Epistles Midterm

Arrange the General Epistles and Hebrews in canonical order.

Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1,2 & 3 John, Jude

What letter was written to people in Pontus, Cappadocia, Galatia, Asia, and Bithynia?

1 Peter

List 4 elements that contribute to early Christian “power or persuasion”.

Preaching, Intellectual argument, Miracles in Jesus’ name, Moral suasion of Christian behavior, Text-centered, Trans-local, Multi-ethnic

List 2 aspects of successful religious movements according to Rodney Starks.

1. Retain a level of continuity with its cultural setting

2. Maintain a medium level of tension with that setting as well

List 2 ways that Christians were unique from the broader culture according to the Epistle to Diognetus.

Refusal to worship many gods of Roman Empire, Not distinguished from the rest by country, language, or custom, They follow local customs in dress and food, Do not expose unwanted children, Nonretaliatory against opponents, Belief in one true God

List the 4 units or literary chunks of the New Testament.

1. Gospels and Acts

2. Pauline Letters

3. General Epistles and Hebrews

4. Revelation

The General Epistles were previously referred to by what expression?

The Catholic Epistles

Canon refers to texts that have what 2 attributes?

Authoritative and Normative

Which 3 General Epistles were quoted frequently and accepted by the 2nd Century?

Hebrews, 1 Peter, 1 John

What General Epistles are written by “the elder”?

2 & 3 John

What letter commands the audience to disaffiliate with those who deny Christ’s coming in the flesh?

2 John

Who is the recipient of 3 John?

Gaius

Who is Diotrephes according to 3 John?

The main opponent (the bad guy)

What book may have had a Palestinian audience?

Jude

In what letter does the author identify himself as Simeon Peter?

2 Peter

Matching: Match each of the General Epistles/Hebrews to their description in the “Are They Letters” slides.

• Hebrews: speech of praise about Christ

• James: protrepic/wisdom lit to live a virtuous life

• 1 Peter: circular letter sent to Christian communities in Asia Minor

• 2 Peter: Jewish-Christian farewell speech/testament (Peter’s death in letter form)

• 1 John: almost no letter conventions, modeled on aspects of Gospel of John

• 2 John: almost all letter conventions, community identity, boundaries of hospitality

• 3 John: letter conventions, summons audience to practice hospitality for itinerant teachers

• Jude: Christian sermon w/ aspects of letter, focus on opponents as the ungodly foretold by prophets

What letter evidences false teachings about Christ’s return and “eschatological fatigue”?

2 Peter

The term “elder” could refer to what aspects of “the elder”?

Regional authority, age, or both

What are the 3 tests found in 1 John?

1. Moral Test: obey Jesus’ teachings

2. Social Test: loving fellow believers in concrete ways

3. Doctrinal Test: confess that Jesus is the Christ

What are the best examples of a personal letter in the New Testament?

2 & 3 John

List and discuss the 3 ways in which 1 Peter’s audience might be thought of as exiles.

1. Jews Outside the Holy Land: the audience is of Jewish descent

2. Gentile Identity Formation: the audience is Gentile believers who adopt Christian confessions

3. Gentiles Becoming Israel: the audience is ethnically Gentile, but become God’s covenant people through the resurrection of Jesus

The majority of 1 John develops what 2 attributes of God?

Love and Light

What is arguably “the most neglected book in the New Testament”?

Jude

Which 2 letters in the General Epistles share significant content?

Jude and 2 Peter

2 Peter seems to suggest a heretical view influenced by what ancient philosophy?

Epicureanism

What is the only NT book to cite explicitly and extra-canonical Jewish sources: 1 Enoch 1:9 and Tesstament of Moses (lost ending)?

Jude

What are the options concerning the objects to be destroyed in 2 Peter 3:10?

Greek term translates as “elements”

1. Earth, air, fire, water

2. Celestial bodies: sun, moon, stars

3. Angelic beings, hostile spiritual forces

What have you studied or reflected on that has been helpful?

Personal reflection