Religion 102 New Testament Quiz #1

Know the principal influences of Hellenistic (Greco-Roman) thought relevant to Jewish and Christian tradition: Epicureanism

Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based on the teachings of Epicurus, founded around 307 B.C. It teaches that the greatest good is to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquillity, freedom from fear ("ataraxia") and absence from bodily pain ("aponia").

Why was the rise of the Babylonian empire significant for study of the New Testament?

First great exile of Jews from their home where Moses ultimately brought them. They were conquered by Babylonians and sent into dispersal (first diaspora)

Know the principal influences of Hellenistic (Greco-Roman) thought relevant to Jewish and Christian tradition: materialism

In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that all things are composed of material, and that all emergent phenomena (including consciousness) are the result of material properties and interactions.

Hasmoneans seek help of Pompey (Roman general) who conquers Judea/Palestine for Rome significant for study of the New Testament?

Jews loses autonomy over their own land

Maccabean (Jewish) Revolt against Syrian Antiochus Epiphanes significant for study of the New Testament?

Maccabean Struggle official beginning of Jewish relations with Rome (168-140 BCE)

Identify the principal divisions of the land of Israel (Palestine) in Jesus' time

Palestine was divided into Iturea, Galilee, Decapolis, Samaria, Perea, Judea

Why was Qumran important for biblical studies?

Place near the northwest shore of the Dead Sea where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, evidently home to a group of essenes who had used the scrolls as part of their library

Know the principal influences of Hellenistic (Greco-Roman) thought relevant to Jewish and Christian tradition: Stoicism

Stoicism teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions; the philosophy holds that becoming a clear and unbiased thinker allows one to understand the universal reason (logos).

What does TANAK stand for?

Torah Nevi'im (Prophets) Ketuvim (writings)

Why was Nag Hammadi important to biblical studies?

Villagge in upper (southern) Egypt, near the place where a collection of Gnostic writings were discovered in 1945.

When and where was the the torah interpreted?

after the destruction of the second temple (70 CE) in the Mishnah is further interpreted in the Talmud

What is meant by the term "hermeneutics?"

biblical hermeneutics was usually seen as a form of special hermeneutics (like legal hermeneutics); the status of scripture was thought to necessitate a particular form of understanding and interpretation.

Apocalyptic themes in Mark's gospel

destruction of the temple and signs

Know the principal influences of Hellenistic (Greco-Roman) thought relevant to Jewish and Christian tradition: idealism

idealism is the group of philosophies which assert that reality, or reality as we can know it, is fundamentally mental, mentally constructed, or otherwise immaterial.

Be able to say something about the manuscript traditions and their variations in our copies of copies of copies of the "original texts

in the ancient world, author had to write out a book by hand - scribes sometimes made mistakes, or purposely changed added or omitted a part of the scripture We only have copies of copies of copies of copies (circulatory manner of the letters - everyone who gets it copies it) Like the game telephone (even if copying straight from page mistakes are made) Because we don't have the original text we can't actually say for sure what the gospels say 100%

Define "Jewish Apocalyptic"

literary genre that foretells supernaturally inspired cataclysmic events that will transpire at the end of the world. treats final events as imminent

Messanic Secret

mentioned in Mark's gospel; Jesus admitting to be the Son of God but tells His followers to keep it a secret

relative timeline for the evolution of Christian writings:

oral stage (in time of jesus) to first written gospel writings were ultimately based on oral traditions, stories that had circulated among chrisitans from the time jesus died to the moment the gospel writers put pen to papter. stories were passed on by word of mouth from one convert to th enext mark was first of gostpels to be written 70 CE. Matthew and luke were written some ten or fivteen years later (80-85) John was written ten years after that (90-95)

describe the scope of the Hellenistic Empire at its height

originated in Macedonia to Asia Minor around Mediterranean sea into egypt, syria, followed borders of persian gult and arabian sea all the way to India and then up to sogdinia and parthia back to armenia East to West: India to Mediterranean North to south: Persian Gulf and arabian Sea to sogdiana and parthia

Know the principal influences of Hellenistic (Greco-Roman) thought relevant to Jewish and Christian tradition: Cynicism

purpose of life is to live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature (which calls for only the bare necessities required for existence) Moral philosophers (look a lot like cynics) Into notion of self composure - not being reliant on anything in the world but also a moral person/person following virtue

Know what is meant by the term "hermeneutics."

the analysis of the bible through its historical context

Know the principal influences of Hellenistic (Greco-Roman) thought relevant to Jewish and Christian tradition: Platonism

the philosophy of Plato stressing especially that actual things are copies of transcendent ideas and that these ideas are the objects of true knowledge ...

