Final Exam Study Guide Questions

Question 1

What are the general dates of composition for Paul’s undisputed letters?

Answer 1

Romans (50s)
Corinthians 1 (50s)
Corinthians 2 (50s)
1 Thessalonians (50s)
Galatians (50s
Phillipians (60s)
Philemon (60s)

Question 2

What are the general dates of composition for the 4 gospels

Answer 2

Matthew (80s)
Mark (70s)
Luke (80s)
John (90s)

Question 3

What is the two source hypothesis for the gospels?

Answer 3

The two-source hypothesis, a theory that emerged in the 1800s, posits that Mark was written before Matthew and Luke, and that double tradition content is drawn from a third source (di Quelle, or Q).

Question 4

When was Jesus’ death?

Answer 4

Roughly 30 CE

Question 5

What is the problem of pseudepigraphy/pseudonymity and why is it a problem for historians?

Answer 5

Pseudopigraphy is defined as the act of writing in someone else’s name; pseudonumity refers to using a pseudonym. This phenomenon is a problem for scholars of the new testament, because the high frequency of pseudopigraphy makes it difficult to ascertain which writings are authentic. Pseudopigraphy also makes constructing accurate historical portrayals of figures difficult.

Question 6

Define pseudopigraphy

Answer 6

Writing a book in someone else’s name.

Question 7

Define pseudonymity

Answer 7

Using a pseudonym

Question 8

Name all of Paul’s letters that appear in the New Testament

Answer 8

Undisputed:
- Philemon
- Philippians
- Corinthians 1
- Corinthians 2
- Thessalonians 1
- Galatians
- Romans

Disputed:
- Colossians
- Ephesians
- Titus
- Timothy 1
- Timothy 2
- Thessalonians 2

Question 9

Why is Paul’s authorship disputed in 2 Thessalonians?

Answer 9

In 2 Thessalonians, “Paul” indicates that there will be numerous estachological signs that occur before parousia. This directly contradicts the language used in the undisputed 1 Thessalonians.

Question 10

Why is Paul’s authorship disputed in 1 Timothy?

Answer 10

The language used in 1 Timothy is highly restrictive towards women, and directly contradicts the thanks given to women in other parts of the bible (such as Romans). It also contradicts the marriage-neutral, if not anti-marriage content found in 1 Corinthians.

Question 11

What is the historical situation underlying each of Paul’s letters (1 Thessalonians)

Answer 11

Church followers were worried about what would happen to those that had fallen asleep, i.e. died before Christ’s return.

Question 12

Describe the contents of Paul’s letters (1 Thessalonians)

Answer 12

Brotherly love, agape
The end will come suddenly, like a thief in the night.
Those who have died will be the first to meet him; only then will those who are alive go up.

Question 13

What is the historical situation underlying each of Paul’s letters (2 Thessalonians)

Answer 13

Church followers thought that the end of the world had already arrived.

Question 14

Describe the contents of Paul’s letters (2 Thessalonians)

Answer 14

eschatological signs before Jesus’s parousia
don’t be a burden on others!

Question 15

What is the historical situation underlying each of Paul’s letters? (1 Corinthians)

Answer 15

Divisions in the church, in the name of Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Christ
question of realized eschatology (are converts already spiritually risen once they have been baptized?)

Question 16

Describe the contents of Paul’s letters (1 Corinthians)

Answer 16

• Lot’s of sin abounds
• Should not eat meat sacrificed to pagan gods
• female prophets should veil their heads when prophesying
  -if you have self control don’t get married?
• more on agape
• christ’s resurrection is a down payment on future ressurection
• final business note with instructions for charity collection

Question 17

What is the historical situation underlying each of Paul’s letters? (2 Corinthians)

Answer 17

• Paul initially wrote a manipulative letter about money to the Corinthians
• During his second visit, the Corinthians ****accuse Paul of financial fraud
• Competing missionaries, “super apostles” arrive and criticize Paul to his face****
• Paul leaves Corinth and writes a defensive letter
• After reconciling with the Corinthians, he writes to console them

Question 18

Describe the general outline of 2 Corinthians as it appears in the NT

Answer 18

Chapters 1-7: Happy and encouraging
Chapters 8-9:
Money
Chapters 10:13:
Angry & Defensive

Question 19

Describe the chronology of 2 Corinthians as has been proposed by hisorians

Answer 19

Chapters 8-9:
Money
Chapters 10:13:
Angry & Defensive
Chapters 1-7: Happy and encouraging

Question 20

In which of the letters does Paul describe the competing apostles and include rebuke?

Answer 20

2 Corinthians (missed on quiz). Paul says “even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge! […] they say His letters are heavy and strong but he’s week in bodily appearance and his speech is worthless”

Question 21

In which of the letters does Paul reference a strength in weakness

Answer 21

2 Corinthians (possibly missed on the quiz)
“If I have to brag, I’ll brag of the things that show my weakness!”

Question 22

What is the historical situation underlying Galatians?

Answer 22

Competing missionaries demanded conversion to Judaism, including circumcision

Question 23

What is the historical situation underlying Romans?

