Midterm Flashcards
Based on our class lectures and the required reading, be able to discuss the importance of our understanding of “the Gospel” according to Matthew and Mark
Importance of Isaiah (royal reign, suffering servant, return from exile, eschatological vision, God’s presence, new covenant, good news)
Jesus coming as King in the power of the Holy Spirit
Based on our class lectures and the required reading, discuss the genre and purpose of Gospels and the importance of these matters for understanding and interpretation.
The gospels are written proclamations about the kingdom and kingship of Jesus Christ. That is why they are called Gospels, and their writers are called Evangelists. While they do have similarities with other genres around them in their first century context, they primarily follow the pattern of Biblical Narrative of the Old Testament. They have the same transitions, the same themes, and, most importantly, the same God.
Form Criticism
This form of Biblical Criticism “seeks to identify and evaluate the oral forms of the stories about Jesus that lie behind the written sources.” -Strauss (pg.84).
Many scholars who embrace this form of criticism often do not believe in the historicity of Jesus.
A pro of this critical method is that it forces us to recognize that these gospels are books that can be studied and really helps us evaluate their historical relevance.
A con is that many who embrace this method often do not believe in the historicity of Jesus and argue that much if not all of the Gospels portrayals of Jesus are distinct from the actual Jesus, if he even existed to them.
Source Criticism
Source criticism is the process by which scholars try to determine which sources the gospel writers used. “Were they eyewitness accounts?”, “Did they collect these stories from the broad Christian community?”, “Did they have oral tradition before the gospels were written?”, and other questions like these are asked.
A pro of this is that it forces us to deal with the “Synoptic Problem” and seeks to help provide an answer to this difficulty. It also seeks to answer the question of priority and authorship, or “Who wrote the first Gospel and how do we know that the writers wrote them?”
A con is that there really is no definitive answer that can be reached on certain things like priority. These are still just “theories”
Redaction Criticism
Redaction Criticism is a method that tries to look into each author’s intention in keeping or ‘redacting’ certain portions of what the gospels contain.
Cons:
- Often used to say anything unique is created by the author
- Find greater theological significance based on what is altered
- High degree of subjectivity strauss says that redaction critics come to very different conclusions from the same data
Pros:
- Affirm that the writers were intentional in what they wrote
- Views gospels as wholes
- Affirms the unique theological contribution of each gospel
Markan Priority
Markan Priority: Mark came first, Matthew & Luke both used Mark as a source, and evidence for this is known as Mark’s “hard sayings”
Pro: Matthew and Luke smooth out Mark’s rough patches grammatically
Con: Matthew and Luke sometimes spoil Mark’s grammar; there is no provable correlation between style and chronology
Based on our class lectures and the required reading, be able to identify and characterize/summarize the four major periods of the Intertestamental Period. This should also include the ability to identify, describe, and briefly summarize the significance of major events and figures in each era.
Persian
Hellenistic
Hasmonean
Roman
Persian Period
Decree of Cyrus
Diaspora
Temple completed
Allowed Jews to worship without interference
Hellenistic Period
Alexander the Great
Hellenization
Jews support seleucids
Maccabean revolt 164
Hasmonean Period
Judas Maccabaeus (Rededication of the Temple)
Jonathan (becomes high priest)
Aristobulus claims kingship
(Lover of greek things)
Alexander Janneus
(Against pharisees)
Salome Alexandra
(Pro Pharisees)
Roman Period
Herod becomes king of the jews
A lot happens
Early procurator pilate
Jesus
Canon
Samaritans
Believed in worshiping in places other than Jerusalem (“half-breed” Jews)
Based on our class lectures and required reading, identify, summarize, and give biblical evidence for the major ways Mark presents Jesus in light of the Old Testament.
Promised Messiah, Son of Man, Son of God (Suffering Servant)
(Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1-5, Exodus 32:20)
(Daniel 7:22)
(Isaiah 52-53)
Based on our class lectures and required reading, characterize with examples the two major themes that shape the theological context of Mark.
The Authoritative Messiah and Son of God (Mark 8:34; calming seas, exercising authority)
The Suffering Servant/Messiah and Son of God (Mark 8:34; the Passion Narrative)
Based on our class lectures and required reading, compare the hermeneutical strategies of Mark and Matthew with respect to the Old Testament.
Mark:
Allusion:
- Much more prominent than an echo, but as a similar structure or shape
- This is Mark’s favourite method in order to maintain the Messianic Secret; Jesus Himself was subtle in regards to His identify because He didn’t want to be seen as another Judas Macabee or some worldly ruler
Matthew:
OT Typology:
Matthew uses the OT passages as typology and noticing parallels between two distinctly different historical events.
2:15, 17, 23
Based on our class lectures and required reading, identify, summarize, and give biblical evidence for the major ways Matthew presents Jesus in light of the Old Testament.
Jesus as the already not yet of the Kingdom
Kingdom proclamation Matthew 4:12-7:28
Jesus as the divine warrior
Stilling of the storm Matthew 8:23, Psalm 74:13
Based on our class lectures and required reading, be able to identify, describe, and give evidence for the major ways Matthew’s genealogy sets the theological context for the entire book.
Genealogy resonates in a Jewish setting (Matthew is arguably the most Old Testament centered gospel)
Matthew solidifies who Jesus is by opening with a genealogy
Jesus is a the son of Abraham (the father of a great nation)
Son of David (eternal king)
Genealogy goes from Abraham to David (covenant history and father of nations) David to exile (Davidic king) time) Exile to Christ (mostly nobody and no king then bam Christ)
Matthew 1
Genealogy of Jesus, from Jesus to Abraham. The struggle of Joseph and the birth of Jesus.
Matthew 2
The wise men came and made their offerings to Jesus. Herod killed male children under 2, while Joseph left for Egypt. Joseph returned to Gallie and lived there.
Matthew 3
John the Baptist calling and baptizing in the wilderness. The baptism of Jesus.
Matthew 4
The temptation of Jesus. Jesus started preaching after John got caught and called people to follow him. Jesus started to heal people in Galilee.
Matthew 5
The Sermon on the Mount talks about the blessings of heaven.
Explaining the law, he comes not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. Redefining the laws of murder, adultery, divorce oath, an eye for an eye, and love your enemy.
Matthew 6
Teaching about helping the needy, fasting, storing wealth in heaven, and worry not about this life. Teach about the Lord’s prayer.
