3.0 Take-Home Questions

3.0 Interpreting the New Testament documents

(Last revised: 2/22/02)
(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.)
Always remember to check the outline page for unit 3 for the full listing of sources.

3.0.1 Non-Canonical Documents

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3.0.1.1. Old Testament Apocrypha
NOSB:ap:3-15
1. Define the term 'Old Testament Apocrypha.'
3.0.1.2. Old Testament Pseudepigrapha
1. Define the term 'Pseudepigrapha.'
3.0.1.3. New Testament Apocrypha
H:20:357-365
1. Define the term 'New Testament Apocrypha.'
2. Summarize the importance of studying the NT apocrypha as a background to understanding the documents of the NT canon.
3.0.1.3.1. NT Apocryphical Gospels
1. Compare the overarching content and belief system in the majority of the apocryphical gospels to that in the canonical gospels.
2. Summarize the content and emphasis of three apocryphal gospels.
3.0.1.3.2. NT Apocryphical Acts
1. Summarize the content and emphasis of three apocryphal acts documents.
3.0.1.3.3. NT Apocryphcial Letters
1. Summarize the content and emphasis of three apocryphal letters.
3.1. The Historical and Literary Aspects of a Text

3.1.1. The Historical Aspects
1. Describe what is meant by the historical aspects of an ancient written text.
3.1.1.1. The External History of the Text:
1. Describe what is meant by the external historical aspects of an ancient written text.
3.1.1.1.1. When was the text written?
3.1.1.1.2. Where was the text written?
3.1.1.1.3. By whom was the text written?
3.1.1.1.4. To whom was the text written?
3.1.1.2. The Internal History of the Text
1. Describe what is meant by the internal historical aspects of an ancient written text.
2. Distinguish between the internal and the external historical aspects of an ancient written text.
3.1.1.2.1. Identifying time and place markers inside the text
1. Describe what is meant by time and place markers inside an ancient written text.
2. List the time and place markers inside Matt. 4:1-11.
3.1.1.2.2. Identifying social customs inside the text
1. Describe what is meant by social customs inside an ancient written text.
2. Summarize K.C. Hanson's article on the importance of kinship for interpreting certain texts of the New Testament.
3.1.2. The Literary Aspects
1. Describe what is meant by the literary aspects of an ancient written text.
3.1.2.1. The External Literary Aspects of the Text
1. Describe what is meant by the external literary aspects of an ancient written text.
3.1.2.1.1. Identifying the literary context of the text within the larger document
1. Explain how to identify the literary context of a scripture passage (=pericope) within a larger document.
3.1.2.2. The Internal Literary Aspects of the Text
1. Describe what is included in the internal literary aspects of an ancient written text.
3.1.2.2.1. Identifying the broad genre of the text
1. Define each of the four genres of the literature found in the New Testament using a minimum of two sources either online or print.
3.1.2.2.1.1. Gospel
1. Describe the types of literary sub-forms used in the canonical gospels to tell the story of Jesus.
3.1.2.2.1.2. History
1. Describe the types of literary sub-forms used in the book of Acts to tell the story of the early church.
3.1.2.2.1.3. Letter
1. Describe the basic elements that together comprised the typical format of ancient letters.
3.1.2.2.1.4. Apocalypse
1. Define the term 'apocalypse.'
3.1.2.2.2. Identifying the rhetorical structure of the text
3.2. Methods of Interpreting Texts since the Reformation and Rennaisance.

3.2.1. The Influence of the Reformation and Rennaisance
1. Define the term 'Reformation.'
2. Define the term 'Rennaisance.'
3.2.1.1 Studying Religion in an academic setting

