Final Exam
When Jesus begins to gather his new kingdom community, he calls 12 disciples to himself and given them a special status. What title does he give to these 12? Why might he have set aside 12 (instead of some other number)? What two-fold purpose does he have for these apostles? (151)
God's chosen people, the Israelites, were divided into twelve tribes. And as Jesus calls out a new people for Himself, He starts with twelve men who will form the basis of a new Israel.
According to Acts 1:8, what 4 places are mentioned as being where the church will be Jesus' witnesses when the Spirit comes upon them? (slides, p.6)
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Which country brought Jewish independence to an end in 63 BC? Who was the general that marched into Jerusalem and establish authority over Israel? (127-8)
Pompey
Acc. to slide #5, how can we describe this kingdom that has arrived? Is it only concerned with the souls of people?
Power of God in Christ by the Spirit to restore creation (especially humanity) to again live under the rule of God.
According to typical Jewish expectation, when the Messiah comes to bring salvation, he will also bring judgment on God's enemies. Acc to the NT, when Jesus as Messiah comes to bring salvation, what happens to the expected judgment? (slides p.5)
"day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2) Salvation has come Judgement is delayed
What are some of the biblical images for what the death of Jesus accomplishes? (slides, p.16)
Conflict - Victor (Col. 2:13-15; Jn. 12:31-33) Sacrifice/Vicarious suffering (Jn. 1:29) Redemption - Purchase (1 Pet. 1:18f.) Reconciliation (Rom. 5:10) Pioneer/Representative man (Rom. 5:12-21; Heb. 2:10)
What was the means by which the Romans killed Jesus? Was this a quick and easy death? What did Roman people think about those who had been killed in this way? (174-6)
Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang, perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation. No. Criminals.
Which king first allowed the Jews to return to their homeland after Exile for some 70 years? Which empire did he rule? (122)
Cyrus the Great Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian Empire.
Who destroyed Babylon? Persia? Greece? Which world empire is ruling over Judea/Palestine when Jesus is born?
Cyrus the Great of Persia Alexander the Great of Macedonia Roman consul Mummius of Rome Rome
b. The parable of the sower (Matt 13:1-23) explains that the kingdom does not come ___________________.
does not come in immediate and irresistible power
c. The parables of the weed and of the net (Matt 13:24-30, 47-52) explain that the _________________ of the kingdom will not come immediately. Why is the final judgment delayed?
final judgement Judgement reserved for future.
What are the 3 lost things in these parables of Luke 15? What is always the result of finding what was lost? Who refused to rejoice that tax collectors and sinners were coming into the kingdom? (see Luke 15:1-2 especially for the last question)
lost son, lost coin, and lost sheep joy, happiness the Pharisees and the teachers of the law
Since most Jews did not live in Palestine where the re-built temple was, what local institution arose in Jewish communities to become the center of Jewish life, the place for worship, prayer and Scripture reading/study as well as the center of economic and social life? (120)
synagogues
c. Jesus calls Levi to be a disciple. What was Levi's occupation? Why were the Pharisees offended that Jesus would hang out with people like this?
tax collector When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, "Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
Who will continue Jesus' mission? (slides, p.5)
the Church
The central announcement of Jesus's preaching was that what had finally come/arrived?
the coming of the kingdom of God
The great enemy "sin" (along with sin's effects) could only be destroyed by what? (slides p.15)
through Jesus' death and resurrection
d. The 3 parables of the lost things (Luke 15) tell us that the kingdom is not a Jewish kingdom reserved for _____________________.
wealthy and righteous
Who was the "forerunner" of Jesus who came prior to his arrival and preached repentance and baptism?
