NBST 515 Exam 3

Significant event that occurred in 410 AD - Rome had fallen to Alaric's Goths. Roman pagans blamed Christians, who had been in favor of Constantine. In the wake of such, Augustine wrote City of God. Whether full canonical acceptance of Hebrews took place more quickly or more slowly than the other New Testament writings. - More slowly - it struggled. The two primary reasons Paul is widely rejected as the author of Hebrews. - Language is different from that in Paul's Letters - from vocab and style to imagery and motifs. Writer says he heard Gospel from those who received it from Christ (2:3), something Paul denied. Scholar known for his vigorous defense of the Lukan authorship of Hebrews. - D. L. Allen Whether or not Hebrews is formally anonymous. - Yes Whether or not the author of Hebrews likely expected his readers to know who he was. - Yes - many personal references at the ending. The NT collection in which Hebrews first circulated (Gospels, Pauline Epistles, Catholic Epistles). - Pauline - showing some connection with Paul, whether meaning it was written by him or just included in the circulation of his works from his own gathering. The individual referred to in the conclusion of Hebrews - Timothy Whether Christians embraced Hebrews more readily in the East or West. - East Aside from the authorship issue, the major reason why some early believers were reluctant to recognize Hebrews as a canonical writing. - Heb. 6:4-6 - interpretation and application, which refers to readmission into the church by those who recanted of their faith when threatened with persecution. Whether the author was likely Jewish or Gentile. - Jewish The late-first century writing that makes reference to Hebrews - 1 Clement 36:1-6 Whether Hebrews was likely written before or after the destruction of the temple, according to the textbook. - Before The best candidate for the destination of Hebrews. - Rome The two major arguments for the original readers of Hebrews being Jewish Christians. - Title - most likely dates to the book's inclusion in the Pauline Corpus. Title taken seriously, pointing to Jewish readers absolutely. Use of OT in book. What Heb. 13:22 may reveal about the literary genre of Hebrews. - May be an example of a Hellenistic-Jewish synagogue sermon. THe primary purposes of Hebrews. - Not merely to maintain believer's confession in the face of persecution but also to spur them on to full maturity in Christ by holding fast to their confession. The factors that support the notion that Hebrews originated as an oral work. - Author refers to himself in the first person. Author casts his activity as an act of speaking, not writing. Alternates exposition and exhortation, which "allows an orator to drive home points immediately without losing hearers' attention". Author introduces a theme only to explain it later in his work. Two reasons the recipients of Hebrews were to pay close attention to its message, according to its author. - Lest they drift away or fall under the discipline of the Lord. Type of relationship between Jesus and Christians that is emphasized in Heb. 2. - All "sons of God", therefore believers are the brothers of Jesus. The Psalm used weekly in the Jewish synagogue and quoted in Heb. 3. Also know which OT event this Psalm refers back to. - Psalm 95:7-11, reminds readers/ worshippers of the consequences of the rebellion as recorded in Num. 13-14 (for they were about to receive God's blessings but did not because they would not trust God). Psalm alluded to frequently by the author of Hebrews when discussing Christ's high priesthood. - Psalm 110:4 The name of the enigmatic OT character referred to by the author of Hebrews who is said to have been a priest. - Melchizedek - high priest of the Most High God who received tithes from Abraham. His name means "king of righteousness" and he was the "king of salem". Author exploits silence of the OT and noted that Melchizedek had "neither beginning of days nor end of life" because Genesis narrative where he is introduced mentions neither his birth nor his death. Three reasons Melchizedek was better qualified than Aaron to be priest, according to Heb. 7:4-10. - Sons of Aaron collected tithes from their brothers, but Melchizedek blessed Abraham, proving that he was Abraham's superior. Sons of Aaron died, but there is no mention of Mel's death. Levi himself paid tithe to Mel. The OT passage quoted at length in Heb. 8 when comparing the Old and New Covenants. - Jer. 31:31-34. Three exhortations given to the readers in Heb. 10:19-25 that provide the proper response to Christ's establishment of the New Covenant. - Draw near to God with confidence, hold on to their confession without wavering, exercise genuine care for other believers, spurring them on to love, good works, and faithful fellowship. The individual who serves as the primary OT example overcoming "by faith" in Heb. 11. - Abraham Whether the quotations of the OT in Hebrews are typically direct translations of the Hebrew text or from a Greek translation. - Greek Practical reasons why Christ's/Melchizedek's priesthood was superior to that of Aaron. - Eternal priest, Christ did not have to present sacrifices for himself, Christ's priesthood was once and for all, Christ is fulfillment of OT typology and minister of superior New Covenant. Two primary reasons why the authors of the textbook deny the possibility that the author of Hebrews warned his readers about the possibility of apostasy. - Author affirms the teaching of Jesus that all true believers endure to the end (Matt. 10:22); those who fall away, as referenced in Heb. 6:9, are not true believers. Some are related to Christ only superficially. Their actions are described in terms of rebellion. Hearers