1. Explain why studying New Testament at UNC Chapel Hill and at Gardner-Webb University has to be done differently.
2. Explain who makes the ultimate decisions about the guidelines dictating how Religion 102/305 must be taught at GWU.
3. Explain how the Analysis Paper assignment contributes to the Purpose statement of GWU.
3.2.2. Specific Methods of Exegesis
3.2.2.1. Historical Criticism
1. Summarize the historical critical method as discussed in both Harris and the NOSB.
2. Summarize the historical critical method as discussed in the Catholic Encyclopedia article.
3. Discuss how the concept of history has changed since the Rennaisance.
3.2.2.1.1. History of the Procedure
3.2.2.1.2. Description of the Procedure
3.2.2.1.2.1. Sources for understanding the life of Jesus.
1. Summarize R.T. France's discussion of the four canonical gospels are indispensable as a starting point for studying the life of Christ (section 1).
3.2.2.1.2.1.1. Outside the canonical gospels.
1. Summarize the so-called Christian interpolation in Josephus Antiquity of the Jews as a source of information about Jesus.
3.2.2.1.2.1.2. The reliability of the canonical gospels.
1. Summarize R.T. France's discussion of the acceptability of the gospels as historical sources (section 2).
3.2.2.1.3. Application of the Procedure in Doing the Analysis Paper
3.2.2.2. Source Criticism
H:6:85-93
1. Define 'Source Criticism' as it relates to the study of the gospels in the New Testament.
3.2.2.2.1. History of the Procedure
3.2.2.2.1.1. The Synoptic Problem
1. Using the NOSB, Harris and dictionaries, define the term 'synoptic.'
3.2.2.2.1.1.1. The Nature of the Problem
1. Describe the nature of the Synoptic problem.
2. Summarize the relationship of the first three gospels.
3.2.2.2.1.1.2. Possible Solutions to the Problem
1. Summarize William Farmer's assessment of the present state of synoptic gospel research.
3.2.2.2.1.1.2.1. The Two Document Hypothesis
1. Summarize the solution proposed by the Two Document Hypothesis using the section of the article on it in the Catholic Encyclopedia.
3.2.2.2.1.1.2.1.1. The Issue of Q
1. Summarize Mahlon Smith's arguments on The INDISPENSABILITY of Q (sec. 2 in his online book).
2. Summarize Mark Goodacre's article, "Ten Reasons to Question Q".
3.2.2.2.1.1.2.2. The Two Gospel Hypothesis
1. Describe the Two Gospel Hypothesis from Thomas R.W. Longstaff's discussion.
3.2.2.2.2. Description of the Procedure
1. Compare the synoptic accounts of the baptism of Jesus.
2. Compare the synoptic accounts of the temptation of Jesus.
3. Compare the synoptic accounts of the confession at Caesarea Philippi.
4. Compare the synoptic accounts of the healing of Peter's mother-in-law.
3.2.2.2.3. Application of the Procedure in Doing the Analysis Paper
3.2.2.3. Form Criticism
H:6:88-89; NOSB:nt:388-389
1. Summarize the form critical method.
3.2.2.3.1. History of the Procedure
3.2.2.3.2. Description of the Procedure
3.2.2.3.3. Application of the Procedure in Doing the Analysis Paper
3.2.2.4. Redaction Criticism
H:6:94-95; NOSB:nt:389-390
1. Summarize the redactional critical method as discussed in both Harris and the NOSB.
3.2.2.4.1. History of the Procedure
3.2.2.4.2. Description of the Procedure
3.2.2.4.3. Application of the Procedure in Doing the Analysis Paper
3.2.2.5. Social Scientific Exegesis
1. Summarize Social Scientific Exegesis as a method of biblical interpretation.
3.2.2.5.1. History of the Procedure
3.2.2.5.2. Description of the Procedure
3.2.2.5.3. Application of the Procedure in Doing the Analysis Paper
3.2.2.6. Literary Criticism
H:6:94; NOSB:nt:388
1. Define 'Literary Criticism' as it relates to biblical studies.
3.2.2.6.1. History of the Procedure
3.2.2.6.2. Description of the Procedure
3.2.2.6.3. Application of the Procedure in Doing the Analysis Paper
3.2.2.7. Narrative Criticism
H:6:95
1. Define 'Narrative Criticism' as it relates to the study of the New Testament.
3.2.2.7.1. History of the Procedure
