Question 1

How many first-century pagan authors mention Jesus?

Accepted Answer

A)  none 
B)  one 
C)  two 
D)  three 
A)  none 
B)  one 
C)  two 
D)  three A

Question 2

Discuss the non-Christian sources for the historical Jesus that date within one hundred years of his death. How helpful are these sources? What information do they give us?

Accepted Answer

There are only three pagan sources that date within one hundred years of Jesus' death: Pliny, Suetonius, and Tacitus. Pliny and Suetonius give some information about Christians and early Christian practice but offer no information about Jesus himself. Tacitus, on the other hand, does corroborate information found in the New Testament about Jesus' death (Jesus was executed at the hands of Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius). Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, mentions Jesus twice in his Antiquities of the Jews. In one instance, Josephus says that Jesus had a brother named James who was executed under the rule of Ananus the high priest. Josephus' other reference to Jesus is problematic. In this passage, Josephus confesses that Jesus was the messiah. Since Josephus never converted, scholars believe Christian scribes embellished this passage. Scholars suggest, however, that the passage does contain some information from Josephus himself: Jesus had a following of Jews and Gentiles, and he was condemned by Pilate because of the accusations of the Jewish leaders and was crucified.

Question 3

Identify one discrepancy in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' crucifixion.

Accepted Answer

A)  The account in Luke has it occurring at midnight, while Matthew's takes place at 10:00 A.M. 
B)  The account in Mark has it occurring at 9:00 A.M., while John's takes place after noon. 
C)  The account in Mark details Jesus' spirit leaving his body before the crucifixion, while John's details his suffering on the cross. 
D)  The account in Mark describes Jesus' position on the cross as being upside-down, while in John's it is right-side up. 
A)  The account in Luke has it occurring at midnight, while Matthew's takes place at 10:00 A.M. 
B)  The account in Mark has it occurring at 9:00 A.M., while John's takes place after noon. 
C)  The account in Mark details Jesus' spirit leaving his body before the crucifixion, while John's details his suffering on the cross. 
D)  The account in Mark describes Jesus' position on the cross as being upside-down, while in John's it is right-side up. B

Question 4

Discuss the reasons why it is difficult for scholars to construct a picture of the historical Jesus.

Accepted Answer

We have no eyewitness accounts of Jesus'

Question 5

Identify one discrepancy in the Gospel accounts about Jesus' last meal.

Accepted Answer

A)  The account in Mark has it taking place in a palace, while John's takes place in a humble house. 
B)  The account in Matthew has it taking place in a stable, while Luke's takes place in a field. 
C)  The account in Matthew has it occurring on Saturday morning, while Luke's takes place on Friday evening. 
D)  The account in Mark describes it as a Passover meal, while John's does not. 
A)  The account in Mark has it taking place in a palace, while John's takes place in a humble house. 
B)  The account in Matthew has it taking place in a stable, while Luke's takes place in a field. 
C)  The account in Matthew has it occurring on Saturday morning, while Luke's takes place on Friday evening. 
D)  The account in Mark describes it as a Passover meal, while John's does not.

Question 6

All of the following can be used to show independent attestation of a tradition except

Accepted Answer

A)  Mark. 
B)  Luke. 
C)  Q. 
D)  signs source. 
A)  Mark. 
B)  Luke. 
C)  Q. 
D)  signs source.

Question 7

In how many passages is Jesus mentioned in The Antiquities of the Jews?

Accepted Answer

A)  none 
B)  one 
C)  two 
D)  three 
A)  none 
B)  one 
C)  two 
D)  three

Question 8

Scholars use all of the following criteria to determine the historical reliability of a tradition except

Accepted Answer

A)  earlier accounts are likely to be more reliable. 
B)  highly developed theology is likely to reflect later traditions. 
C)  author's biases must be considered. 
D)  the more popular books are likely reliable. 
A)  earlier accounts are likely to be more reliable. 
B)  highly developed theology is likely to reflect later traditions. 
C)  author's biases must be considered. 
D)  the more popular books are likely reliable.

Question 9

The Apostle Paul says all of the following about Jesus except that he

Accepted Answer

A)  was born a Jew. 
B)  had brothers. 
C)  raised Lazarus from the dead. 
D)  had twelve disciples. 
A)  was born a Jew. 
B)  had brothers. 
C)  raised Lazarus from the dead. 
D)  had twelve disciples.

Question 10

How did pagan literature of the first century refer to the events surrounding Jesus?

