Final Exam Study Guide

Question 1

What two key Old Testament figures is Matthew’s genealogy is structured around?

Answer 1

Abraham and David

Question 2

What does form narrative criticism study?

Answer 2

It treats the Gospel as a story

Question 3

Who dominated the Sanhedrin in Jesus’ day?

Answer 3

Sadducees

Question 4

Most people in the Roman Empire were from what “class?”

Answer 4

Lower Class

Question 5

What is the comparison between the number of miracles in Mark’s Gospel versus the other three Gospels.

Answer 5

More miracles

Question 6

Which Gospel(s) tells us anything about Jesus’ childhood?

Answer 6

Luke

Question 7

Which is the only Gospel relating that at the transfiguration, Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were discussing Jesus’ coming “departure” or exodus in Jerusalem?

Answer 7

Luke

Question 8

Whose Gospel places an emphasis on Jesus as the savior for all people.

Answer 8

Luke

Question 9

What is a “redactor?”

Answer 9

An Editor

Question 10

Whose Gospel has a larger number of Aramaic words than the other two Synoptics?

Answer 10

Mark

Question 11

The healing of Jairus’s daughter is an example of which Gospel writer’s concise style?

Answer 11

Mark

Question 12

At what two significant events does a voice from heaven addresses Jesus in Mark?

Answer 12

Baptism and Transfiguration

Question 13

What is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament called?

Answer 13

Septuagint

Question 14

Who probably established the Qumran community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls?

Answer 14

The Essenes

Question 15

Which Gospel is considered to have been written first by most NT scholars?

Answer 15

Mark

Question 16

In reference to the text, what does “Synoptic” mean and what are the Synoptic Gospels?

Answer 16

Viewed together

Matthew, Mark, Luke

Question 17

According to John Dominic Crossan, what did Jesus heal or cure?

Answer 17

Illness

Question 18

What was the basic premise of the history of religions school?

Answer 18

Religious growth is evolutionary, all religions go from simple to complex

Question 19

Who authored - The Quest for the Historical Jesus?

Answer 19

Albert Schweitzer

Question 20

Who was likely the most influential New Testament scholar of the 20th century?

Answer 20

Rudolf Bultman

Question 21

During what period was Historical Criticism first applied to the Bible?

Answer 21

Enlightenment-17th and 18th Century

Question 22

Where have the most radical attacks on the historical Jesus in recent years (1980-90s) come from?

Answer 22

Participants of Jesus’ Seminar

Question 23

Which “criteria of authenticity” claims that a saying of Jesus is authentic if it appears neither in the teaching of Judaism nor in the teaching of first-century Christianity?

Answer 23

Criterion of Dissimilarity

Question 24

Is there evidence in John’s Gospel of an eyewitness accounts?

Answer 24

Yes

Question 25

According to the text, did the Gospel writers feel at liberty to paraphrase, interpret or rearrange the words of Jesus or the events of his life?

Answer 25

Yes

Question 26

What is the relationship do biases and presuppositions have with the writing of history?

Answer 26

It is impossible to have an unbabsis historian

Question 27

Would most New Testament scholars assert that in most cases we have the exact words of Jesus?

Answer 27

No

Question 28

Do all four Gospel writers follow chronological order as they report events?

Answer 28

No

Question 29

How might most of the alleged contradictions between John and the Synoptics be explained? (particular themes)

Answer 29

Contradictions - Length of ministry: 1 yr v. 2 or 3 (counted by Passovers mentioned) - Cleansing temple: Syn at end of ministry, John at start - Relationship of Lord's Supper and Jesus' death to passover

Question 30

What was likely the language Jesus spoke?

Answer 30

Aramaic

Question 31

Which Gospel reports three Passovers?

Answer 31

John

Question 32

Which Gospel is famous for abbreviating accounts?

Answer 32

Matthew

Question 33

Which Gospel is the most interpretive of the Gospels?

Answer 33

John

Question 34

What is the concept of General Trustworthiness as it relates to the Gospel writers’ reliability?

