Synoptic Gospels
What miracle lies at the heart of the Christian faith and message? - answer
Resurrection of Jesus
List at least three factors that serve as evidence that miracles did take place in the life of
Jesus - answer1. The nature of the written accounts in which these miracles are found
2. The fact that the miracles occurred in public, were acknowledged by Jesus'
opponents of the time and in a variety of circumstances.
3. The character of the eye witnesses whose veracity is seldom denied
List 5 of the 6 positive criteria established to judge the probable authenticity of particular
sayings and teachings of Jesus - answer1 multiple attestations
2 multiple forms
3 Aramaic linguistic phenomena
4 Palestinian environmental phenomena
5 dissimilarity
6 divergent patterns from the developing tradition
List 5 facts that non Christian sources establish beyond reasonable doubt about the life
and person of Jesus - answer1 Jesus was truly a historical person
2 The Jewish leadership was involved in the death of Jesus
3 Jesus lived in Palestine in the first century of our era
4 Jesus was crucified by the Romans under governorship of Pontius Pilate
5 Jesus' Ministry was association with wonders/ sorcery
What can be concluded about the economic status of Jesus' parents? Explain. -
answerThey were so poor that they couldn't give the normal sacrifice for purification,
which was a lamb and a dove or 2 young pigeons. They gave a pair of doves or 2 young
pigeons
What are the four points about Jesus' birth from Matthew's account? - answer1 we must
date Jesus' birth earlier, perhaps 2 years before Herod's death
2 Herod inquired from wise men "exact time" when the star had appeared and slaughter
of the innocent of Bethlehem involved all who were 2 years old or under
3 Jesus could have been up to 2 years old at the wise men's visit
4 Wise men found Jesus in a house rather than a manager, makes it clear their coming
was after the visit of Shepards 7-5 BC Jesus birth
List 5 factors used to determine the date of Jesus' crucifixion - answer1 pilate's rule in
Judea 36/37
2 Caiaphas ruling High Priest in 37
3 Jesus died on Friday 14th of 15th of Nisan followed by Sabbath
, 4 Jewish month was determined by a new moon astronomical calculations between 27
and 37
5 Paul's conversion 33
What according to Stein is the essence of Christmas story? Explain - answerThat God's
son came into the world in human form and dwelt among us. It's the "fact" of the
incarnation that is the key to Christmas not "how" by which this was brought about. The
incarnation
What is Stein's argument about the theological importance of the virginal conception? -
answerThe son of God did not come into existence through virginal conception. The son
of God was, is and will always be. The virginal conception was simply the means by
which God brought about the incarnation of his son
What occupation did Jesus have and what did it involve? - answerCarpenter, not only to
a worker of wood but a craftsman who worked with stone or metal. It required of him
physical labor so the later act of the church that tended to portray Jesus as skinny and
weak is clearly in error. After Joseph's death the responsibility of caring for his mother
and family fell on the oldest son- Jesus
List three languages that figured prominently in the lives of the people at the time of
Jesus - answerAramaic, Hebrew and Greek
What is the term for Jews who spoke Greek? - answerHellenists
Name 2 of the twelve disciples with Greek names? - answerAndrew and Philip
What was involved in the Jewish proselytizing baptism? - answerSelf administered, they
baptized themselves, also Jewish proselytizing baptism was exclusively for gentiles,
non Jews who sought to become Jews. Circumsion, offering of a sacrifice, and baptism
were part of the conversion experience
What was so significant about John's baptism and message? - answerIt was a baptism
of repentance primarily for the Jews, but it also announced the arrival of the anointed
messianic kingdom. John saw himself as a forerunner of the messiah and sought
to,prepare the people for him
According to the Gospel of the Nazarenes why did Jesus submit to John's baptism? -
answerHe submitted to John's baptism due to the possibility that he might have sinned
in ignorance
According to Stein, what did it mean for Jesus to,participate in John's baptism? -
answerProbably meant following in the path God had revealed to be his will. Identifying
with the messianic community, John had founded by submitting to its rite of initiation. He
sought to identify himself with this righteous movement.
