Term
| What is the New Testament? |
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Definition
| An anthology of 27 writings considered authoritative by Christians, that proclaim and bear witness to the life, teachings, and meaning of Jesus Christ |
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Term
| In what sense is the world of the NT culturally Greek? |
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Definition
| Under conquest of Alexander the Great, Greek culture spread. Greek language was common, religious traditions merged, political involvement became less meaningful, people lost local identity, and Greek culture itself became "generic." |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| In what language were the writings of the NT originally written? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is religious syncretism? |
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Definition
| merging of religious traditions |
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Term
| Who ruled Judea and Galilee in the time of Jesus? |
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Definition
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Term
| What impact did Roman rule have on Judea and Galilee? |
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Definition
| Changed the political scene, but Jews had autonomy in daily affairs |
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Term
| What did Romans "want" from conquered provinces? |
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Definition
| Not to change their culture, but to take TAXES. They wanted the moolah. |
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Term
| What are some of the key elements of Greco-Roman public religion? |
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Definition
*Sacrifices
*Public Festivals
*Polytheism
*Formal (do everything exactly)
*Patron-client relationship
*Syncretistic
*Suspicious of "foreign" religions |
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Term
| What were mystery religions? |
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Definition
| Voluntary religious associations that require initiation to learn the "secrets/mysteries" of the cult |
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Term
| What common features did mystery religions and Christianity share? |
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Definition
*Special devotion to one deity
*Create sense of community
*Personal religious experience
*Benefits of immortality and prosperity |
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Term
| Why were they called "mystery" religions? |
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Definition
| Because they kept their practices secret from those who were not involved |
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Term
| What are two prominent mystery religions? |
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Definition
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Term
| What were common elements of philosophy in the Greco-Roman world? |
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Definition
*Asked practical questions about how to live well
*Healing the self through virtue (getting rid of vice & desire) |
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Term
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Definition
| The ethnarch of Judea from 37-4 B.C.E |
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Term
| What happened to Judea when Herod the Great died? |
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Definition
| It was divided. Archelaus governed Judea and Herod Antipas governed Galilee until he was replaced by a Roman prefect |
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Term
| What convictions and symbols did most Jews hold in common? |
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Definition
*Torah
*Common story
*Belief in one God
*Distinct practices
*One temple in Jerusalem
*Chosen by God
*Synagogue |
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Term
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Definition
| Written sacred scriptures of Jews |
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Term
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Definition
| A place of sacrifice, where the true presence of God resided (Kabod Adonai) |
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Term
| When and why was the Jerusalem Temple destroyed? |
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Definition
| In 70 C.E. because of the Jewish revolt against the Romans |
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Term
| What are the distinctive features of apocalyptic thought? |
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Definition
*oppression by wicked followed by triumph of righteous
*Vision of things in future & things heavenly
*God is in control of history |
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Term
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Definition
*Worshiped same God as Jews
*Affirm only first five books of Bible
*Considered themselves as legitimate descendants of Israel
*Jews saw Samaritans as not fully Jews |
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Term
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Definition
*Upper class aristocrats
*Accepting of Roman political power
*Denied oral Torah
*Did not believe in resurrection, afterlife, or angels and demons
*Closely tied to Temple |
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Term
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Definition
*could read and write
*job title |
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Term
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Definition
*communal group
*shared food and goods
*believed in resurrection |
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Term
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Definition
*preserved Dead Sea Scrolls
*communal group, extreme separatists
*strict following of Torah
*strong apocalyptic beliefs
*wiped out during Jewish Revolt |
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Term
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Definition
*middle class
*followed Torah and oral Torah
*ritual purity
*believed in resurrection, afterlife, and angels & demons
*dominate Judaism after fall of temple |
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Term
| How was eating both socially and symbolically significant in the ancient world? |
