Deck 3: Jesus of Nazareth in His Early Jewish Setting

Question 1

We have a good idea of what Jesus looked like due to the description of his appearance found in the Gospels.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

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

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Jesus was a Sadducee.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

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

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

Question 5

How many descriptions of Jesus' appearance are found among the four Gospels?

A) 0
B) 1
C) 4
D) 11

Question 6

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

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

Question 7

No responsible historian of antiquity doubts what about Jesus?

A) miracles
B) resurrection
C) crucifixion
D) existence

Question 8

From whom do we learn that Nero blamed Christians for setting fire to Rome?

A) Nero
B) Tacitus
C) Josephus
D) Herodotus

Question 9

Jesus was a . . .

A) Jew.
B) Christian.
C) Roman.
D) Okie.

Question 10

Jesus was born . . .

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

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

Which of the following was a Jewish holiness movement that sought to purify the Holy Land by strict observance of the Levitical laws?

A) Pharisees
B) Sadducees
C) Essenes
D) Zealots

Question 13

Which group held that the oral traditions were as binding on the Jewish people as the written laws?

A) Pharisees
B) Sadducees
C) Herodians
D) Romans

Question 14

Who did not believe in resurrection of the dead?

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

Question 15

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

A) carpenter
B) stone worker
C) tenant farmer

Question 16

Which of the following should we NOT assume about Jesus?

A) He was multilingual.
B) He was a skilled craftsman.
C) He was able to read.
D) He was able to write.

Question 17

According to your textbook, what event seems to have prompted Jesus' ministry?

A) The voice from heaven, "You are my beloved Son."
B) Jesus' synagogue sermon, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me . . ."
C) The ministry of John the Baptist
D) The visit of the Magi

Question 18

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

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."

Question 19

What did ancient people believe most revealed people's character?

A) their origins and birth and the way they died
B) the way they responded to criticism
C) their achievements
D) the testimony of their friends and relatives

Question 20

Which of the following is the best understanding of miracles?

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 21

People should approach New Testament miracles with . . .

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

Question 22

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

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 23

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

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

Question 24

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

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 25

Which of the following best describes the situation in early Christianity?

A) diversity in matters of practice, unity in matters of doctrine
B) unity in matters of practice, diversity in matters of doctrine
C) diversity in matters of practice, diversity in matters of doctrine
D) unity in matters of practice, unity in matters of doctrine

Question 26

The term "Judaizers" refers to . . .

A) Gentile proselytes to Judaism who later became Christians.
B) Gentile Christians who submitted to circumcision.
C) Jewish Christians who required Gentile converts to Christianity to be circumcised.
D) Jewish Christians who renounced their Jewish roots entirely.

Question 27

The term "anachronistic" . . .

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 28

The term "Gnosticism" . . .

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 29

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

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

Question 30

The 27 books of the New Testament . . .

A) can be traced to a handful of persons.
B) can be traced to eyewitnesses to the original events.
C) can be traced to eyewitnesses of Jesus himself or with the pre-Easter followers of Jesus.
D) All of the above

Question 31

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?

Question 32

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?

Question 33

What historical evidence do we have for the existence of Jesus of Nazareth? What are the strengths, weaknesses, and significance of each strand?

Question 34

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

Question 35

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?

Question 36

What are the two competing and contradictory understandings of Christian origins? Which do you think offers the correct assessment, and why?