Deck 18: Christian Interactions With Christians: James, 2 Peter, Jude, and the Johannine Epistles

Question 1

The Epistle of James opposes Paul's doctrine of justification by faith. Pick one side of the debate and present the most compelling arguments for it. Keep in mind that the most persuasive arguments anticipate (and answer) counterarguments.

Answer 1

The question turns on James 2:24, which says "a person is justified by works, not by faith alone." Students who take the affirmative side might argue that Paul believes that justification is not by works but comes through faith. Students who take the negative side should point out that Paul never says that a person is justified by faith alone and that he refers not to the unimportance of "works" in general but rather "works of Law," which refer to a more specific set of works, while James means "actions" in general.

Question 2

Why do almost all critical scholars doubt the authenticity of the authorial ascription of 2 Peter? What evidence is there within the book itself that calls its authorship into question? What sources did this author use, and when was it circulated? How do these issues add to the problems of the authorial claims?

Answer 2

Although 2 Peter explicitly claims to have been written by Jesus' disciple, most scholars believe the book is pseudonymous. First, Jesus' disciple Peter was mostly likely uneducated, while the author of this letter is a sophisticated and literate Greek writer. Second, a large portion of this letter is taken from the book of Jude. If Peter wrote this letter, why would he rely on another source for information? Jude, moreover, was probably written toward the end of the first century, well after Peter's martyrdom in 64 CE. Third, there is no mention of this book until around 220 CE, and even then it does not seem to have been widely circulated.

Question 3

Discuss the relationship between the Gospel of John and the Johannine epistles. Be sure to consider issues of authorship and content.

Answer 3

The author of the Gospel of John did not write the Johannine epistles; the writing styles are not the same and the community issues are different (e.g., the relationship with the synagogue is not a concern for the author of the epistles). But, the Johannine epistles do seem to be written by someone who is very familiar with John's Gospel. This is suggested by similar themes in the epistles and the Gospel. They address issues that arise later in the same community, specifically a schism; apparently a group who advocated a docetic Christology left the Johannine community and tensions remain.

Question 4

What do 1, 2, and 3 John reveal about the community situation that prompts the epistles? What problems does the community face and how does the author address these problems? What are the limitations of reconstructing the context based on the letters?

Question 5

The epistle of James _____.

A) was written by Paul
B) is a collection of pieces of good advice
C) is addressed to the bishop, James
D) was probably written by Jesus' twin

Question 6

In the epistle of James _____.

A) Jesus is the central character
B) Jesus' teachings are explicitly quoted
C) Jesus is rarely mentioned
D) Jesus reveals secret teachings to James

Question 7

The epistle of James seeks to do all of the following except _____.

A) warn against false prophets
B) clarify Paul's teachings on faith
C) teach that faith is apparent in action
D) teach communal ethics

Question 8

The Didache is _____.

A) a gospel
B) an epistle
C) a church manual
D) an apocalypse

Question 9

The Didache includes all of the following except _____.

A) descriptions of the ritual of baptism
B) descriptions of Eucharistic practice
C) indications of fast days
D) descriptions of the activities of the twelve disciples

Question 10

The third part of the Didache contains _____.

A) ethical instructions
B) instructions about itinerant apostles and prophets
C) an apocalyptic discourse
D) reminders of Jesus' teachings

Question 11

The author of the epistle of Jude _____.

A) is anonymous
B) claims to be James' brother
C) claims to be a disciple of Paul
D) is probably the bishop in Rome

Question 12

The author of 2 Peter probably _____.

A) was Jesus' disciple
B) used 1 Timothy
C) knew the New Testament
D) used Jude

Question 13

The adversaries in 2 Peter believe that _____.

A) Jesus did not come in the flesh
B) the apocalypse is not imminent
C) only the bishop can interpret scripture
D) Paul's writings have no value

Question 14

For the author of James, "works" refers to _____.

A) the requirements of the Jewish Law
B) one's daily job
C) good deeds
D) other epistles

Question 15

Many of the admonitions in James are similar to _____.

A) parts of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount
B) parts of the Gospel of John
C) the views of the Johannine secessionists
D) warnings in Revelation

Question 16

The author of James draws most of his examples of ethical behavior from _____.

A) the Didache
B) the Gospels
C) Paul's letters
D) the Hebrew Bible

Question 17

James' ethical advice emphasizes all of the following except _____.

A) the danger of wealth
B) the importance of controlling one's speech
C) the examples set by the apostles
D) the need for patience in the midst of suffering

Question 18

The author of Jude's familiarity of apocryphal Jewish literature is indicated by his reference to which text?

A) Exodus
B) 1 Enoch
C) Revelation
D) the Gospel of Matthew

Question 19

A large portion of Jude is occupied with _____.

A) invective against the opposition
B) praise of his audience
C) the author discussing himself
D) references to Paul

Question 20

Scholars typically date Jude near the _____.

A) middle of the first century
B) end of the first century
C) middle of the second century
D) end of the second century

Question 21

Which text is not referenced by another Christian until 220 CE?

A) the Didache
B) Jude
C) 2 Peter
D) 1 John

Question 22

The reference to the opponents' "cleverly devised myths" in 2 Peter suggests _____.

A) the opponents are likely Gnostic Christians
B) the opponents are likely pagans
C) the opponents are making use of the Homeric epics
D) the opponents are relying on one of the canonical Gospels

Question 23

The Acts of Peter recounts numerous confrontations between Peter and _____.

A) Paul
B) James
C) Simon Magus
D) Judas

Question 24

Which of the following texts depicts Peter resurrecting a tuna?

A) 2 Peter
B) the Acts of Peter
C) the Apocalypse of Paul
D) the Didache

Question 25

The Johannine epistles were probably written _____.

A) after the Gospel of John
B) before the Gospel of John
C) by the same author as the Gospel
D) by the disciple John

Question 26

According to the Didache, the best way to baptize is _____.

A) in cold running water.
B) in warm running water.
C) in cold still water.
D) in warm still water.

Question 27

The author of the Johannine epistles was _____.

A) currently living in the community
B) Gaius
C) a secessionist
D) writing from some distance

Question 28

The Johannine epistles _____.

A) are all about the same length
B) address the same leader
C) were written by the same person
D) all contain the typical parts of a Greco-Roman letter

Question 29

1 John is best understood as a _____.

A) biography
B) history of the community
C) letter
D) persuasive essay

Question 30

2 John is best understood as _____.

A) a persuasive essay
B) a letter to the entire church
C) a letter to an individual in the church
D) a letter directed to the secessionists

Question 31

What part of the human body does James say needs the most controlling?

A) the genitals
B) the tongue
C) the hands
D) the mind

Question 32

What was the most important event that had occurred within the Johannine community at the time the epistles were written?

A) Jesus' death
B) the death of the beloved disciple
C) a schism in the community
D) false prophets coming to town

Question 33

The Christians that left the Johannine community were probably _____.

A) Docetists
B) proto-Orthodox
C) Montanists
D) Jews

Question 34

The term "docetic" means _____.

A) heresy
B) to seem or appear
C) knowledge
D) to believe