What miracle lies at the heart of the Christian faith and message? - answer
Resurrection of Jesus
List at least three factors that serve as evidence that miracles did take place in the life of
Jesus - answer1. The nature of the written accounts in which these miracles are found
2. The fact that the miracles occurred in public, were acknowledged by Jesus'
opponents of the time and in a variety of circumstances.
3. The character of the eye witnesses whose veracity is seldom denied
List 5 of the 6 positive criteria established to judge the probable authenticity of particular
sayings and teachings of Jesus - answer1 multiple attestations
2 multiple forms
3 Aramaic linguistic phenomena
4 Palestinian environmental phenomena
5 dissimilarity
6 divergent patterns from the developing tradition
List 5 facts that non Christian sources establish beyond reasonable doubt about the life
and person of Jesus - answer1 Jesus was truly a historical person
2 The Jewish leadership was involved in the death of Jesus
3 Jesus lived in Palestine in the first century of our era
4 Jesus was crucified by the Romans under governorship of Pontius Pilate
5 Jesus' Ministry was association with wonders/ sorcery
What can be concluded about the economic status of Jesus' parents? Explain. -
answerThey were so poor that they couldn't give the normal sacrifice for purification,
which was a lamb and a dove or 2 young pigeons. They gave a pair of doves or 2 young
pigeons
What are the four points about Jesus' birth from Matthew's account? - answer1 we must
date Jesus' birth earlier, perhaps 2 years before Herod's death
2 Herod inquired from wise men "exact time" when the star had appeared and slaughter
of the innocent of Bethlehem involved all who were 2 years old or under
3 Jesus could have been up to 2 years old at the wise men's visit
4 Wise men found Jesus in a house rather than a manager, makes it clear their coming
was after the visit of Shepards 7-5 BC Jesus birth
List 5 factors used to determine the date of Jesus' crucifixion - answer1 pilate's rule in
Judea 36/37
2 Caiaphas ruling High Priest in 37
3 Jesus died on Friday 14th of 15th of Nisan followed by Sabbath
, 4 Jewish month was determined by a new moon astronomical calculations between 27
and 37
5 Paul's conversion 33
What according to Stein is the essence of Christmas story? Explain - answerThat God's
son came into the world in human form and dwelt among us. It's the "fact" of the
incarnation that is the key to Christmas not "how" by which this was brought about. The
incarnation
What is Stein's argument about the theological importance of the virginal conception? -
answerThe son of God did not come into existence through virginal conception. The son
of God was, is and will always be. The virginal conception was simply the means by
which God brought about the incarnation of his son
What occupation did Jesus have and what did it involve? - answerCarpenter, not only to
a worker of wood but a craftsman who worked with stone or metal. It required of him
physical labor so the later act of the church that tended to portray Jesus as skinny and
weak is clearly in error. After Joseph's death the responsibility of caring for his mother
and family fell on the oldest son- Jesus
List three languages that figured prominently in the lives of the people at the time of
Jesus - answerAramaic, Hebrew and Greek
What is the term for Jews who spoke Greek? - answerHellenists
Name 2 of the twelve disciples with Greek names? - answerAndrew and Philip
What was involved in the Jewish proselytizing baptism? - answerSelf administered, they
baptized themselves, also Jewish proselytizing baptism was exclusively for gentiles,
non Jews who sought to become Jews. Circumsion, offering of a sacrifice, and baptism
were part of the conversion experience
What was so significant about John's baptism and message? - answerIt was a baptism
of repentance primarily for the Jews, but it also announced the arrival of the anointed
messianic kingdom. John saw himself as a forerunner of the messiah and sought
to,prepare the people for him
According to the Gospel of the Nazarenes why did Jesus submit to John's baptism? -
answerHe submitted to John's baptism due to the possibility that he might have sinned
in ignorance
According to Stein, what did it mean for Jesus to,participate in John's baptism? -
answerProbably meant following in the path God had revealed to be his will. Identifying
with the messianic community, John had founded by submitting to its rite of initiation. He
sought to identify himself with this righteous movement.
