Christian Scriptures Exam 3

Who took control of Judea and Samaria by 332 BCE?

Alexander the Great

What happened after Alexander the Great died in 323 BCE?

He died without an obvious heir; his generals divided the empire.

Which general took Egypt, Libya, and Palestine?

Ptolemy

Which general took most of the eastern part of the empire, including Syria?

Seleucus

What did Antiochus IV do in 167 BCE?

Outlawed Judaism, defiled the temple, erected a statue of Zeus, and sacrificed a pig on the altar.

Who led the Maccabean Revolt after Mattathias died?

Judas (Maccabeus)

What happened in 164 BCE during the Maccabean Revolt?

The temple in Jerusalem was purified and rededicated.

What marked the start of Jewish autonomous rule over Judea?

In 142 BCE, Jews in Judea stopped paying tribute to Seleucid leadership.

When did Roman occupation of Judea begin?

63 BCE; Jewish autonomy ended.

Who was known as a great builder of the Temple?

Herod the Great

What happened during the first Jewish revolt against Rome in 66 CE?

Rome raided the temple; Jerusalem fell in 70 CE; the second temple was destroyed and religious leadership eliminated.

What was the result of the Bar Kokhba Revolt in 132 CE?

Judaism was outlawed in Judea; Judea was depopulated; no autonomous Jewish state until 1948.

What was the Sanhedrin?

The seat of religious and political authority.

What was the role of the synagogue?

Houses of worship and study, often led by non-priests; no sacrifices.

Who were the Pharisees?

Came from all parts of society; emphasized study of the Torah and Oral Torah; embraced religious developments of the Second Temple Period.

Who were the Sadducees?

Aristocratic elite; administered the Temple; rejected Oral Torah and most Hellenistic religious developments.

Who were the Essenes?

Lived in isolated communities under ascetic guidelines; most well-known group near Qumran; produced the Dead Sea Scrolls.

What distinguished the Samaritans?

Different place of worship and biblical traditions, preferring Mt. Gerizim.

What practices became central for Diaspora Jews?

Sabbath, Kashrut, Torah study; synagogue became the center of religious and intellectual life.

What replaced the sacrificial system and Temple after 70 CE?

Torah observance and the synagogue.

Which form of Judaism survived after 70 CE?

Pharisaic Judaism.

Which gospels are called the Synoptic Gospels?

Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

What is distinctive about the Gospel of John compared to the Synoptics?

Contains fewer elements from the Synoptics; no exorcisms or parables; different structure.

How is the Gospel of Mark structured?

Split in half with Peter’s proclamation in 8:27.

What are distinctive features of Matthew?

Organized into a 5-part cycle of teachings and narrative; abundance of scriptural citations; birth narrative emphasizes Jesus’ Davidic heritage and genealogy back to Abraham.

What is Matthew’s approach to the law?

Jesus came to fulfill, not abolish, the Law; ethical interpretations include anger as murder, lust as adultery, complete non-violence, love your enemies, and “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

What are distinctive features of Luke?

More universal outlook; emphasis on the socially marginalized; journey to Jerusalem forms the largest part of the book.

Who likely authored Acts?

The same author as the Gospel of Luke.

What is the structure of Acts?

3-part structure: Jerusalem (1:1–8:3), Judea and Samaria (8:4–12:25), to the ends of the earth (13–28).

What was decided at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15)?

Gentiles did not have to be ethnically or religiously Jewish to join the movement.

Who is the “one whom Jesus loved”?

Present at the last supper, Jesus’ death, and resurrection; featured in John’s gospel.

What is unique about John’s prologue?

Offers a “cosmic” beginning, echoing Genesis 1:1, instead of a birth narrative.

What are the “I am” sayings in John?

Seven instances where Jesus declares his identity using “I am…”, echoing Exodus 3:14.

How do miracles function in John?

As prophetic sign acts.

What is emphasized more in John than the Synoptics?

The identity of the King (Jesus), less on the nature of the Kingdom of God.