THINKING ABOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT
Chapter 1,
1. As more copies were made of the NT what three
changes took place?
2. How did the Vulgate originate and what
influence did it have?
3. What writing materials were used to produce
early copies of the NT?
4. Who was Erasmus and what did he do?
5. What rules of textual criticism did Bengel advocate?
Were they always accurate?
6. What role did pluralism play in the
interaction of Christians and others in the
7. What is the significance of the documents
found at Nag Hammadi?
8. Who led the fight against Gnosticism?
9. What was Bauer’s contribution to the study of
orthodoxy and heresy?
10. What approach to biblical interpretation did
the centers at
11. What were the four levels of biblical
interpretation common in the Middle Ages?
12. What were the main characteristics of the
Reformer’s approach to Bible study?
13. How have some defined Biblical Theology?
14. Why do some scholars reject the rhetorical
approach now popular in some circles?
15. What is the main thrust of Hans Frei and the Yale school?
16. Discuss the main
characteristics of “deconstruction.”
17. What is “reader-response” theory?
18. What is the “post-modern” reading of texts?
19. In a sentence or two for each, summarize the six
responses we can make to the post-modern emphasis on relativism.
20. Give the three “minefields” one must navigate
in dealing with background materials in the NT.
21. What is the problem with “parallelomania?”
22. How did Wayne Meeks’ approach differ from
other sociological approaches?
23. Who are some of the leaders in NT
lexicography and what did they contribute?
24. What is “speech-act” theory?
25. Define:
Lectionary
Ostraca
Uncial
Polyglot Bible
Textus receptus
Text type
Eclectism
“Thorough-going eclectism”
26. Identify:
Athanasius
Council of Nicea
John Chrysostom
Origen
Eusebius of
Augustine
Monarchical bishops
1054 AD
Thomas
Aquinas
John
Calvin
Martin
Luther
History-of-religions
school
Adolf
Schlatter
Rudolf
Bultmann
Oscar
Cullmann
Form
Criticism
Redaction
Criticism
Source
Criticism
Jesus
Seminar
Alan
Culpepper
The Synoptic Gospels
Chapter 2,
1)
What do we
mean by “Synoptic Gospels”?
2)
What is form
criticism?
3)
What are the
six assumptions of form criticism?
4)
What are the
values and dangers of form criticism? (note the more general criticism on p. 82
and then five specific criticisms dealing with the ahistorical
tendency in F.C. on pp. 83-85)
5)
How did the Synoptics come to be written? What was the process? Summarize the contribution of Form, Source
and Redaction Criticism.
6)
What are some
of the theories concerning the solution of the synoptic problem? See p. 88 for four main solutions.
7)
What is meant
by Markan priority and what are the five main
arguments for it? (See pp. 95-98)
8)
How does Q
fit into source theory and what are the three main arguments for Q?
9)
What is
redaction criticism?
10) What genre of literature do the gospels fit into?
11) What do we mean by the “search for the historical
Jesus”? Who are the key players in the 1st,
2nd, and 3rd quests for the historical Jesus?
12) Give the three main theories of “Interdependence”
and the main names associated with them (pp. 92-95)
13) Names and terms to know:
Gunkel
Dibelius
Bultmann
Sanders
Lessing
Streeter
Griesbach
Papias
Conzelmann
Wrede
Bornkamm
Kasemann
Schweitzer
source
criticism
oral
tradition
tradition
criticism
Sitz
im Leben
laws
of oral transmission
proto-gospel
ipsissima verba Jesu
ipsissima vox Jesu
Tatian
Reimarus
Strauss
14) What are some of the key points in the discussion
of “literary criticism”?
How is it evaluated?
Matthew
Chapter 3,
1)
What
structure lies behind Matthew? Note
three main theories and key scholars.
2)
When were the
titles attached to NT books? Note Hengel’s arguments against the second century date. Note the key objection to Hengel
concerning kata.
3)
Who was Papias? Note the key
interpretations of his statement about the logia. What was the view of the church fathers on Papias’ statement?
4)
Who wrote
Matthew? Compare and contrast the views
of Kilpatrick and Stendahl.
5)
What are some
of the options for dating Matthew?
6)
Why is a
pre-70 date for Matthew favored by some?
Why is 17:24-27 the best evidence?
7)
Why was
Matthew written? (p. 157-58) and to whom?
8)
In recent
years where has the focus of scholarly study been with regard to Matthew (p.
159-62)?
9)
What are some
of the major emphases in Matthew? (p. 162 ff.)
10) Names and terms: For people know their
contributions to NT study.
Hengel
Bacon
Kingsbury
Kilpatrick
Stendahl
Council
of Jamnia
Birkath ha-Minim
Gundry
Bornkamm, Barth, Held
Levi
Mark
Chapter 4,
1)
What is the
importance of Caesarea Philippi for the Markan
structure?
