Semester I Final Flashcards
Does the apostle Paul repeat many of the stories and sayings of Jesus found in the Gospels?
Yes
What is the most theological gospel out of the four gospels?
Gospel of John
The Synoptics place emphasis on which geographic area?
Galilee
What was the language Jesus probably spoke?
Aramaic
What does the apostle Paul use the term “gospel” (euangelion) to describe?
The oral preaching about the good news about Jesus
What two key Old Testament figures is Matthew’s genealogy structured around?
Abraham and David
What does form narrative criticism study?
Form: a type of historical criticism that studies the oral or spoken traditions behind the written gospel sources. Narrative: a method of literary analysis that treats the gospels as a narrative or story
Who dominated the Sanhedrin in Jesus’ day?
Sadducees
Most people in the Roman Empire were from what “class?”
Poor, “lower class”
What’s the comparison between the number of miracles in Mark’s Gospel versus the other Gospels?
Mark contained more miracles/parables compared to the other gospels
Which Gospel(s) tells us anything about Jesus’ childhood?
Matthew and 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?”
The author when they edit their writings to fit their theological themes and goals the best
Whose Gospel has a larger number of Aramaic words than the other two Synoptics?
Matthew
The healing of Jairus’s daughter is an example of which Gospel writer’s concise style?
Matthew
At what two significant events does a voice from heaven address Jesus in Mark?
Baptism and Transfiguration of Jesus
What is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament called?
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?
The Synoptic Gospels are Matthew Mark and Luke
Synoptic translates “viewed together”
To whom is Jesus’ first conflict in Mark?
Satan- The temptation in the wilderness
To whom is Jesus’ first conflict in Matthew?
King Herod tried to kill Him as a baby
What is “chiasm” or “chiastic thought?”
Inverse parallelism
A concentric pattern in which a series of things repeats itself in reverse order
Who executed John the Baptist?
Herod Antipas
Which Roman emperor is given credit for establishing the Pax Romana?
Caesar Augustus
What’s Alexander the Great’s most important influence on the New Testament background?
He greatly promoted the process of Hellenization
Labeled the greatest archaeological find of the 20th century, what was discovered in 1947?
The Dead Sea Scrolls
Generally, who arranged the marriages in the first-century middle eastern culture?
The parents
According to the notes, what was the most important value in first-century Israel?
Honor and Shame
What was a fundamental value in the first century for welcoming guests?
Hospitality
What were the most important social events in Jewish society, involving the entire village?
Weddings
In Judaism, a woman’s honor came primarily through what?
Child Bearing
In John’s Gospel, when speaking to His mother, and later to His brothers, Jesus said, His “hour” had not yet arrived; what is the “hour” He is referring to?
His death and resurrection when He would be lifted up and glorified
In John’s Gospel, who helped bury Jesus in the tomb immediately after He was removed from the cross?
Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus
Does Jesus use parables in John’s Gospel?
No
What 3 groups of people does John reach out to in his Prologue (from lecture)?
Jews, Greeks, Christians
According to John Dominic Crossan, what did Jesus do rather than actually cure “disease.”
He healed illnesses by refusing to accept the diseases ritual uncleanness and social ostracization
Who wrote The Quest for the Historical Jesus which strongly critiqued the 19th century “liberal” view of the historical Jesus?
Albert Schweitzer
Who was highly skeptical concerning the historical Jesus, he was probably the most influential NT scholar of the 20th century? He “demythologized” the Gospels.
Rudolf Bultmann
Does John’s Gospel contain many indications of an eyewitness account?
Yes
Did the Gospel writers feel at liberty to paraphrase, interpret, or rearrange the words of Jesus or the events of his life?
Yes, but in a way that still maintained Jesus authentic voice, or to bring out the theological significance
Is it possible to write history completely free from biases or presuppositions?
It is not possible since everyone has their own worldview and belief system in which they process reality
According to New Testament scholars, do we, in most cases, have the exact words of Jesus?
New Testament scholars have long recognized that in most cases we have NOT the exact words (ipsissima verba) of Jesus but rather his authentic voice (ipsissima vox)
Do the Gospel writers follow chronological order as they report events in their books?
