Deck 27: Christians and Christians: James, the Didache, Polycarp, 1 Clement, Jude, and 2 Peter

Question 1

Discuss the importance of 1 Clement for tracing the rise of Roman Catholic orthodoxy. What were the circumstances under which the letter was written? How does the letter illustrate the relationship between Rome and other churches?

Answer 1

First Clement illustrates Rome's assumption of authority over other churches. In this letter, the author urges the Corinthian church toward certain actions. This early authority of Rome was later underscored when the bishop in Rome came to be the most important bishop in the orthodox church. First Clement was written to reinstate the clergy who had been deposed by another group within the church. Rome utilized the doctrine of apostolic succession to argue for the rightful authority of the presbyters.

Question 2

What is the Didache, when was it written, why is it significant, and what does it contain?

Answer 2

The Didache is a book of early Christian teaching, purportedly from the twelve apostles, most likely written in the early second century C.E. It is especially significant because it preserves our earliest account of how early Christians practiced their rituals of baptism and the Eucharist, gives examples of early Christian prayers, indicates the days Christians fasted, and demonstrates the existence of itinerant Christian ministers. The book contains a set of ethical admonitions based on the doctrine of the "Two Ways," which also appear in the Epistle of Barnabas. The book appears to know the Gospel of Mark along with a wide range of earlier Christian traditions and concludes with an apocalyptic discourse looking forward to the return of Christ.

Question 3

Who does the epistle of Jude claim to be written by? Why is this significant, and what do most modern scholars think about this claim? What are the themes of the book, and what is its relationship with 2 Peter?

Answer 3

The author of the epistle of Jude claims to be Jude the brother of James, implying that he is the brother of Jesus himself. The vast majority of scholars reject this claim on the basis that Jude was most likely illiterate and incapable of writing in Greek in particular, making the epistle an early Christian pseudepigraphon. The book is concerned with false teachers in the community who engage in sexual immorality and deeds of ungodliness. Most of the letter is invective, though it also cites Jewish pseudepigrapha. Second Peter later used some of Jude to make its own arguments.

Question 4

The epistle of James is written to "the twelve tribes."

Question 5

The Didache is our earliest source for how Christian rituals were performed.

Question 6

The epistle of Jude regularly quotes the teaching of Jesus.

Question 7

Polycarp's letter to the Philippians rarely echoes or cites prior Christian tradition.

Question 8

First Clement was written from Corinth to solve serious problems in the Roman church.

Question 9

The term "didache" literally means:

A) Apostle
B) Disciple
C) Teaching
D) Reasoned defense

Question 10

The first part of the Didache contains:

A) An apocalyptic discourse
B) The doctrine of the Two Ways
C) A record of Paul's itinerary
D) Reminders of Jesus' teachings

Question 11

One way that the epistle of James and the Didache are similar is:

A) They are both apocalyptic.
B) They both contain the doctrine of the Two Ways.
C) They both contain parallels from the Sermon on the Mount.
D) They are both written to specific communities in Asia Minor.

Question 12

The Didache teaches that the first act at the celebration of the Eucharist is:

A) Baptism
B) The blessing of the cup
C) The blessing of the bread
D) Communal confession

Question 13

According to the Didache, Christians should:

A) Fast on the same days as Jews
B) Pray like Jews
C) Recite the Lord's Prayer three times a day
D) Celebrate the Eucharist on Wednesdays and Fridays

Question 14

The Didache says that prophets:

A) Should be allowed to stay in the community for more than three days
B) Rightly ask for money
C) Who teach new doctrines should be accepted
D) Should earn a living if they stay in the community

Question 15

Polycarp's letter to the Philippians draws heavily on:

A) Other Christian authors
B) The Didache
C) Quotations from the Gospel of Thomas
D) The writings of Valens and his wife

Question 16

First Clement is addressed to:

A) The Philippians
B) The Romans
C) The Corinthians
D) The Thessalonians

Question 17

First Clement was sent by:

A) The church at Philippi
B) The church at Rome
C) The church at Corinth
D) The church at Thessalonica

Question 18

First Clement was probably written around:

A) 45 C.E.
B) 65 C.E.
C) 95 C.E.
D) 110 C.E.

Question 19

First Clement was considered by some Christians to be:

A) Heretical because of its docetic Christology
B) Orthodox because of its rejection of clergy
C) Orthodox because of its condemnation of Marcion
D) A part of the New Testament

Question 20

How unique are the ethical exhortations in the book of James?

A) In his time, quite unique
B) Unique throughout history
C) Not very unique at all
D) Very common in Greece but nowhere else

Question 21

Who was called "the first-born of Satan" by Polycarp?

A) Ignatius
B) Marcion
C) Barnabas
D) Jesus

Question 22

How long was the letter by Polycarp to the Philippians, which contained over one hundred biblical quotations?

A) 100 pages
B) 25 pages
C) 10 pages
D) 5 pages

Question 23

In what church has the author of 1 Clement learned that there was a "vile and profane faction"?

A) Philippi
B) Corinth
C) Rome
D) Smyrna

Question 24

The letter written by Jude is filled with:

A) Invective and name calling
B) Worship and lifestyle instructions
C) Prophesies of the end time
D) Historic accounts of the apostles