exploring the new testament final

what are some inconsistencies in the gospel of John

- prologue has different style and vocabulary

- Jesus "comes into Judea" but is already there

- "second sign" but Jesus already performed many miracles in Jerusalem

what are explanations for the inconsistencies in the gospel of John

- multiple sources

- multiple editions

- redactor

what is the reasoning that john DIDN't know Mk, Mt, Lk

when overlapping texts, word for word agreement was only about 10%

what is the reasoning that John DID know Mk, Mt, Lk

- John is roughly same size as the synoptics (begins with Jesus' baptism, half gospel for final weeks of his life, ends around empty tomb)

- John refers to episodes and characters outside his gospel that we only know in the synoptics

What are some themes in the gospel of John

- Dualism (light/dark, above/below, truth/falsehood)

- Symbolism and misunderstanding (e.g., ἄνωθεν in John 3: Nicodemus misunderstands)

- Emphasis on believing in Jesus' identity, not just ethical teachings

- Reversal of blame: Jewish leaders look worse, Pilate looks better

- John's Jesus often says "I am" statements (echoing God's name in Exodus)

Who is Nicodemus

Nicodemus is a Pharisee who visits Jesus at night (John 3) and misunderstands Jesus' teaching about being "born from above." He represents the tension between old religious understanding and Jesus' new spiritual revelation. He later helps bury Jesus, but his ultimate faith status remains ambiguous, earning him the title "Poor Nicodemus."

what is the socio-historical method

It seeks to understand how a literary text reflects the social world and historical circumstances of the author who produced it. They focus on the relationship between a literary text and the social history of its author and his or her community.

what is in the synoptics but not in John

- Jesus' birth to a virgin in Bethlehem

- Jesus' baptism

- Jesus' temptation in the wilderness

- Jesus casting out demons

- Jesus' parables

what are in John but not in the synoptics

- Jesus turning water into wine

- Jesus healing the man at the pool of Bethzatha

- Jesus healing the man born blind

- Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus

- Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman

what are the evidence of sources in John

- differences in writing style

- repetitions

- presence of literary seams

what is the Johannine community

The Johannine community is a scholarly term for the early Christian group believed to have produced the Gospel of John and the Johannine epistles. This community likely experienced conflict with local Jewish synagogues, reflected in the Gospel's negative portrayal of "the Jews." It emphasized a spiritual relationship with Jesus, high Christology (seeing Jesus as pre-existent and divine), and a communal identity based on belief in Jesus as the Logos. The concept helps scholars understand how theology develops in response to historical and social challenges and shows how different early Christian groups interpreted Jesus differently.

what is atonement theology

Atonement theology refers to the belief that Jesus' death reconciles humanity with God, restoring a broken relationship caused by sin. In the Gospel of John, this theology is central: Jesus is described as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and his crucifixion is portrayed not as defeat but as glorification. This theological lens helps explain why Jesus' death was interpreted as meaningful rather than tragic. It also shows how early Christians made sense of suffering and divine justice in light of Jesus' death.

what is spatial eschatology

Spatial eschatology is a view of salvation that emphasizes the contrast between the "above" (heavenly realm) and the "below" (earthly realm), rather than focusing on an end-time apocalypse. This is a key theme in the Gospel of John, where Jesus is described as one who has descended from above and returns to the Father. Belief in him grants access to eternal life now, not just in the future. This idea shifts the focus of Christian life from waiting for a future event to living in a present spiritual reality, helping explain John's distinctive theology.

who is the "beloved disciple"

The Beloved Disciple is an unnamed figure in the Gospel of John, described as the one "whom Jesus loved." He appears at key moments: reclining next to Jesus at the Last Supper (John 13), standing at the cross with Jesus' mother (John 19), arriving first at the empty tomb (John 20), and following Jesus and Peter in the epilogue (John 21). Traditionally identified as John the Apostle, many scholars today see him as a symbolic figure representing the ideal believer or a real but anonymous member of the Johannine community. His closeness to Jesus and early belief mark him as a model of faith, and the Gospel claims to be based on his testimony (John 21:24), giving him narrative and theological authority.

how is Jesus portrayed in the synoptics vs John

- in John Jesus is openly divine; synoptic Jesus is more cryptic

- in John Jesus teaches in long dialogues; synoptic Jesus teaches in short parables and sayings

- in John Jesus dies calmly and in control; synoptic Jesus dies in agony and cries out to God

what is nag hammadi

Nag Hammadi refers to a collection of 13 codices found in Egypt in 1945, containing 52 early Christian and Gnostic texts written in Coptic. These include the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and other writings that were excluded from the New Testament. These texts reveal the diversity of early Christian beliefs and challenge assumptions that "orthodox" Christianity was always dominant. The find has been essential for understanding how different groups interpreted Jesus, salvation, and the body/spirit divide. It's a crucial piece of evidence for studying the boundaries of early Christian identity.

