2.0 Take-Home Questions

2.0 The World of the New Testament

(Last revised: 2/9/02)
(For an explanation of the codes used in this document, click on Explanation of Terms.)
(Check this page periodically, since it is being continually expanded with new question options. This provides increased options for the 'take-home' exam.)
For additional hyperlinks to supplement sources of information under each topic always check the outline page in the level just above this page.

2.1. Historical Perspectives
H:3:29-31; NOSB:nt:416; F:3-14; NOSB3:essays:519-525
2.1.1. Alexander the Great
1. Describe the family background of Alexander the Great.
2. Using the Perseus Project URL, trace Alexander's rise to power in Thomas Martin's An Overview of Greek History. Cover sections 16.7-16.19.
2.1.1.1. War strategy
2.1.1.2. Hellenism
H:3:31-32
1. Define the term 'Hellenism.'
2. Summarize the significance of Hellenism for the spread of Christianity in the ancient world.
2.1.1.2.1. The language
2.1.1.2.2. The culture
1. Describe the impact of Hellenism on the life style and political structures of the first century world.
2.1.2. Alexander's Successors
2.1.2.1. Ptolemies
1. Identify the Ptolemies, especially in relation to their control of Palestine.
2.1.2.2. Seleucids
1. Identify the Seleucids, especially in relation to their control of Palestine.
2.2 Antiochus IV and the Maccabean Revolt
H:4:53-54; NOSB:nt:416-417
2.2.1. Judas Maccabee
1. Summarize the Maccabean revolt as described in 1 Maccabees 1:1-5:68.
2. Summarize the Maccabean revolt as described by Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews 12.6.1-4. From the link, scroll down to chapter 6 of book 12, then summarize sections 1-4.
3. Compare and contrast the descriptions of the Maccabean revolt between 1 Maccabees 1:1-5:68 and Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews 12.6.1-4.
2.2.2. Hasmoneans
1. Summarize the early Hasmonean rule of Jonathan as described by Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews 13.1.1-4.9. From the link, scroll down to chapter 1 of book 13, then summarize chapters 1-4.
2. Describe the circumstances in 63 B.C.E. that led to the end of the Hasmonean dynasty and the beginning of Roman domination of Palestine.
2.3. Roman domination of Palestine
----
1. Summarize three of the thirteen topics relating to everyday life in ancient Roman society. This question may be repeated by answering different
sets of the thirteen topics.

2. Click on one of the Roman provinces from the map in the hyperlink (in the Links icon) and describe the history etc. of the location during the era of Roman occupation from the information provided in the hyper link source.

