Term
| What factors either facilitate or hinder the process of encoding and decoding messages? |
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Definition
| The more overlap between the parties in knowledge, experience, culture, education, etc. the better the communication. |
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Term
| What is the task of interpretation? |
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Definition
| The task of interpretation is to understand the possible meanings a given text might have had for the original audience of the author. |
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Term
| What three factors do readers bring to the text that limit their objectivity? |
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Definition
(1) worldview
(2) our own history and culture
(3) religious background |
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Term
| What four stumbling blocks does the biblical text present to us? |
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Definition
(1) language gap
(2) time gap
(3) culture gap
(4) third party perspective
(many books weren't written for a third party, us, to read) |
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Term
| What three horizons should the reader keep in mind when reading a Gospel? |
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Definition
(1) The time of Jesus (in the midst of the story)
(2) The time of the text's writing (after the story occurred)
(3) Our time (the application stage) |
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Term
| In what physical form did biblical books originally circulate? |
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Definition
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Term
| What other factors beyond God should one consider when thinking about how inspiration works? |
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Definition
The author's own ideas, culture, & experience
and outside sources |
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Term
| What four elements are involved in the formation of a biblical book of history? |
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Definition
(1) Event Occurs
(2) Preservation of Event (i.e. in memory)
(3) Transmission of Event (i.e. writing or speech)
(4) Inclusion of Event in Biblical Book |
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Term
| What six steps are involved in the formation of a gospel? |
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Definition
(1) Jesus's Ministry
(2) Disciples' Memory
(3) Early Preaching (of the disciples)
(4) Oral Transmission (people tell stories)
(5) Small Written Collections
(6) A Gospel is Written |
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Term
| Why do we have four different gospels? |
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Definition
| Each gospel was intended for a different audience - each one had a different goal in its writing. |
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Term
| What does the word "synoptic" mean? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which books are called the synoptics? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the synoptic problem? |
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Definition
What's the connection between Matthew, Mark, and Luke?
They have a high degree of agreement in context, order, and wording; but at the same time, they aren't identical, containing many significant differences. |
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Term
| Which solution to the synoptic problem is accepted by the majority of modern scholarship? |
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Definition
The Four Source Hypothesis:
Matthew and Luke are both based on Mark and an unknown sayings gospel. On top of this, Matthew and Luke each have their own special, independent sources. |
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Term
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Definition
Q is an unknown sayings gospel that Matthew and Luke based their gospels on.
M is a special source Matthew used in his gospel.
L is a special source Luke used in his gospel, likely consisting of his research. |
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Term
| What was the first Bible used by the early church, especially in Gentile territories? |
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Definition
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Term
| What part of the New Testament was written first? |
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Definition
| Paul's letters were written first (the first of these was either 1 Thessalonians or Galatians) |
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Term
| What do we know about the author of the Gospel of Luke? |
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Definition
| Not much. All of the Gospels are anonymous, although tradition attributes the Gospel of Luke to Luke the physician. |
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Term
| What genre best characterizes Luke? Within this genre, what technical word best characterizes the subgenre? |
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Definition
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Term
| What group of people is Luke's primary audience? |
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Definition
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Term
| What issue or question is Luke trying to address with his gospel? |
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Definition
| Luke wants to show that Jesus is not just for Jews, but for minorities and outsiders to the faith as well. |
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Term
| What are the five major themes of Luke? |
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Definition
(1) God's Salvation
(2) Universalism (extension of call to Gentiles)
(3) Reversal
(4) Prophecy & Fulfillment
(5) Holy Spirit |
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Term
| What three sources does Luke mention in the preface? |
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Definition
(1) Previously written accounts
(2) Eyewitness traditions
(3) His own investigation |
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Term
| To whom is the Gospel of Luke addressed? What does his name mean? |
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Definition
| The Gospel is addressed to Theophilus, which means "lover of God" |
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Term
| What did the apostles' earliest preaching focus on? |
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Definition
| The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (as opposed to his birth) |
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Term
| What are the three functions of the infancy narrative? |
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Definition
(1) To show the relative significance of John & Jesus (John is older than but not superior to Jesus)
(2) To show a connection with the story of the Old Testament
(3) Introduces major themes of Luke's gospel |
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Term
| How does Luke's infancy account differ from Matthew's? |
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Definition
In Matthew, the angel Gabriel visits Joseph, the Magi visit Jesus, and Mary and Joseph flee Herod as he seeks to kill Jesus.