what is the gospel of Thomas

The Gospel of Thomas is a sayings gospel discovered at Nag Hammadi, consisting of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus. It lacks narrative structure and rejects apocalyptic ideas, focusing instead on discovering divine knowledge (gnosis) through introspection. In this text, Jesus teaches that the kingdom is found within and that becoming "single" or unified internally is key to salvation. It's important to our course because it shows a very different early Christian theology—one that emphasizes wisdom and inner transformation rather than death and resurrection—highlighting the wide range of early Christian thought.

what is an ancient letter form

- Prescript

- Proem (thanksgiving)

- Body (theology + ethics)

- Postscript

What is the "Old Perspective" on Paul?

The Old Perspective on Paul is a traditional Protestant interpretation that sees Paul's writings—especially in Galatians and Romans—as a rejection of Judaism's emphasis on the law and works. According to this view, Paul taught that people are justified before God not by obeying the Jewish Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. It treats Paul's gospel as a radical departure from his former life, emphasizing grace over works. This reading shaped much of modern Christian theology, focusing on personal sin and salvation rather than community identity or covenant.

what is the new perspective on paul

The New Perspective on Paul is a scholarly reinterpretation of Paul's writings that emerged in the late 20th century. It challenges the Old Perspective by arguing that Paul was not critiquing Judaism as a legalistic religion but addressing issues of ethnic boundary markers like circumcision, Sabbath, and dietary laws. According to this view, first-century Judaism was based on covenantal nomism—the idea that Jews were chosen by God and kept the law as a response to that covenant, not to earn salvation. The New Perspective sees Paul's doctrine of justification by faith as a way to include Gentiles into God's people without requiring them to become Jewish, emphasizing unity in Christ rather than personal salvation alone.

who is paul the apostle

Paul, originally named Saul of Tarsus, was a Jewish Pharisee who initially persecuted early Christians but converted after a visionary encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. He became one of the most influential figures in early Christianity, especially known for his missionary work among Gentiles and for writing many of the letters (epistles) in the New Testament. His writings shaped early Christian theology and practice, and he played a key role in spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

what is paul in judaism

"Paul in Judaism" is a modern scholarly perspective that emphasizes Paul's identity as a Jew who remained within Judaism, rather than converting to or founding a new religion. Scholars in this view argue that Paul never rejected his Jewish identity or the Jewish law (Torah), but saw his mission as bringing Gentiles into relationship with the God of Israel through Christ—without requiring them to become Jews.

This view challenges traditional interpretations (especially the "Old Perspective") that portrayed Paul as opposing Judaism or the law. Instead, it sees Paul as operating within a diverse Second Temple Jewish world, where different groups had varying understandings of covenant, law, and righteousness. Paul, in this view, believed Christ fulfilled God's promises to the Gentiles without erasing Jewish practice.

what are ways Paul's legacy was preserved after his death

- Collection and circulation of his letters

- Use of his name in pseudonymous writings (e.g., Pastorals)

- Adaptation of his teachings for new community issues

what are some themes emphasized in the Pastoral Epistles

- Church leadership structure (e.g., bishops, elders)

- Sound doctrine and false teaching

- Gender roles and household codes

- Emphasis on personal moral behavior and piety

what are some challenges faced by the early post-Pauline churches

- Internal disputes over doctrine

- False teachers and rival interpretations of Paul

- Establishing consistent leadership and authority structures

What are the Pastoral Epistles?

1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. These are letters written in Paul's name, likely after his death, that aim to preserve and systematize his teachings. They focus on proper church leadership, combating heresy, and personal conduct. Unlike Paul's undisputed letters, the Pastorals reflect a more hierarchical church structure and place more emphasis on tradition and authority. They show how Paul's name was used to shape and stabilize early Christian communities in a time of growing institutional development.

what is Pseudonymity in the New Testament

Pseudonymity refers to writing under someone else's name, a common practice in antiquity. Some early Christians wrote letters as if they were Paul (e.g., the Pastorals) to lend authority to new teachings or concerns. While modern readers often see this as deceptive, in the ancient world, it could be understood as honoring a teacher's legacy. This practice helped solidify Paul's role as a theological anchor for emerging church structures.

what does paul tell us about Jesus

- born of a woman

- born Jewish of the line of David

- crucified

- had 12 disciples

- had brothers

why is Ephesians likely not from paul

- huge style differences

- vocabulary differences

- same words meaning different things

- different viewpoints

why are pastoral epistles likely not from Paul

- huge style differences

- vocabulary differences

- same words mean different things

- difference in social setting

- difference in viewpoints

- manuscripts and canon