A Review/Study Guide for the New Testament

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A Review/Study Guide for the New Testament

• by Prof. Felix Just, S.J.

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Twenty-four Questions Seeking Brief Responses

• (Objective Part of the Final Exam)

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1.

• What are the definitions original meanings
  of"Philosophy" "Theology," "Religion"
  "Faith," "Christianity" "Church"?

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2.

• Define distinguish Bible, Testament,
  Apocrypha, scripture, canon, genre, Gospel, Acts,
  Epistle, Homily, Apocalypse, etc.

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3.

• Define contrastprimary/secondary
  literature,manuscripts/print editions,
  papyrus/vellum,scroll/codex, exegesis/eisegesis
  , etc.

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4.

• What are the main differences (in language, date,
  divisions, order, number titles of books)
  between the HB the LXX?

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5.

• How why is the Old Testament slightly different
  in Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Bibles?
• Is the NT different?

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6.

• When by whom was the Hebrew Bible "canonized?
• What were the main criteria?
• Same questions also for the NT.

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7.

• Name describe the "seven pillars of ancient
  Judaism.
• How are these related to the main "covenants" of
  the Hebrew Bible?

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8.

• How are some key OT characters (Adam, Abraham,
  Jacob, Moses, David, Elijah, Isaiah, Ezekiel,
  Daniel, etc.) used in the NT?

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9.

• What were the main groups or "sects" within
  ancient Judaism at the time of Jesus?
• How were they different from each other?

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10.

• Name all 27 NT books in canonical order.
• Name the 7 "undisputed" Pauline letters in their
  most likely chronological order.

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11.

• Name briefly explain the 4 "criteria for
  canonicity"
• and the 10 stages (esp. 1-4!) in the formation
  transmission of the NT.

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12.

• Briefly explain the "four-fold role of the
  Evangelists" as authors.
• What are the "attributed" vs. "implied" vs.
  "actual" authors?

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13.

• How why are the canonical Gospels similar to
  "ancient biographies,"
• and how are these different from modern
  biographies?

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14.

• What are the "rules of thumb" and the "specific
  criteria" scholars use to determine the
  historical accuracy of Jesus traditions?

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15.

• What is the "Synoptic Problem"?
• Diagram explain the "Four-Source Theory"
  preferred by most scholars today as its solution.

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16.

• What is the "theological geography" or structural
  outline of the Acts of the Apostles? How is Acts
  related to Luke's Gospel?

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17.  

• What is the overall "literary structure" (main
  sections subsections) of Pauls letters most
  other early Christian epistles?

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18.

• What are the particular problems addressed and
  the main themes discussed in each of the NT
  letters epistles?

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19.

• What is "pseudepigraphy"?
• Why are the six deutero-Pauline letters
  considered "pseudepigraphic" by many scholars?

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20.

• Name the "Pastoral Letters" the "Catholic
  Epistles."
• What do "pastoral" "catholic" mean?
• By to whom were they written?

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21.

• What is the literary genre of the so-called
  "Letter to the Hebrews"?
• Why is it not really a "letter"?
• Who is its (implied) author?

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22.

• What is the literary genre of the "Book of
  Revelation"?
• What are the main characteristics of
  "apocalyptic" literature?

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23.

• What happened in the years 4 BC, and AD 30, 50,
  70, 90?
• Why how are these dates events important for
  NT studies?

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24.  

• Why are there so many discrepancies in NT
  manuscripts?
• How do textual critics determine the most likely
  original readings?

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Twenty-four Questions Needing Essay Answers

• Essay Part of the Final Exam

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1.

• What are the main characteristics of
  "apocalypticism"?
• Why is early Christianity often considered an
  "apocalyptic" movement?

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2.

• What does each of the Gospels say about
  Christology and discipleship, and how are these
  teachings related to each other?

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3.

• What is the basic outline of each canonical
  Gospel?
• What are the major literary features and thematic
  emphases of each?

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4.

• How is the Fourth Gospel (John) different from
  the Synoptics (Matt, Mark, Luke) in content,
  chronology, style, and theology?

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5.

• How is the community life of the early Christians
  portrayed in Acts 1-4?
• How are the apostles portrayed throughout Acts?

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6.

• What are the five main phases of Saul/Paul's
  life?
• Where was he ( when why) during each of these
  phases?

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7.

• Who were Paul's main missionary associates?
• How did he relate differently to his "full
  partners" vs. his "junior associates" vs. his
  "converts"?

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8.

• Describe some major differences between ancient
  modern times in prisons/trials, slavery, travel,
  roads, mail, etc.

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9.

• What are the main differences between the
  eschatology (end-time teachings) of 1 Thess and
  that of 2 Thess?

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10.

• How did Paul feel towards the Christians at
  Philippi?
• How did they help him?
• What was the role of Epaphroditus?

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11.

• Describe Paul's complex interactions with the
  Christians in Corinth?
• What main issues are addressed in 1 Cor 2 Cor?

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12.

• What does Paul say about the "resurrection of
  Jesus" the "resurrection of the body" in
  general in 1 Cor 15?

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13.

• Who are Philemon and Onesimus?
• How are they related to Paul, and what does Paul
  want each of them to do?

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14.

• What does Paul tell his Gentile-Christian
  converts in Galatia about circumcision and other
  Jewish ritual laws, and why?

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15.

• How does the Olive Tree metaphor illustrate
  Paul's teaching in Romans 11 about the
  relationship between Jews Gentiles?

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16.

• Compare contrast what James Paul say about
  "faith vs. works."
• Why do their teachings apparently but not
  actually contradict each other?

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17.

• What is the main purpose of the "Household Codes"
  in Colossians Ephesians?
• Which groups are mentioned in them?

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18.

• How do 1 Timothy Titus describe the leadership
  structure of local Christian communities?
• How is it different from local church leadership
  structures today?

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19.

• Why how does the Epistle to the Hebrews justify
  calling Jesus a "great high priest, according to
  the order of Melchizedek"?

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20.

• According to 1 Peter, how are Christians supposed
  to respond to persecutions?
• What is the role of suffering for Christians?

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21.

• What does 2 Peter say about the second coming of
  Jesus, the end of the world, and the reason for
  the "delay of the parousia"?  

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22.

• According to the letters of John Jude, what
  were some major causes of division within or
  between early Christian churches?

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23.

• What was the purpose and the original audience of
  the Book of Revelation?
• Describe its outline, content, and main symbolism.

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24.

• Name describe some early Christian writings
  that were not included in the NT.
• How is this literature still important today?