3.2.2.7.2. Description of the Procedure
3.2.2.7.3. Application of the Procedure in Doing the Analysis Paper
3.2.2.8. Rhetorical Criticism
1. Define 'Rhetorical Criticism' as it relates to the study of the New Testament.
3.2.2.8.1. History of the Procedure
3.2.2.8.2. Description of the Procedure
3.2.2.8.3. Application of the Procedure in Doing the Analysis Paper
3.2.2.9 The Temptation of Jesus: An Illustration of Exegesis
3.2.3. New Testament Theology
1. Define the term 'theology.'
2. Describe the concept of biblical theology in terms of its origin and relation to the study of the New Testament.
3.2.3.1. The Theology of Jesus
H:11:227-233
3.2.3.1.1. The Centrality of the Kingdom of God
1. Summarize the essential points of Jesus' teaching about the Kingdom of God as outlined in Harris (H:11:227-231).
3.2.3.1.2. The Wisdom of God in the Thought of Jesus
1. Summarize the concept of Wisdom as it relates to Jesus' teaching about the Kingdom of God, as discussed in Harris (H:11:231-233).
3.2.3.2. The Theology of Paul
H:16:304-306
1. Summarize the essential points of Pauline theology as discussed by Harris (H:16:304-306).
3.2.4. The Issue of the Historical Jesus
1. Summarize the three quests for the historical Jesus from the discussion of Donald Wells, using the three subpoints defined below.
3.2.4.1. The Origin of the Issue
1. Describe how the rise of modern biography interests contributed to the quests for the historical Jesus
3.2.4.2. The First Quest for the Historical Jesus (1800s to early 1900s)
3.2.4.2.1. Leaders in the Quest
1. Summarize the contributions of the leaders of the first quest for the historical Jesus from the discussion of Donald Wells.
3.2.4.2.2. Perspectives Emerging from the Quest
3.2.4.2.3. Reactions to the Quest
1. Describe the reactions of Martin Kahler and Rudolf Bultmann to the quest for the historical Jesus (Life of Jesus movement) from the discussion of Donald Wells.
3.2.4.3. The Second Quest for the Historical Jesus (1950s-1960s)
3.2.4.3.1. Leaders in the Quest
1. Summarize the contributions of the leaders of the second quest for the historical Jesus from the discussion of Donald Wells.
3.2.4.3.2. Perspectives Emerging from the Quest
3.2.4.3.3. Reactions to the Quest
3.2.4.4. The Third Quest for the Historical Jesus (Jesus Seminar, 1970s on)
1. Summarize the work of the Jesus Seminar from Matt Andrews account.
3.2.4.4.1. Leaders in the Quest
1. Summarize the contributions of the leaders of the third quest for the historical Jesus from the discussion of Donald Wells.
3.2.4.4.2. Perspectives Emerging from the Quest
1. Summarize the contributions of third quest for the historical Jesus from the discussion of Donald Wells.
2. Summarize the criteria for testing the authenticity of Jesus' sayings as outlined in Harris (H:11:220-221 [Box 11.1] or H4:258-259).
3.2.4.4.3. Reactions to the Quest
1. Summarize the critique of the evangelical Craig L. Blomberg of the Jesus Seminar.
3.2.4.5. The Portrait of the Historical Jesus in Modern Scholarship
Sources: H:11:224-227
1. Summarize the perspective of Earl Doherty's The Jesus Puzzle: Was There No Historical Jesus? using the online preamble of his work.
2. Summarize Harris' perspective as discussed in the section "Some General Agreements about the Historical Jesus" (H:11:224-227, or H4:265-267).
3.2.5. A Historical Overview of the Life of Jesus (Outline)
1. Describe the difference between a gospel harmony and a gospel synopsis.
3.2.5.1. Background and Preparation for Ministry
3.2.5.2. Beginning of Public Ministry
1. Using John Marshall's The Five Gospels Parallels URL, list in parallel columns the gospel accounts of the ministry of John the Baptizer, then summarize your observations of the different gospel descriptions of this pericope.
3.2.5.3. The Galilean Ministry
3.2.5.4. The Later Judean-Perean Ministry
3.2.5.5. The Final Week and Crucifixion (Passio Christi)
3.2.5.6. Resurrection and Appearances