Final Short Essay Questions Flashcards
(12 cards)
- In the New Testament Gospels, there are two Infancy Narratives. Who are the authors of
these two narratives? What are 3 distinctive characteristics in each account? What are some
of the misconceptions about the Christmas story that have arisen due to tradition/
translation but are not supported by the Gospel accounts?
The two infancy narratives are by Matthew and Luke. The Luke account contains the record of John the Baptist along side Jesus, the visit of the shepards, and the account of Jesus teaching in the temple as a child. The Matthew account contains a geneollogy of Jesus that goes back to Abraham, the visit of the Maji, and escape of Jesus & family into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents. There is a traditions (that my mom is against) of having only 3 wisemen and the idea that the wiseman visited Jesus when he was a baby rather than a toddler.
In the New Testament Gospels, there are four accounts of Jesus’ baptism. What is one
thing that is a distinctive characteristic in each account? How does baptism tit within
the historical context of Late Second Temple Period Judaism? What is the role of John
in the baptism accounts and who do the authors want you to think of when they
describe him? Why did Jesus Christ need to be baptized and what does baptism
represent in both an ancient and a modern context?
Mark’s Gospel connect John the baptist to past prophecy. Matthew’s account contains the description of John’s doubt about baptising Jesus. Luke mentions Annas and Caiaphas coming to John the baptist. John’s is the only account to not include the voice of God declaring “this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mikvas were used for ritual washings both of objects as well as people. John is the one who prophecies about the coming of Jesus and baptises him. The authors are trying to make you think of Elias. Jesus needed to be baptised in order to both set an example for us and allowed God to show his approval of his son. In both ancient and modern contexts baptism represents a way to purify something.
People of Faith and Scholars have called the Sermon on the Mount one of the greatest
discourses ever given. How is the Sermon similar and different to the Law Codes in the Old
Testament? How does the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain relate to one
another? What are two important points made by the Savior relating to how we should live
our lives? How does the Sermon on the Mount challenge us to become something rather
than to simply do something?
The Sermon is more focused on becoming that doing as in the Old Testament law codes. The sermon on the plain is Luke’s account of the sermon on the mount.Two points made by the Savior is that our goal is to become complete or whole and that we need to actually become these things rather than just do them. It encourages us to become by giving us ideals to work towards rather than a course of actions or rules to live by. This forces us to figure out how we can be more like those attributes and as such we become them.
A hallmark of the Savior’s mortal ministry was his teaching with parables. What is a parable?
What were at least two of the components of a parable? What are some of the questions one
should (at least 2) ask when seeking to understand a parable? Utilizing these skills, in your
own words, describe one of the Savior’s parables that we studied from Matthew 13 or Luke
15 and provide an interpretation that would be impactful for those in Jesus’ day. Additionally,
provide an interpretation that would be impactful for one who would read the parable today.
A parable is a compartative story that teaches a principle on a variety of levels. They are generally drawn from everyday life experiences and challenge accepted cultural values. When reading a parable you should identify the situation and its characters and then determine a possible meaning of those things, connecting to the Gospel. One example of a parable is the parable of the lost sheep, in which a shepard leaves his 99 sheep to go retrieve the one that was left behind, then when the sheep is found and brought home calls his friends to celebrate. One possible interpretation is the idea that we are the lost sheep and that even when we have strayed far, we are of significant worth to the Savior that he will come after us and celebrate our return. This interpretation would act as a reminder to repent and turn back to the Savior.
The Savior performed numerous miracles during his mortal ministry. How does the
author of the Gospel of John make miracles a central focus of his gospel? What Greek
word does the author of John use to describe miracles? How does the Savior refer to
his miracles? What is the relationship between miracles and belief? How can we use
what we have learned to better understand why miracles happen and what can we do
when miracles do not come?
John makes miracles central by spending half of his book talking about the signs and tokens (miracles) the Savior performs as proof of his divine identity. The Savior referes to his miracles as his works. Miracles typically occur when there is a problem to solve, they act as a testament of the divine power of Christ. But even when they don’t come in a specific moment or for a specific problem, we can recognize them at other times and areas of our life and remain stalwart in our testimony
Remembering is an essential component of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What is Holy
Week? How is it connected to the Atonement of Jesus Christ? How can Holy Week help
us keep our covenant to always remember Jesus Christ? How can a more intentional
study and liturgical practices help us make holy week a more memorable experience
each year?
Holy week is the name used for the week leading up to and including the Savior’s crucifixion and ressuection. It is connected to the atonement because it is the week in which the primarly portions of the atonment occur. Holy week acts as an important reminder of Jesus’s purpose in coming to the earth, which we should always remember. Being more careful about our study of Holy Week can help us feel more connected to the Savior and come to better understand Jesus’s mission.