John the Baptist
Lecture on Act 4_The Coming of the King: Redemption Accomplished:
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Lecture on Act 5 Spreading the News of the King: The Mission of the Church
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Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the most (in)famous, most notorious of the Seleucid kings. What did he forbid the Jews to do in his program of hellenization (hellenizing the Jews)? What especially did he do to desecrate the Temple on Dec 25, 167 BC? What expression (borrowed from the prophetic book of Daniel) was used to describe this terrible act? (125)
Antiochus decided to side with the Hellenized Jews in order to consolidate his empire and to strengthen his hold over the region. He outlawed Jewish religious rites and traditions kept by observant Jews and ordered the worship of Zeus as the supreme god (2 Maccabees 6:1-12). This was anathema to the Jews and they refused, so Antiochus sent an army to enforce his decree. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed because of the resistance, many were slaughtered. Antiochus desecrated the Temple by offering the sacrifice of a pig on an altar to Zeus "abomination of desolation"
A Jewish Pharisee named Saul initially opposed the Christian Church. What happens to this man when he is traveling to Damascus to arrest Christians? By what name does he come to be known as an apostle of Jesus? (bottom of p.195, top of 196; second paragraph of p.198)
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." Paul
What city was Jesus born in? What did Micah 5:1-6 say would be born in this city? (138-139)
Bethlehem the Messiah
What sorts of visible evidence demonstrates that God's kingdom has come in the coming of Jesus? (slides p.7)
Blind see; lame walk; deaf hear; sick healed; dead raised; poor/ lost received; sinners forgiven; cursed creation restored; demons cast out; lives changed (cf. Lk. 7:21-23)
What remarkable accomplishment of Judah Maccabee occurred on Dec 25, 164 BC? What Jewish festival arose to commemorate this? (127)
He purified the defiled Temple of Jerusalem and on the 25th of Kislev (December 14, 164 BCE) restored the service in the Temple. The reconsecration of the Temple became a permanent Jewish holiday, Hanukkah, which continued even after the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE.
After Jesus' resurrection, he ascend to what heavenly place? What name/title is bestowed upon Jesus? (slides p.18)
Heaven Jesus
When the Maccabean revolt finally successfully drove the Seleucids out of Israel and they established Jewish independence (142 BC), Simon the brother of Judah started a dynasty of rulers known as the _____? (127)
Hebrew Hasmonean Dynasty
What was the name of the Roman-appointed "king" who ruled over Israel on behalf of Rome (incidentally, this man was reigning when Jesus was born)? (128)
Herod the Great
What 3 prophetic-symbolic acts does Jesus engage in when he comes to Jerusalem in the final days of his ministry? (167-171; slides p.14)
Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus enacts judgement on temple. Jesus symbolizes his death.
We read in class the stories of conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders in Mark 1:40 through 3:6. Here are some questions about those stories that we spent time discussing: a. What did Jesus do when approached by a leper? Would a normal Jewish person have touched a leper?
Jesus responds (Mt 8:3) to the approaching leper (Mt 8:2) - not by resenting him or scaring him away, but by stretching out his hand towards him. As the leper kneels before him, Jesus touches him. Instead of warning Jesus of his uncleanness, the leper makes a statement of faith and begs for healing. In response to the leper, Jesus answers that he is willing to heal the man, orders him to be healed and the man is healed.
What are the three historical stages of the resurrection? When does each state occur? (slides p.18)
Jesus' resurrection by himself is stage one—this occurred in the first century AD. The second stage is the church's participation in the benefits of Christ's resurrection in the present age, where they have new life, forgiveness of sins, the Spirit of God making them spiritually alive. The final stage is at the end of the world, when God will raise everyone from the dead (the righteous and believing to enter the eternal kingdom, and the unrighteous to judgment, and the creation is renewed).
Against the backdrop of Roman oppression, Jews held to the hope that Yahweh would bring the Kingdom of God, purifying and gathering Israel out of its long, dark exile and dealing decisively with the Gentile nations. While some hoped God would draw in the Gentiles to join Israel in worshiping Yahweh, what did many other Jews hope God would do to the Gentiles? (130)
Jews hoped they if they took up arms against Rome, thinking that if they started the fight, God would intervene on their side.
