NTI Exam 1 Study Questions & Answers
Hellenic - ANSWERSTerm referring to Greek culture and history prior to Alexander the Great.
The 5th century BCE was the highpoint of the Hellenic era. The Hellenic era was centered in
Greece, though merchant activity led to some cultural cross-fertilization.
Hellenistic - ANSWERSTerm referring to the era of Greek culture and influence originating from
Alexander the Great and his accomplishments, accomplishments that caused a significant shift
in Greek culture. 323-31 BCE Alexander's conquests led to Greek western ideas interacting with
eastern ideas
"taken for granted" - ANSWERS"taken for granted"
We don't consciously make decisions and think through every little thing that we do. For
example, we don't have to think through what to do when you get in an elevator, how to sit in
class and take notes, or how to go through the lunch line at school. We look at our reality
through our worldview and because of that there are certain things that are simply natural to
who you are and how you behave and what you believe should happen.
Religion in the ancient world is a "taken-for-granted" idea like this. They assumed it. They
assumed it so much that they didn't even have to think through it all the time. Outside forces
are always present and interacting with their daily lives. Thus, Religion is not disassociated from
the public and private life. It is infused in everything. It does not have to be spoken aloud or
consciously thought through in order to impact decisions and instinct in the day-to-day life of
the ancient world.
Summary: This is 70-90% of the population. Religion is their life. They don't give it up easily.
The Hellenistic every day person is looking for three things (3 Cs) - ANSWERSControl over affairs
of everyday life: Crops/land, income, etc.
Community in connection with the divine (to tap into divine power/benefits)
Comfort beyond the grave: If I am prevented from flourishing in this life, will I have another shot
in a different life?
,Consider how well your church community does these three things.
Greco-Roman - ANSWERSGreco-Roman Period (31 BCE to 350 CE+)
The Greco-Roman Empire begins in 31 BCE with Octavian/Caesar Augustus coming to rule and
extends to an early empire, later empire, and the Roman empire past our period of study.
The Greco-Roman period as discussed in Ferguson merges out of the Republic. Rome originally
structured itself as a republic. Representatives of key families were in the senate. It was
representative rule. Rome was cautious about any one leader standing out from the public
whole.
When the Republic falls, Augustus is the beginning of an empire instead of a republic.
Greco-Roman culture is a meshing together of Greek culture with the control and military
power of Roman culture. (Ferguson describes this well.) Rome was more Greek in the Eastern
part of the empire (this is where we see more emperor worship) and less Greek in the Western
part of the empire.)
Augustan Age: - ANSWERSAugustus' rule was a major turning point for the Greco-Roman world,
just as Alexander the Great was a turning point before him. Under his rule, Rome experienced
"peace, economic prosperity, improved communications, stable government, and a sense of
renewal. The literature of the Augustan age celebrates the birth of new age. Virgil's Eclogue 4,
written in 40 BCE, shows the almost messianitc aura that surrounded the expectations of people
in the Augustan Age." In 27 BCE Augustus was basically granted control of the will of the senate
and the Roman people, in addition to a large army and the name, Imperator Caesar divi filius
"son of a god." In 23 BCE he was given proconsular power without the title. He was viewed as
the chief citizen. His government was basically a delegated absolutism.
Worldview - ANSWERS"A complex construction of gained knowledge, of social nurturing, of the
human fabric of self-reflection, of varied and trying experiences, of self-perception, anf of
fears."
A worldview is all about making sense of our world and our identity therein
Pax Romana - ANSWERSThis is one of the aspects of Caesar Augustus' rule. It's a period of peace
when Rome didn't have any major wars going on. Pax Romana means, "peace of Rome" or
, "Roman Peace." Those who write about the Pax Romana are rulers and retainers (wealthy
members of the upper class) who believe Caesar Augustus introduced a period in Rome known
as the Roman peace. However, this is actually a fictional idea because it depends on your
perspective and status. If you are a member of popular society, Pax Romana is awful and are
losing all their money to taxes and policy. They own next to nothing. Ferguson writes, "After the
wars of the preceding period a genuine sense of gratitude was expressed toward Augustus for
the restoration of peace. He promoted this virtue of his reign, given monumental expression in
the ara pacis (altar of peace) in Rome, whose reliefs are a noble expression of the ideals of the
principate. Security and safety made possible travel, trade, and renewed economic
development and prosperity."
gymnasium - ANSWERSA Greek athletic and recreational structure and social institution
developed for citizens and well-to-do individuals. Gymnasia included running grounds, sports
grounds, and occasionally a lecture hall that functioned as the center of activities for the
ephebes, members of the ephebia- an educational institution for young men.
Protrepsis - ANSWERSA mode of philosophical discourse used by Hellenistic philosophers to
convert people to a certain way of life or enterprise by demonstrating its superiority. Early
Christianity did not identify their converting practices with the term protrepsis; rather they used
the greek word for proclamation, kerygma, to describe their converting practices.
First Triumvirate - ANSWERSJulius Caesar- who lead expeditions north of Asia Minor. Julius
Caesar defeated POmpey in 48 BCE and sought to tranform the Republic into an Empire. But he
was assassinated bye Cassius and Brutus. His popularity led people to claim he experienced
apotheosis.
Pompey- who solidified Roman control over the Fertile Crescent and Ptolemaic Kingdom And
fought against JC
Crassus- who died, leading Pompey and Julius Caesar to fight one another
Second Triumvirate - ANSWERSOctavian- Adopted son of Julius Caesar who had allegedly
experienced apotheosis. Octavian used this to his political advantage. Octavian claimed to be a
son of Jupiter.