2)
What key
statement does Papias make about the origin of Mark?
3)
What evidence
do we have that supports Markan authorship?
4)
Why do most
scholars argue that Mark was written from
5)
What are the
four decades in which scholars date Mark and what are the main arguments
supporting each?
6)
Why do most
scholars favor the 60s? Why does
7)
Four specific
proposals about the purpose of Mark have been made by Marxsen,
Weeden, and Brandon.
What are they?
8)
What is the
most difficult textual problem in Mark?
What are the options?
9)
Why did
scholars until relatively recently not study Mark? What changed the situation?
10) What are
some of the key structural features of Mark?
What did C.H. Dodd contribute to the debate?
11) Give the
main points concerning Mark in recent study and the scholars involved.
12) Define—names and terms. Give details, facts, books, contribution,
etc.
the
disciples in Mark
Muratorian Canon
kerygma
C.
C. Torrey
theios
aner
Zealots
Kahler’s aphorism
Holtzmann and Wrede
Howard
Clark Kee
central
themes in Mark
Messianic
secret
Richard
Horsley
Luke
Chapter 5,
1)
What is the
significance of Luke’s long travel section in 9:51-19:44?
2)
Who was Theophilus? Also see
footnote 37.
3)
Was Luke a
medical doctor? What light does the
medical language throw on the question?
4)
Why do some
argue for a date of composition in the 60’s?
Why do others favor 75-85 AD?
5)
Is the
proto-Luke theory valid? Why not?
6)
How does the
so-called “Western text” influence scholars who work on Luke-Acts? What are the issues?
7)
What is a
“Western non-interpolation”?
8)
What
contribution has H. Conzelman made to the study of
Luke?
9)
Why have some
connected “early Catholicism” with Luke-Acts?
What is the debate about?
10) What are the main concerns and emphases of Luke in
his gospel? (p. 219 ff.)
11) Define:
we
passages
western
text
prologue
to Luke
9:51-19:44
(the travel section)
Luke’s
passion narrative
“God-fearer”
Wescott and Hort
12) What is the relationship of the Gospel of Luke and
Acts?
13)
What was Luke’s purpose in writing Luke (p. 212)?
Gospel of John
Chapter 6,
1. What are some options
for the structure of the 4G? How does
2. What is the gist of
Polycarp’s testimony about the 4G as recounted by Irenaeus?
3. Who was Marcion? Why was he
considered so dangerous? What are the
anti-Marcionite prologues?
4. What is the Muratorian Canon?
5. Who were the Alogoi?
6. How does the report of
Papias confuse the identity of the author of the
4G? How does Martin Hengel
tie into Papias’ thesis?
7. Who was the “beloved
disciple”? Note the options.
8. What is the “signs
source”?
9. What is the view of
Raymond Brown with regard to the “beloved disciple”? How does
10. Describe John’s
religious world (p. 255-256).
11. What are the main
issues in the relationship of the 4G to the Synoptics? What was Dodd’s role?
12. Give the options for
dating John. Which is best?
13. What is the textual
problem in Chapter 8? What are the
options?
14. What are some
proposals for why John was written (p. 268 ff.)?
15. Describe recent
literary approaches to the 4G (p. 274 ff.).
16. Define
Signs
source
Gnosticism
Tatian
Gaius
Philo
Hermetic writings
Mandaism
Council of Jamnia
Excommunication in the 4G
J. L. Martyn’s thesis on the
background of the 4G
Wayne Meeks
Major themes in John
Peter Borgen
Acts
Chapter 7,
1. What structure do you
see? Who are the main actors? Is Acts titled properly?
2. What are the “we”
passages and how do they figure in the debate over authorship? What is the argument against the “we
passages” (p. 292)?
3. What inconsistencies
does Phillip Vielhauer see between the Paul of Acts
and the Paul of the Epistles (p. 293)?
Give
4. Why have some argued
for a 2nd century date?
5. Is there a case for
the pre-70 date of Acts? Why or why not?
6. What type genre is
Acts?
7. What are four major
reasons Acts might have been written (p. 302 ff)? Connect these with main scholars.
8. Did Luke use sources
in writing Acts? What did Harnach propose?
What about C. C. Torrey?
9. How does the Western
text look in Acts? How do scholars
access the Western text (p. 309)?
10. Compare Hengel and Hemer on Acts (p.
312).
11. What is the issue
about the speeches of Acts?
12. What was Conzelmann’s argument about eschatology? What was the response to his arguments (p.
314 ff.)?
13. Describe Jervell’s argument about
14. Did Luke write
accurate history? Evidence?
