Deck 11: Paul the Apostle: the Man and His Mission

Question 1

In general terms, what was Paul's modus operandi? How, in other words, did Paul spread the gospel to gentiles?

Answer 1

After his conversion, Paul's missionary activity focused on the spread of the gospel to the gentiles. Paul traveled to cities without churches and preached about God, Jesus, and salvation. He stayed with the new church for some time and left only when he felt it was stable and able to sustain itself. After he left, though, Paul did not abandon these churchesHe reminded the community of his teachings, elaborated on issues of faith, and demanded certain ethical and moral behaviors.

Question 2

Scholars divide Paul's letters into three groups. Why? What are these three categories and what books do they contain? Which books are most relevant for understanding Paul himself?

Answer 2

Scholars divide Paul's letters into three groups on the basis of authorship. First are the seven undisputed Pauline letters (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon). All scholars agree that Paul wrote these letters. Second are the Deutero-Pauline letters (2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, and Colossians). Most scholars agree that Paul did not write these letters, although there is some debate. Third are the Pastoral epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus). With very few exceptions, scholars agree that Paul did not write these epistles. Writings under a false name are called pseudepigrapha. There are a number of writings attributed to Paul that are certainly pseudepigraphic (e.g., 3 Corinthians and the correspondence of Seneca and Paul). It is likely, however, that the New Testament also contains pseudepigraphic writings.

Question 3

What does it mean to refer to Paul's letters as "occasional"? Why is it important to understand this aspect of Paul's letters?

Answer 3

All of Paul's letters are occasional, by which scholars mean they were written to specific communities at specific times to address specific issues. They were not, in other words, written as general pieces of advice for Christians everywhere and at all times. Paul's letters do not contain a systematic theology. Rather, his understandings about issues grew as he confronted them. It is essential to understand why Paul wrote a letter-what issues he addressed-to reach an appropriate interpretation of his message.

Question 4

Discuss how Paul's encounter with the risen Jesus affected his theological views. Which views were confirmed? Which views were adjusted? What were the implications for Paul's mission?

Question 5

Among his contemporaries, Paul was _____.

A) loved and highly respected by everyone
B) controversial
C) uniformly hated
D) universally acknowledged as an authority

Question 6

All of the following are late, legendary accounts of Paul's life and/or teachings except _____.

A) Philemon
B) Acts of Paul
C) 3 Corinthians
D) Paul's correspondence with Seneca

Question 7

How many books of the New Testament claim to have been written by Paul?

A) five
B) ten
C) thirteen
D) fifteen

Question 8

Which book of the New Testament has been attributed to Paul even though it does not claim Pauline authorship?

A) Galatians
B) Ephesians
C) Revelation
D) Hebrews

Question 9

According to the New Testament, Paul _____.

A) violently opposed Christianity a.
B) immediately converted to Christianity
C) was indifferent to Christianity
D) immediately believed Jesus was the messiah

Question 10

Paul preached that salvation _____.

A) was available only to Jews
B) was available only to gentiles
C) was available to Jews and gentiles
D) was dependent on following the Law

Question 11

The term "pseudepigrapha" means _____.

A) genuine writings
B) writings under a false name
C) false prophecy
D) revelation

Question 12

All of the following are categories of Pauline letters except _____.

A) catholic
B) Pastoral
C) Deutero-Pauline
D) undisputed

Question 13

Which of the following is not one of the Pastoral epistles?

A) 1 Timothy
B) 2 Timothy
C) 2 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians
D) Titus

Question 14

Which of the following is not one of the Deutero-Pauline epistles?

A) Ephesians
B) 1 Thessalonians
C) Colossians
D) 2 Thessalonians

Question 15

The term "Deutero-Pauline" means _____.

A) second Paul
B) second rate
C) a sequel
D) a genuine Pauline letter

Question 16

Scholars agree that Paul wrote all of the following except _____.

A) Philemon
B) 3 Corinthians
C) Philippians
D) 1 Thessalonians

Question 17

Many scholars think Paul wrote his letters around _____.

A) 10 BCE
B) 15 CE
C) 35 CE
D) 50 CE

Question 18

Which of the following books tells stories about Paul's missions?

A) Revelation
B) Matthew
C) Luke
D) Acts

Question 19

All of the following are differences between Acts and Paul's genuine letters except _____.

A) Paul's itinerary
B) whether Paul went straight to Jerusalem after his conversion
C) whether Paul's mission was primarily to gentiles
D) whether Paul ministered first to Jews in the synagogues

Question 20

Scholars call Paul's letters _____ to indicate that they address specific problems in actual communities.

A) specific
B) occasional
C) particular
D) catholic

Question 21

Paul was a _____.

A) Pharisee
B) Sadducee
C) Essene
D) Zealot

Question 22

The book of Acts states that Paul was from _____.

A) Jerusalem
B) Bethlehem
C) Rome
D) Tarsus

Question 23

Paul wrote in _____.

A) Aramaic
B) Hebrew
C) Greek
D) Latin

Question 24

According to Acts, Paul was on the road to _____ when Jesus appeared to him and he converted.

A) Jerusalem
B) Damascus
C) Bethlehem
D) Tarsus

Question 25

Paul referred to Jesus as _____.

A) a fraud
B) a charlatan
C) the first fruits of the resurrection
D) the Word

Question 26

Paul seems to have believed all of the following things about Jesus' death and resurrection except _____.

A) it was meaningful
B) it was a sacrifice for the sins of others
C) it conquered the power of sin
D) it illustrated the victory of evil

Question 27

Paul believed all of the following about the Law except _____.

A) it puts a person in a right standing before God
B) it shows that everyone is alienated from God
C) it points out human sinfulness
D) it has been misused

Question 28

Which of the following do most scholars believe was not written by Paul

A) 1 Thessalonians
B) Galatians
C) 1 Timothy
D) Philemon

Question 29

Which of the following was definitely not written pseudonymously in Paul's name?

A) 3 Corinthians
B) 2 Timothy
C) a letter to the church of Laodicea
D) Galatians

Question 30

A pseudonymous correspondence survives between Paul and which ancient philosopher?

A) Seneca
B) Marcus Aurelius
C) Plato
D) Aristotle

Question 31

When comparing the Deutero-Pauline and Pastoral epistles with those considered genuinely Pauline, which of following is not evidence against Pauline authorship?

A) differences in genre
B) differences in writing style
C) differences in vocabulary
D) differences in theology

Question 32

Which of the following does not represent a methodological issue for the study of Paul?

A) the occasional nature of the Pauline letters
B) Paul's dominance in the canon
C) the Pauline traditions in Acts
D) the Pauline pseudepigrapha

Question 33

Private letters in antiquity typically included all of the following conventions except _____.

A) an opening greeting
B) the name of the writer
C) a prayer or expression of thanks to the gods
D) a thorough description of the writer's context

Question 34

According to Acts, Paul studied under which renowned rabbi prior to his conversion?

A) Abraham
B) Hillel
C) Gamaliel
D) Seneca