Question 1

According to your textbook, we probably would never have heard of Jesus at all if . . .

Accepted Answer

A)  the Gospel writers didn't write their Gospels. 
B)  the crucifixion was the historical end of His story. 
C)  Joseph had divorced Mary. 
D)  Jesus had died in Herod's "Slaughter of Innocents." 
A)  the Gospel writers didn't write their Gospels. 
B)  the crucifixion was the historical end of His story. 
C)  Joseph had divorced Mary. 
D)  Jesus had died in Herod's "Slaughter of Innocents." B

Question 2

What factors fostered doctrinal unity within Christianity, even from the very beginning?

Accepted Answer

A)  They shared the same religious roots with one another and with Jesus. 
B)  They shared the same religious texts with one another and with Jesus. 
C)  The stories about what Jesus said and did were related and governed by eyewitnesses. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  They shared the same religious roots with one another and with Jesus. 
B)  They shared the same religious texts with one another and with Jesus. 
C)  The stories about what Jesus said and did were related and governed by eyewitnesses. 
D)  All of the above D

Question 3

Who did not believe in resurrection of the dead?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pharisees 
B)  Sadducees 
C)  Rabbi Akiva 
D)  Rabbi Hillel 
A)  Pharisees 
B)  Sadducees 
C)  Rabbi Akiva 
D)  Rabbi Hillel B

Question 4

Which of the following occupations was least likely the occupation of Jesus?

Accepted Answer

A)  carpenter 
B)  stone worker 
C)  tenant farmer 
A)  carpenter 
B)  stone worker 
C)  tenant farmer

Question 5

The term "Gnosticism" . . .

Accepted Answer

A)  refers to a largely Gentile movement influenced by dualism, which sees matter as evil and spirit as good. 
B)  derives from a Greek word meaning "faith." 
C)  refers to a Greek philosophical school that exalts faith over reason. 
D)  refers to a Greek philosophical movement that saw pleasure as life's supreme goal. 
A)  refers to a largely Gentile movement influenced by dualism, which sees matter as evil and spirit as good. 
B)  derives from a Greek word meaning "faith." 
C)  refers to a Greek philosophical school that exalts faith over reason. 
D)  refers to a Greek philosophical movement that saw pleasure as life's supreme goal.

Question 6

What is the only historical "X" that explains the rise of Christianity in the wake of Jesus' crucifixion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Peter's preaching 
B)  Roman persecution 
C)  Jesus' predictions 
D)  Jesus' resurrection 
A)  Peter's preaching 
B)  Roman persecution 
C)  Jesus' predictions 
D)  Jesus' resurrection

Question 7

Describe Jesus' earthly ministry in terms of his theology, character, occupation, and mission.

Accepted Answer

Jesus was first and foremost a Jew, and

Question 8

Which of the following is the best understanding of miracles?

Accepted Answer

A)  violation of the laws of nature 
B)  violation of the laws of god 
C)  beyond the known laws of nature, but not against them 
D)  surreal imagery 
A)  violation of the laws of nature 
B)  violation of the laws of god 
C)  beyond the known laws of nature, but not against them 
D)  surreal imagery

Question 9

People should approach New Testament miracles with . . .

Accepted Answer

A)  an open mind. 
B)  a critical mind. 
C)  both a and b 
D)  neither a nor b 
A)  an open mind. 
B)  a critical mind. 
C)  both a and b 
D)  neither a nor b

Question 10

Jesus was born . . .

Accepted Answer

A)  12 a.m., Dec. 25, A.D.1 
B)  A.D. 0 
C)  A.D. 1 
D)  2-3 B.C. 
A)  12 a.m., Dec. 25, A.D.1 
B)  A.D. 0 
C)  A.D. 1 
D)  2-3 B.C.

Question 11

Which of the following is the primary means the Gospel writers use to display the character of Jesus?

Accepted Answer

A)  The words and deeds of Jesus 
B)  Explicit commentary 
C)  Parenthetical "asides" 
D)  Characters' comments 
A)  The words and deeds of Jesus 
B)  Explicit commentary 
C)  Parenthetical "asides" 
D)  Characters' comments

Question 12

Who was king over all the Holy Land when Jesus was born?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pilate 
B)  Herod Antipas 
C)  Herod Agrippa I 
D)  Herod the Great 
A)  Pilate 
B)  Herod Antipas 
C)  Herod Agrippa I 
D)  Herod the Great

Question 13

We search the New Testament in vain for physical descriptions of Jesus. How would you account for this? What significance does it have for our understanding of Jesus?

Accepted Answer

The primary part of this answer should b

Question 14

The term "anachronistic" . . .