15. Identify
the “historical Paul” question
William Ramsay
F. C. Baur and Acts
views on the ending of Acts
Martin Dibelius
Western Text
“tendency criticism”
Conzelmann and Acts
Hengel and Acts
Charles Talbert
Richard Pervo
Oscar Cullmann
Polibius
Thucydides
NEW TESTAMENT LETTERS
Chapter 8,
1. What two reasons are given as to why letters
were used extensively by Christians in contrast to their lack of use among the
Jews?
2. What is the typical form of the Greco-Roman
letter?
3. How did NT writers modify the Greco-Romans
letter format?
4. What are some of the key issues involving the
use of amanuenses?
5. Describe the theory of a sudden collection of
Paul’s letters and some of the main players with their contribution.
6. Likewise, describe the theory of a gradual
growth of the Pauline corpus and the role of Theodore Zahn.
7. Define “pseudonymity”
and “pseudeprigraphy” and list the NT books some
include under these headings.
8. Give the eight motives that characterize pseudepigraphers with a sentence or two description of
each.
9. Briefly describe Jewish examples of pseudepigraphy and give what is most “normal” about it.
10. Give some examples of extra biblical Christian
pseudepigraphical material. Which are letters?
11. How did the early Church Fathers view pseudepigraphy?
12. What was 3rd Corinthians and who
was Serapion?
13.
14. What does the evidence regarding pseudepigraphy indicate in contrast to the assertions of
some modern scholars?
15. Regarding the internal evidence in the pseudepigraphical debate, give the three arguments of
16. Give three contemporary theories of pseudepigraphy and describe each in a sentence or two.
17. Identify in view of #16:
Kurt Aland
David Mead
18. How do
Paul:
Apostle and Theologian
Chapter 9,
1. What two reasons does
2. How much of the NT actually concerns Paul?
3. What do we know about
4. What are the key points in the debate about
whether Paul spent his early years in
5. Who were the Pharisees and what did they
believe?
6. Who was Gamaliel?
7. How important was Paul’s
8. Was the
9. What sources are needed to reconstruct a
‘life of Paul” and why? What approaches
do some scholars take? Why is Acts a
problem for some?
10. What are the “exclusive” and “inclusive”
methods of reckoning dates?
11. About how long had Paul been a Christian when
he came to
12. About how long did the first, second and
third missionary journeys take and how far did he travel on each as best can be
ascertained?
13. What are the best possible dates of Paul’s
death?
14. What is the most important “peg” in
calculating Pauline chronology?
Why? How is this information
used?
15. What is the best way to resolve the conflict
between Paul receiving his teaching by revelation and also from others?
16. How is traditional material recognized in
Paul’s letters? What are some cautions?
17. To what extent did the earthly Jesus serve as
a source for Paul’s teachings? What was Bultmann’s position?
18. In a short paragraph describe what influence
the OT, The Greek world and Judaism were on Paul’s life and teachings.
19. In connection with #18 identify:
The history-of-religions school and its leaders
C. G. Montefiore
A. Schweitzer
W. D. Davies
20. How did the Reformers understand the Judaism
Paul contended with? What was the main
issue and what was their solution?
21. Briefly describe how E. P. Sanders revised
the traditional Reformation view (the so-called Lutheran position) of
first-century Judaism. What is his
concept of “covenantal nomism?”
22. Discuss the role of James Dunn in the debate
about the new perspective on Paul.
How does his view differ from the Reformers?
23. What three tendencies characterize the “new
perspective” on Paul? (pp. 378-79)
24. What are some of the positive contributions
of the “new perspective” on Paul?
25. How does
26. What is the view of Seyoon
Kim?
27. In evaluating the “new perspective”
Romans
Chapter 10,
1. Who are the people
Paul wrote Romans to? What was the make up
of the church (p. 395 ff.)?
2. What are some of the
textual problems concerning the doxology and chapter 16? Was there a shorter version of Romans?
3. What genre does Romans
fit into? What are some of the options?
4. Evaluate how the
following localities figured into the purpose(s) Paul had for writing Romans:
a.
b. Corinth/Galatia
c.
5. Discuss the views of
Schweitzer, Stendahl, Kasemann,
and E. P. Sanders (p. 408-409).
6. What is the main theme
of Romans according to
7. Why do you think Paul
wrote Romans? What was his purpose?
8. What was the Edict of
Claudius? What was its impact on the
make-up of the Roman church and how Paul addresses that congregation?
9. What do we know about
the establishment of the Roman church and how this affected Paul’s approach to
them?
10. How do some of the
new approaches challenge the tradition Reformation view of Romans?
11. Identify:
“the righteousness of God”
Suetonius
Paul Minear
Diatribe
weak and strong in Romans
paraenesis
Ambrosiaster
Mark Nanos
Philip Esler
1, 2 Corinthians
Chapter 11,
1. What is an “occasional
letter”?
2. Where was
3. What do we know about
the past history of
4. How did Paul get
information about the spirituality of the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians?
5. Trace the trips Paul
made to
6. What are the arguments
given for 2 Cor. 10-13 not being a part of that letter? What are the counter arguments?