Gospel writers do not necessarily follow a chronological order and often rearrange events for topical or theological reasons
Which gospel writer reports 3 Passovers?
John
Which gospel writer is famous for abbreviating accounts?
Matthew
Which Gospel Writer is the most interpretive?
John
Do all translations involve some level of interpretation?
Yes
Would the average Palestinian have seen Jesus as being sent from God?
No
Would the average Palestinian have clearly understood Jesus’ words?
No
Seeing John the Baptist would have reminded people of the _____________ in the Old Testament.
Prophet Elijah
Around when was Jesus likely born?
Most scholars place Jesus’ birth near the end of Herod the Great’s reign, sometime between 7 and 4 BC
Which gospel writer tells us Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His ministry?
Luke
Which Gospel Writer provides us with the most information concerning the length of Jesus’ ministry?
John
What does Joseph’s occupation, traditionally translated as “carpenter,” refer to (what would they do)?
A craftsman who worked in wood, stone, or metal
Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because a census had been ordered by a whom?
Caesar Augustus
Archelaus was the son of whom?
Herod the Great
Roman Catholic theologians have traditionally followed the interpretation of Jerome that…
Jesus’ siblings were not true brothers and sisters, but cousins
Jesus’ siblings were not true brothers and sisters but were instead ___________?
Cousins
The only biblical account from Jesus’ childhood comes from which Gospel?
Luke
Whose sinlessness is emphasized in the concept of the immaculate conception?
Mary’s
Who asked for the head of John the Baptist?
Salome
She was prompted by her mother
John the Baptist’s attire is reminiscent of which OT prophet?
Prophet Elijah
Apart from the crucifixion, what is the most undisputed historical event of Jesus’ life?
Jesus was baptized by John
Who was “the voice of one calling in the desert?”
John the Baptist
Why did Herod Antipas have John the Baptist beheaded?
He didn’t want to, but he made an oath to give his daughter whatever she wanted up to half his kingdom in front of all these guests and he didn’t want to lose face when she demanded John’s head on a silver platter.
Does Hebrew poetry usually rhyme
No
According to the text, when Jesus speaks of blessings for the “poor,” who is he referring to?
Those who didn’t have or own much
What philosophical system claims that God created the world, but then left it to run wholly by natural laws?
Deism
The most significant philosophical opposition to the miraculous came from which 18th-century philosopher?
David Hume
According to the text, what is the primary purpose for Jesus’ healings and exorcisms in the Synoptic Gospels?
Their purpose was to reveal the presence and power of the kingdom in His ministry
Who was the first of the apostles to be martyred?
James, John’s brother
Which apostle was a tax collector?
Matthew (Levi)
Which apostle was also known as Didymus (meaning twin)?
Thomas the Apostle
Who was the most prominent of the apostles?
Peter
Who was the last of the apostles to be martyred
John the Elder
Who is traditionally recognized as the youngest of the apostles?
John
The Old Testament predictions concerning God’s salvation and the Gentiles took two distinct streams in Judaism. With which did Jesus identify?
The Gentiles would be co-recipients of God’s salvation, worshipping with Israel on Mount Zion
What was the Jewish method of execution?
Stoning
What was the Roman method of execution?
Crucifixion
According to the Mishnah, when could the Sanhedrin meet?
During the day
Jesus faced opposition during his Galilean ministry from what two groups?
Pharisees and Scribes
During Passion Week, Jesus found the money changers in which court of the Temple?
Court of the Gentiles
Who considered themselves to be the rightful guardians of Israel’s traditions?
Pharisees
Be familiar with what happened on each of the days of the Passion Week
Refer to the chart in the book
In general, what level of credibility was given to women as witnesses in first-century Palestinian culture?
Very little credibility
What religious group (leaders) did not believe in the afterlife or resurrection?
Sadducees
Where did the women tell the disciples to go?
Galilee
Which Gospel records the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?
Luke
Which Bible author provides the earliest written testimony of the resurrection, claims that more than 500 people saw Jesus alive?
Paul
Whose tomb was Jesus buried in?
Joseph of Arimethea
Why might Jesus have been reticent about using the title Messiah?
Because of its political and militaristic connotations
