NT: Spring Final Exam ‘23

How many books does the NT contain?

27

How does God reveal Himself?

Through salvation history (God’s saving action, covenant agreement, and more)

The purposes of the Incarnation (“God became flesh”)

1. World-made-flesh saves all humanity by reconciling human being w/ the Father

2. Jesus reveals God’s love to the world

3. Jesus is the perfect model for holiness

4. Word of God’s shared w/ humans to humans

Historical evidence/basic facts for and about Jesus

• Born as a Palestine Jew in Bethlehem between 6 and 4 BC of a woman named Mary

• Lives in Nazareth, Galilee

• Around AD 28 - baptized by John the Baptist and began his public ministry teaching of God’s kingdom and messages of repentance

• AD 30 or 33 - was arrested by Jewish and Roman authorities. Was turned over and sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate

Who were the Non-Christians that confirmed the existence of Jesus and how did they do so?

• Tacitus (Roman historian): reports the famous fire that broke out in Rome under emperor Nero. Confirmed Jesus’ living during Tiberius’ reign

• Suetonius (Roman biographer): states Emperor Claudius kicks the Jews out of town who were incited by “Chrestus”

• Pliny the younger (writer): wrote a letter to emperor Trajan asking for advice on legal proceedings for those accused of Christianity

• Josephus (Jewish historian): didn’t question historical existence of Jesus

How can I meet/encounter Jesus today?

1. Sacred scripture

2. Sacraments

3. Prayer

4. In others

Names and titles for Jesus

• Christ: “anointed one”

• Son of God: The one and only son and shares the same divine nature

• Lord: translates to Greek word “Kyrios” and Hebrew word “Adonai”

• YHWH: Most holy name for God

What are the three criteria from the Church in order for a book to be included in Sacred Scripture (NT canon)?

• Apostolic origin: witnesses of the Apostles

• Widespread acceptance: widely circulated and accepted by the Church

• Conformity to the rule of faith: writings reflect traditional faith of early Church abt Jesus and teachings. CANNOT stray from the truth (heresy)

How were the Gospels formed?

1. Public life and teachings of Jesus (6-4 BC to AD 30-33)

2. Oral tradition (AD 30-50)

3. NT writings (AD 50-120)

Source criticism

Tries to determine what source or sources the Gospel and other NT writers used to compose their works

Form criticism

Being able to distinguish various types and styles of writing

Historical criticism

Analyzes language, consistency, convergence, and originality to determine what the Gospels report about Jesus can be traced directly back to Him

Redaction criticism

Focuses on evangelists as editors: how and why they arranged their sources the way they did

What are the three rules to interpret the Scripture?

1. we must personally search the scriptures.

2. the Bible explains itself

3. we must think of and express what we learn from the Bible the same way God does

What does Jesus mean?

“God Saves” or “YHWH is salvation”

What does Christ mean?

“Anointed one”

What does Son of God mean?

“Shares the same divine nature as God the Father”

What does Lord mean?

“Jesus is God”

What languages did He primarily speak?

Aramaic: language He spoke on the daily

Hebrew: Jesus would’ve likely learned Hebrew in the synagogue and we know He could read this since the Hebrew scriptures were written in Hebrew and we see Him reading OT scrolls in the NT

Greek: common language throughout the Roman empire, would’ve been useful in Jesus’ trade. May have spoken this w/ Pontius Pilate

Latin: probably used in Palestine because of Roman occupation forces, but Jesus probably didn’t speak it

Sadducees

• Very powerful priests and aristocrats w/ lots of money

• Collaborated w/ Romans to stay in charge

• conservative religiously: only Torah’s inspired scripture

• Believes in free will (God doesn’t control your life)

• NT references group 13x

Pharisees

• Strict observance of 10 commandments

• Believes in afterlife

• Accepted by the prophets and writings in the scripture and Torah

• Intention: To be good and thoughtful Jews

• Jesus’ beliefs and practices closely related to this group

Essenes

• Apocalyptic group: believed God would come in Kingdom dramatically and catastrophic

• Lived strict and pure lives

• DID NOT MARRY

• NOT IN NT

• Disappeared after Temple was destroyed

Zealots

• Violent

• Doesn’t like roman’s

• Wanted to overthrow Romans

What language were the Gospels written in?