are either those who perish or those who are under God's rest. The Reformer who on one occasion described the Epistle of James as "a right strawy epistle." - Luther The specific portion of the Gospels that is referred to often by James. - Matthew's Sermon on the Mount The recently discovered artifact that purportedly included an inscription with the name of James. - Man's ossuary Leading reasons some scholars have rejected the authenticity of James - Skilled in Greek, lacks specifics expected from James, church fathers were late in canonizing the book, some suggest book's outlook concerning Torah is in contrast with what is known about James and his commitment to Jewish tradition, also - James 2:14-16 compatible with Pauls' theology. Heretical group that appears to have had a high view of James during the second century. - Gnostics Whether or not James emphasized the ritual matters of the law and how this issue may relate to the question of authorship. - Does not - points to a late time of composition and a different author, for James is elsewhere known to have been legalistic in piety. Major problem with the "some other James" view. - The authority and author - how would they have authority if not a known James? Major arguments in favor of the traditional view of authorship of James. - Beginning reference (1:1) suggests that this James was a person with recognition and authority, writer shows evidence of being Jew (5:7), verbal similarities to Acts 15, man reflected comports well with brother of Jesus as he is demonstrated in rest of NT. Why James was most likely not written earlier than 42 AD or later than 49 AD. - Must be written after he became prominent leader in Jerusalem church (after 41 or 42), and before Gospels (50s) were written due to a knowledge of Jesus that does not seem to directly stem from a reading of the Gospels, and before the Jerusalem Council as well as Paul's letters (personal knowledge). Whether James was most likely written to Christians who were Jewish or Gentile. - Jewish Christians Whether James was most likely written to Christians in his immediate vicinity, or to those living at a distance. - Distance - diaspora. Whether James was written in response to a specific set of circumstances or if it was more of a general letter. - General - specific individuals but no specific situation. The type of literature that many contemporary scholars believe to be similar to that of James. - Letter - protreptic literature, advocates true over false. What is missing from the end of James that makes the epistle unconventional. - No formal epistolary closing. Those addressed in the James' opening. - 12 tribes of the dispersion. The OT figures who are cited as examples in James 2 to support the premise that faith is useless without accompanying works. - Abraham and Rahab. The Roman Catholic sacraments that find their support in James 5:13-18. - Confession and the last unction - person anointed with oil on his deathbed. Whether or not 1 Peter was widely recognized as an apostolic writing in the early church. - Yes Basic relationship between Peter and Paul according to those such as F. C. Baur who espoused Hegelian philosophy. - At odds - Peter clung to old Jewish form while Paul clung to Hellenistic form. The identity of "the first clear evidence for the knowledge of 1 Peter" - 2 Peter Early-second century church father living in Asia Minor who cited 1 Peter in his writings. - Polycarp The first extant citation naming Peter as the author of 1 Peter - Irenaeus The four primary arguments based on internal evidence that are typically used to reject the authenticity of 1 Peter and how those who affirm authenticity have responded to these charges. - Greek is better than expected, contents suggest time later than Peter's life, dependence on Paul thus needed a later date, geographical regions address were not part of his ministry. Response: how well written is the letter? Second stance on timing reads too deeply into the text and suggests statesanctioned persecution. The individual cited in 1 Peter 5:12 who likely served as the letter carrier. - Silas Likely date of 1 Peter according to those who reject Petrine authorship. - 81-86. Primary evidence that points to the mid- to late-60s as the probable date of composition for 1 Peter. - Reference to Rome in 1 Peter 5:13 - known that Peter was likely in Rome from mid to late 60s. The most probable location of the "Babylon" mentioned in 1 Pet. 5:13 - Rome Whether Peter was most likely written primarily to a Gentile or Jewish audience. - Gentiles The primary purpose of 1 Peter - Enduring persecution Evidence of genuine faith according to 1 Pet 1:7-9 - Enduring trials What is unique about the manner in which Peter reapplies the temple imagery - Seeing Christ as the cornerstone of the temple The descriptions Peter applies to the new people of God that have OT antecedents - Chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, people for His possession, to proclaim His praises, once not a people but now God's people. The OT passage referred to in 1 Pet to demonstrate that Christ suffered even though he was innocent. - Isaiah 53 The time in which the textbook concludes that Christ's proclamation to the spirits in prison (1 Pet 3:19-22) took place. - Jesus after his resurrection went to those demons held in confinement who had procreated with women in the days of Noah and proclaimed to them his triumph to them. Whether or not the "spirits in prison (1 Pet 3:19)" likely referred to the "sons of God" that were referred to in Gen. 6:1-6. - Most likely yes Whether or not there was a significant degree of hesitation in the early church to accept the authority of 2 Peter (hint: consider the testimony of Eusebius). - Yes