The Savior emphasized the importance of preparing for the Parousia in the Olivet
Discourse. What is the Parousia? What is one of the major teachings that the Savior
provided that provides prophetic preparation for the faithful? What are the three
major divisions of the Olivet Discourse in Joseph Smith-Matthew? How can we apply
this to an ancient and modern context?
The parousia is a term used to talk about the second coming. One of the major teachings is that we should always be prepared, it isn’t just something to do when we can reconginze the approach, but something to keep up with consistantly. The three major devisons in JSM, verses 1-11 which talk about Jesus’s time, verses 12-20 which talk about 70 AD, and verses 20-end which talk about the second coming. We can look at the prophecies so that we can recognize the signs of the second coming and ensure that we are properly prepared and ready.
The institution of the Sacrament by the Savior is one of the most important components
of the Savior’s earthly ministry. What important insights did you gain from studying the
sacrament in the context of Holy Week? The Synoptic Gospels and John differ in their
details of the event, what are their differences and how can we more fully appreciate
the Sacrament by their differing perspectives? What is something that you can do to
make the sacrament more meaningful for you as you participate in this ordinance for
yourself on a weekly basis?
I think one thing that is important to remember is that the Sacrament doesn’t just exist on Sundays, but has a role as a regularly renewed covenant in the whole scheme of the gospel. The synoptic gospels place the last supper as occuring during the Seder, whereas John has the last supper being held the night before on Wednesday. They both result in different intrepreation of the sacrament and atonement, either aligning the sacrament with the passover feast, or aligning the crucifixion of the cross with the slaughter of the passover lambs. One thing I can do to make the sacrament more meaningful is to carefully consider my week and what I can do to improve the next week each time I partake.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most important single event in the history of
the world. Why should we view the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ as a journey and
not a “one event” moment? What are the important parts of Jesus’ atoning journey?
How do the gospel authors seek to make the Atonement of Jesus Christ more real to
us through symbolism? How does the Sacrament help us to Remember the Savior?
Becasue the culmanation of christ’s suffering was not in the garden of gethsemane but the sum of all he experienced from the garden of gethsemane to the cross. The most important steps would likely be the garden of gethsemane and the cross. The gospels tried to explain the events of the atonement in ways that would help their audience to understand both the meaning of the actions and the depth of christs suffereing and love for us. The sacrament acts as a reminder of the blood and body that were sacrificed on our behalf in order to give us access to his grace, the ability to repent, and the promise of resurrection.
The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ mark the final acts of the Savior’s
Atoning Journey. Why is resurrection an important component of the Atonement of
Jesus Christ? How does the resurrection help us overcome the effects of the fall? What
are some of the post-resurrection witness accounts that we have in scripture? What is
the role of witnesses to the resurrection? Why are they important for us today?
Becuase if christ had not been resurrected, we would not have been able to either. The resurrection allows us to have our bodies become perfected past the mortal vessels they are now. Appearances of the resurrected Savior include to Mary Magdelene, the two disciples on the road to ameous, as well as apperances to the other disciples. Witnesses of the resurrected Savior act as a testimony that he truely was resurrected and that we too can one day be resurrected. They are important because our knowledge of the witnesses provides opportunities for the spirit to testify to us the truth of Christ’s resurrection.
The Savior is described as the “High Priest of our profession” in the Book of Hebrews. How
does the Book of Hebrews show that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Law of Moses? To
support your answer provide at least four types of symbols that the author of Hebrews draws
upon that would have been familiar to an ancient Jewish audience and explain how these
symbols would have helped them understand the atoning sacri ce of Jesus Christ better.
Finish your answer with at least one sentence that states how you better understand the
Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ because of these symbols.
It makes connections to the Melchizedek priesthood and emphazizes how Jesus is superior to all who came before. It also sites prophecy fulfilled by Jesus during his time on earth. It references Jesus’s genology and how he is a king of Righteousness, a title also given to melchezidik and that he was called and not appointed and that he is a part of the order of Melchizedek. These symbols make connections that make it clear that the Savior had a specific role to play and that it was fulfilled as he superceeded the previous priesthood authorities.
The purpose of the book of Revelation is to help reveal the Savior to us. To this end,
what is a better name for the Book of Revelation? How does understanding this name
for the book help us to approach the content of the book? Using at least three
examples from the book, describe how we can trust that the Savior will fight our battles
for us and prepare us to live with him eternally. How does this knowledge help you trust
in him more for the struggles of your life?
A better name could be the Revelation of Jesus Christ. This name helps us to understand that the revelation is as about Christ and his second coming. Examples of Christ acting as a divine warrior or Christ preparing us for eternal life include the description of Christ appearance, the description of how people will surround the throne of God, and the hymn of praise that testifies of Christ. These help us to see how Christ is powerful and capable of saving and protecting us and afirms that there is a plan that involves as many as possible being able to return to the presence of God.