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Definition
| Your social status determined what you could eat and who you could eat with. Jesus used meals in his teachings as a symbol for the kingdom of God. |
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Term
| What foods were commonly consumed among the ancients? |
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Definition
| Pita, figs, dates, grains, olives, olive oil, wine, bread |
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Term
| Which gospels are the "synoptic gospels?" |
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Definition
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Term
| Why are they called the "synoptic gospels?" |
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Definition
| "Synoptic" means "seeing together." They see the story of Jesus in very similar ways. |
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Term
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Definition
| "Good news," literary genre invented that contains the stories, deeds, and teachings of Jesus |
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Term
| Which gospel is believed to be the oldest and why? |
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Definition
| Mark has the worst Greek, the wordiest Greek, doesn't contain "important" stories that are in Matthew and Luke,almost all stories can be found in the other two gospels |
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Term
| What is the "synoptic problem?" |
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Definition
| The question of the literary relationship (dependence) between Matthew, Mark, & Luke |
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Term
| Why is the "synoptic problem" a problem? |
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Definition
*Luke tells us he uses other sources
*There is extensive verbatim overlap between the gospels |
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Term
| How do most scholars solve the problem? |
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Definition
| Many say Mark is the original gospel, and "Q" explains the literature in both Luke and Matthew but not Mark |
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Term
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Definition
| "Quell" which means "source." It is the theoretical common source for material that is in Luke and Matthew, but not Mark |
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Term
| What does "Markan priority" mean? |
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Definition
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Term
| What kinds of things does Jesus do in Mark? |
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Definition
| Heals sick, exorcises demons, heals lepers, heals blind man, teaches "true discipleship," fulfills prophecy, tells parables |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| Who was the Roman prefect responsible for allowing Jesus to be crucified? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are elements of the theological voice of Mark? |
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Definition
*Jesus is the mystery
*You have to look twice at the story knowing it ends in Jesus' crucifixion in ransom for many
*Call for humility in believers (do not assume you are an "insider")
*Jesus' service to and suffering for others
*Discipleship = service |
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Term
| What are elements of the theological voice of Matthew? |
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Definition
*Prove Jesus relation to David
*Jesus is the fulfillment, teacher, and personification of Torah
*Addresses Christian community looking to define itself
*Defines the Church |
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Term
| What are elements of the theological voice of Luke? |
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Definition
*Interest in the poor & marginalized
*Jesus as rejected prophet
*Reversal of fortunes
*Possessions |
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Term
| What is the portrait of Jesus in each of the gospels? |
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Definition
*In Mark, Jesus is harsh, compassionate, frightening, mysterious and enigmatic, portrayed as servent
*In Matthew Jesus is master of Torah, is understandable, omnipresent, cosmic Lord, portrayed as King
*In Luke, he is compassionate lover of all, merciful, portrayed from human perspective |
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Term
| Why are exorcisms so important in Mark? |
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Definition
| The literary motif of Mark is the failure of people to properly recognize Jesus. The demons he exorcises are some of the only characters who recognize Jesus as "The Son of God." Additionally, the demons are related to the apocalyptic worldview. As Jesus abolishes them, God's presence is intervening with the wicked. |
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Term
| According to class discussion, what does Mark 3:27 mean? (In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man's house.) |
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Definition
| Jesus is the "thief" driving out the forces of spiritual darkness and Satan is the strong man, the ruler of the phenomenal world. Jesus is the beginning of the kingdom of God breaking in through the darkness. |
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Term
| How is Mark 3:27 related to the apocalyptic worldview of the earliest Christians? |
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Definition
| Even though things are bad now in the phenomenal world, or Satan's world, Jesus will guarantee a reward for the just and truly righteous in the new era (afterlife) |
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Term
| In Mark, how are the disciples depicted? |
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Definition
*They don't understand Jesus
*Foolish
*Faithless |
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Term
| What are the characteristics of Jesus in Mark? |
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Definition
*Harsh
*Compassionate
*Frightening
*Mysterious & Enigmatic |
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Term
| How do parables appear to function according to Mark 4:10-13? |
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Definition
| Parables are to prevent "outsiders" from understanding. |