7. What impact did the
“second sophistic” have on the Corinthian church?
8. What are the arguments
for and against the unity of 2 Corinthians?
9. Briefly note the
arguments for and against the following passages being interpolations in 2
Corinthians:
a. 2:14-7:4
b. 6:14-7:1
c. chap. 8-9
10. How is a solid date
for the Corinthian letters arrived at?
11. What are the options
for identifying the “opponents” of Paul in 1 and 2 Corinthians?
12. What is the nature of
the textual problem in 1 Cor. 14:34-35?
Evidence?
13. Discuss three main
areas of recent study on 1 and 2 Corinthians.
14. What key teachings do
we find in 1 and 2 Corinthians (p. 450-551)?
15. Describe Paul’s opponents in 1 and 2
Corinthians. How do they differ?
16. Define:
Old
New
“to Corinthianize”
“painful visit”
“severe/painful letter”
Galatians
Chapter 12,
1. What do we mean by
2. Briefly give the ten
arguments in favor of the
3. What are the best
arguments for the
4. How does the choice of
North or
5. Pick out at least two
of the main arguments for both the early and late dates of Galatians?
6. What situation did
Paul address in Galatians (p. 465)?
7. How does Mark Nanos see the situation (p. 465, FN 25)?
8. What key areas were
debated in Galatians (p. 466-468)?
9. What is the position
of George Howard (p. 467, also FN 30)?
10. Who are the “judaizers?”
11. What does H. D. Betz
say about the literary genre of Galatians?
12. Briefly discuss the
views of E. P. Sanders and “covenantal nomism.”
13. What are some major
issues discussed in modern debate on Galatians (469-73)?
14. What contributions
does Galatians make (p. 473 ff.)?
Ephesians
Chapter 13,
1. What arguments support
Paul’s authorship of Ephesians?
2. Why do many modern
scholars deny Pauline authorship of Ephesians?
3. What options does
Marcus Barth see concerning Ephesians’ authorship?
4. What are the pros and
cons of Ephesians being a circular letter?
5. What was Goodspeed’s theory about Ephesians? What objections can be made to it?
6. In general what is the
purpose of Ephesians?
7. In recent scholarship
on Ephesians what has been emphasized?
Note Bultmann’s “Gnostic Redeemer-myth (p.
492).”
8. What is the basic
message of Ephesians?
Philippians
Chapter 14,
1. What is the debate
over Philippians 2: 5-11?
2. Is the hymn of
Philippians 2: 5-11 pre-Pauline?
Discuss.
3. What are the options about
where Paul wrote Philippians from? Where
does
4. How does the work of
Ralph Martin and E. Kasemann break from previous
interpretations of the Christ hymn?
5. What is the view of Morna Hooker? (p. 502, also FN 16).
6. What are the key
issues concerning the unity of the letter?
7. Who were the
opponents? Did he face one front or
two? What were they?
8. What are the key
emphases within the letter?
9. Identify:
Carmen Christi
A.S.
Klijn
Colossians
Chapter 15,
1. Why is Colossians
called “deutero-Pauline” by some?
2. Briefly note why
Paul’s authorship of Colossians is doubted based on:
a. language and style
b. theology
c. relation to Ephesians
3. Briefly note some of
the main false doctrines rejected in Colossians (p. 523 ff).
4. Was there a “Colossian
heresy?” Discuss the contribution of Morna Hooker to the debate.
5. How does Colossians
speak to us today (pp. 528-29)?
6. Identify:
hapax legomena
cosmic Christ
syncretism at Colosse
Gnosticism
I, II Thessalonians
Chapter 16,
1. Discuss the city of
2. How long did Paul stay
in Thessalonica?
3. What is the issue of
dual authorship? Solution?
4. What is the problem concerning
“interpolations” in I Thessalonians?
What is the best solution?
5. Why do some modern
scholars reject Pauline authorship of II Thessalonians?
6. What is the debate
over someone deliberately changing Paul’s original eschatology (p. 540)?
7. What are some options
about Paul’s “opponents?” Briefly state
Abe Malherbe’s views. (p. 544-545)
8. What three major areas
have modern scholars emphasized in Thessalonians?
9. Why do some agree that
II Thessalonians was written before I Thessalonians? What are some of the objections to this
approach? (p. 543-544)
10. What are some of the
major themes found in the Thessalonian Epistles? (p.
549 ff)
11. Identify:
W. A. Meeks
Robert Jewett
insula
Paul Schubert
pseudepigrapha
man of lawlessness
date of Thessalonians
THE PASTORAL EPISTLES
Chapter 17
1. How did the Pastorals get their name?
2. What are some of the most obvious differences
between them?
3. Describe the work of P. N. Harrison and his
conclusions about the Pastorals.
4. How have his arguments been countered?
5.