Answer 34

If the writer is generally reliable and given the benefit of the doubt

Question 35

Do all translations involve some level of interpretation?

Answer 35

Yes

Question 36

How did the Jewish authorities treat the “prophets” and “messiahs” arising prior to Jesus?

Answer 36

Reject and Crushed

Question 37

How was the Pharisees’ piety and spiritual devotion received by people?

Answer 37

They were admired

Question 38

How well known was John the Baptist in Palestine?

Answer 38

Very well known

Question 39

What was Jesus’ central message concerning?

Answer 39

Kingdom of God

Question 40

Which Gospel provides us with the most information concerning the length of Jesus’ ministry?

Answer 40

John

Question 41

What are the two most likely dates for the year of Jesus’ crucifixion?

Answer 41

AD 30 to AD 33

Question 42

Who feared that a revolt from John the Baptist's preaching would bring the Roman-legions and spell disaster for the temple.

Answer 42

Jewish leaders

Question 43

Which act of kindness was Mediterranean culture founded on?

Answer 43

Reciprocation

Question 44

What date did the pagan feast of Saturnalia typically fall on?

Answer 44

December 25

Question 45

Joseph’s occupation, traditionally translated “carpenter,” might have him working with what materials? (More than wood)

Answer 45

Masonry, clay, metal, brick, stone, etc

Question 46

Is there any information about Jesus’ childhood given in the Gospels.

Answer 46

Yes

Question 47

From whose perspective is Luke’s birth narrative is told?

Answer 47

Mary

Question 48

Who ordered the census, requiring Joseph and Mary to return to Bethlehem

Answer 48

Caesar Augustus

Question 49

Archelaus was whose son?

Answer 49

Herod The Great

Question 50

What familial relationships would most Roman Catholic theologians have said are shared between Jesus & His siblings? (following the interpretation of Jerome)

Answer 50

Cousin

Question 51

Which Gospel provides the only biblical account from Jesus’ childhood?

Answer 51

Luke

Question 52

In which Old Testament book is Bethlehem prophesied as the birthplace of the coming ruler?

Answer 52

Micah

Question 53

The Gospels report that Jesus had how many brothers?

Answer 53

Four

Question 54

Did John the Baptist ever have doubts that Jesus was the Messiah?

Answer 54

Yes

Question 55

Who asked Herod for the head of John the Baptist

Answer 55

Salome on behalf of her mom Herodias

Question 56

Why was Herod’s marriage to Herodias such a problem for John the Baptist?

Answer 56

That was his brothers wife. Because Philip wasn’t dead yet

Question 57

Which Gospel provides information concerning the early life of John the Baptist?

Answer 57

Luke

Question 58

Some speculate that John the Baptist may have had contact with which monastic community?

Answer 58

Qumran

Question 59

John the Baptist’s ministry was across Jordan from what territory?

Answer 59

Samaria

Question 60

What are the most undisputed historical events of Jesus’ life?

Answer 60

Baptism and Crucifixion

Question 61

By what means did John the Baptist die?

Answer 61

He was beheaded

Question 62

Why did Herod Antipas have John the Baptist beheaded?

Answer 62

Salome pleased Antipas for her mom Herodias and so she requested Johns head and Antipas went with it

Question 63

Does Hebrew poetry normally rhyme?

Answer 63

No

Question 64

According to the text, when Jesus speaks of blessings for the “poor,” which poverty is He referring to?

Answer 64

No money, literal poverty

Question 65

What was the “tradition of the elders”?

Answer 65

Oral law transcribed in the rabbinic writings

Question 66

What is the relationship between the study of miracles to scientific investigation and historical research?

Answer 66

Miracles are outside the realm of scientific inquiry but can be studied historically

Question 67

When the disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus on behalf of John if he is the “coming one”, what did He say?

Answer 67

Report back and see

Question 68

The most significant philosophical opposition to the miraculous came from which eighteenth century philosopher?