2.3.1. Herod the Great and his sons
H:4:54-55; NOSB:nt:417-419
2.3.1.1. Herod the Great
1. Summarize the life of Herod the Great.
2. Summarize the brutality of Herod the Great from the depiction of Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews 15.7.1-10. From the link, scroll down to chapter 7 of book 15, then summarize chapter 7.
3. Summarize the relations of Herod the Great to Cleopatra in the depiction of Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews 15.4.1-4. From the link, scroll down to chapter 4 of book 15, then summarize chapter 4.
4. Summarize the building of the temple in Jerusalem by Herod the Great from the depiction of Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews 15.11.1-7. From the link, scroll down to chapter 11 of book 15, then summarize chapter 11.
2.3.1.2. His successors
1. Critically evaluate the so-called 'Christian interpolation' the depiction of Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3. From the link, scroll down to chapter 3 of book 18, then evaluate how a Jewish historian could have written these words about Jesus in section 3.
2. Compare and contrast the death of Herod Agrippa in Acts 12:20-23 and in the depiction of Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews 19.8.2. From the link scroll down to chapter 8, section 2.
2.3.2. Roman emperors
H:4:55-57
1. Summarize the importance of studying ancient Pompeii for understanding ancient Roman society.
2.3.2.1. The Julio-Claudian Dynasty
1. Identify the connections of all the Roman emperors below to concurrent Christian events and persons, i.e., list the significant Christian events that happened during the reign of each emporer and whether or not any cause/effect relationship existed.
2.3.2.1.1. Augustus (30 B.C.E. - 14 C.E.)
1. Trace the life of Augustus using the De Imperatoribus Romanis site.
2.3.2.1.2. Tiberius (14 - 37 C.E.)
1. Trace the life of Tiberius using the De Imperatoribus Romanis site.
2.3.2.1.3. Gaius [=Caius/Caligula] (37 - 41 C.E.)
1. Trace the life of Gaius using the De Imperatoribus Romanis site.
2. Summarize the reign of Caius from the depiction of Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews 19.1.1-3. From the link, scroll down to chapter 1 of book 19, then summarize sections 1-3.
3. Characterize the reign of Caligula using the De Imperatoribus Romanis site.
2.3.2.1.4. Claudius (41-54 C.E.)
1. Trace the life of Claudius using the Ancient Europe site.
2.3.2.1.5. Nero (54 - 68 C.E.)
1. Trace the life of Nero using the De Imperatoribus Romanis site.
2.3.2.2. The Four Caesars and the Flavian Dynasty
1. Characterize the reigns of Galba, Otho, and Vitelius using the De Imperatoribus Romanis site.
2. Summarize the Year of the Four Caesars using the Ancient Europe site.
2.3.2.2.1. Galba (68 - 69 C.E.)
2.3.2.2.2. Otho (69 C.E.)
2.3.2.2.3. Vitelius (69 C.E.)
2.3.2.2.4. Vespasian (69 - 79 C.E.)
1. Characterize the reign of Vespasian using the De Imperatoribus Romanis site.
2.3.2.2.5. Titus (79 - 81 C.E.)
1. Characterize the reign of Titus using the De Imperatoribus Romanis site.
2.3.2.2.6. Domitian (81 - 96 C.E.)
1. Characterize the reign of Domitian using the De Imperatoribus Romanis site.
2.3.3. The Roman Procurators
1. Using the Ecole Initiative URL, summarize the life of Pontius Pilate.
2. Summarize the relations of Pontius Pilate with the Jews from the depiction of Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.1-2. From the link, scroll down to chapter 3 of book 18, then summarize sections 1-2.
2.3.4. Jewish revolts
H:4:57-61; NOSB:nt:419
2.3.4.1. First Jewish war against Rome 66-73 C.E.
1. Summarize the depiction of the last three Roman procurators, Festus, Albinus, and Florus, by Josephus in The Wars of the Jews 2.14.1-9. From the link, scroll down to chapter 14 of book 2, then summarize sections 1-9. How did their actions pave the way for the first Jewish war against Rome?
2. Summarize the slaughter of Jewish people in the early phases of the Jewish war as described by Josephus in The Wars of the Jews 2.18.1-11. From the link, scroll down to chapter 18 of book 2, then summarize sections 1-11.
3. Summarize the miseries of the Jewish people inside the city walls of Jerusalem during the seige of the city by the Romans, as depicted by Josephus in The Wars of the Jews 5.10.1-5. From the link, scroll down to chapter 10 of book 5, then summarize sections 1-5.
2.3.4.2. Second Jewish war: bar Kochba (132-135 C.E.)
1. Summarize the bar Kochba revolt of the Jewish people against Roman rule.
2.4. Greek Philosophy
H:3:32
1. Define the term 'philosophy.'
2.4.1. Plato and Socrates, dualism
H:3:32-33
1. Define the term 'dualism.'
2. Using the Perseus Project URL, trace the life of Socrates in Thomas Martin's Overview of Archaic and Classical Greek History. Cover sections 14.6-14.9.
3. Using the Perseus Project URL, trace the life of Plato in Thomas Martin's Overview of Archaic and Classical Greek History. Cover sections 15.1-15.9.
2.4.2. Stoicism
H:3:33-34
1. Define 'Stoicism' from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
2. Using the Ecole Initiative URL, summarize this philosophical movement.
