NTE Exam 1

When was the N.T. Written?

First Century, 40s to 90s

Aramaic

very small, now dead senitic language

Hebrew

a Semitic language that originated in the Canaanite group of languages

Koine Greek

most common spoken language; N.T was written in it

3 Parameters for N.T. Canonicity

1) Apostolic authorship or source

2) “Consensus among the Churches”

3) Orthodox teaching

Apocryphal

False/ inauthentic; False N.T. gospels

Pseudepigrapha

supposedly written, by apostolic authors but were not

Gnostic/ Gnosticism

the esoteric knowledge of spiritual truth that Gnosticism emphasizes as the path to salvation

Codex Sinaiticus

full copy of every last word of the N.T. in one volume, Dates to 350s

Codex

like an unbound modern book

Scroll

2 rollers, up to 35 feet long

Pachment

animal skins, especially calf skin

Papyri

river reeds, like grass blades

Mark 16:9-20

the long ending of Mark

6 Empires which ruled Palestine before time of Christ

Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans

Cyrus of Persia

a more compassionate ruler and allowed some Jews to return to Jerusalem and start rebuilding

Alexander the Great

Conquered most of the known world, died in 323 with no sucessor

Hellenization

Greek domination of culture/language

Septuagint

a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that includes additional books and differs in some of its text. 

Ptolemies

Greek kingdom, moderate hellenization, Jews fared relatively well

Seleucids

Forcibly Hellenized Jews, language, culture, scripture, religion, food

Antiochus Epiphanes IV

sent an angent to force a preiest

Judas Maccabeus

lead revolt

Hasmonean Dynasty

rulers were both political and religious leaders, became corrupt over time

John Hyrcanus

Maccabean leader and jewish high priest of isreal

Alexander Janneus

operated as high priest and pharisees mocked him

Pompey

a general and statesman of the Roman Republic, led the siege on Jerusalem

Herod the Great

king was Jesus was born, built the temple

Herod Antipas

executed John the baptists, Jesus was sent to him by Pontius pilate

Herod Agrippa I

tired to pacify Jesus; executed James, son of Zebeddes

Herod Agrippa II

unfair taxation, uprisings, assassinations, destroyed Jerusalem temple in 70 AD

Implications of destruction of temple for Jews

they become completely a people of the diaspora/ worldwide scattering of a people group; identity is now focused on the Law, synagog

Implication of destruction of temple for Christians

thier faith became a missionary religion

9 People groups of the Palestine of Jesus

The people of the land; Pharisees; Sadducees; Scribes; Sanhedrin; Essenes; Zealots; Herodians; Samaritans

Synoptic gospels

Matthew; mark; luke

Bultmann

German scholar, early 20th “Demythologize the text”

Demythologizing the Text

the interpretation of passages of the Bible that are considered mythological by emphasizing the existential truths contained in the myth

Gospel Independence

the similarities are due to common stories/ sources talking about the same person

Gospel Interdependence

the gospel writes had access to one or more of the other gospels

Two-Gospel Solution

Matthew was written first Luke wrote second after reading Matthew, Mark wrote third after reading Luke and Matthew and wrote an abridged version

Two- source theory

Mark wrote first, Matthew and Luke both read Mark, plus a common source, written or oral, that is lost

Matthew Authorship

Matthew (Levi) the tax collector

Matthew Date

Do not know… probably before 70 AD

Matthew Audience

Jewish audience

Six Distinctives of the Book of Matthew

1) Jesus talks about the church a lot 2) Matthew highlights Christ’s fulfillment of O.T. prophecy 3) Matthew’s gospel contains extensive preaching 4) Matthew uses the term “kingdom of heaven” far more often than he uses “kingdom of God” 5) Matthew uses the “Son of Man” frequently to describe Jesus 6) the book of Matthew has an alternation structure

Matthew’s Birth Narrative

Matt shows Joseph perspective, escape to eygpt, tells of the magi, uses of Immanuel, fulfillment of the O.T. prophecy

Magi

Pagan astrologers from Persia, they were seeking wrongly, yet God revealed himself to them anyway; followers of a pre-christian prophet Zoroaster

Immanuel

God with us

Beatitudes

Blessed are the.. ( Matt. 5:1-12)

The Six Antitheses of Matthew 5: 17-48

“you have heard that it was said” “now I say unto you”; He is not opposing the law, He is raising the bar of application from a low standard to a high standard

Christ/ Messiah

Three “Greater thans” of Matthew 12

1) Jesus is more worthy of reference than the temple 2) Jesus is a better preacher than Jonah 3) Jesus is wiser than solomon

5 things to notice in Matthew’s crucifixion account

1) Pilate is torn- keep roman law or keep peace with Jesus 2) Death by Jew and Gentile, who put Jesus on the cross 3) Christ is scorned king 4) The veil is torn 5) Lestes usually translated as “thieves” used also for Barnabbus

Things to notice in Matthew’s resurrection account

1) the women have not scattered 2) the women are the first to see the Lord 3) the disciples still have doubt 4) The women were afraid yet filled with Joy 5)Jewish auidence

Mark Authorship

(John) Mark; Jew, Barnabbas cousin

Mark Date

not certain, probably 40-60s

Mark Audience

gentiles generally and romans specifically in mind

Mark Location

Probably Rome

Distinctives of Mark’s Gospel

1) Followers of Christ 2) Messianic Secret 3) Miracles and Exorcises 4) Invisible Narrator 5) Sample Sequential structure 6) minimum of discourse 7) Mark is action- packed 8) Jesus authority in teaching 9) The passion story