Greek

Explanation of the Jewish beliefs and practices of Jesus’ time

Synagogue:

• House of prayer

• place of discussion

• a local school

Temple:

• located in Jerusalem

• Where God dwelled in a special way

• offered animal sacrifices to God

Jews in the 1st century AD believed that YHWH would send a messiah very soon

Torah:

• The Law

• contained in the Pentateuch (first five books of the OT)

• Heart of Jewish life, not a list of rules

What role did the tax collectors, Gentiles, women, and common people have in the life of Christ?

Tax collectors: greatly despised by society but Jesus interacted with them

Gentiles: non-Jews that Jesus interacted with

Women: treated unequally but Jesus treated them with dignity and respect

Common people: didn’t have a significant role but many created crowds around Jesus

When was Mark’s Gospel written and who is believed to be the author of the Gospel of Mark?

Author: John Mark, may have been a traveling companion with St. Peter and Paul

When: 65-70 AD (a time when Jews were persecuted)

Who was the audience of Mark’s gospel?

Gentile Christians

What is Jesus known as in Mark’s Gospel

The suffering servant

What is the Messianic Secret?

refers to Jesus’ directive that people, even his own disciples, keep quiet about his true identity. The fullness of his identity as the Suffering Servant would be revealed in and through his suffering and death.

How does Mark present the most vivid portrait of the human Jesus?

He stresses how God shares our pain and carries us through it and portrays Jesus as an active healer and miracle worker, who accepts loneliness and suffering as the cost of **obedience** to his Father’s will.

What happened with Jesus and his Apostles on the road to Caesarea Philippi? What did Jesus ask them?

He asked them, “Who do people say that I am.” The disciples responded with Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He then said “But do who you say that I am?” Peter then said, “The Son of God.”

What is the most frequently used title for Jesus in Mark’s Gospel? What does this title emphasize about Jesus?

Authoritative teacher, healer and miracle worker, and passionate human. It emphasizes that Jesus cared for others.

During what time in the Catholic Church is the Paschal Mystery commemorated?

Easter Triduum

What major Christian sacrament was instituted at the Last Supper?

Holy Communion

Identify 5 or more major events in the Passion Narrative in the Gospel of Mark (in chronological order)

1. Anointing at Bethany
2. The betrayal by Judas
3. The Lord’s supper
4. Peter’s denial predicted
5. Agony in the Garden
6. The betrayal and arrest of Jesus
7. Jesus before the Sandhedrin
8. Peter’s denial of Jesus
9. Jesus before Pilate
10. Mockery by the soldiers
11. The crucifixion
12. The death of Jesus
13. The burial of Jesus
14. The resurrection of Jesus

What is the way of discipleship as shown in the Gospel of Mark?

Jesus clearly explains that He is the suffering servant who will obey His father and the disciples must likewise humble themselves

What does the Parable of the Rich Man teach us about the challenges of discipleship from Mark?

It teaches us that conflicts form when we hold on to worldly wealth and possessions. We must prioritize God over wealth if we want eternal life.

Why did Pilate find Jesus guilty?

Because the people were forcing him to make that decision

Why did Jesus die?

He died to follow God’s plan: the redemption and salvation of humanity

What are three things that Jesus did that angered the religious leaders of his day?

• He associated with the sinners

• He performed miracles on the Sabbath

• He claimed that he was the Son of God

Who is believed to be the author of Matthew’s Gospel? When was it written?

Author: A Jewish Christian scribe who may have known Matthew the Apostle

When: AD 80’s

Who was Matthew’s audience?

Jewish-Christian

Who from the OT does Matthew compare Jesus to?