Accepted Answer

A)  as miraculous 
B)  There were numerous references; however, they always depicted Jesus as a lunatic or fanatic. 
C)  There weren't any references made to him. 
D)  as another Jewish apocalypticist 
A)  as miraculous 
B)  There were numerous references; however, they always depicted Jesus as a lunatic or fanatic. 
C)  There weren't any references made to him. 
D)  as another Jewish apocalypticist

Question 11

The Gospel of John emphasizes Jesus' suffering in its passion narrative.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The Gospel of John is the final Synoptic Gospel.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

What happened to the stories circulating about Jesus between the time of his execution and the first written record?

Accepted Answer

A)  They were told over and over, spreading far and wide. 
B)  They died out because with the advent of Jesus' death, people believed that he couldn't have been the Son of God. 
C)  They became more and more exaggerated until the Gospel writers had to start all over in investigating what really happened. 
D)  They were dismissed. 
A)  They were told over and over, spreading far and wide. 
B)  They died out because with the advent of Jesus' death, people believed that he couldn't have been the Son of God. 
C)  They became more and more exaggerated until the Gospel writers had to start all over in investigating what really happened. 
D)  They were dismissed.

Question 14

What are the problems with using the New Testament Gospels to reconstruct the historical Jesus? Can we overcome these problems? How?

Accepted Answer

The New Testament Gospels present severa

Question 15

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is a sayings gospel.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The Gospel of John used several earlier sources.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which of the following criteria is the only one that can be used to rule a tradition as inauthentic?

Accepted Answer

A)  independent attestation 
B)  dissimilarity 
C)  similarity 
D)  contextual credibility 
A)  independent attestation 
B)  dissimilarity 
C)  similarity 
D)  contextual credibility

Question 18

Consistent testimony of many independent witnesses ____________ the case.

Accepted Answer

A)  strengthens 
B)  weakens 
C)  does not affect 
D)  indicates bias in 
A)  strengthens 
B)  weakens 
C)  does not affect 
D)  indicates bias in

Question 19

The New Testament Gospels do not narrate the resurrection.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

All of the following are problems with using the Gospels to establish the historical Jesus except

Accepted Answer

A)  they were written decades after Jesus' death. 
B)  the authors were not eyewitnesses. 
C)  none of the sayings go back to Jesus. 
D)  the books were written anonymously. 
A)  they were written decades after Jesus' death. 
B)  the authors were not eyewitnesses. 
C)  none of the sayings go back to Jesus. 
D)  the books were written anonymously.

Exam 21: The Historical Jesus

How many first-century pagan authors mention Jesus?

Discuss the non-Christian sources for the historical Jesus that date within one hundred years of his death. How helpful are these sources? What information do they give us?

Identify one discrepancy in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' crucifixion.

Discuss the reasons why it is difficult for scholars to construct a picture of the historical Jesus.

Identify one discrepancy in the Gospel accounts about Jesus' last meal.

All of the following can be used to show independent attestation of a tradition except

In how many passages is Jesus mentioned in The Antiquities of the Jews?

Scholars use all of the following criteria to determine the historical reliability of a tradition except

The Apostle Paul says all of the following about Jesus except that he

How did pagan literature of the first century refer to the events surrounding Jesus?

The Gospel of John emphasizes Jesus' suffering in its passion narrative.

The Gospel of John is the final Synoptic Gospel.

What happened to the stories circulating about Jesus between the time of his execution and the first written record?

What are the problems with using the New Testament Gospels to reconstruct the historical Jesus? Can we overcome these problems? How?

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is a sayings gospel.

The Gospel of John used several earlier sources.

Which of the following criteria is the only one that can be used to rule a tradition as inauthentic?

Consistent testimony of many independent witnesses ____________ the case.

The New Testament Gospels do not narrate the resurrection.

All of the following are problems with using the Gospels to establish the historical Jesus except

What Is the Bible

Why Is the Bible so Hard to Understand

The Book of Genesis

Who Wrote the Pentateuch

From Egypt to Mount Sinai: Exodus and Leviticus

From Mount Sinai to the Promised Land: Numbers and Deuteronomy

The Deuteronomistic History: Joshua and Judges

The Books of Samuel and Kings

The Early Israelite Prophets: Amos and Isaiah

Other Pre-Exilic Prophets: Hosea, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk

The Historians of Exile and Return: Ezra, Nehemiah, and Beyond

The Exilic and Post-Exilic Prophets

The Poets of Ancient Israel

Storytellers in Ancient Israel

The Wisdom Literature

Jewish Apocalyptic Literature and the Apocrypha

The World of Jesus and His Followers

The Synoptic Problem and the Gospel of Mark

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke

The Gospel of John and the Later Gospels

The Life of the Apostle Paul

The Letters of Paul

The Acts of the Apostles

In the Wake of Paul: Deutero-Pauline Epistles

The General Epistles and the Book of Revelation

Appendix: the Canon and Text of the Bible

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