Question 1

Which of the following is not labeled a "Jewish-Christian" Gospel?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Gospel of the Nazareans 
B)  The Gospel of the Ebionites 
C)  The Gospel of the Hebrews 
D)  The Gospel of Thomas 
A)  The Gospel of the Nazareans 
B)  The Gospel of the Ebionites 
C)  The Gospel of the Hebrews 
D)  The Gospel of Thomas D

Question 2

The Gospel of Thomas contains 114 sayings of Jesus and contains no narrative. Why is it understandable that a Gnostic Gospel would consist only, or principally, of sayings?

Accepted Answer

According to Gnostics, salvation comes only through knowledge (gnosis). Stories about Jesus' life, deeds, and death, therefore, are relatively unimportant in a Gnostic Gospel. Thomas claims to record the authentic teachings of the risen Lord-teachings that, if properly understood, bring salvation. While it is clear that for the New Testament Gospels and Paul, it is Jesus' death and resurrection that bring salvation, for a Gnostic who believed Jesus cannot be tied to or participate in the material world, Jesus' death (if conceded to fall under the type of docetism discussed in the response to essay question 4) would be unimportant for salvation.

Question 3

In the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Jesus does all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  Preach the love of God and of one's neighbor 
B)  Kill a child 
C)  Raise a child from the dead 
D)  Break the Sabbath laws 
A)  Preach the love of God and of one's neighbor 
B)  Kill a child 
C)  Raise a child from the dead 
D)  Break the Sabbath laws A

Question 4

In the Gospel of Judas, Judas is the only disciple who knows who Jesus truly is.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

In the Gospel of Judas, Judas says Jesus has come:

Accepted Answer

A)  To suffer and die for the sins of mankind 
B)  From the realm of Barbelo 
C)  As a witness against the Pharisees 
D)  By means of a virgin 
A)  To suffer and die for the sins of mankind 
B)  From the realm of Barbelo 
C)  As a witness against the Pharisees 
D)  By means of a virgin

Question 6

The Gospel of Peter could be read as supporting a:

Accepted Answer

A)  Montanist position 
B)  Docetic position 
C)  Jewish-Christian position 
D)  Pharisaic position 
A)  Montanist position 
B)  Docetic position 
C)  Jewish-Christian position 
D)  Pharisaic position

Question 7

Which of the following is not a Gospel known from antiquity?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Gospel of Jesus 
B)  The Gospel of Thomas 
C)  The Gospel of Peter 
D)  The Gospel of the Ebionites 
A)  The Gospel of Jesus 
B)  The Gospel of Thomas 
C)  The Gospel of Peter 
D)  The Gospel of the Ebionites

Question 8

Which of the following is not a revelation discourse?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Apocryphon of John 
B)  The Apocryphon of James 
C)  The Proto-Gospel of James 
D)  The Epistle of the Apostles 
A)  The Apocryphon of John 
B)  The Apocryphon of James 
C)  The Proto-Gospel of James 
D)  The Epistle of the Apostles

Question 9

In the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Jesus is rebuked for ___________ on the Sabbath.

Accepted Answer

A)  healing a leper 
B)  running in the synagogue 
C)  making clay sparrows 
D)  defying his elders 
A)  healing a leper 
B)  running in the synagogue 
C)  making clay sparrows 
D)  defying his elders

Question 10

An "apocryphon" is:

Accepted Answer

A)  A secret book 
B)  A Gnostic aeon 
C)  Another term for the resurrection 
D)  A reference to Jesus' second coming 
A)  A secret book 
B)  A Gnostic aeon 
C)  Another term for the resurrection 
D)  A reference to Jesus' second coming

Question 11

The Gospel of the Nazareans was very similar to the Gospel of Matthew.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The early church wavered on whether or not the Gospel of Peter could be used in church services. Discuss ways that the Gospel could be read as "orthodox" and ways that it could reflect a docetic Christology.

Accepted Answer

The Gospel of Peter was popular in parts

Question 13

Revelation discourses:

Accepted Answer

A)  Narrate the resurrection of Jesus 
B)  Narrate the secret teachings of the risen Jesus 
C)  Narrate apocalyptic visions 
D)  Narrate aspects of Jesus' public ministry 
A)  Narrate the resurrection of Jesus 
B)  Narrate the secret teachings of the risen Jesus 
C)  Narrate apocalyptic visions 
D)  Narrate aspects of Jesus' public ministry

Question 14

The Gospel of Peter was found:

Accepted Answer

A)  In the Dead Sea Scrolls 
B)  In the Nag Hammadi library 
C)  In a monastery library 
D)  In a monk's tomb 
A)  In the Dead Sea Scrolls 
B)  In the Nag Hammadi library 
C)  In a monastery library 
D)  In a monk's tomb

