Study Notes Flashcards
.If you doubt that the New Testament was copied reliably, what would you also have to doubt in the world of literature to be logically consistent?
.?????
According to Daniel Wallace, what two attitudes should we avoid when it comes to the exact wording of certain biblical texts?
Radical Skepticism and Absolute Certainty
What is the main reason there are so many textual variants?
Because we have a lot of manuscripts
Our oldest manuscript fragment from the book of John (often called “John Ryland’s Fragment”) goes back to what date?
125 AD
How many manuscripts claim that Jesus is not God and that he did not rise from the dead?
0
How many of the 27 NT books do the early Christian leaders like Polycarp, Clement and Ignatius mention by the year 110?
25
When was the Jerusalem temple destroyed?
70 AD
Why is the destruction of the Jerusalem temple important?
The destruction of the temples was more devastating than 911 and Jesus predicted it. According to Josephus, over 1,000,000 Jews perished when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. The capital of the nation was obliterated and the center of waroship and Jewish pride was erased.
How do the biblical authors portray themselves in the Gospels? Name at least 4 characteristics.
Blame, cowardly
slow minded
unbelieving (Jesus had to eat fish and show wounds)
self-centered (arguing over the greatest)
stigma (is a of disgrace associated with a particular quality)
Which are some of the ways that the followers of Jesus were persecuted? Name 4.
Imprisoned Exile Flogged Stoned Beaten Hated
Which long-held beliefs of the disciples changed after witnessing the resurrection of Jesus? Name several.
Loss of Jewish identity Circumcision Sabbath Sacrifice Strict Monotheism Messianic expectations Resurrection expectations
Whereas at the start of Islam, one could be killed for not being a Muslim, at the start of Christianity one could be killed for…
Becoming a Christian
How many independent sources do we have that recount Jesus’ resurrection?
There are at least 4 sources, they are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
According to the Apostle Paul, about how many eyewitnesses saw Jesus risen from the dead?
500
Which Gospel was NOT an eyewitness of Jesus being alive after his death?
Luke and the writers of Hebrews
About how many specific facts in the last 16 chapters of Acts have been confirmed by non-Christian history and archaeology?
84
About how many historical figures mentioned in the NT have been confirmed by archaeology and non-Christian sources?
At least 30
When Paul says that many witnesses were still alive, what is he in essence challenging his readers to do?
To go and ask people.
Approximately how much time is there between Jesus’ death and the books that record it?
20 to 30 years
What principle helps historians know that an author is telling the truth?
Embarrassment
What are the reasons we can be confident the Gospels were actually written by eyewitnesses or near eyewitness (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)? Name 10.
Outside Corroboration, Eyewitness Testimony, Early Testimony, Multiple Sources, Source Agreement, Disadvantageous Testimony
What is the evidence that Jesus died on the cross? Name several things.
The flogging that Roman soldier gave Jesus, would have caused shock and blood loss that would result in death. And being crucified on the cross would lead to suffocation.
What is the evidence that Jesus’ tomb was empty? Name as many things as you can.
The location of the tomb was known to the Jews and the Christians, if it wasn’t empty the people that saw him executed could’ve disproved the resurrection.
What is the evidence that Jesus was alive after his death? Name as many things as you can.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians that he personally encountered the Christ. Christ appeared to Peter and more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time. The discovery of the empty tomb. Paul’s creed was written as if it was true. The gospels argue that Jesus rose from the dead. Evidence of the resurrection is the amount of testimony.
Jesus has been claimed to be a copy of: Name ten pagan gods.
Krishna, Buddha, Horus, Mithras, Osiris, Marduk, Zoroaster, Hercules, Attis, and Adonis
How do seasons and growing cycles relate to dying and rising by these ancient gods?
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The so-called “virgin births” of some of these “gods” include: Name four. (e.g. Mithras/Mithra was born from a rock)
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How does artwork relate to the claim that Jesus is just like mythical gods?
The gods with arms outstretched are said to be crucified.
List at least three statements that demonstrate that Jesus considered himself God.
“Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58)
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, behold I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
“I am the alpha and omega, the first and last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13)
“If you knew me, you would know my father.” (John 8:19)
What evidence is there that Jesus’ critics understood Him to be claiming divine status?
The Jews to Pilate, “we have a law, and according to the law he ought to die because he made himself the son of God,” (John 19:7)
The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” (John 10:33)
What is the evidence that Jesus’ followers considered him to be divine shortly after his resurrection? List at least four examples.
Thomas answered him “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)
“Though Jesus was in the form of God, he did not count equality with a with God, a thing to be grasped but emptied himself.” (Philippians 2:6-7)
Anyone can claim to be God. But what is the evidence that Jesus was actually God? List 4 things.
- Jesus defeated mankind’s gravest problem…Multiple, early, independent eyewitnesses whose testimony is consistent, corroborated, counter-cultured, and disadvantageous.
- Jesus showed NO evidence of dishonesty, only evidence of the highest morality…Jesus’s disciples never once witnessed him do wrong (1Peter 2:22, John 3:15). He taught and lived out the highest morality (love your enemies). Jesus died for what he said.
- Jesus showed NO evidence of lunacy, only evidence of wisdom and levelheadedness…There were no signs of mental illness (such as dramatic mood swings, irrational fears). He answers with calmness and wisdom. (John 8:2-11, Mark 12:13-37).
- Jesus died and rose..”.The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and call him Imanuel.” (Isaih 7:14). “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be on his shoulders. And he will be called wonderful counseler, mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isiah 9:6) “But he was pierced for our transgressions, but he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isiah 53:5) “He was assigned a grave with the wicked and the rich in his death.” (Isiah 53:9) “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied.” (Isiah 53:11)