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Term
| What might the statement "to you has been given the secret (or 'mystery') of the kingdom of God"? |
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Definition
| In Mark, Jesus IS the mystery. The people of earth have been presented with him and his teachings. He is the true example of how to get into the kingdom of God. If you act as Jesus does, with humility and servitude, you will gain entry into the kingdom of God. |
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Term
| What is the "Messianic secret?" |
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Definition
| Jesus commands his followers to silence about his Messianic mission |
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Term
| How does Mark use the "Messianic secret" to develop his theological portrait of Jesus? |
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Definition
| Jesus doesn't want people to know he is the messiah, because he is the secret into the kingdom of Heaven. You have to look again just as people at the time of Jesus had to look at him after his crucifixion. |
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Term
| What is the role of irony in Mark? |
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Definition
| If the disciples, the ones who were supposed to be on the inside and know Jesus' secrets, can be on the outside, so can anyone. |
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Term
| Who recognizes Jesus as "Son of God?" |
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Definition
| The Roman centurion is the one who best recognizes Jesus |
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Term
| What is the significance of the one instance in which a human being recognizes Jesus as Son of God? |
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Definition
| The person who recognizes Jesus as Son of God was neither a Jew or a righteous person, but a marginalized person |
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Term
| When does Jesus begin to predict the Passion? Why is this turning point significant? |
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Definition
| In Mark 8:31 he tells of the death of the Son of Man. It seems like Peter knows who Jesus is, but he still just doesn't get it. |
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Term
| With what emotion do people typically react to Jesus in Mark? |
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Definition
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Term
| How did the Gospel of Mark originally end? |
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Definition
| With the women running in fear and not telling anybody about what they had seen. |
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Term
| From class discussion, what does Mark 8:14-9:1 mean? (Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod, Blind Man at Bethsaida, Peter declares Jesus as Messiah, Jesus Predicts His Death, the Way of the Cross) |
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Definition
| Seeing = understanding. The disciples do NOT understand that Jesus warns of the ways of the Pharisees and Herod, not literal yeast. Peter thinks he knows who Jesus is, but is expecting a warrior king, not a servant as Jesus is. To be a true disciple is to serve and suffer in the name of the Lord. |
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Term
| Name the important functions of the genealogy that begins Matthew's gospel. |
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Definition
*Connects Jesus to David and Abraham
*Shows God has always worked with outcasts (Gentiles and women) in God's working with Israel
*Therefore, Jesus cannot be disregarded for being around sinners & tax collectors |
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Term
| What is the significance of women in the genealogy of Matthew? |
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Definition
| *Show the mess in the line of David and that sin was never absent from it |
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Term
| To whom or what do the early narratives of Matthew's gospel appear to compare Jesus? |
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Definition
*The life of Jesus recalls that of Moses and often refers to the OT
*Jesus is made to be compared as a teacher, a fulfillment, and personification of Torah |
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Term
| Who is most prominent in Matthew's birth narrative? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the significance of the expanded temptation sequence in Matthew's gospel? |
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Definition
*Just like Israel, Jesus is tempted in the wilderness (But he succeeds where they failed)
*Every time he resists temptation, he quotes Torah (shows he is a master of it) |
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Term
| What are the formula citations of Scripture? How do they relate to the overall theme of Matthew? |
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Definition
*Virgin birth, angels tell to flee to Egypt, tyrant king has children killed, going up a mountain
*All recall the life of Moses in the OT and the Exodus and Israelites fleeing Egypt
*Since Matthew was addressing a Christian community defining itself against Pharisaic Judaism, comparing Jesus' life to that of the OT defends Jesus as Messiah |
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Term
| How are key Matthean themes present in the Sermon on the Mount? |
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Definition
*Jesus has come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets by showing the true inner-meaning of Torah and fulfilling prophecy
*Also shows Jesus as obedient to Torah |
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Term
| How is the depiction of the disciples in Matthew different from their depiction in Mark? |
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Definition
| They are still faithless but they are capable of understanding Jesus and can transmit his teachings |
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Term
| What are possible meanings of Jesus' statement, "I have not come to abolish the Law, but fulfill it?" |
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Definition
*Jesus is not saying that the laws of Torah are wrong, but he shows the inner-meaning of them by adding to them. For example, one shall not commit adultery, but since lust leads to adultery, one shall not lust.
