Theology Exam 4

Indicate whether each of the following statements accords with Cassidy’s interpretation of Matthew 17:24–27 (the passage in which Peter is asked if Jesus pays the annual half-shekel Temple tax and Jesus has Peter catch a fish with a shekel coin in its mouth in order to pay the tax for Himself and Peter).

By the paying the tax in this instance, Jesus affirms that taxes imposed by religious or political authorities must always be paid without question.

False

Indicate whether each of the following statements accords with Cassidy’s interpretation of Matthew 17:24–27 (the passage in which Peter is asked if Jesus pays the annual half-shekel Temple tax and Jesus has Peter catch a fish with a shekel coin in its mouth in order to pay the tax for Himself and Peter).

Ambiguity in Jesus’ comments to Peter means that we cannot tell whether Jesus regularly paid this Temple tax or thought that it was necessary to do so.

True

Indicate whether each of the following statements accords with Cassidy’s interpretation of Matthew 17:24–27 (the passage in which Peter is asked if Jesus pays the annual half-shekel Temple tax and Jesus has Peter catch a fish with a shekel coin in its mouth in order to pay the tax for Himself and Peter).

Miraculous provision of the coin to pay the tax leaves a question as to whether Jesus regularly paid this tax or thought that it was necessary to do so.

True

Indicate whether Bryan offers each of the following points in support of his contention that John’s Passion narrative is correct in stating that the Romans reserved execution of capital punishment to themselves.

The Roman governor Albinus had the Jewish High Priest removed in 62 for illegally authorizing the execution of Saint James of Jerusalem before Albinus arrived to take up his post.

True

Indicate whether Bryan offers each of the following points in support of his contention that John’s Passion narrative is correct in stating that the Romans reserved execution of capital punishment to themselves.

The Sanhedrin’s stoning of Saint Stephen as described in Acts 7 more closely resembled a mob lynching than the result of properly resolved and completed legal proceedings against him.

True

Indicate whether Bryan offers each of the following points in support of his contention that John’s Passion narrative is correct in stating that the Romans reserved execution of capital punishment to themselves.

The Jews’ “right” to kill gentiles who transgressed the Temple’s inner courts is better understood as an extraordinary concession by Rome than as an indication of a broader power to execute capital punishment granted to the Sanhedrin.

True

Indicate whether Bryan offers each of the following points in support of his contention that Gospels’ Passion narratives have historical value.

In a patriarchal age, it would have been odd for the Gospel writers to have fabricated stories about the crucifixion where Jesus’ female followers were present but His male followers were absent.

True

Indicate whether Bryan offers each of the following points in support of his contention that Gospels’ Passion narratives have historical value.

The fact that Jesus’ followers after His crucifixion may have remembered the event as one predicted in, and fulfilling, Israel’s scriptures is insufficient reason for rejecting the historicity of the Passion narratives.

True

Indicate whether Bryan offers each of the following points in support of his contention that Gospels’ Passion narratives have historical value.

It would have been strange for Jesus’ followers to have spent long hours after His death scouring Israel’s scriptures to discern the theological meaning of His Passion while remaining uninterested in, and oblivious to, the actual details of Jesus’ public execution

True

Donatives and discharge payments as a reward for service.

The military

Promotion of interregional trade to enhance wealth.

The senatorial and equestrian classes

The so-called “bread and circuses.”

The populace of the city of Rome

Bryan argues that Jesus would have been perceived by His contemporaries as a prophet.  Indicate whether each of the following characteristics of Jesus’ ministry would have been considered typical or atypical of a prophet.

the joy exhibited by Jesus and His followers

False

Bryan argues that Jesus would have been perceived by His contemporaries as a prophet.  Indicate whether each of the following characteristics of Jesus’ ministry would have been considered typical or atypical of a prophet.

feeding followers in the wilderness

True

Bryan argues that Jesus would have been perceived by His contemporaries as a prophet.  Indicate whether each of the following characteristics of Jesus’ ministry would have been considered typical or atypical of a prophet.

the presence of unchaperoned women among His followers

False

Bryan argues that Jesus would have been perceived by His contemporaries as a prophet.  Indicate whether each of the following characteristics of Jesus’ ministry would have been considered typical or atypical of a prophet.

warning of God's future judgment

True

Bryan argues that Jesus would have been perceived by His contemporaries as a prophet.  Indicate whether each of the following characteristics of Jesus’ ministry would have been considered typical or atypical of a prophet.

Jesus' celibacy

False

 Indicate whether each of the following was an aspect of Jesus’ ministry which would have been off-putting to many pious Jews of His day.

His adoption of an attitude of sovereignty toward the Torah

True

 Indicate whether each of the following was an aspect of Jesus’ ministry which would have been off-putting to many pious Jews of His day.

His forecasting and performatively and metaphorically “enacting” the destruction of the Temple

True

 Indicate whether each of the following was an aspect of Jesus’ ministry which would have been off-putting to many pious Jews of His day.

His offering of God’s forgiveness to sinners by virtue of their association with Him personally

True

 Indicate whether each of the following was an aspect of Jesus’ ministry which would have been off-putting to many pious Jews of His day.

His association of Himself with the fulfilling of God’s purposes and judgment

True

Indicate whether John’s Gospel applies each of the following titles to Jesus only once or more than once.

"Savior of the World"

Once

Indicate whether John’s Gospel applies each of the following titles to Jesus only once or more than once.

