Question 1

Paul says very little about Jesus' life and ministry, focusing instead on his death and resurrection. How do you account for the dearth of information about Jesus in Paul's letters?

Accepted Answer

Ehrman presents three options for accounting for the dearth of information about Jesus in Paul's letters. First, Paul knew a lot about the historical Jesus, but he had no occasion to remind his audience of these stories. The problem with this view is that Paul often does remind his churches of what he has taught them. Paul also cites stories about Jesus to bring authority to his own views. Second, Paul knew traditions about Jesus but thought they were irrelevant to his ministry. Paul, in fact, explicitly states that he preached Christ crucified. Perhaps the stories of Jesus' life and ministry, then, were simply of little importance to Paul. Third, it is possible that Paul included in his correspondence nearly all the information about Jesus he knew. In this case, not only was Jesus' life unimportant in Paul's missionary efforts, but it also was unimportant to Paul himself.

Question 2

How do later Valentinian Gnostics claim to carry on Paul's legacy? What connections do they have with Paul's teachings, and where do they seem to differ with what we know of Paul's views?

Accepted Answer

Valentinus claimed to have gained his knowledge from Paul's disciple Theudas, and Valentinian Gnostics pointed to Paul's words about some being "spiritual" rather than "fleshly," and spoke of the "mystery" of the gospel "hidden" from the rulers of this age reserved for the "mature." Nevertheless, Gnostics were polytheists, and their view of Jesus was very different from that of Paul.

Question 3

What difficulties are involved in reconstructing Jesus' and Paul's religious views? Being as specific as possible, discuss whether you believe Jesus and Paul preached the same religion.

Accepted Answer

We do not have anything written by Jesus himself. Our only knowledge of his religious views comes from Christians who wrote decades after his death. Although we do have Paul's own writings, they are occasional in nature, not systematic. Nonetheless, there are some aspects of Jesus' and Paul's religious views that we can be fairly certain about. Both were Jews and believed in the Jewish God. Both were apocalyptically minded and expected the Kingdom of God to come soon. Jesus and Paul, however, had different understandings of some of these points. Jesus, for example, believed that the Son of Man would come during his disciples' lifetimes; Paul believed that Jesus would come during his (Paul's) lifetime. Jesus believed that following the heart of the Law, to love God and one's neighbor, brought salvation; Paul believed that faith in Jesus, not the works of the Law, brought salvation.

Question 4

In Paul's writings, "works" tends to refer to:

Accepted Answer

A)   Good deeds
B)   A person's occupation
C)   Requirements of the Law
D)   Jesus' saving act

Question 5

Paul frequently cites the words and teachings of Jesus.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which literary character, after hearing Paul preach, terminated her engagement to be married and left home to follow him?

Accepted Answer

A)   Pricilla
B)   Mary
C)   Sarah
D)   Thecla

Question 7

In the Apocryphal Acts of Paul, who is Paul's female companion?

Accepted Answer

A)   Phoebe
B)   Lydia
C)   Mary
D)   Thecla

Question 8

Which of the following did not appeal to Paul as an authority for their views?

Accepted Answer

A)   Marcionites
B)   Proto-orthodox Christians
C)   Gnostics
D)   Ebionites

Question 9

What does Paul reveal about Jesus?

Accepted Answer

A)   That he healed people and raised the dead
B)   That he told parables
C)   That he will return from heaven soon
D)   That he cast out demons

Question 10

Which of the following is not an option for why Paul didn't cite Jesus' words more often:

Accepted Answer

A)   He had no occasion to do so.
B)   He considered them irrelevant.
C)   He didn't know much more about Jesus' teaching.
D)   Those traditions came from apostles with whom Paul disagreed.

Question 11

Valentinian Christians claimed their interpretations were received from Paul.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Did Paul teach that total sexual abstinence was necessary?

Accepted Answer

A)   Yes. It was necessary for salvation.
B)   Yes. It was necessary before one could be baptized.
C)   No. Paul said that it was desirable for the sake of the gospel, but that sex was acceptable for married couples.
D)   No. Paul said that sex was necessary to multiply and replenish the earth.

Question 13

In the Acts of Paul, Paul's central message is:

Accepted Answer

A)   Christ crucified
B)   Marriage
C)   Celibacy
D)   Against arranged marriages

Question 14

The book of James says that people are:

Accepted Answer

A)   Doomed to eternal judgment
B)   Justified by works
C)   Justified by faith
D)   Justified by baptism

Question 15

How do the Acts of Paul and Thecla illustrate a strand of Pauline thought? Do you think that the author of this text understood Paul correctly? Is this a fair interpretation of Paul's teaching?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do the Acts of Paul and...

Question 16

Which book contains the only narrative about Paul in the New Testament?

Accepted Answer

A)   Philippians
B)   Luke
C)   First Thessalonians
D)   Acts

Question 17

Paul wrote to the Corinthians that the only thing that mattered to him was:

Accepted Answer

A)   Christ crucified
B)   Following the Law
C)   Approval from the apostles
D)   Jesus' teachings

Question 18

Paul refers to all of the following of Jesus' teachings except:

Accepted Answer

A)   People should not divorce.
B)   Preachers should be paid.
C)   The Beatitudes
D)   Jesus' words at his Last Supper

Question 19

For the historical Jesus, the beginning of the end of the age began:

Accepted Answer

A)   During the lives' of Jesus' followers
B)   After Jesus' resurrection
C)   Immediately before the Rapture
D)   Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned

Question 20

Why did the Gnostics claim Paul as their ultimate authority?

Accepted Answer

A)   Because Paul was the first Christian Gnostic
B)   Because Paul preached sexual renunciation, just as the Gnostics did
C)   Because Paul helped liberate the Gnostics from the enforced subservience of marriage
D)   Because Paul referred to "mysteries" in the gospel that were "hidden" and only available to those who were "mature," just as the Gnostics did

Exam 22: Does the Tradition Miscarry Paul in Relation to Jesus, James, Thecla, and Theudas