What does John the Baptist/Baptizer do to Jesus at the Jordan River at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry? Who descends from heaven upon Jeseus to empower him for ministry? Who speaks from heaven to identify Jesus? (140; see also Mark 1:9-11)
John the Baptist baptized Jesus. "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matt. 3:16-17)
The identity of Jesus becomes a critical concern as his mission continues. Who did the crowds take Jesus to be in Luke 9:18-19? Who does Peter say he is in Luke 9:20? Who does God the Father say that Jesus is in Luke 9:35?
John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen. The Christ of God This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him
What was the name of Mattathias' son who earned the nickname Maccabee? What is it thought that this term means? As a result, what did his brothers and followers come to be called as they rebelled against the Seleucids? (126)
Judah hammer The Maccabees
Who betrayed Jesus to the Jewish authorities by the sign of a kiss? (171)
Judas
Jesus's kingdom was different in its approach to enemies and the use of power/force. What did this "new way" of the kingdom look like?
Love of enemies instead of their destruction; unconditional forgiveness instead of retaliation; readiness to suffer instead of using force; blessing for peacemakers instead of hymns of hate and revenge.
Who were Jesus' two earthly parents? What was unusual about Jesus' mother? (138)
Mary and Joseph the Immaculate Conception
Which 4 books of the NT are called "gospels" and describe the earthly kingdom ministry of Jesus? What does "gospel" mean? (top of p.136) Be sure to memorize the order of these gospels in our English Bible.
Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John "good news"
Which elderly Jewish priest began the revolt against the Seleucid dynasty? What did he do when a Greek official came to his town and demanded that they offer pagan sacrifices? (126)
Mattathias He grabbed a sword from the hand of a Syrian officer, slashed him across the throat, then ran it clear through the body of the apostate priest, that offered to sacrifice the pig as a pagan sacrifice after Mattathias refused, on top of the pagan altar.
What do the words Messiah and Christ mean? What did the Jews hope this Messiah figure would do? (130)
Messiah is a word of Hebrew origin to mean the anointed one. Christ is a word of Greek origin to also mean the anointed one.
Where does this last revelation of Jesus's identity happen? Who are the two OT figures that were there with Jesus? Who were the three apostles that were there with Jesus? (p.164; see also Luke 9:28-36)
Mount Herman Moses and Elijah Peter, John, and James
Does everyone eagerly receive Jesus' kingdom message? Which group most opposes Jesus' mission? (147).
No. Pharisees.
d. On what day did Jesus pick grain in the field for food and heal the man with the withered hand? Why were the Pharisees offended by this?
One Sabbath (Sunday) Jesus was passing through the grain fields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along. So the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"
What is the difference between a Palestinian Jew and a diaspora Jew? (120)
Palestinian Jews were Jewish inhabitants of Palestine prior to the establishment of the modern state of Israel. the Jewish diaspora or exile refers to the dispersion of Israelites or Jews out of their ancestral homeland (the Land of Israel) and their subsequent settlement in other parts of the globe.
What kind of stories did Jesus tell to give his followers a better understanding of the kingdom of God? Roughly how many parables of Jesus are recorded for us in the gospels? (slides p.10)
Parables. 40
When Jesus symbolizes his death, what Jewish meal does he use as the occasion? What two symbols does he hold up to them, and what does he liken them to? (170-171)
Passover
Where was Alexander the Great from? What do we call the process of encouraging the subdued nations he conquered to adopt and assimilate to Greek culture? (124-125)
Pella, Macedonia (Greece) hellenization
What is the name of the Jewish festival when the exalted Son of God sent the Holy Spirit upon the Church to empower them for witness?
