performs in John’s gospel.
1) changing water into wine
2) healing an official’s son in Capernaum
3) healing the invalid at the pool in Jerusalem
4) feeding the 5,000 near the Sea of Galilee
5) walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee
6) healing a blind man in Jerusalem
7) raising Lazarus from the dead
What title does Jesus use most frequently for Himself in the gospels?
Son of Man
In which gospel do we find the only references to the “church” of Jesus Christ?
Matthew
According to the lectures, what are the two “keynotes” of Pharasaism?
Purity and Zeal.