In Luke, the angel Gabriel visits Mary, the shepherds visit Jesus, and there is no mention of Herod's mass infanticide. |
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Term
| Who is Herod the Great? When did he die? |
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Definition
Herod the Great is the client king of Judea. He rules over Galilee as the King of Jews.
He died 4 BCE. |
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Term
| Who are Zechariah and Elizabeth? |
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Definition
The parents of John the Baptist.
Zechariah is a high priest. They are old and barren, despite their piety. |
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Term
| Why is Zechariah at the temple? What part of the temple does he enter? |
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Definition
| As a high priest, Zechariah is appointed by lot to enter the Most Holy Place of the temple once per year. This is where he goes. |
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Term
| What angel appears to Zechariah? |
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Definition
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Term
| The angel says that John will have the spirit and power of what Old Testament figure? |
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Definition
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Term
| How is betrothal different from engagement? |
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Definition
Betrothal is more binding than an engagement, involving a two-step marriage process.
Betrothal is as binding as marriage, as it involves a contract. It is more of a business transaction than a choice of love. |
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Term
| What does Jesus's name mean? |
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Definition
| "Yahweh is salvation" (Yeshua) |
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Term
| What three statements does the angel make to Mary about Jesus? |
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Definition
(1) He says Jesus will be called "Son of the Most High"
(2) He says the Lord God will give Jesus the throne of his father David
(3) He says Jesus will reign over the house of Jacob forever |
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Term
| What Old Testament character was said to be the "son" of God? |
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Definition
| King Solomon (i.e. Son of David) |
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Term
| What does the word "Messiah" mean? |
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Definition
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Term
| What kind of "Messiah" did the Jews expect? |
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Definition
| A warrior king who would overthrow the Romans |
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Term
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Definition
| Mary's Song, as found in the first chapter of Luke. |
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Term
| What key line represents the theme of reversal in the Magnificat? |
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Definition
| "He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty." |
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Term
| Who was the Roman emperor when Jesus was born? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the historical problem surrounding Quirinius? |
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Definition
| Quirinius took a census in 6 CE, a good 9-12 years after Jesus was born. |
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Term
| Why does Joseph travel to Bethlehem? |
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Definition
| Because he needs to travel to the place of his birth in order to be properly registered in the census. |
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Term
| Why is Bethlehem significant? |
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Definition
| Bethlehem is the hometown of King David. |
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Term
| If Jesus was not born at an inn, where was he most likely born? |
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Definition
| In a small family home belonging to Joseph's extended family. |
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Term
| What does the manger represent for Luke? |
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Definition
| It stresses a lowly birth, showing that Jesus identifies with the poor: Jesus of the minorities. |
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Term
| What Roman figure was also known as a "savior"? |
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Definition
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Term
| What does Joseph and Mary's sacrifice after Jesus's birth tell us about them? |
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Definition
| They were relatively poor, seeing as they could only afford to sacrifice pigeons instead of a lamb. |
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Term
| What two prophets make statements about Jesus when he is brought to the temple as an infant? |
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Definition
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Term
| What key line spoken by the old prophet in the temple expresses the universalism of Jesus's mission? |
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Definition
| "A light of revelation to the Gentiles" |
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Term
| Why does Luke record the visit of the boy Jesus to the temple? |
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Definition
| It is a story that foreshadows Jesus's future role as a teacher, and indicates that even at a young age he had a sense of what God wanted him to do. |
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Term
| When does Jesus's childhood visit to the temple occur? What festival is being celebrated? |
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Definition
| It occurs during the festival of Passover. |
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Term
| What does boy Jesus's statement to his parents in the temple indicate about his self-understanding? |
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Definition
| It indicates that he believed himself to be the Son of God at that time. |
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Term
| What was the high point in Israel's history as an independent nation? |
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Definition
| The period of Monarchy, particularly when Kind David ruled. |
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Term
| Which foreign powers controlled Israel and in what order? |
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Definition
(1) Assyria
(2) Babylon
(3) Persia
(4) Greece (Alexander the Great, Ptolemaic Empire, Seleucid Empire)
(5) Rome (Pompey) |
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Term
| Who was Ptolemy? What important event related to the Jews happened during the Ptolemaic reign? |
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Definition
Ptolemy was a Greek general who took control of Palestine after Alexander the Great died and the Greek Empire was divided.
