NTT Exam 1 Questions & Answers
2024/2025
What was Bultmann's approach to NTT? - ANSWERS1. He argued that the writings attributed to Paul and
John comprise the essence of the NT kerygma and that NTT should focus on the the Geschite (story) of
the NT and not merely its Historie (history).
2. Bultmann said that the word of God still speaks to us today. It is beyond historical, but eternal truth.
3. He argued that from Paul and John's writings we can discern a common doctrine of humanity
(anthropology)
What was Jeremias's approach to NTT? - ANSWERS1. He argued that the Jesus tradition is substantially
reliable. "The burden of proof is on those who would show historical inauthenticity, not on those who
would claim authenticity."
2. He centers Jesus' proclamation in an event, and that event is his baptism. It is in his baptism that he
becomes conscious of being in the grasp of the Spirit and of being God's servant in the sense of Isaiah
42:1
What was Dunn's approach to NTT? - ANSWERSDunn argued that there is one unified Christian faith
which was that Jesus of Nazareth is to be identified with the exalted Christ. He focused heavily on "Unity
in Diversity" and "Diversity in Unity.
What does Via see as the hermeneutical presuppositions of doing NT Theology "Extra-textually"? -
ANSWERS1. The text is valuable as a source of knowledge of something more valuable that lies outside
of itself.
2. The text is to be look through rather than at or into.
3. Meaning is found in the relationship between the text and what it refers to, with the emphasis on
what it refers to.
4. The language of the text is functioning in a primarily referential way
According to Via, what are the contributions of C. H. Dodd towards understanding NT Eschatology? -
ANSWERSJesus' historical ministry has produced a "realized eschatology." There will be no future coming
of the kingdom or Son of Man. Jesus' historical mission IS the eschatological event.
, According to Via, what are the contributions of Ernst Käsemann towards understanding NT Eschatology?
- ANSWERSThe Apocalyptic theology of early Christianity is the mother of all Christian theology, and that
it's a necessary facet of contemporary theology.
1. The end of the world is imminent
2. There is an enthusiasm about this
3. The Law of Moses is to be upheld
4. That a mission to Israel should be promoted, but not a mission to the Gentiles.
What is the approach to NT Christology which Via claims is represented by Willi Marxsen? - ANSWERSHe
believes that Christology begins in relationship, where the relationship between Jesus and the believer
becomes visible for the first time, and that present relationship with Jesus qualifies one's eschatological
destiny
What is the approach to NT Christology which Via claims is represented by James Dunn? - ANSWERSHe
acknowledges that Jesus did not believe that he was the incarnation of the preexistent Son of God, but
that preexistence is a later reflection/elaboration of Jesus' view that his intimate father/son relationship
with God had eschatological significance. In other words, Jesus' status as "Word" or "Wisdom" of God
are personifications of God's own functions, and this is how first-century readers would have understood
statements about Jesus influenced by wisdom theology
What is Via's summary of Bultmann's demythologizing of the NT? - ANSWERSThe church has
mythologized God by trying to define him in human terms. Demythologizing has two moments: a
negative moment where the mythological motifs are recognized as not literally true. The second is
positive, recovering the myth's original understanding of existence and interpreting that in a way that is
compelling and pertinent in our situation. The NT demythologized has relevance for the contemporary
world.
What does N. T. Wright, according to Via, mean by "critical realism"? - ANSWERSCritical realism
acknowledges that we can know reality outside of ourselves, but this knowledge about the other is
always seen through the lens of our own story or worldview. So, acquiring knowledge is a continuing
dialogue between knower and the known. Regarding history, we will never know "how it really
happened," but we can develop a greater sense of understanding through the way that somebody else
tries to make sense of events.
2024/2025
What was Bultmann's approach to NTT? - ANSWERS1. He argued that the writings attributed to Paul and
John comprise the essence of the NT kerygma and that NTT should focus on the the Geschite (story) of
the NT and not merely its Historie (history).
2. Bultmann said that the word of God still speaks to us today. It is beyond historical, but eternal truth.
3. He argued that from Paul and John's writings we can discern a common doctrine of humanity
(anthropology)
What was Jeremias's approach to NTT? - ANSWERS1. He argued that the Jesus tradition is substantially
reliable. "The burden of proof is on those who would show historical inauthenticity, not on those who
would claim authenticity."
2. He centers Jesus' proclamation in an event, and that event is his baptism. It is in his baptism that he
becomes conscious of being in the grasp of the Spirit and of being God's servant in the sense of Isaiah
42:1
What was Dunn's approach to NTT? - ANSWERSDunn argued that there is one unified Christian faith
which was that Jesus of Nazareth is to be identified with the exalted Christ. He focused heavily on "Unity
in Diversity" and "Diversity in Unity.
What does Via see as the hermeneutical presuppositions of doing NT Theology "Extra-textually"? -
ANSWERS1. The text is valuable as a source of knowledge of something more valuable that lies outside
of itself.
2. The text is to be look through rather than at or into.
3. Meaning is found in the relationship between the text and what it refers to, with the emphasis on
what it refers to.
4. The language of the text is functioning in a primarily referential way
According to Via, what are the contributions of C. H. Dodd towards understanding NT Eschatology? -
ANSWERSJesus' historical ministry has produced a "realized eschatology." There will be no future coming
of the kingdom or Son of Man. Jesus' historical mission IS the eschatological event.
, According to Via, what are the contributions of Ernst Käsemann towards understanding NT Eschatology?
- ANSWERSThe Apocalyptic theology of early Christianity is the mother of all Christian theology, and that
it's a necessary facet of contemporary theology.
1. The end of the world is imminent
2. There is an enthusiasm about this
3. The Law of Moses is to be upheld
4. That a mission to Israel should be promoted, but not a mission to the Gentiles.
What is the approach to NT Christology which Via claims is represented by Willi Marxsen? - ANSWERSHe
believes that Christology begins in relationship, where the relationship between Jesus and the believer
becomes visible for the first time, and that present relationship with Jesus qualifies one's eschatological
destiny
What is the approach to NT Christology which Via claims is represented by James Dunn? - ANSWERSHe
acknowledges that Jesus did not believe that he was the incarnation of the preexistent Son of God, but
that preexistence is a later reflection/elaboration of Jesus' view that his intimate father/son relationship
with God had eschatological significance. In other words, Jesus' status as "Word" or "Wisdom" of God
are personifications of God's own functions, and this is how first-century readers would have understood
statements about Jesus influenced by wisdom theology
What is Via's summary of Bultmann's demythologizing of the NT? - ANSWERSThe church has
mythologized God by trying to define him in human terms. Demythologizing has two moments: a
negative moment where the mythological motifs are recognized as not literally true. The second is
positive, recovering the myth's original understanding of existence and interpreting that in a way that is
compelling and pertinent in our situation. The NT demythologized has relevance for the contemporary
world.
What does N. T. Wright, according to Via, mean by "critical realism"? - ANSWERSCritical realism
acknowledges that we can know reality outside of ourselves, but this knowledge about the other is
always seen through the lens of our own story or worldview. So, acquiring knowledge is a continuing
dialogue between knower and the known. Regarding history, we will never know "how it really
happened," but we can develop a greater sense of understanding through the way that somebody else
tries to make sense of events.