*Also, he has come to fulfill the prophecies within Torah |
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Term
| Why might the Gospel of Matthew be described as the "Gospel of the Church"? |
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Definition
| Matthew is the only gospel where the word "church" is found. His teachings are neatly organized for the church to learn. Wherever a body of people are gathered in His name, His presence is. |
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Term
| What is the difference in what outsiders and insiders call Jesus? |
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Definition
| Insiders = "Lord" Outsiders = "Teacher" or "Rabbi" |
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Term
| What is the significance of the title of "Lord"? |
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Definition
| Jesus is not just a teacher of the past, but risen, cosmic Lord |
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Term
| Why is it important for the author of the Gospel of Matthew to emphasize that Jesus is far more than just a teacher? |
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Definition
| Since the audience is to be defining and defending themselves as Christians, emphasizing Jesus as Messiah and Lord is extremely important |
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Term
| What constitutes a proper or adequate understanding of Jesus for Matthew? |
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Definition
| You must see Jesus as Messiah, not just another prophet |
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Term
| What setting might Matthew's gospel have been written to address? |
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Definition
| A group of Christians seeking to define themselves against the growing Pharisaic Judaism |
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Term
| How does Matthew shape his story of Jesus to address this situation? |
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Definition
| Matthew often reflects back on Torah to show that the Christians are correctly following Torah, while the Pharisees are not. Shows Jesus fulfills Torah, teaches Torah, and personifies Torah |
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Term
| How does Matthew develop the relationship between Jesus and Torah? |
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Definition
| Jesus shows how the Pharisees and Scribes do not correctly follow Torah (they do not show mercy, follow man-made laws, and are hypocrites), Jesus shows the true meaning of Torah (The Sermon on the Mount), fulfills Torah (reflects life of Moses), Jesus personifies Torah (personifies membership in God's kingdom, Torah reveals God & He does too) |
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Term
| What is the literary genre of Luke-Acts? |
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Definition
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Term
| What was suggested in class as the purpose of Luke-Acts, as a whole? |
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Definition
*Give a more orderly account of Jesus' life
*Assure Gentile believers that God has kept His promise to Israel, but leadership of Israel rejected its own Messiah
*Since they rejected Him, the message went to Gentiles |
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Term
| Who is the audience of Luke-Acts? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are specific examples of the purpose of Luke-Acts? |
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Definition
*Instead of magi (higher-ups) coming to see Jesus when he was born, shepherds (lowly people) come to see him
*The Sinful Woman Forgiven: when Jesus is eating with the Pharisees, a sinful woman came up to him and showed him compassion and love, and since she had faith in him, her sins were forgiven, showed the Pharisees rejecting him
*Parable of the Good Samaritan shows the more righteous people as bad and the outcast as good |
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Term
| What are four key themes in Luke-Acts? |
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Definition
*interest in poor & marginalized
*Jesus as rejected prophet
*reversal of fortunes
*role of possessions |
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Term
| What is an example in Luke that shows an interest in the marginalized and poor? |
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Definition
*The Good Samaritan
*Emphasis on Mary instead of Joseph(she is a poor woman)
*Shepherds visit Jesus instead of magi |
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Term
| What is an example in Luke that shows Jesus as a rejected prophet? |
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Definition
| He is rejected at Nazareth early on in Luke, and the story is much more expanded |
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Term
| What is an example in Luke that shows reversal of fortunes? |
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Definition
*Mary is elevated by receiving God's blessing
*Parable of the Rich Fool show how although a man is rich now, he will not be rewarded in the afterlife |
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Term
| What is an example in Luke that shows the role of possessions? |
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Definition
| The Parable of the Great Dinner shows how people who deny the invitation into the kingdom of God for worldly possessions will be denied the benefits in the afterlife |
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Term
| How do the themes in Luke relate to the overall purpose of Luke? |
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Definition
| The leaders are the ones who reject Jesus, so the poor and marginalized are the ones who accept him. Because of this, those who have a lot now, will have little later, and those who have a little now, will have a lot later. They reject Jesus as a prophet, but the lowly accept him. |
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Term
| How are the Beatitudes different in Luke than in Matthew? |
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Definition
| The Beatitudes in Luke focus more on material things (physically poor vs poor in spirit), and emphasizes the reversal of fortunes (while Matthew says "Blessed are those..." Luke always adds "Woe to those..." afterwards) |
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Term
| What city serves at the geographical center of Luke-Acts? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Parables are stories told to illustrate a moral |
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Term
| How is Luke's depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ different from the depiction in Matthew and Mark? |
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Definition
In Luke, only the leaders mock Jesus on the cross, whereas in Mark and Matthew, everyone mocks him.
As well, one of the prisoners next to him recognizes Jesus has done nothing wrong, and Jesus accepts him in the Kingdom of God
*They're important because they emphasis the poor and marginalized people and the reversal of fortunes and the overall purpose of Luke Acts |
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Term
| How is the depiction of Jesus, Mary, John the Baptist, Zachariah, and the disciples similar in the Qur'an? |
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Definition
*Jesus is called Messiah & performs many miracles (healing blind and lepers, raises the dead, food miracle), has disciples
*Mary had a virgin birth
*Zachariah goes mute when John's birth is announced & his wife is barren |
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Term
| How is the depiction of Jesus and Mary different in the Qur'an? |
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Definition
*Jesus and Mary are made apparent to be NOT divine; Jesus is only another prophet
*Jesus appears not to have died on the cross |
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Term
| What events does the Qur'an describe that are absent from the Gospels? |
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Definition
*Jesus breathes life into a clay bird
*Mary has birth under a palm tree
*A table set with food is brought down from heaven
*Jesus talks as a baby
*Mary is miraculously provided with food while she is pregnant |
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Term
| Which of the 3 Synoptic Gospel seems to have been most influential on Qur'an? |
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Definition
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