Pentecost
There were four main groups within Judaism during the time of Jesus: Pharisees, Sadduccees, Zealots, and Essenes. Be able to tell the difference between these groups. (131-134; see also top of p.138 for a succinct summary)
Pharisee embraced progressive ideas devoted to keeping the faith of their fathers alive experts in applying Mosaic law to EVERY facet of life largely controlled the synagogues as a group they pursued a high standard of religious dedication and personal righteousness Saducees conservative, aristocratic group followed a policy of cooperation with the Romans who occupied Palestine many were wealthy land owners they had considerable prestige and influence in Jewish religious life served as officiating priests in Jerusalem at the Temple their friendship with Romans helps to manipulate political affairs they did not accept the oral law of the Pharisees they did not accept ideas of a coming judgement day, resurrection of the dead, after life, angels of demons they did not survive the first Christian century after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD by the Romans, this group will be reduced to insignificance Essenes rejected mainstream Judaism and its Temple worship as hopelessly corrupt withdrew to desert communities meditated, studied and copied scriptures while disciplining themselves to await the coming Messiah most lived in monastic communities avoided trade and symbols of wealth austere, hardworking existence emphasized prayer and the immediate appearance of the Messiah, the end of the world and a new covenant Zealots intensely patriotic group advocated the violent overthrow of Roman control looking for a strong-armed Messiah who would restore Judah's kingdom to its former power and prestige not organized as a specific political party until 63 AD when they attempted to drive the Romans from Palestine according to Josephus, it was THIS groups refusal to surrender (even after Jerusalem had been captured) that compelled the Romans to destroy the Temple.
Immediately after Jesus' baptism he is led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Who meets him there and tries to tempt him to pursue a different messianic path to glory? (140-1)
Satan
The book of Acts is the second volume of which of the 4 Gospels? Who wrote Acts? (185)
Second volume Luke
Acc. to the NT, what happened on the third day after the crucifixion?
The Resurrection
At Pentecost, what visible/audible signs accompanied the Spirit's arrival? What did these things signify? (slides, p.3)
There was first the sound as of a rushing mighty wind that filled all the house where the 120 believers were gathered at the time that the Spirit was poured out (Acts 2:2). There was secondly the appearance of cloven tongues as of fire that sat upon each of them (Acts 2:3). And, finally, there was the speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4). The sound as of a rushing mighty wind was a sign of the Spirit. This was a sign of the invisible operation of the Spirit. Just as the wind cannot be seen, but only its effects and influence, so the work of the Spirit is an invisible work. The wind was also a sign of the truth that the operation of the Spirit is an irresistible, sovereign operation. Just as the wind blowing at gale force, a rushing mighty wind, cannot be resisted, so the work of the Spirit is an irresistible work. Jesus Himself compares the Holy Spirit to the wind in John 3:8: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." The cloven tongues as of fire were also a sign of the Spirit. They pointed to the purifying and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. Fire was used in Bible times, not just for cooking and burning, but also for purposes of purification. The Bible speaks of gold ore being purified in the fire. Just as the fire purified the gold, so the Holy Spirit cleanses and purifies the child of God, washing away his sins and breaking in him the power and dominion of the filth of sin. John the Baptist already had compared the work of the Holy Spirit to fire: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" (Matt. 3:11). The third sign of the Spirit was the speaking by the disciples in other tongues. This was a sign of the result and outcome of the work of the Spirit of Pentecost. The result of the Spirit's work would be the universal gathering of the church, the gathering of believers out of every nation, tongue, and tribe under heaven. Of this the speaking by the disciples in the many different languages was a clear sign.
e. Finally, at end of the withered hand incident, Mark tells us that the Pharisees unite with the Herodians to attempt to destroy Jesus. Would these two groups normally have worked together, or would they normally have opposed each other?
They normally have opposed each other.
b. What did Jesus do for the paralytic carried by 4 men? What did he say that appeared so blasphemous to the scribes where were there?
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Is the reign of God entirely present in Jesus' ministry? Is it entirely future? Or is it both? (see slides p.4)
Yes.
Was blasphemy punishable by death in the Roman empire? What did Caiaphas accuse Jesus of in order to get the Roman leader to execute Jesus? Who was the Roman leader who tried to avoid sentencing Jesus? (p.172 bottom half)
Yes. He convicted Jesus of treason and declared that Jesus thought himself King of the Jews, and had Jesus crucified. Pontius Pilate
Not only do parables explain life in the kingdom; they also correct wrong notions of the kingdom. (see slides, pp. 11-12) a. The parable of the weeds (Matt 13:24-30) explains that the kingdom does not come ________________.
all at once