2.4.3. Epicureanism
H:3:34-35
1. Summarize the life of Epicurus.
2. Summarize t he intellectual development and spread of Epicureanism.
3. Summarize Epicureanism and the Judeans.
4. Summarize Epicureanism and the early Christians.
2.4.4. Cynicism
H:3:35-36
1. Summarize the Cynics.
2.4.5. Sophists
1. Summarize the Sophists.
2.5. Greco-Roman Religions
2.5.1. State Religion
H:3:36-42
1. Summarize the nature and extent of influence by the old Roman state religion upon first century Roman society.
2.5.1.1. The Twelve Olympians
2.5.1.1.1. Asclepius
2.5.1.1.2. Dionysus/Bacchus
2.5.2. Mystery Religions
H:3:42-45
1. Summarize the nature and extent of influence by the mystery religions upon first century Roman society.
2. Summarize the basically common elements of myth, worship practice, and central deities by the various mystery religions during the first Christian century.
2.5.2.1. The Greek Mysteries
2.5.2.1.1. Dionysus and Orphism
1. Summarize this religious cult.
2.5.2.1.2. The Eleusinian Mysteries
1. Using the Ecole Initiative URL, summarize this religious cult.
2.5.2.2. The Near Eastern Mysteries
2.5.2.2.1. Mithra and Mithraism
1. Using the Ecole Initiative URL, summarize the cult of Mithra.
2.5.2.2.2. Isis and Osiris
1. Using the Ecole Initiative URL, summarize the cult of Isis.
2.6. Jewish setting for early Christianity
1. Define the term 'Diaspora' as it relates to ancient Judaism.
2. Describe the roll of the Jewish synagogue in the religious life of early Judaism.
2.6.1. Unifying beliefs
H:4:47-51
2.6.1.1. Monotheism
1. Define the terms 'monotheism,' and 'polytheism.'
2. Describe, from the translation Preface section (=To the Reader section in some translations), how -- and the rationale for it -- five different translations have approached translating the Hebrew Divine name.
2.6.1.2. Torah
1. Define the term 'Torah.'
2. Discuss the central themes of 'covenant' and 'sabbath' as a major emphasis of first century Judaish.
2.6.1.3. The Promised Land
1. Discuss the concept of "promised land" in the religious tradition of the Jewish people.
2.6.1.4. The Temple
1. Trace the history of the Jewish temple from Solomon's time through its destruction in 70 C.E.
2. Define the term 'Second Temple Period' as it relates to ancient Judaism.
2.6.2. Divergent beliefs
H:5:63-72
1. Summarize the depiction of the Pharisees and Sadducees in the Josephus in The Wars of the Jews 2.8.14. From the link, scroll down to chapter 8 of book 2, then summarize section14.
2.6.2.1. Sadducees
H:5:63-64
1. Using the Ecole Initiative URL, summarize the Sadducees.
2.6.2.1.1. Origin
2.6.2.1.2. Belief System
1. Define the idea of authoritative writings used by the Sadducees.
2.6.2.1.3. Influence
2.6.2.2. Pharisees
H:5:64-66
1. Using the Ecole Initiative URL, summarize the Pharisees.
2.6.2.2.1. Origin
2.6.2.2.2. Belief System
1. Define the idea of authoritative writings used by the Pharisees.
2.6.2.2.3. Influence
2.6.2.3. Jamnia
H:5:66
1. Summarize the importance of Jamnia to the development of rabbinical Judaism.
2.6.2.4. Essenes and Dead Sea Scrolls
H:5:67-72
2.6.2.4.1. The Essenes
1. Summarize the depiction of the Essenes by Josephus in The Wars of the Jews 2.8.2-13. From the link, scroll down to chapter 8 of book 2, then summarize sections 2-13.
2.6.2.4.2. Qumran
1. Describe the communal life style of the Qumran community.
2.6.2.4.3. The Dead Sea Scrolls
1. Summarize the importance of Christian scholars studying the Dead Sea Scrolls.
1. Describe the literature of the Qumran library.
2.6.2.5. Zealots
H:5:72
1. Trace the history of the Zealot movement in the first Christian century.
2.6.3. Messianic expectations
1. Define the term 'Messiah.'
2.6.3.1. History of Jewish Messianic pretenders
H:5:72-77
1. Describe the abortive messianic actions beginning with Judas the Galilean in 6 C.E. and ending with bar Kochba in 135 C.E.
2.6.3.1.1. Diversity of Views about the Messiah
H:5:72-75
1. Summarize the term 'Messiah' from the online article in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. At the search engine type in the words Messiah and hit the Lookup icon.
2.6.3.1.2. Jesus and Apostolic Christianity
H:5:75-77
1. Summarize the term 'Messiah' in relation to Jesus Christ from the online article in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. At the search engine type in the words Christ Messiah and hit the Find Similar icon.
2.7 Culture and Society
NOSB3:essays:519-525;------

1. From the NOSB essay (NOSB3:essays:519-525) summarize the three cultural spaces that defined everyday life in first century Palestine.
2.7.1 People and Languages
1. Contrast life in Galilee to that in Jerusalem at the beginning of the Christian era, using the above sources.
2.7.2 Schools and Education
1. Summarize the education system in Palestine during Jesus' day, using the above sources.
2.7.3 Society and Economic Conditions
1. Summarize the issues of status and social class in Palestine during Jesus' day, using the above sources.
2.7.4 Women in the Ancient World
1. Summarize the status of women in Palestine during Jesus' day, using the above sources.