Hellenic - ANSWERSTerm referring to Greek culture and history prior to Alexander the Great.
The 5th century BCE was the highpoint of the Hellenic era. The Hellenic era was centered in
Greece, though merchant activity led to some cultural cross-fertilization.
Hellenistic - ANSWERSTerm referring to the era of Greek culture and influence originating from
Alexander the Great and his accomplishments, accomplishments that caused a significant shift
in Greek culture. 323-31 BCE Alexander's conquests led to Greek western ideas interacting with
eastern ideas
"taken for granted" - ANSWERS"taken for granted"
We don't consciously make decisions and think through every little thing that we do. For
example, we don't have to think through what to do when you get in an elevator, how to sit in
class and take notes, or how to go through the lunch line at school. We look at our reality
through our worldview and because of that there are certain things that are simply natural to
who you are and how you behave and what you believe should happen.
Religion in the ancient world is a "taken-for-granted" idea like this. They assumed it. They
assumed it so much that they didn't even have to think through it all the time. Outside forces
are always present and interacting with their daily lives. Thus, Religion is not disassociated from
the public and private life. It is infused in everything. It does not have to be spoken aloud or
consciously thought through in order to impact decisions and instinct in the day-to-day life of
the ancient world.
Summary: This is 70-90% of the population. Religion is their life. They don't give it up easily.
The Hellenistic every day person is looking for three things (3 Cs) - ANSWERSControl over affairs
of everyday life: Crops/land, income, etc.
Community in connection with the divine (to tap into divine power/benefits)
Comfort beyond the grave: If I am prevented from flourishing in this life, will I have another shot
in a different life?
,Consider how well your church community does these three things.
Greco-Roman - ANSWERSGreco-Roman Period (31 BCE to 350 CE+)
The Greco-Roman Empire begins in 31 BCE with Octavian/Caesar Augustus coming to rule and
extends to an early empire, later empire, and the Roman empire past our period of study.
The Greco-Roman period as discussed in Ferguson merges out of the Republic. Rome originally
structured itself as a republic. Representatives of key families were in the senate. It was
representative rule. Rome was cautious about any one leader standing out from the public
whole.
When the Republic falls, Augustus is the beginning of an empire instead of a republic.
Greco-Roman culture is a meshing together of Greek culture with the control and military
power of Roman culture. (Ferguson describes this well.) Rome was more Greek in the Eastern
part of the empire (this is where we see more emperor worship) and less Greek in the Western
part of the empire.)
Augustan Age: - ANSWERSAugustus' rule was a major turning point for the Greco-Roman world,
just as Alexander the Great was a turning point before him. Under his rule, Rome experienced
"peace, economic prosperity, improved communications, stable government, and a sense of
renewal. The literature of the Augustan age celebrates the birth of new age. Virgil's Eclogue 4,
written in 40 BCE, shows the almost messianitc aura that surrounded the expectations of people
in the Augustan Age." In 27 BCE Augustus was basically granted control of the will of the senate
and the Roman people, in addition to a large army and the name, Imperator Caesar divi filius
"son of a god." In 23 BCE he was given proconsular power without the title. He was viewed as
the chief citizen. His government was basically a delegated absolutism.
Worldview - ANSWERS"A complex construction of gained knowledge, of social nurturing, of the
human fabric of self-reflection, of varied and trying experiences, of self-perception, anf of
fears."
A worldview is all about making sense of our world and our identity therein
Pax Romana - ANSWERSThis is one of the aspects of Caesar Augustus' rule. It's a period of peace
when Rome didn't have any major wars going on. Pax Romana means, "peace of Rome" or
, "Roman Peace." Those who write about the Pax Romana are rulers and retainers (wealthy
members of the upper class) who believe Caesar Augustus introduced a period in Rome known
as the Roman peace. However, this is actually a fictional idea because it depends on your
perspective and status. If you are a member of popular society, Pax Romana is awful and are
losing all their money to taxes and policy. They own next to nothing. Ferguson writes, "After the
wars of the preceding period a genuine sense of gratitude was expressed toward Augustus for
the restoration of peace. He promoted this virtue of his reign, given monumental expression in
the ara pacis (altar of peace) in Rome, whose reliefs are a noble expression of the ideals of the
principate. Security and safety made possible travel, trade, and renewed economic
development and prosperity."
gymnasium - ANSWERSA Greek athletic and recreational structure and social institution
developed for citizens and well-to-do individuals. Gymnasia included running grounds, sports
grounds, and occasionally a lecture hall that functioned as the center of activities for the
ephebes, members of the ephebia- an educational institution for young men.
Protrepsis - ANSWERSA mode of philosophical discourse used by Hellenistic philosophers to
convert people to a certain way of life or enterprise by demonstrating its superiority. Early
Christianity did not identify their converting practices with the term protrepsis; rather they used
the greek word for proclamation, kerygma, to describe their converting practices.
First Triumvirate - ANSWERSJulius Caesar- who lead expeditions north of Asia Minor. Julius
Caesar defeated POmpey in 48 BCE and sought to tranform the Republic into an Empire. But he
was assassinated bye Cassius and Brutus. His popularity led people to claim he experienced
apotheosis.
Pompey- who solidified Roman control over the Fertile Crescent and Ptolemaic Kingdom And
fought against JC
Crassus- who died, leading Pompey and Julius Caesar to fight one another
Second Triumvirate - ANSWERSOctavian- Adopted son of Julius Caesar who had allegedly
experienced apotheosis. Octavian used this to his political advantage. Octavian claimed to be a
son of Jupiter.
