Historical Jesus
What is the name of the criterion that holds that, if a saying or deed of Jesus is unlikely to have been invented by early Christians, it is more likely authentic?
The Criterion of Dissimilarity.
Which three Gospels are known as the Synoptic Gospels?
Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
What is the Greek-derived term for early Christians who believed Jesus only appeared to be human?
Docetism.
What is the term often used for "letter" in the New Testament?
Epistle.
Which type of criticism examines how authors construct settings, characters, and themes in a narrative?
Narrative Criticism.
According to the Criterion of Independent Attestation, why is Jesus' crucifixion considered highly probable?
Multiple sources, including Paul, the Gospels, and Tacitus, attest to it.
What is the hypothetical source that scholars believe Matthew and Luke used for material not found in Mark?
Q.
Which group of second-century Jewish Christians followed an adoptionist Christology and maintained Jewish law?
Ebionites.
What does the Greek term "catholic" mean in the context of the Catholic Epistles?
"Universal" or "general."
What are the "I am" sayings, and in which Gospel do they appear?
Metaphorical statements in which Jesus identifies himself as divine; found in the Gospel of John.
Why do scholars believe Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist despite theological concerns?
According to the Criterion of Dissimilarity, early Christians would not have invented a story that suggests Jesus needed repentance.
What is the term for an attempt to merge the four Gospels into one continuous narrative, such as Tatian’s Diatesseron?
Gospel Harmony.
What was the theological view held by the Valentinians and other Gnostics regarding salvation?
Salvation comes from secret knowledge, or gnosis.
What is the Johannine Community?
The hypothetical group of early Christians that shaped John's theological outlook.
What is the Farewell Discourse, and in which Gospel does it appear?
Jesus' final speech to his disciples in John 13-16.
Which ancient Jewish historian briefly mentions Jesus and his brother James in Antiquities of the Jews?
Josephus!
What is one key reason scholars think Matthew and Luke copied from written sources rather than relying solely on oral tradition?
The presence of verbatim (word-for-word) agreements and identical narratives.
How does the Gospel of Thomas differ from the Synoptic Gospels in its content and structure?
What is the Pericope Adulterae, and why do scholars believe it was a later addition?
The story of Jesus and the adulterous woman in John 7:53-8:11, which is missing from the earliest manuscripts.
What is one major theological difference between John and the Synoptics regarding Jesus’ identity?
John presents a High Christology, portraying Jesus as pre-existent and explicitly divine, whereas the Synoptics are more ambiguous about his identity.
What is one key reason the Gospel of John is less reliable for historical Jesus research than the Synoptics?
It has a highly developed theology (High Christology), including a portrayal of Jesus as divinely pre-existent (Jesus as "the word"/Logos), which makes it more reflective of later Christian beliefs.
How does the placement of the Temple cleansing differ between the Synoptics and John?
The Synoptics place it at the end of Jesus’ ministry, while John places it at the beginning.
What makes Jesus different from other messianic claimants, like Simon bar Kochba?
After his death, Jesus' followers began claiming they had seen Jesus alive in some form. On the other hand, Bar Kochba's revolt died with him.
What is the significance of Sepphoris in debates about Jesus' historical context?
It was a major Greco-Roman city near Nazareth, and scholars debate whether Jesus was influenced by its culture.
How does John’s eschatology (the branch of theology concerned with final events in the history of the world or humankind) differ from the Synoptics?
John emphasizes eternal life as a present reality, while the Synoptics focus on the future "Kingdom of God."