REL/JSP 114 THE BIBLE

Study Guide to Test # 3

1. Be familiar with the contents of the biblical readings, as well as the assigned textbook chapters and discussion section readings.

2. Be able to summarize the nature and contents of the apocalyptic literature of the Hebrew Bible.

3. What happened in 332 BCE? 167-164 BCE? 63 BCE? 66-74 CE? 70 CE? 132-135 CE?

4. Describe the history of Jews in Palestine during the Second Temple period. Describe the major religious groups and parties within Judaism during this period.

5. What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? Why are they important?

6. What is Rabbinic Judaism? What is its relationship to Second Temple Judaism?

7. Be familiar with the major events in the life of Jesus and the major themes of his teachings. How do his teachings compare to those of other Jewish teachers of his time?

8. What is “the search for the historical Jesus”? Why is it so difficult to create a historically reliable depiction of Jesus?

9. Why did it take so long for the Gospels to be written? Why were they written at all? What is the literary relationship between the Synoptic Gospels? What is the Gospel of Thomas?

10. Describe the structures, contents, and major themes of each of the four NT Gospels and Acts. Describe the problems involved in determining who wrote them.

Essay Questions for Test # 3

TWO (2) of the following questions will appear on the exam, and you will be expected to choose ONE (1) to answer. Prepare your answers in advance to all four questions. I suggest you develop short outlines of your answers which can be easily memorized. Notes or other aides may NOT be used during the test.

1) Define and explain the popularity of apocalyptic ideas within the historical context of late Second Temple Judaism. Cite at least two specific examples that illustrate how apocalypses addressed the political situation of their readers.

2) How does Mark 4 depict parables as problems for interpretation? How does it recommend solving that problem? How does modern scholarship evaluate that solution? What do you think about it?

3) Describe the role of context in interpreting the Bible, by comparing the Letter to the Hebrews’ use of allusions and quotations to modern literary and historical methods of interpretation. Do they make different presuppositions and, if so, what are they?

4) Describe the books of Luke and Acts to explain (a) why interpreters think they were written by the same person, (b) why this writer wrote the two books, and (c) how the books relate to each others themes and contents.