New testament

Question 1

4 major influences on Christianity

Answer 1

Roman empire, greek culture, politics, non-christian religions (judaism)

Question 2

Pax Romana

Answer 2

the peace that occurred as a result of the understanding that a conquered people must bow to a foreign master

Question 3

Pros and cons of Herod

Answer 3

pros: he was a good builder and was good at handling political and military situations.
cons: he mistreated and killed his own people and ordered the execution of all male infants

Question 4

three major provinces in Palestine

Answer 4

Judea, Samaria, Galilee

Question 5

3 main purposes of the synagogue

Answer 5

1. it was a house of prayer where the scriptures were read and yhwh was worshipped
2. it was a place of discussion of legal settlements
3. it was the local school

Question 6

What did jews believe about the temple

Answer 6

jews believed God dwelled in the temple in a special way

Question 7

who can enter the Temple and when?

Answer 7

only the high priest could enter the most sacred space inside the temple- the holy of holies- once a year on Yom Kippur

Question 8

What are important jewish feasts held at the temple

Answer 8

passover, pentecost, tabernacles

Question 9

what did jews expect out of their messiah

Answer 9

a political and military leader like David

Question 10

what did the jews think would happen once the messiah arrives

Answer 10

an apocalyptic event

Question 11

apocalypse

Answer 11

meaning revelation or unveiling, refers to a period where God will intervene against the forces of evil and establish a divine rule of goodness and peace

Question 12

5 jewish groups

Answer 12

pharisses, sadducees, essenes, zealots, poor

Question 13

Synoptics gospels

Answer 13

Mark, Matthew, Luke

Question 14

When were the gospels written

Answer 14

Mark: ~65-70 AD
Matthew: ~AD 75-80
Luke: ~AD 80-85
John: ~AD 90-110

Question 15

Who was the intended audience for the Gospel of Mark

Answer 15

Non-Jewish Christian’s (gentiles): christian community in Rome was being persecuted (even to death) for their beliefs

Question 16

What did Mark write about in his Gospel and what was his source

Answer 16

He presented Jesus as a suffering human/servant and emphasized that suffering has a purpose. His source was that he was a disciple of saint peter

Question 17

Who was the intended audience for Matthew

Answer 17

Jewish Christian’s and gentiles in Antioch, his Gospel was written after the Romans destroyed Jerusalem

Question 18

What did Matthew write about in his Gospel and what was his source

Answer 18

He stressed how Jesus fulfilled prophecies made to the Chosen people and how Jesus was the New Moses, also how to enter the kingdom of heaven. His source was Q and Mark

Question 19

What was the intended audience for Luke

Answer 19

Gentiles who converted to Christianity in Theophilus because persecution for Jews and Christians intensified

Question 20

What did Luke write about in his Gospel and what was his source

Answer 20

He presented Jesus as a compassionate healer who has great care for the poor and emphasized that its important to care for all no matter their status or background. His source was Q, Mark, and St. Paul

Question 21

Who was the intended audience for John

Answer 21

All of Christianity: Jewish leaders (Emperor Domitian) banned ALL Christian’s from synagogues

Question 22

What did John write about in his Gospel and what was his source

Answer 22

He presented Jesus as the Word of God made flesh and the Son of God. He focused on Jesus’ divinity and how to achieve salvation. His source was himself because he was the “Beloved Disciple”

Question 23

What groups of people did Jesus preach to

Answer 23

Women, Gentiles, tax collectors (most hated group), and common people

Question 24

Canon

Answer 24

The official list of inspired books of the Bible. Catholicism has 46 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books in canon

Question 25

Evangelist

Answer 25

A person who proclaims the good news of Christ. The 4 evangelists are mark, Matthew, Luke, and john

Question 26

3 stages involved in the formation of the New Testament

Answer 26

1. The period of the public life and teaching of Jesus
2. Oral tradition
3. The written tradition/writing of the Gospels and other books of the New Testament

Question 27

When did Jesus start to preach publicly

Answer 27

AD 28