Question 15

The Gospel of the Philip recounts a tradition in which the disciples of Jesus were:

Accepted Answer

A)  Jealous of Mary Magdalene 
B)  Killed for their beliefs 
C)  Taken to heaven during a period of prayer 
D)  Sent to the four corners of the earth to preach the Gospel 
A)  Jealous of Mary Magdalene 
B)  Killed for their beliefs 
C)  Taken to heaven during a period of prayer 
D)  Sent to the four corners of the earth to preach the Gospel

Question 16

Marcion used which of the following Gospels?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Gospel of Matthew 
B)  The Gospel of Thomas 
C)  The Gospel of Luke 
D)  The Gospel of the Hebrews 
A)  The Gospel of Matthew 
B)  The Gospel of Thomas 
C)  The Gospel of Luke 
D)  The Gospel of the Hebrews

Question 17

Which of the following does the Gospel of Thomas not mention?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jesus' resurrection 
B)  The divine spark 
C)  Jesus' twin brother 
D)  The duality of flesh and spirit 
A)  Jesus' resurrection 
B)  The divine spark 
C)  Jesus' twin brother 
D)  The duality of flesh and spirit

Question 18

Discuss Marcion's theology and why he might use Luke and Paul as authorities for his beliefs.

Accepted Answer

Marcion was a ditheist: he believed that

Question 19

The Gospel of Thomas includes many sayings that also appear in the Synoptic Gospels.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Marcion used an edited version of the Gospel of John as his starting point.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 12: Jesus From Different Perspectives: Other Gospels in Early Christianity

Which of the following is not labeled a "Jewish-Christian" Gospel?

The Gospel of Thomas contains 114 sayings of Jesus and contains no narrative. Why is it understandable that a Gnostic Gospel would consist only, or principally, of sayings?

In the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Jesus does all of the following except:

In the Gospel of Judas, Judas is the only disciple who knows who Jesus truly is.

In the Gospel of Judas, Judas says Jesus has come:

The Gospel of Peter could be read as supporting a:

Which of the following is not a Gospel known from antiquity?

Which of the following is not a revelation discourse?

In the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Jesus is rebuked for ___________ on the Sabbath.

An "apocryphon" is:

The Gospel of the Nazareans was very similar to the Gospel of Matthew.

The early church wavered on whether or not the Gospel of Peter could be used in church services. Discuss ways that the Gospel could be read as "orthodox" and ways that it could reflect a docetic Christology.

Revelation discourses:

The Gospel of Peter was found:

The Gospel of the Philip recounts a tradition in which the disciples of Jesus were:

Marcion used which of the following Gospels?

Which of the following does the Gospel of Thomas not mention?

Discuss Marcion's theology and why he might use Luke and Paul as authorities for his beliefs.

The Gospel of Thomas includes many sayings that also appear in the Synoptic Gospels.

Marcion used an edited version of the Gospel of John as his starting point.

What Is the New Testament the Early Christians and Their Literature

Do We Have the Original New Testament

The Greco-Roman World of Early Christian Traditions

The Jewish World of Jesus and His Followers

From Oral Traditions to Written Gospels

Jesus, the Suffering Son of God: the Gospel According to Mark

The Synoptic Problem and Its Significance for Interpretation

Jesus, the Jewish Messiah: the Gospel According to Matthew

Jesus, the Savior of the World: the Gospel According to Luke

Jesus, the Man Sent From Heaven: the Gospel According to John

From Johns Jesus to the Gnostic Christ: the Johannine Epistles and Beyond

The Historical Jesus: Sources, Problems, and Methods

Jesus in Context

Jesus, the Apocalyptic Prophet

From Jesus to the Gospels

Lukes Second Volume: the Acts of the Apostles

Paul the Apostle: the Man and His Mission

Paul and His Apostolic Mission: 1 Thessalonians As a Test Case

Paul and the Crises of His Churches: 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and Philemon

The Gospel According to Paul: the Letter to the Romans

Does the Tradition Miscarry Paul in Relation to Jesus, James, Thecla, and Theudas

In the Wake of the Apostle: the Deutero-Pauline and Pastoral Epistles

From Pauls Female Colleagues to the Pastors Intimidated Women: the Oppression of Women in Early Christianity

Christians and Jews: Hebrews, Barnabas, and Later Anti-Jewish Literature

Christians and Pagans: 1 Peter, the Letters of Ignatius, the Martyrdom of Polycarp, and Later Apologetic Literature

Christians and Christians: James, the Didache, Polycarp, 1 Clement, Jude, and 2 Peter

Christians and the Cosmos: the Revelation of John, the Shepherd of Hermas, and the Apocalypse of Peter

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