What is originalism? how it is relevant to the New Testament as "canon."

the principle or belief that a text should be interpreted in a way consistent with how it would have been understood or was intended to be understood at the time it was written. A biblical canon or canon of scripture is a set of texts (or "books") which a particular Jewish or Christian religious community regards as authoritative scripture.

Examples of apocalyptic themes evident in the Dead Sea Scrolls

war of sons of light against sons of darkness

Rule of Octavian (Caesar Augustus) from Republic to Empire

27 BCE

Octavian defeats Mark Antony

31 BCE

Alexander the Great's Death

323 BCE

Alexander the Great's Conquests

336-323 BCE

When was the rise of the Babylonian empire?

605 BCE

Hasmoneans seek help of Pompey (Roman general) who conquers Judea/Palestine for Rome

63 BCE

Jewish War with Rome

66-70 CE

Recognize key features of Mark's style and themes

A) announcement of the Kingdom of God B) Cosmic Conflict C) Ministry D) Teaching and Misperception E) Chapter 8 - announcement of suffering and death of messiah. Rejection of the announcement, misperception, partial vision and healing C1) ministry - miracles and misperception B1) Conflict with authorities A1) Announcement of the kingdom. The apocalypse ch. 13 B2) Conflict among disciples. Failure escalates. Jesus is arrested A2) Kingdom is revealed in suffering. Inspired correct vision by outsider (centurion) D1) Mystery and concealed testimony "this is the beginning of the good news"

Know the principal influences of Hellenistic (Greco-Roman) thought relevant to Jewish and Christian tradition: Mystery Religions

Ancient religion and ancient magic involved similar actions and anticipated similar (divine) results. sanctioned forms of mystery existed in certain local cults the mystery cults were relatively distinct in focusing chiefly on the well-being of the individual. mystery cults placed some emphasis on providing a happy existence in the life after death. many centered around a mythology of death and resurrection of a god or goddess

Thumbnail sketch of "varieties of early Christianity:" Jewish Christian Adoptionists

- Jesus was chosen by God, but not divine (only a man) - He was not born of a virgin, he did not exist prior to his birth, and he was not God - adopted by God to be his son, the savior of the world (could not call Jesus God bc then would be two gods and only believed in one)

Thumbnail sketch of "varieties of early Christianity:" Marcionites

- Paul was the true apostle to whom Christ had especially appeared after his ressurection to impart the truth of the Gospel. - Marcion argued that paul's writings effectively set the gospel of Christ over and against the law of the Jews and that the apostle had urged Christians to abandon the Jewish law all together - Jesus came to save people from wrathful god of the new testament. Since jesus had no part in the creator he could have no real ties to the matieral world that the creator-god made. Therefore, he was not actually born and did not have a real flesh-and-blood body. - Jesus was totally divine and one true god

Thumbnail sketch of "varieties of early Christianity:" proto-orthodox christians

- group that beame dominant form of christianity in later centuries - jesus christ was both divine and human - one being instead of two - he taught his disciples the truth. The apostiles had written down the teachings of jesus, and, that, when interpreted in a straightforward and literal fashion the books that were passed on from the apostles to their followers revealed the truth necessary for salvation.

Thumbnail sketch of "varieties of early Christianity:" Gnostics

- known so because of their claim that special "gnosis" is necessary for salvation - gnostics were themselves wildly diverse, with different groups believing radically different things - gnostics accepted the existance of many gods - for many of the gnostics, the creator-god of the old testament was a malformed and ignorant divinity; and this material world was an awful place that needed to be escaped (bodies were prisons - they were actually spiritual beings from the divine world above) - a god from the divine realm entered into the man jesus and left him prior to his death, so that he could impart to the spirits embodied here the knowledge that is neccessary for escape (secret knowledge)

When was Jesus of Nazareth approximately

-4 BCE to 30 CE

Death of Caesar Augustus

14 CE

Maccabean (Jewish) Revolt against Syrian Antiochus Epiphanes

167-164 BCE

Rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Syrian, Seleucid ruler, zealous Hellenizer)

175-163 BCE