Thl 236 Midterm

Narrative Criticism

The methodology examining how a story functions through the literary analysis of its structural elements.

Reader Response Criticism

An analytical approach focusing on how a reader interacts with, interprets, and reacts to a text.

Historical Criticism

The examination of a text through a historical lens, including its dating, authorship, and original context.

Redaction Criticism

The study of how biblical authors edited, altered, and arranged pre-existing sources to convey specific theological goals.

Source Criticism

The investigation into the specific written or oral sources available to an author when composing a text.

Authorship of the Bible in Dei Verbum

The Catholic doctrine requiring scholars to investigate the human author's intended meaning to uncover what God willed to reveal through their words.

Hallmarks of 1st-Century Judaism

Monotheism, the centrality of the Jerusalem Temple, and strict adherence to the Torah and Law of Moses.

Impact of Hellenization on the New Testament

Reshaped cultural contexts and introduced Greek philosophical concepts that influenced the composition of early Christian texts.

Mark's Riddling Rhetoric

Jesus's technique of responding to challenges regarding his authority by posing counter-questions and riddles.

Markan Sandwich

A literary technique structuring passages in an ABA format, where a central side story (B) is framed by a main narrative (A).

Secrecy Motif in Mark

The recurring theme where Jesus commands his followers and spirits to keep his identity hidden.

Disciples' Ignorance in Mark

A literary device creating distance between the reader and the misunderstanding disciples.

Key Elements of Apocalypticism

Cosmic dualism (good vs. evil), divine intervention, and the end of the world featuring final judgment.

Apocalypticism in Mark

Features Jesus in direct conflict with unclean spirits and proclaims the imminent Kingdom of God amidst persecution and temple destruction.

Son of Man (Daniel vs. Mark)

Transition from an everlasting divine figure in Daniel to Jesus as a divine yet suffering figure with authority in Mark.

Euangelion

Greek term translated as 'good news' or 'gospel'.

Dating of Mark

Concluded to be 67–70 CE during the Jewish Revolt, based on audience persecution and the lack of explicit mention of the Temple's destruction.

Matthew's Redaction of Mark

Explicitly heightens Jesus's messianic identity and relies on exact citations to remove narrative ambiguity.

New Moses Typology in Matthew

The depiction of Jesus as the ultimate deliverer and lawgiver by structuring his life after Moses.

Concept of Fulfillment in Matthew

The view that Jesus fulfills and deepens the Law through his teachings rather than abolishing it.

Jesus's Jewishness in Matthew

Highlighted through details such as his prayer shawl fringes (tzitzit) and his devotion to the Law and love of neighbor.

Matthew's View of the Law

Presents Jesus engaging directly with the Law of Moses to affirm and intensify its ethical requirements.

Wealth Distribution in Antiquity

An unequal economic system where a small ruling elite controlled nearly all land, currency, and resources.

Reversal of Fortunes in Luke

The theological motif asserting that those who are poor on Earth will be rich in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Wealth Ethics in Luke

A tiered economic model assessing giving based on wealth tier (surplus, stable, subsistence, or below subsistence).

Markan Priority

The theory that Mark was the earliest written Synoptic Gospel, serving as a primary source for Matthew and Luke.

Farrer Hypothesis

The synoptic theory that Mark was written first, Matthew used Mark, and Luke used both Mark and Matthew without relying on source Q.

Two-Source Hypothesis

The proposal that Matthew and Luke independently used Mark and a second lost source called Q.

Source Q

A hypothetical collection of Jesus's sayings used by both Matthew and Luke to explain shared non-Markan material.

Criterion of Embarrassment

A historical rule suggesting that details awkward or shameful to early Christians are likely authentic.

Criterion of Double Discontinuity

A historical method isolating traditions that do not fit 1st-century Jewish practice nor later Christian church theology.

Criterion of Multiple Attestation

A historical test verifying events or sayings that appear in multiple independent early sources.

Walsh's Critique of Historical Jesus Quests

Claims historical Jesus quests are biased, pseudo-historical constructs created to safeguard Christian orthodoxy.

Structure of the Gospel of John

Divided into the Prologue, Book of Signs, Book of Glory, and Epilogue.