Answer 23

Jews were returning to Rome, and there was some misinformation going around (“let’s do wicked things so that good will come”). Also, Paul wanted to introduce his gentile mission to believers in Rome

Question 24

Describe Paul’s gospel

Answer 24

• Gentile converts do not need to be circumcised and keep torah to remain justified in God’s eyes
• Faith/trust pistis in the Messiah is enough
• Faith/trust pistis isn’t mere belief, but includes an ethical transformation of the gentile sinner’s whole life

Question 25

Quote: ID “God … called me through his grace … so that I might announce his son among the gentiles”

Answer 25

Galatians

Question 26

Describe the contents of Paul’s letters (Galatians)

Answer 26

• his gospel comes directly from Christ
• 17 years after he joined the church, the Jerusalem apostles signed off on his gospel
• peter, john, james, and fake brothers
• Peter is a hypocrite for changing his behavior
• Abraham was made righteous for trusting God, not through the Torah
• God’s promise to bless Abraham and his offspring occured before Moses / the covenant, torah covenant with Israel does not cancel out initial promises that were made
• Everyone baptized into christ is Abraham’s offspring

Question 27

In which of Paul’s letters does he state that God has promised to bless Abraham and his offspring (with offspring implied as including Christ)

Answer 27

Galatians

Question 28

Summarize Martin Luther’s commentary on __________

Answer 28

Galatians,
impossible to follow all of the torah’s commandments
Moses, and by extension judaism, expects perfect following of the law

Question 29

Characterize old views on Paul

Answer 29

• Paul converted from Judaism to Christianity
• Paul considered Judaism a defective religion and the Torah as a curse that was impossible to live by, Christianity was the liberating solution
• Keeping God’s commandments was not enough to save you.
• Paul thought that Jews who didn’t accept Jesus as messiah had turned their back on God. God had broken his convenant with them as his chosen people and replaced them with the Christian church as the “new Israel.”

Question 30

Characterize new views on Paul

Answer 30

• Paul remained a devout Jew, he reoriented within Judaism to the Jesus sect and believed that Jesus was the messiah promised in scripture
• In the messianic age, gentiles too can be in covenant with God apart from the torah through faith in the Messiah. They should follow the Torah’s ethical commandments but don’t necessarily need to keep all of it (i.e. circumcision)
• Paul is concerned about the Jews who have not yet accepted Jesus as messiah. But because always maintains his covenant, God will eventually bring them around so that in the end evetually all of Israel will be saved.

Question 31

What decade (roughly) does Paul die

Answer 31

The 60s

Question 32

Describe the contents of Romans

Answer 32

The world is in a mess
Judgement day is approaching
Jews and gentiles alike will be judged for what they’ve done
God’s solution is separate from the Torah, so gentiles can be included too
Abraham was justified by trust before he was circumcised; he is the father of the circumcised and the uncircumcised.
Paul does possess some emotional concern for jews who have not yet recognized Jesus as Messiah. However, God has not rejected these people. Israel’s mistake is not permanent - God is using gentiles to make Israel jealous and they will be back. References the great mystery and the olive tree.

Question 33

When did the Decian Persecutian take place?

Answer 33

Roughly 300 CE

Question 34

Name the time period and describe pliny’s trial of the christians

Answer 34

you were asked “are you a christian?” 3x
you had to pray to Romand Gods
you had to offer wine & incense to images of the gods and emperor
you had to revile Christ’s name

Question 35

what is the main message of 1 Peter

Answer 35

obey the governor and emperor! and be a good citizen

Question 36

what are the 3 things that constitute Christian eschatology

Answer 36

Hebrew prophets, gospels, paul, and the book of revelation

Question 37

In the book of revelation, babylon generally represents

Answer 37

Rome

Question 38

Whom do the mythological figures represent in the book of revalations

Answer 38

Red Dragon (Satan)

Question 39

First Beast

Answer 39

Roman Empire

Question 40

Second Beast

Answer 40

Roman officials and cults

Question 41

What historical events prompt the author of Revelations to consider Rome the new Babylon?

Answer 41

The destruction of the first jerusalem temple in 586 BCE and the destruction of the 2nd jerusalem temple around 70 CE

Question 42

How does Krister Stendahl interpret Paul’s views on Israel and Gentiles in Romans 9-11?

Answer 42

Paul admits that the lack of conversion does represent a Great Mystery. The introduction of the messiah represents a stumbling block, however, that also allows gentiles to be saved. More explicitly, the Jews’ “stumble” opens an opportunity for gentiles to receive salvation. Jews will eventually come around, as God always keeps his covenants. However, it is not the business of gentiles to try and evangelize the Jewish people.

Question 43

How are controversies over gender and authority played out in the Gospel’s resurrection?

Answer 43

Matthew: resurrected Jesus appears to women disciples
John: resurrected Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene

Question 44

How are controversies over gender and authority played out in 1 Timothy? How does it contrast with Corinthians

Answer 44

A widow should not be supported if she is under 60, women struggle to control their sexual passions. In contrast Paul maintains that marriage is an acceptable outlet for sexual desires but celibacy is better if you have self-control. Widows will remain happier if they stay unmarried. There is a sort of out of place section in Corinthians 14 that suggests women should be silent in churches; scholars have often thought of this as an interpolation by a particularly patriarchical scribe.