"Lord"

More than once

Indicate whether John’s Gospel applies each of the following titles to Jesus only once or more than once.

"King"

More than once

Indicate whether John’s Gospel applies each of the following titles to Jesus only once or more than once.

"Lord and God”

Once

Indicate whether each of the following statements about Pontius Pilate is true or false according to Bryan’s analysis.

Pilate replaced Jewish High Priests on almost an annual basis.

False

Indicate whether each of the following statements about Pontius Pilate is true or false according to Bryan’s analysis.

The historical sources consistently show that Pilate honed a keen understanding of the Jews and their sensitivities.

False

Indicate whether each of the following statements about Pontius Pilate is true or false according to Bryan’s analysis.

Pilate was the Roman governor of Judaea for about ten years.

True

Indicate whether each of the following statements about Pontius Pilate is true or false according to Bryan’s analysis.

After crucifying Jesus, Pilate did not actively seek to arrest and to execute Jesus’ most prominent followers.

True

Indicate whether Bryan considers each of the following descriptions of Roman Judaea between A.D. 6 and A.D. 66 supported or unsupported, based on the information available from extant first-century sources.

an apparently widespread expectation among the people that a prophet or messiah would emerge

True

Indicate whether Bryan considers each of the following descriptions of Roman Judaea between A.D. 6 and A.D. 66 supported or unsupported, based on the information available from extant first-century sources.

a constant and virtually non-stop series of intense rebellions, disturbances, and protests among the people

False

 Indicate whether Bryan considers each of the following descriptions of Roman Judaea between A.D. 6 and A.D. 66 supported or unsupported, based on the information available from extant first-century sources.

changes to the forms and structures of political rule at different times during the period

True

 Indicate whether Bryan considers each of the following descriptions of Roman Judaea between A.D. 6 and A.D. 66 supported or unsupported, based on the information available from extant first-century sources.

general separation of the political and religious spheres in Jewish life, such that neither sphere influenced or affected the other

False

 Indicate whether Bryan offers each of the following claims as a reason why the case of first-century Palestine is unusual from the standpoint of postcolonial theory.

a claim that the vast majority of surviving texts were authored by Romans, from a Roman perspective

False

Indicate whether Bryan offers each of the following claims as a reason why the case of first-century Palestine is unusual from the standpoint of postcolonial theory.

a claim that none of the Jewish chroniclers of the period was at all privileged

False

 Indicate whether Bryan offers each of the following claims as a reason why the case of first-century Palestine is unusual from the standpoint of postcolonial theory.

a claim that an unusually large quantity of contemporary information about this Roman territory has survived

True

The peace and order imposed by Rome on its territories starting with Augustus’ emergence as Emperor and Princeps after defeating Marc Antony in a civil war.

Pax atque quieta

Extremist “dagger men” among the Jewish population who concealed daggers in their cloaks to stab unexpectedly their opponents (who often accepted, or collaborated with, Roman rulers).

Sicarii

In Judaism, the sin (punishable by death, according to the Torah) of directing any derision, demeaning, or insult toward the God of Israel; a sin most often manifest when a human being personally claimed any of God’s exclusive prerogatives.

Blasphemy

A term usually translated as brigands or bandits but also capable of meaning robbers, highwaymen, revolutionaries, insurrectionists, or guerillas, and thus interpreted variously by different commentators.

Lestai

Rome’s law of high treason against the state.

Maiestas

The view that Luke sought in his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles to present Christians and Christianity to Roman authorities in a favorable way.

Political Apologetic

Indicate whether each of the following statements, according to Bryan, accurately or inaccurately characterizes Jesus’ critique of the political authorities of His day.

He regularly advocated for the political independence of the Jews from Rome.

False

Indicate whether each of the following statements, according to Bryan, accurately or inaccurately characterizes Jesus’ critique of the political authorities of His day.

He repeatedly called for radical reform of the systems and methods of tax collection.

False

Indicate whether each of the following statements, according to Bryan, accurately or inaccurately characterizes Jesus’ critique of the political authorities of His day.

He acknowledged the powers that be while insisting that they be held accountable for how they wielded power.

True

Indicate whether each of the following statements, according to Bryan, accurately or inaccurately characterizes Jesus’ critique of the political authorities of His day.

He evidenced no particular interest in the issue of whether the structures of imperial governance should be updated or replaced.

True

Identify whether each of the following is or is not a feature of Cassidy’s “canonical approach” to the texts of the New Testament.

Consideration New Testament texts at various stages of their development

False

Identify whether each of the following is or is not a feature of Cassidy’s “canonical approach” to the texts of the New Testament.

analysis of the final forms of New Testament texts

True

Identify whether each of the following is or is not a feature of Cassidy’s “canonical approach” to the texts of the New Testament.

analysis of the impact of particular sources on the specific authors of New Testament texts

False

Indicate whether Bryan identified Old Testament exemplars for each of the four options listed below for how first-century Jews could respond to Roman rule.

full cooperation with Rome

True

Indicate whether Bryan identified Old Testament exemplars for each of the four options listed below for how first-century Jews could respond to Roman rule.

acceptance of Roman rule with a willingness to challenge it or to question it on occasion

True

Indicate whether Bryan identified Old Testament exemplars for each of the four options listed below for how first-century Jews could respond to Roman rule.

non-violent rejection of Roman rule

True

Indicate whether Bryan identified Old Testament exemplars for each of the four options listed below for how first-century Jews could respond to Roman rule.

violent rejection of Roman rule

True