February 21, 2012
Terms
Be able to define or describe the following terms in a sentence or two and/or highlight two or three key points (such as might be included in a multiple-choice or matching-type question).
| Alexander the Great | New Quest | Synoptic Gospels | Petrine Doctrine | Suffering |
| Hellenization | Third Quest | Christology | Passion Predictions | Gethsemane |
| Syncretism | Source Criticism | Paraenesis | Triumphal Entry | Golgotha / Calvary |
| Maccabean Revolt | Form Criticism | Desposynoi | Last Supper | Empty Tomb |
| Pharisees | Redaction Criticism | Faith and Works | Great Commission | Post-resurrection Appearances |
| Sadducees | Orality vs. Textuality | Wisdom | Catechesis | Apostle |
| Temple | Lukan Prologue | Torah | Parousia | Bishop |
| Synagogue | Q | Righteousness | Priesthood of Believers | Deacon |
| Jesus of History vs. Christ of Faith | Synoptic Problem | Sermon on the Mount | Pseudonymity | Elder |
| Old Quest | Redaction | Beatitudes | Pericope | |
| No Quest | Gospel | Lord’s Prayer (Our Father) | Messianic Secret |
Points to Ponder
Below is a brief summary of the major topics we have discussed in class.
- What is “hellenization”? What is its relevance to the study of the New Testament? How did Jews in the Hellenistic era respond to the challenges of hellenization?
- What do scholars mean when they speak of the relationship between the “Jesus of history” and the “Christ of faith”? What were the major periods or phases of the “quests of the historical Jesus”? Who were the key figures? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each period?
- Historically speaking, how did the written Gospels come to be? What may have been happening during the period of oral transmission of Jesus materials?
- What is the “Synoptic problem”? Be able to describe in simple terms the “four-source hypothesis” and the “Farrer hypothesis” of Synoptic relationships. What is Q? Be able to suggest some reasons there are four Gospels rather than one.
- Summarize the debate in the early church about “faith” versus “works” with respect to the book of James. Discuss James and Paul as different voices in this debate within the early church.
- How do you account for the central place the Gospel of Matthew enjoyed for much of Christian history? What features of the Gospel may have contributed to this role? What can be inferred about the community of believers for whom Matthew was written? What were some of their concerns?
- What does the Gospel of Matthew have to say about “righteousness” and/or “law” in the context of early Christianity? Is Matthew’s message “harder” than what contemporary Jews were saying, or is it “easier”? Explain.
- What were some of the challenges (both practical and theological) the early church faced in striving to include non-Jews who professed faith in Jesus? Discuss the variety of Christian responses to these challenges. Where do we see these challenges implied in the Gospel of Matthew?
- What challenges did the audience of 1 Peter face? Why does 1 Peter use the imagery of the “people of God” to describe these Gentile converts? What practical advice does 1 Peter offer for faithful living in a hostile culture?
- Describe some of the unique features that set Mark apart from the other three Gospels. How does Mark tell the story of Jesus? What themes are central to his depiction of Jesus? What does he have to say about discipleship? About suffering?
- How does Mark tie the themes of suffering and discipleship into his account of Jesus’ death and resurrection? Discuss the various endings of Mark. How can ending the Gospel at 16:8 serve Mark’s literary purposes?
Format of the Exam
Part I. Thirty-five multiple-choice questions worth four points each, based on the key terms listed above and assigned Scripture readings (140 points).
Part II. One essay question (60 points). You will have a choice between two of the following questions:
- What role did Hellenization play in creating the world into which Jesus was born? Who were the key figures and what were the key events in the encounter between Judaism and the broader Hellenistic culture? What influences–positive or negative–did Hellenization have on the development of the Jewish faith in the time leading up to the New Testament era?
- Discuss the “problem of the historical Jesus” and scholarly attempts to address that problem in modern times. How have the various quests helped to refine the contemporary understanding of the Jesus of history?
- Describe how Jesus is depicted in either the Gospel of Matthew or the Gospel of Mark. How does this Gospel writer handle the Jesus traditions he has received? What seem to be the key elements of his story of Jesus, and how can this shed light on the situation in which the Gospel was written?
- You are a Jewish believer in Jesus in the mid-first century AD. Recently, several non-Jews have professed faith in Christ and wish to join your community—which up to now has been exclusively Jewish. Describe the debate that is now going on within your community. What do your fellow church members think about including Gentiles? What arguments do they use to back up their opinions?
- Provide a basic introduction to the book of 1 Peter, discussing its overall message and why this message might be appealing to its intended audience.
