Theology Final Exam Study Guide/ 140
Questions & Answers/ 2024-2025
Why does Jesus make the decision to exercise a ministry to and be in solidarity
with the poor, the sick, and
the sinner? - Answer: Compassion: esplagchnon
(Greek) Gut wrenching pity, mercy or compassion for those who suffer. It is the
motivating factor of all that God does and is.
The Kingdom of God: God's mission for creation. It is a new order in society rooted
in compassion, justice, peace,
and right-relationship between God and all of God's creation. It is the primary
mission of Jesus and by
continuation, the mission of the church and the Christian believer.
Page 1 of 32
,St. Thomas Aquinas on Justice vs. Charity: Justice is giving what is due (one's
surplus) to the poor [those who need
our surplus to survive]. Charity is giving to the poor part of what we are left with
[that which we need] after
having been just. In other words, you must first be just before you can be
charitable.
What is the instrument that Jesus uses to heal? On what does Jesus depend on to
heal? - Answer: Faith. In this context, faith is the existential conviction in the
goodness and love of God.
How does Jesus forgive the sinner? How does he communicate God's love and
forgiveness to the sinner? - Answer: He ate and drank with sinners. The act was
scandalous because Jesus was eating with the dregs of society. In doing so, he
communicates that God's love is unconditional. Forgiveness is for all, especially for
the sinner.
What was the charge upon which Jesus was tried, sentenced and executed? -
Answer: King of the Jews = Revolutionary
What were the two tribunals that existed in First Century Palestine and who
presided over them? - Answer: Sanhedrin-Jewish court
Roman court
In which court was Jesus tried? - Answer: Roman court
Page 2 of 32
,Was an armed rebellion the only threat to Roman rule? Explain your answer. -
Answer: No. Any popular movement—especially if it was religiously motivated
What does Nolan say that Pilate must have known about Jesus before his trial? -
Answer: That he was an influential leader and the man responsible for the riot at
the temple ("The Cleansing of the Temple")
Who arrested Jesus? - Answer: Jewish guards and Roman soldiers
Who appointed Caiaphas, the high priest of the temple, and controlled his
religious functions? - Answer: The Romans
Did Jesus defend himself? - Answer: no
Who is ultimately responsible for the death of Jesus? - Answer: The powerful—
both Jews and Romans—but ultimately the Romans who tried, convicted, and
executed Jesus.
According to Sachs, what is the heart of the Gospel message and the foundation
of the Christian Faith? - Answer: The resurrection of the Crucified Jesus
What is the meaning of the word "parousia"? - Answer: The imminent coming—
second coming
Page 3 of 32
, How was the general resurrection seen within the Pharisaic tradition? - Answer: It
was eventually seen as the ground of hope not only for Israel's vindication, but for
the apocalyptic revelation of God's mercy upon all nations.
For Jesus, is the resurrection merely connected with the idea of a just retribution?
Why or why not? - Answer: No. It is connected with God's faithful love
How do the Gospel narratives present the death and resurrection of Jesus? -
Answer: They present Jesus' death and resurrection, not as a personal privilege of
Jesus, but as the culmination of God's action for us and for our salvation.
What is "divine life" all about? - Answer: Life unto death for others is what divine
life is all about.
Sachs states that "it is the same Jesus, who died and was buried" who was now
alive after the resurrection. He also holds that the resurrected Jesus was not the
same. What does this mean? - Answer: He is not a corpse resuscitated, living as
he once did. Jesus does not "return" to life in the sense of going back to his
former state of living. Rather, through the power of the Spirit, God brings him
"forward," through death, to a new fullness and intensity of life.
For St. Paul, what is the resurrection proof of? - Answer: That God has begun the
divine act of saving judgment expected on the last day.
Page 4 of 32
Questions & Answers/ 2024-2025
Why does Jesus make the decision to exercise a ministry to and be in solidarity
with the poor, the sick, and
the sinner? - Answer: Compassion: esplagchnon
(Greek) Gut wrenching pity, mercy or compassion for those who suffer. It is the
motivating factor of all that God does and is.
The Kingdom of God: God's mission for creation. It is a new order in society rooted
in compassion, justice, peace,
and right-relationship between God and all of God's creation. It is the primary
mission of Jesus and by
continuation, the mission of the church and the Christian believer.
Page 1 of 32
,St. Thomas Aquinas on Justice vs. Charity: Justice is giving what is due (one's
surplus) to the poor [those who need
our surplus to survive]. Charity is giving to the poor part of what we are left with
[that which we need] after
having been just. In other words, you must first be just before you can be
charitable.
What is the instrument that Jesus uses to heal? On what does Jesus depend on to
heal? - Answer: Faith. In this context, faith is the existential conviction in the
goodness and love of God.
How does Jesus forgive the sinner? How does he communicate God's love and
forgiveness to the sinner? - Answer: He ate and drank with sinners. The act was
scandalous because Jesus was eating with the dregs of society. In doing so, he
communicates that God's love is unconditional. Forgiveness is for all, especially for
the sinner.
What was the charge upon which Jesus was tried, sentenced and executed? -
Answer: King of the Jews = Revolutionary
What were the two tribunals that existed in First Century Palestine and who
presided over them? - Answer: Sanhedrin-Jewish court
Roman court
In which court was Jesus tried? - Answer: Roman court
Page 2 of 32
,Was an armed rebellion the only threat to Roman rule? Explain your answer. -
Answer: No. Any popular movement—especially if it was religiously motivated
What does Nolan say that Pilate must have known about Jesus before his trial? -
Answer: That he was an influential leader and the man responsible for the riot at
the temple ("The Cleansing of the Temple")
Who arrested Jesus? - Answer: Jewish guards and Roman soldiers
Who appointed Caiaphas, the high priest of the temple, and controlled his
religious functions? - Answer: The Romans
Did Jesus defend himself? - Answer: no
Who is ultimately responsible for the death of Jesus? - Answer: The powerful—
both Jews and Romans—but ultimately the Romans who tried, convicted, and
executed Jesus.
According to Sachs, what is the heart of the Gospel message and the foundation
of the Christian Faith? - Answer: The resurrection of the Crucified Jesus
What is the meaning of the word "parousia"? - Answer: The imminent coming—
second coming
Page 3 of 32
, How was the general resurrection seen within the Pharisaic tradition? - Answer: It
was eventually seen as the ground of hope not only for Israel's vindication, but for
the apocalyptic revelation of God's mercy upon all nations.
For Jesus, is the resurrection merely connected with the idea of a just retribution?
Why or why not? - Answer: No. It is connected with God's faithful love
How do the Gospel narratives present the death and resurrection of Jesus? -
Answer: They present Jesus' death and resurrection, not as a personal privilege of
Jesus, but as the culmination of God's action for us and for our salvation.
What is "divine life" all about? - Answer: Life unto death for others is what divine
life is all about.
Sachs states that "it is the same Jesus, who died and was buried" who was now
alive after the resurrection. He also holds that the resurrected Jesus was not the
same. What does this mean? - Answer: He is not a corpse resuscitated, living as
he once did. Jesus does not "return" to life in the sense of going back to his
former state of living. Rather, through the power of the Spirit, God brings him
"forward," through death, to a new fullness and intensity of life.
For St. Paul, what is the resurrection proof of? - Answer: That God has begun the
divine act of saving judgment expected on the last day.
Page 4 of 32