Accepted Answer

A)  means a writing follows chronological order. 
B)  means a writing does not follow chronological order. 
C)  describes a term, concept, idea or event that does not fit accurately into the time in which it is being discussed. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  means a writing follows chronological order. 
B)  means a writing does not follow chronological order. 
C)  describes a term, concept, idea or event that does not fit accurately into the time in which it is being discussed. 
D)  None of the above

Question 15

Which is the majority view about early Christianity among scholars worldwide?

Accepted Answer

A)  It included a wide diversity of beliefs almost right from the beginning. 
B)  It was largely unified, with a shared core of convictions about belief and behavior. 
C)  Orthodoxy was imposed by Emperor Constantine and several early church councils. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  It included a wide diversity of beliefs almost right from the beginning. 
B)  It was largely unified, with a shared core of convictions about belief and behavior. 
C)  Orthodoxy was imposed by Emperor Constantine and several early church councils. 
D)  None of the above

Question 16

Why is it important that we understand Jesus in his early Jewish setting? In what ways was Jesus like and in what ways different from other first-century Jews?

Accepted Answer

Jesus' life and ministry were a response

Question 17

Which of the following is the best analogy for a Gospel?

Accepted Answer

A)  digital photograph 
B)  portrait 
C)  caricature 
D)  hologram 
A)  digital photograph 
B)  portrait 
C)  caricature 
D)  hologram

Question 18

Historical evidence for Jesus is found in writings other than the New Testament writings, such as in Josephus' and Tacitus' writings.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

What evidence speaks against the view that numerous alternative forms of Christianity competed with one another before an orthodox form was ever established?

Accepted Answer

A)  They emerged later (second through fourth centuries). 
B)  They invaded from outside the community. 
C)  They were influenced by Greek philosophical schools. 
D)  They depended on and reacted to earlier Christian documents. 
E)  All of the above 
A)  They emerged later (second through fourth centuries). 
B)  They invaded from outside the community. 
C)  They were influenced by Greek philosophical schools. 
D)  They depended on and reacted to earlier Christian documents. 
E)  All of the above

Question 20

How should we understand the nature and function of New Testament miracles? And how does this impact the Jesus (of History)/Christ (of faith) question?

Accepted Answer

Miracles are best understood not as "vio

Exam 3: Jesus of Nazareth in His Early Jewish Setting

According to your textbook, we probably would never have heard of Jesus at all if . . .

What factors fostered doctrinal unity within Christianity, even from the very beginning?

Who did not believe in resurrection of the dead?

Which of the following occupations was least likely the occupation of Jesus?

The term "Gnosticism" . . .

What is the only historical "X" that explains the rise of Christianity in the wake of Jesus' crucifixion?

Describe Jesus' earthly ministry in terms of his theology, character, occupation, and mission.

Which of the following is the best understanding of miracles?

People should approach New Testament miracles with . . .

Jesus was born . . .

Which of the following is the primary means the Gospel writers use to display the character of Jesus?

Who was king over all the Holy Land when Jesus was born?

We search the New Testament in vain for physical descriptions of Jesus. How would you account for this? What significance does it have for our understanding of Jesus?

The term "anachronistic" . . .

Which is the majority view about early Christianity among scholars worldwide?

Why is it important that we understand Jesus in his early Jewish setting? In what ways was Jesus like and in what ways different from other first-century Jews?

Which of the following is the best analogy for a Gospel?

Historical evidence for Jesus is found in writings other than the New Testament writings, such as in Josephus' and Tacitus' writings.

What evidence speaks against the view that numerous alternative forms of Christianity competed with one another before an orthodox form was ever established?

How should we understand the nature and function of New Testament miracles? And how does this impact the Jesus (of History)/Christ (of faith) question?

The Texture of the Text of the New Testament

The Literature of the New Testament

First-Century Family Values

The Earliest Good News-Marks Gospel

The Most Popular Gospel-Matthew

Luke the Historians Two-Volume Work-Lukeacts

The Last Word on Jesus-The Beloved Disciples Testimony in the Gospel of John

Paul-Outlines of the Life and Letters of the Apostle

Paul the Letter Writer Part One: The Earlier Letters

Paul, the Letter Writer Part Two: The Capital Pauline Epistles

Paul the Letter Writer Part Three: The Captivity Epistles

Paul the Letter Writer Part Four: The Pastoral Epistles and the Problem of Pseudonymous Letters

The Sermon of James the Just-Jesus Brother

Jude-The Other Brother and His Eschatological Thinking-Jude

The Suffering Servant-1 Peter

Hebrews: the Sermon of the Famous Anonymous Preacher-Hebrews

A Beloved Sermon and Two Elderly Letters-13 John

Picking up the Pieces, Forming up the Canon-2 Peter

Apocalypse Later-The Book of Revelation

The Making of the New Testament-Did the Canon Misfire

Q Material, Synoptic Writers, and Pseudonymous Documents in the New Testament

Filters