The Septuagint (LXX) was written during the Ptolemaic reign. |
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Term
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Definition
| He was a ruler of the Seleucid Empire. He forbade Judaism in 167 BCE, inciting the Maccabean revolt. |
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Term
| What was the Maccabean revolt? What prompted it? Who led it? |
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Definition
| It was a rebellion led by Mattathias in response to Antiochus IV's ban on Judaism. |
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Term
| Who was Pompey and what did he do that offended the Jews? |
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Definition
Pompey was the Roman general who took Judaea for the Roman Empire in 63 BCE.
He offended the Jews by entering the Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple. |
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Term
| What nationality was Herod the Great and why is that significant? |
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Definition
| Herod the Great was an Idumean, which is significant because Idumea was a Gentile area and yet Herod became King of the Jews. |
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Term
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Definition
| Herod Antipas was the Jewish ruler of Galilee after his father, Herod the Great, died in 4 BCE. |
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Term
| Where was the city of Sepphoris located? Why is it significant? |
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Definition
Sepphoris was located just northwest of Nazareth.
It is significant because it was so influenced by upper class Greco-Roman culture. Since Jesus visited there, it shows that Jesus was not isolated to Jewish culture, but also familiar with the culture of the higher-ups. |
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Term
| What is the significance of John's ministry taking place in the wilderness? |
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Definition
| John's ministry represents a return to prophecy. It reminded the Jews of how God "courted" his unfaithful wife Israel while the Israelites were lost in the wilderness. Now, it seems, God is coming after his lost bride. |
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Term
| What key points make up John the Baptist's preaching? |
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Definition
| Repentance, coming judgment, and practical advice on how to treat one another with love. |
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Term
| What specific groups does John the Baptist address? |
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Definition
| Tax collectors and soldiers are the specific groups he addresses. |
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Term
| What advice does John the Baptist give to each of the groups he addresses? |
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Definition
He advises the tax collectors to collect only what is owed them (no more).
He advises the soldiers to not abuse their powers - to not extort money or accuse people falsely. |
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Term
| What does John say about the one who is coming? What image does he use to describe this figure? (What does he have in his hand?) |
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Definition
He says that the one who is coming is more powerful than he, and that he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
He uses the image of a farmer with a winnowing fork in his hand, separating the wheat from the chaff. |
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Term
| What happens to John after his sermon? |
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Definition
| John is arrested by Herod. |
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Term
| What is unusual about the way Luke describes Jesus's baptism? |
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Definition
| He doesn't mention who baptizes him. |
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Term
| What two things come from heaven after Jesus's baptism? What is the function of these two things for Luke's audience? |
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Definition
The Spirit and Voice come from heaven.
The Spirit empowers Jesus for ministry.
The Voice provides reinforcement of Jesus's authenticity.
The baptism provides Luke's audience with authentication for Jesus. |
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Term
| About how old was Jesus when he began his ministry? |
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Definition
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Term
| What three significant names are found in the genealogy of Jesus? |
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Definition
| Adam, Abraham, and David. |
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Term
| What are the three temptations of Satan during Jesus's tempation in the desert? |
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Definition
(1) To turn the stones to bread.
(2) To bow down to Satan and receive rule over the kingdoms of the world.
(3) To throw himself down from the top of the temple so that the angels may catch him. |
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Term
| In what way might each of the three temptations have been attractive to Jesus? |
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Definition
(1) If Jesus turned the stones to bread, it would satisfy his hunger. It would also defy his need for God.
(2) If Jesus ruled over all the kingdoms of the world, he could really set the world to rights without having to die on the cross - quicker, easier, albeit against God's plans.
(3) If Jesus threw himself down from the temple and had angels save him, it would have proved his messiahship to everybody, to Satan, to himself. |
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Term
| What type of messiah is associated with each temptation? |
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Definition
(1) bread - Social Messiah (meets physical needs of the world)
(2) kingdoms - Political Messiah (would overthrow Roman rule and fix the world)
(3) temple - Apocalyptic Messiah (proves himself to everybody) |
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Term
| What is the connection between the temptation of Jesus and the history of Israel? |
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Definition
For one thing, Jesus was tempted for 40 days - the Israelites wandered for 40 years.
Also, the Israelites always whined about wanting food, wanting God to take charge, and wanting a sign from God. In a sense, they gave in to the same temptations Jesus was confronted with. Unlike them, however, Jesus resisted these temptations. Jesus is faithful where Israel failed. |
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Term
| How does Luke's chronological location of the story of Jesus's rejection at Nazareth compare to that of Mark's account? |
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Definition
| Luke places Jesus's rejection right after his temptation, whereas Mark doesn't get to the rejection until many stories after Jesus's temptation. |
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Term
| What two key functions does the story of Jesus's rejection at Nazareth serve in Luke's Gospel? |
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Definition
(1) It indicates the nature of Jesus's ministry (met with both wonder and controversy)
(2) It foreshadows Jesus's death |
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Term
| Be able to recognize the language of this programmatic statement about Jesus's ministry: Isaiah 61:1-2 |
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Definition
| The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. |
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Term
| At Nazareth, what does Jesus say is his primary function? Who is his primary audience? |
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Definition
| Jesus's primary function is to bring the good news of the coming kingdom of heaven. Jesus's primary audience was the poor, captives, blind, oppressed. |
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Term
| Why does Jesus's statement concerning Elijah and Elisha enrage his audience? |
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Definition
| Jesus seemed to be suggesting that, since only Gentiles would help Elijah & Elisha, that God's favor was on the Gentiles and not the Jews. |
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Term
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Definition
| Docetism claims that Jesus only seemed to be flesh, but was in fact fully God. His sufferings, therefore, were only apparent. |
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Term
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Definition
| Adoptionism claims that Jesus was human, but adopted by God at his baptism. |
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Term
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Definition
| Patripassianism claims that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are just roles God uses (one actor, three roles); it claims by extension that the Father himself suffered on the cross. |
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Term
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Definition
| Arianism claims that there was a time when Christ didn't exist; he came into existence at his human birth. |
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Term
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Definition
| Apollinarianism claims that Jesus had a human body and soul, but a divine spirit and intellect (a mix between God and man). |
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Term
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Definition
| Nestorianism claims that Jesus was made up of two separate persons - one divine and one human. |
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Term
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Definition
| The Roman Emperor succeeding Julius Caesar, who ruled Rome during Jesus's birth. |
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Term
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Definition
| An old prophet who met baby Jesus in the temple. |
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Term
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Definition
| An old prophetess who met baby Jesus in the temple. |
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Term
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Definition
| The leader of the Maccabean revolt. |
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Term
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Definition
| The Syrian Governor who imposed the census at Jesus's birth. |
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Term
| Who was Alexander the Great? |
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Definition
| He conquered Persia and took it for Greece. |
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Term
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Definition
| The person to whom the Gospel of Luke is addressed. His name means "lover of God". |
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Term
Essay question:
Many people ask “Why do we need to interpret the Bible, it makes perfect sense to me?” How would you respond to this question? Why do we need to interpret? What factors hinder our ability to understand the New Testament? What is the task of interpretation? |
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Definition
1. Introductory Sentence
2. Objective Interpretation Impossible
3. We Bring Assumptions/Background to the Text
4. Different Cultures
5. Bible Not Speak For Itself; Possible Meanings For Original Audience
6. Concluding Sentence |
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