Answer 68

David Hume

Question 69

Who was the Jewish charismatic rabbi, whose prayers for rain were reportedly answered?

Answer 69

Honi

Question 70

According to the text, what was the primary purpose for Jesus’ healings and exorcisms in the Synoptic Gospels?

Answer 70

To reveal the power of the Kingdom of God

Question 71

The accounts in the Gospels where Jesus raises people from the dead are best understood as what or by what term?

Answer 71

Resuscitation

Question 72

Under whose authority did Jesus heal someone, or to cast out demons?

Answer 72

Under his own authority

Question 73

Who is considered the most prominent of the disciples?

Answer 73

Peter

Question 74

Who was the first of the apostles to be martyred?

Answer 74

James

Question 75

Traditionally, who is believed to be the youngest of the apostles?

Answer 75

John the Apostle

Question 76

The phrase "Our Lord Comes!" is translated from which Aramaic phrase?

Answer 76

Maranatha

Question 77

What was Jesus’ favorite title for himself?

Answer 77

Son of Man

Question 78

The Old Testament predictions concerning God’s salvation and the Gentiles took two distinct streams in Judaism. With which did Jesus identify?

Answer 78

Salvation to all nations, Israel is to be a light to all nations

Question 79

The Greek word amēn comes from a Hebrew word meaning

Answer 79

Confirmed or Verified

Question 80

According to most contemporary scholars today, who must have played some role in Jesus’ death - the Romans or the Jewish authorities?

Answer 80

Both

Question 81

The evidence confirms that Jesus was executed by the Romans under what charge?

Answer 81

Sedition

Question 82

Historical evidence confirms that in Jesus’ day, the charge of blasphemy could be made against someone for doing/saying what?

Answer 82

Taking the Lords name in vain, insulting religious leaders, idolatry

Question 83

How did the Jews carry out capital punishment?

Answer 83

Stoning

Question 84

How did the Romans carry out capital punishment?

Answer 84

Crucifixion

Question 85

According to the Mishnah, when/where was the Sanhedrin NOT allowed to meet?

Answer 85

At night, evening of Passover, at high priest house

Question 86

Jesus was first sent to whom? (the former priest)

Answer 86

Annas

Question 87

During the Passion week, Jesus found the money changers in what part of the Temple?

Answer 87

Court of Gentiles

Question 88

What location did Jesus carry His cross to? (where he was crucified)

Answer 88

“The place of the skull”

Question 89

Know the Events of the Passion Week

Answer 89

Sunday- entrance into Jerusalem Monday- cleansing temple and curse of fig tree Tuesday- withering of fig tree seen by disciples, temple controversies, and Olivet discourse Wednesday- nothing Thursday- Last supper, betrayal and arrest, and trial before annas and caiaphas Friday- morning trial by Sanhedrin, trail before Pilate and Herod, crucifixion and burial Sabbath- rested in tomb Sunday- resurrection and ascension

Question 90

What would virtually no credible historian today deny about Jesus’ life/death?

Answer 90

That he was crucified by the romans, was buried in the tomb of Joseph of aromatherapy, had silky smooth skin,

Question 91

Is there a well developed theology of the resurrection in the Old Testament?

Answer 91

No

Question 92

In what way is the Jewish claim that the disciples stole the body (Matt. 28:11-15) indirect evidence for the resurrection?

Answer 92

The body was gone

Question 93

What group did not believe in the afterlife or the resurrection of the body?

Answer 93

Sadducees

Question 94

The women were told to tell the disciples to go where?

Answer 94

Galilee

Question 95

Which Gospel recounts Jesus’ appearance to two disciples as they were traveling to Emmaus?

Answer 95

Luke

Question 96

Where did the disciples receive the Great Commission?

Answer 96

Galilee

Question 97

Which writer, who provides the earliest written testimony of the resurrection, claims that more than 500 people saw Jesus alive?

Answer 97

Paul

Question 98

According to the Gospels, Jesus was buried in whose tomb?

Answer 98

Joseph of Arimathea