Moses

Themes of Matthew’s Gospel

• Judgement

• Jesus as Emmanuel

• Discipleship

• Church

• Right instruction

What are three differences between Matthew and Mark’s Gospel?

Mark:

• Shorter than Matthew

• Presents Jesus as the suffering servant

• Ends abruptly w/ no Resurrection

Matthew:

• Presents Jesus as New Moses

• Ends w/ two resurrection appearances

• Begins with Infancy narrative

Sermon on the Mount

• Summarizes the New Law of the Gospel - love, grace, and freedom!

• Major theme: interior conversion that leads to putting into practice one’s discipleship

• Share in mission of salvation - one’s presence should help make the world more loving and consequently, more livable.

• Contains Beatitudes

Sharing Faith With Others

• Proclaim the Gospel

• Have a spirit of poverty + receive hospitality

• Holy Spirit will help

• Relationships may be difficult

• Suffering comes with the job

Parables about the Kingdom

• Reveals the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven

• All are invited into the family of God

• Reflect deeply on the meaning

Jesus Founds and Instructs the Church

• Message: Greatness lies in serving

• Stories: Greatness in the kingdom, temptations to sin, parable of the lost sheep, brother who sins, parable of the unforgiving servant

The Final Judgement

• Jesus will come in dramatic fashion

• Apocalyptic

• Sometimes called the eschatological discourse from the Greek word eschaton which means “end time”

What scripture verse in Matthew points to how we will be evaluated at the end of our life?

Matthew 24:45-46

What is Jesus trying to tell us with the Parable of the Judgment of Nations?

He is telling us that our eternal destiny is determined on whether we fed the hungry, give drinks to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned

How is Jesus portrayed in the gospel of Luke?

The compassionate Messiah and universal Savior

What was Luke’s target audience?

Gentile Christians

Connection with Luke and Acts of the Apostles

It was written by the same author, Luke

Parable of the Prodigal Son

• Illustrates Jesus’ particular concern for the lost and God’s love for the repentant sinners

• Shows more about the boundless love of a father than a “lost” son

• God loves sinners and is merciful to everyone

How is Jesus “Compassionate to the Poor”

He tells a story of Lazarus, which is living off of scraps from a rich man. Jesus says that the rich man will go to hell but the poor man will have eternal life and happiness

How is Jesus a “Friend of Outcasts”

Jesus made friends with a tax collector Zacchaeus, who was a notorious sinner

How is Jesus a “Lover of Enemies”

A person asked Jesus how to attain eternal life. Jesus answered him that he should love God and treat your neighbor as you want to be treated. Jesus says that a neighbor is everyone, including your enemies.

How is Jesus a “Friend of Sinners”

He welcomes and eats with sinners. This is imitating the love of His Father.

How is Jesus a “Savior for all People”

His mission is to offer salvation to all people, even Jews and Gentiles

How do women hold a special role in Luke’s Gospel?

Luke has many stories in which women play a significant role. For example, Mary plays a key role in the infancy narrative while Joseph is in the background. Luke elevates their status and worth.

What is significant of the story “Appearance on the way to Emmaus”

The disciples realized that Jesus resurrected and that they are witnesses of His resurrection.

Who wrote the Acts of the Apostles and why?

St. Luke wrote this because he wanted to provide an account of the early years of the Church. He also wanted a sequel to his previous Gospel.

Who was St. Paul

He was a convert to the faith and the Church’s greatest missionary. Even though he didn’t spend time with Jesus on earth, he is called the “Apostle to the Gentiles.”

What is the significance of John’s prologue?

It states the main themes of the gospel: life, light, truth, the world, testimony, and the preexistence of Christ who reveals God the Father

Who wrote the Gospel of John and when?

Traditional view: the “beloved disciple”

Recent view: A disciple of the Apostle John

When: 90-100 AD

What is the target audience for John?

Jewish Christians who were expelled from synagogues after the First Jewish Revolt

What are the themes of the Gospel of John?

