Midterm Flashcards
(36 cards)
Approximately how many manuscripts of the greek New Testament exist today?
Nearly 6000
How old are our earliest manuscripts (such as p52 [c. AD 125], p46 [c. AD 200], Vaticanus [c. AD 325], and Sinaiticus [c. AD 350])? How does the age and number of the NT manuscripts compare to those of other important ancient works like Tacitus’ Annals?
4.5 manuscripts. no single complete copy. Oldest one is the 9th century.
How confident can modern Christians be that respected modern translations are based on a reliable Greek text?
Matt 5:18 Best preserved book of all ancient literature. Also compares very favorably to “lost gospels” outside of the canon. Based off the trustworthiness of the authors, no motivation for deception.
What are some of the principles used to evaluate variants in the ancient manuscripts?
Direct and indirect quotes can still be considered correct as long as the intention is not distorted. Gospel writers were free to rephrase as necessary to make it as clear as possible to their audience. Difference of arrangement can be explained by chronological vs topical arrangements.
The earlier the manuscript the more likely it’s the originally, the wider geographical distribution is more likely reliable. consider the common mistakes of scribes, internal evidence of authors writing style and content within passage.
no doctrine is dependant on a single variant.
What is the earliest Jewish testimony concerning Jesus outside of the New Testament (give author and source)? What does this source say about Jesus?
In the testimonimonium flavianum, Josephus mentions Jesus as being called the Messiah and acknowledges His brother James. IMplies that Jesus is already known by those reading the book, because James is identified according to Jesus. We doubt Josephus said exactly what is in the manuscript because of the Chrsitian themes in the text. Testimonium Flavianum
What are the two earliest Roman testimonies about Jesus outside of the New Testament? What do they say about Jesus?
Tacitus Annals. Nero blamed the Chrsitians for the fires he started. The crimes listed against them are misunderstandings regarding the Lords supper and family of Christ. Also confirms the historicity of the crucifixion.
Suetonius Life of the Roman Emperor Claudius: Expulsion from Rome mentioned in Acts 18.Also mentions Jesus causing unrest.
List four evidences that the early church was concerned to preserve the actual history about Jesus’s life and teachings?
Evidence within the NT
Pagus claiming Mark’s gospel is the memoir of Peter.
Matthew and John are eye witness accounts
Authenticity evidence: Name frequencies, early date of Gospels, eye witness accounts.
Do the different statements regarding the timing of the crucifixion in Mark 15:25,33 and John 19:14 constitute a historical error? Why not
Timing was not as precise as today. We are obsessed with precise time. Limitations fo the sundial: not accurate, accessible, doesn’t work at night, clouds, or fog. Days lengthen and shorten with seasons.
Conception of time in the three hour watch period
How are modern alcoholic beverages different from biblical wine? What was the dilution rate typically used by the Jews for wine and what alcoholic content did this produce?
Biblical wine was often diluted with water. 3:1 part dilution rate. 3% alcoholic content.
(This dilution was used in order to purify the water. Without a little bit of alcohol in their water it would cause them to be sick.)
What is the primary purpose of Johns gospel?
“believe Jesus is the messiah, the son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31)
What is the primary purpose of Marks gospel?
“the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, son of God (Mark 1:1)
Jesus in story form
What is the primary purpose of Matthew’s gospel?
“Son of David, Son of Abraham, Immanuel” (Matthew 1:1-25) present Jesus as a teacher greater than Moses.
What is the primary purpose Luke’s gospel? what evidence supports this?
Virgin born Son of the Most High who will reign from the throne of David over an eternal kingdom
Secondary purpose of the gospels?
“Follow me” (Matt 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; 10:38; 16:24; 19:21)
Jewish notions of discipleship
“Imitators of us and the Lord” (1 Thess 1:6)
“Christ . . . Left you an example, so that you should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21)
What is “vertical reading”?
Vertical reading is when the reader interprets and reads Scripture with God as the center of Scripture. in Order to read vertically well one must ask these questions, Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?.
What are the steps of vertical reading?
Examine themes in the Heading, Introduction, Conclusion, and Programmatic Statement
Examine repeated themes, titles, phrases, and theological emphases
Examine editorial comments that interpret the significance of the event and the response of the original witnesses to an event
Look for possible connections between narrative and discourse material in the immediate context
Carefully examine all OT quotations and allusions
Consider the significance of events against the background of OT theology and first-century Jewish theology
What is “horizontal reading”
Horizontal reading is reading Scripture when the reader reads Scripture with mankind as the center of scripture.
what are the steps of horizontal reading?
1) Locate parallel accounts in the Gospels
2) Examine similarities and differences and mark differences with a highlighter
3) Consider whether the unique elements of a particular Gospel highlight theological emphases of that Gospel
4) Test the hypothesis regarding theological emphases by determining whether that same emphasis is reflected in other passages in that particular Gospel
What is the background for the title Logos used in John’s Prologue? What does this imply about the meaning of the title?
Jesus, the logos, was already in the beginning when everything as made. He is without beginning. Eternal existence.
Jesus as the Word: Jewish Teaching OT Gen 1, Psa 33:6. Instrument or agent of Creation.
More likely background Isa 55:9-11. Jesus came down from Heaven, sent by God, fulfills the purpose and returns to God.
John intends more than what the OT says, most common place holder for Jehovah is Memra which means “the word.” Source of John’s Logos theology.
List and explain the major theological truths taught in the Prologue.
Father and the Logos have a close personal relationship practically indescribable.
The Word was God. Greek structure emphasizes the deity of Jesus Christ as the God of the OT. One deity manifesting in three persons without confusion between the three persons. Doctrine of the Trinity.
Logos is the creator, savior, and revealer.
what does Logos as creator mean?
Logos is eternal. Logos is creator of all things. Source of life both physical and spiritual. Logos is the embodiment source of light. Logos is more powerful than evil.
what does Logos as savior mean?
God’s prophet testified so that people would believe in the Logos
the incarnation of the Logos reveals GOd to the world, the world rejects Logos, the Jews rejected Logos
Logos grants new birth to believers.
what dos logos as revealer mean?
Flesh of the Logos is the tabernacle of the Shekinah (glory of divine presence)
Logos is the unique Son
Logos exhibits the character of Yahweh
Logos is preexistent
Logos is a superior expression of divine greave
Logos is the God of Jewish monotheism
How does Matthew demonstrate that Jesus’s birth was a product of miraculous virginal conception?
“before they came together” “of the Holy Spirit” and divine passive “he had no union with her”
Matthew lists the genealogy of conceptions and then describes how the birth of Jesus came about, implying it is different from the ones listed.
Mary’s confusion “how can that be for I have not known a man”
Josephs intention to divorce her because he knew the child wasn’t his.