• Jesus is the Word of God

• Faith is essential

• Jesus promised an Advocate

• Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

What is the Book of Signs?

It is the 1st major part in the Gospel of John. It’s organized around 7 miracles that reveal Jesus’ identity, the purpose of Incarnation, and his relation to his Father. After each sign, the writer provides a long discourse to help the reader comprehend the significance of what just happened.

What are the 7 signs and its significance?

1. Changing water to wine = Faith/Jesus’ power over nature

2. Cure of the Royal Official’s son = Faith in Jesus rescues a person from spiritual death

3. Cure on the Sabbath = Jesus is the source of life

4. The multiplication of the loaves = a reference to the Eucharist

5. the walking on the water = reveals that Jesus is God’s Holy One

6. Cure of the man born blind = If you believe, you will be able to see

7. The raising of Lazarus = prefigures Jesus’ own Death and Resurrection

How is the Gospel of John different from the synoptics?

• He only includes people and incidents such as Nicodemus, Lazarus, man born blind, and a Samaritan woman

• Jesus on himself as God’s revelation

• Only Gospel to provide details of Jesus making several trips to Jerusalem for festivals and attends 3 passover festivals, not just one

• No mention of demonic possessions

What are the major conflicts seen in the Gospel of John?

• Light of Christ vs. darkness of the world

• Faith vs. unbelief

• Truth vs. untruth

• How God thinks vs. how people act

What does it mean to call Jesus the “Word of God”

He is God Himself

What is the Book of Glory and what is its purpose, including the themes?

Contains two sections: The Last Supper discourses and Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection

Purpose: to show the significance of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection

Themes: love, sacrifice, faith, and eternal life

How is Jesus washing the feet of his disciples a model of serving others?

This is a task for lower class men, and Jesus washing the feet showcases his humility and how he wants to serve others

What is the “High Priestly Prayer”

Sending of the Holy Spirit

What is the meaning behind Jesus saying, “I am the vine…”

This means that we are the branches, meaning, we get our life from Jesus

What does the Resurrection accomplish?

It accomplishes victory over death, atonement for sin, defeat of evil powers, assurance of new life, confirmation of Jesus’ identity, and the commissioning of believers to continue his mission

Who was St. Paul and is he important in the life of the Church?

A converted Evangelist whose letters were influential in the development of the early Church

What significant event transpired in Paul’s life in AD 36?

On the road to Damascus, Saul is blinded by a light, and God asked him why he is persecuting Christians

What was the goal of Paul’s letters?

To instruct and teach, encourage and support, unite and reconcile, and defend and apologize

Who was Jesus Christ for paul?

Jesus helped convert Paul into an Apostle

What are the Catholic letters?

a collection of 7 NT letters

Why are the letters specifically called “catholic”

It addresses a universal and worldwide audience. And catholic means universal.

What is the Book of Revelation?

The last book of the Bible, also know as the Apocalypse. It focuses on symbolism and bring it out through imaginative language and its use of symbols such as beasts and plagues

Why was the Book of Revelation written?

To encourage wavering Christians to remain faithful during the times of persecution, false teaching, and complacency.

Major themes of the Book of Revelation

The Lamb of God has triumphed

What is Jesus’ identity in the Book of Revelation?

He is the risen Lord exalted by God the Father in eternal glory, the alpha and omega, and the ruler of all

Ascension

The event in salvation history when Jesus’ humanity entered into the divine glory in heaven forty days after his Resurrection

Beatitudes

Eight blessings preached by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mouth. Means “supreme happiness” or “state of blessedness.”

Canon

The official list of inspired books of the Bible

Christology from Above

The understanding of Jesus Christ that emphasizes his divine nature and preexistence

Conversion

a significant and transformative change in an individual’s beliefs, values, attitudes, or religious affiliation

Paschal Mystery

Christ’s work of redemption, accomplished principally by his Passion, Death, Resurrection, and glorious Ascension. This mystery is commemorated and made present through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist