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Table of Contents

Chapter Summaries2

Student Learning Objectives..........................................................................................................26

Chapter Quizzes30

Midterm Exam71

Midterm Exam Study Guide79

Final Exam81

Final Exam Study Guide88

Sample Syllabus90

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1 – Christian Creeds for Beginners

Key Termscreed; Shema; Christ-hymn; Docetism; Gnosticism; Marcion; Arius; ecumenical; early Christian councils

Key Points

· The contents of the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4–5

· The reasons for communities to summarize their basic beliefs

· The ways in which Jesus fulfills and changes the expression of Israel’s Shema

· Several passages from the NT where a creed is evident

· The differences between competing expressions of Christianity (Docetism, etc.)

· The significant creeds from the Apostles’ Creed through the Athanasian Creed

· The significance of ecumenism in the early church

Chapter Summary

This chapter introduces the usefulness of creeds and demonstrates their use from the earliest history of Israel. This is evinced in Israel’s Shema (Deut 6:4–5) and the later creeds of Jesus’ identity; specifically, Jesus’ summaries of Jesus’ death and resurrection (1 Thess 4:14; 2 Cor 5:15; Rom 4:25; Phil 2:5–11). The chapter then includes a brief overview of the heretical challenges that were the catalyst for creedal formation in the 2nd-5th centuries, including details of the major creeds that came out of the ecumenical councils.

Pedagogical Suggestions

This chapter is an opportunity to introduce students to the importance of creeds for synthesizing and summarizing the Christian faith. There is an opportunity to cover a wide range of important fields of study, including: biblical theology, canon formation, and early church history.

Suggested Essay Questions

· What are other creeds, religious or not, that you are aware of? How do they relate to the creeds evident in the Bible?

· Why is a creed helpful alongside the Bible?

· What are the primary passages in the Bible where we find creedal statements?

· How do creeds function in the Bible?

· How do biblical creeds change from the OT to the NT?

Helpful Links

· http://www.historytimeline.org/

· http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/eras/

Chapter 2 – Why You Need the Creed

Key Termscanon; Apocrypha; Pseudepigrapha; Septuagint; Targum; Scripture; rule of faith (regula fidei)

Key Points

· There is a difference between the canon and a creed.

· A creed is a summary of the foundational beliefs of a community.

· The canon is the collection of authoritative texts for Christians.

· The canon did not develop automatically. It was determined through several criteria (apostolicity, orthodoxy, antiquity, and catholicity).

· The canon and creeds help determine the difference between true and false teachings in the church.

· Abandonment of creeds can result in the rejection of foundational Christian beliefs.

Chapter Summary

This chapter helpfully covers the development of the canon and its relationship to the creed. Explored are the mutually reinforcing bodies of tradition that are subsequently used to determine what is and what is not foundational for Christianity. As the record of God’s leading of Israel, the Hebrew Scriptures form the first body of tradition. Second is the teaching of Jesus; including his death and resurrection as fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. Next are the apostolic teachings, which become recognized as authoritative and inspired on the same level as the Hebrew Scriptures. The summarized theology of those traditions becomes encapsulated as statements strung together in the rough outline of God’s total work. This is another way of describing the creeds of Christianity: summaries of God’s faithfulness that are a demonstration of his character as God. The canon fits into this progression by formalizing the authoritative traditions of Christianity in the face of contrary teachings. The creeds and canon therefore complement each other as the continuing guides for the composition of true Christian belief.


This chapter would be a great opportunity to explore the levels of authority within present Christian experience such as the Wesleyan quadrilateral: Scripture, Tradition, Experience, and the Spirit. Each of those elements is present in the assessment of teaching. In other words, creeds are formulated on the basis of what is in Scripture, in conversation with tradition and experience, and led by the Spirit. A hierarchy of interpretive authority.

Essay Questions

· What are the complementary components for the development of the Christian canon and creeds?

· What is the difference between Scripture and canon?

· What are the five factors that pushed early Christians to solidify the canon?

· In your context, how have the Christian creeds or canon been helpful?

· What are the dangers of not having a canon or creed?

Helpful Links

· Yale Divinity Digital Image and Text Library (searchable) http://divdl.library.yale.edu/dl/search.aspx?qc=divdl

Chapter 3 – I Believe

Key TermsApostles’ Creed; faith; obedience; mystery

Key Points

· There is an important distinction between faith and obedience.

· Faith and obedience complement each other but either one taken by itself leads to a distortion of Christianity.

· Expressing “I Believe” in the creed reminds us that there is something outside of ourselves on which we are dependent.

· Faith in Christianity is comprised of specific content: God, Jesus, and salvation.

Chapter Summary

Faith is inherent to all humans. Faith is not always directed to God, obviously, but all humans have a need outside of themselves. Most evident in the care necessary to meet the needs of a newborn baby, the needs of humanity for others is inescapable. This chapter touches on the variety of ways that faith can be described. As a noun: the faith exhibited in the apostles that is referred to as an example. As an act: the faith of a person in Jesus. Faith as a mystery: the elements of faith entail trust that events promised will be fulfilled. The creeds summarize several significant actions and attributes of God that are evidence of his faithfulness. This then provides the basis for continued faith in God’s promise to save those who take Jesus’ teachings seriously, that is, have put faith in Jesus that he is God and he has reconciled humanity to himself through overcoming sin (and death).


It could be helpful in this section to take a very human approach to what the creed enacts. That is to say, the fact that all humans have faith in something means that the creed touches the shared state of human dependence. It is therefore fitting that the creed begins in this way. Spending time to pause on human frailty is an excellent posture from which to proceed to “the Father Almighty.”

Essay Questions

· What are common objects that are commonly trusted in?

· How do different expressions of faith manifest in the face of crisis?

· What elements of God’s past faithfulness are repeated in the Apostles’ Creed?

· How are faith and faithfulness related?

Chapter 4 – Believing in the Father

Key TermsTrinity; modalism; tritheism; monotheism; monarchianism; pantheism; panentheism; Gnosticism; ex nihilo

Key Points

· Trinitarian formulas are not explicit in the Bible, but they are implicit.

· We primarily know of God as Father through Jesus’ relationship with the Father.

· The gospel is necessarily dependent on the Trinity.

· The importance or analogical language for understanding our limitations in describing God.

· God’s relation to “father” imagery in conversation with trauma.

· The connection of God’s power to his purposes in creation and redemption.

Chapter Summary

God as Father is a crucial element in the confession of the Apostles’ Creed. It undergirds and begins the confession of the Trinity, a doctrine which alone has the power to fully comprehend the heart of the gospel. Only a sacrifice as great as God himself (Jesus), could accomplish salvation for creation. The gospel is then found to encapsulate all of the persons of the Trinity in expressing their Triune love, involvement in creation, and work to redeem it. In addition to the Trinity, this chapter covers the kind of love implicit in God’s fatherly expression, explains the importance of God as Father despite the real trauma many have suffered because of their fathers, and the almighty power of God in being able to not only create but sustain and save his creation.


This chapter entails the capacity for frustrating students on several levels. First, the challenges of articulating the Trinity are notorious for sapping the energy of even the most brilliant theologians. Keeping language simple is helpful, but it is equally important to engage in answering student questions to avoid erroneous thinking. Second, the reality of paternal abuse must be kept in mind, as well as the simultaneous truth of God as Father. The power of God as the loving father can be a comfort even in the midst of personal trauma, when it is understood that God is the perfect reality of any fatherly qualities. Their absence in humanity is the result of sin, and a corruption of God’s holiness. Focusing on this reality and God’s loving-kindness in the midst of pain evident in biblical narratives is a great way to return to God as the ideal father. Third, the interpretations of Genesis 1–3 in a literal manner has been a stumbling block for many people. Teaching a culturally informed perspective on how Genesis 1–3 communicates must include charity for alternative perspectives, while striving to detect strengths and weaknesses.

Essay Questions

· How is the doctrine of the Trinity central to the gospel?

· What are the primary distortions of the Trinity?

· What challenges exist in expressing God as Father?

· Why is it important that God created ex nihilo?

· How do intra-Trinitarian relationships help us understand God’s work of reconciliation?

Helpful Links

· http://www.theopedia.com/trinity

Chapter 5 – Believing in the Son of God—Divine and Human

Key Termsatheism; Christology; incarnation; ousia; Apollinarianism; Monophysitism; Nestorianism; hypostatic union

Key Points

· The plan of God, evident in the Old Testament, culminates in the incarnation of Jesus.

· Based on the activity and record of Jesus, the New Testament presents Jesus as God himself, in human flesh.

· Alternatives to Jesus being both fully God and fully man diminish the significance of his life, death, and resurrection.

· An important development in the articulation of Jesus’ identity as God includes the distinction between homoousios and homoiousios.

Chapter Summary

The entire narrative of God’s interation with creation and then Israel are a record of the promise of God to redeem his people. This culminates in Jesus, God himself, who dies to reconcile creation to God. The significance of the incarnation presents itself as we look at distortions of Jesus’ identity. If Jesus is not fully man then he is unable to truly redeem humanity. If Jesus is not fully God, then he cannot accomplish reconciliation with God. However, as fully God and fully man, Jesus uniquely reconciles the divine with the human in dying and rising to new life.


The importance of this chapter, in conjunction with the next chapter, is to promote a biblical-theological reading of the Old and New Testaments that help explain the development of the phrases and theology evident in the Apostles’ Creed. Due to the importance of specific Greek and Latin terms, care should be taken to explain the significance of the subtle changes in language (e.g., homo- vs. homoi-).

Essay Questions

· How would you respond to someone claiming to be an atheist?

· What are some passages from the Old Testament that expect a Messiah?

· What are the theological consequences of rejecting Jesus as fully God? Fully man?

· What is the difference in meaning for the Greek prefixes of homo- and homoi-?

Helpful Links

· http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07610b.htm

Chapter 6 – Believing in the Son—Messiah and Lord

Key TermsChrist; Kyrios; marana tha

Key Points

· Jesus’ life must be understood in order to properly grasp the significance of his death and resurrection.

· In his teachings, Jesus demonstrates what the kingdom of God will look like.

· Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel, specifically by being the promised Messiah.

· Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom included his self-referential teaching about his sacrificial death.

Chapter Summary

This chapter highlights the importance of understanding Jesus’ life, teaching, and miracles as the foundation for properly understanding his death and resurrection. Because Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel, learning about Jesus’ proclamation about the coming kingdom of God outlines specifically the ways in which Jesus is the King and Lord. Included in this connection between Jesus and the Old Testament are passages where his sacrificial death is explained as a necessary quality of his rule. Finally, Jesus’ rightful rule over everything and everyone is not likely to be accepted by the culture around us. This was true of Christians in the first century and we should expect the same kinds of persecutions today.


Several Old Testament passages are used in the New Testament with explicit reference to Jesus. This means that paying close attention to the way the authors use the Old Testament should be emphasized.

Essay Questions

· What are the key Old Testament passages that refer to a coming Messiah?

· What are the key Old Testament passages that refer to the sacrificial actions of the Messiah?

· What are some of the changes to the Torah that Jesus clarified in his teaching?

· In what ways does Jesus’ lordship come into conflict with the rulers of governments?

Helpful Links

· http://www.leaderu.com/theology/jesusjew.html

Chapter 7 – Believing in the Virgin Birth

Key Termsvirginal conception; Valentinus; mamzer

Key Points

· The virgin birth is properly referring to Jesus’ virginal conception, emphasizing the role of the Spirit in Mary’s pregnancy.

Chapter Summary

The birth of Jesus begins with his conception in Mary’s womb. Defending belief in the virginal conception is a statement that also positively recognizes the role of the Holy Spirit in working mysteriously without Joseph’s involvement.


The important emphasis of this chapter is on the retroactive acknowledgment that Jesus was both God and man. As the chapter argues, the gospel birth narratives corroborate rather than prove the miraculous nature of Jesus’ birth. It is not something that can be understood, but it is something to be believed. This distinction is important in response to historians who only discern the “facts” of history. But in the same fashion as the resurrection, proof is not always available for divine acts.

Essay Questions

· Why is the virgin birth significant among doctrines of Christianity?

· What are other places in Jesus’ ministry where the Spirit is a primary participant?

Helpful Links

· http://frame-poythress.org/virgin-birth-of-jesus/

Chapter 8 – Believing in the Cross—The Offence of the Cross

Key Termscrucifixion; staurogram; Pontius Pilate; Mark 10:45; Isaiah 52:13–53:12

Key Points

· It was an unfathomable scenario for pagans to respect Christians due to their belief in a crucified God.

· The cross was a foundational image for the early Christians and is a symbol that persists to the present due to its power in symbolizing Jesus’ death.

· A suffering death on behalf of humanity was a fundamental aspect of Jesus’ teaching, as seen especially in his remarks in Mark 10:45 and the use of Old Testament passages like Isaiah 52–53.

Chapter Summary

The cross is not an attractive means of demonstrating success, power, or authority. Nonetheless, this is the means by which God demonstrates his commitment to humanity. By sending Jesus to die a humiliating death, God accomplished life for all who believe. The importance of the cross is evinced not only in Jesus’ teachings but also in the persistence of the cross as a symbol of Christianity (e.g., the staurogram).


This chapter is once again an opportunity to communicate the importance of understanding the Old Testament well. Both in terms of God’s overall plan to reconcile humanity as well as the specific prophecies about God sending a Messiah.

Essay Questions

· Why is it significant that Pontius Pilate is included in the creed?

· Which Old Testament passages are especially important for understanding Jesus’ sacrificial death?

· Did the Jews expect their Messiah to die?

· Why is Jesus’ death foolishness to Greeks?

Helpful Links

· http://www.leithart.com/archives/001108.php

Chapter 9 – Believing in the Cross—The Victory of the Cross

Key Termsatonement; recapitulation; ransom; victory; moral influence; exemplar; satisfaction; governmental; penal substitution; cruciformity

Key Points

· There are several theories of atonement outlined.

· Some theories can be grouped together due to their overlapping emphases.

· Jesus’ death not only accomplishes salvation for those who believe, but also demonstrates the kind of life a Christian should lead. This is explained as “cruciformity.”

Chapter Summary

This chapter describes several theories of atonement, highlighting their benefits and weaknesses. Then an alternative to a single theory is offered, with the important caveat that the impact of Jesus’ death is so immense that it is inappropriate to elevate certain features too highly above others. The chapter concludes with an outline of Christian discipleship that is based on Jesus’ sacrificial death.


Theories of the atonement have a history of heated debate and strongly defined lines. This chapter attempts to bridge the gap between formerly “competing” theories. It could be a good strategy to use the material to discuss student beliefs and potential prejudices against other positions. This is then an excellent opportunity to examine the actual strengths, weaknesses, and overlapbetween theories.

Essay Questions

· What is the definition of atonement?

· Why is there debate about how the atonement of Jesus should be understood?

· Which theory of atonement is most similar to how you currently think about Jesus’ death? How has it changed after reading about the strengths and weaknesses of other theories?

· What is the defense of using “the victory theory” instead of one single atonement theory?

Helpful Links

· http://www.theopedia.com/ascension-of-jesus

Chapter 10 – Believing That Jesus Lives

Key TermsHades/Sheol; hell; “eucatastrophe”; resurrection

Key Points

· A distinction between hell and Hades/Sheol is imperative to avoid confusion regarding Jesus’ death.

· Jesus’ descent to Hades/Sheol evinces Jesus’ complete identification with the human condition, by submitting completely to death.

· The resurrection must carry equal weight as Jesus’ death because without resurrection there is no life after death (i.e., new creation).

Chapter Summary

As with many ancient traditions a certain amount of careful reading and explanation is necessary to properly understand the meaning intended. This is especially true with the phrase in the Apostles’ Creed “he descended into hell.” A change in translation and interpretation over time means that we must clarify that Jesus did not go to what most people think of as hell. Rather, this chapter argues that Jesus descended to the temporary holding place for the dead called Hades/Sheol. This can only be understood by paying close attention to the Greek and Hebrew terms used in their respective context in the Bible.

The climax of Jesus’ complete identification with humans, by enduring the fullest extent of death, is his glorious resurrection. Without resurrection, Jesus’ death does not sufficiently conquer the effects of sin. This chapter therefore focuses on the various results of the resurrection in the life of the Christian.


A sufficient explanation of Jesus’ “descent” will require at least a brief introduction to Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. It would be helpful to provide a few examples of translation from Hebrew to Greek in order to demonstrate the importance of understanding how language expresses identical and related ideas.

Essay Questions

· What is the difference between hell and Sheol/Hades?

· Why is it significant that Jesus “descended” into death?

· What are the dangers of elevating the death of Jesus above his resurrection?

· What are the implications of Jesus’ resurrection for the Christian?

· How does Jesus’ resurrection change how Christians live in the present?

Helpful Links

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbBVBUeHXZ4&feature=player_embedded

· http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/resurrection/wright_resurrection.htm

Chapter 11 – Believing That Jesus Reigns

Key Termsascension; session

Key Points

· Jesus’ ascension is not an optional element of Christian confession.

· The ascension precipitates worship of Jesus.

· Jesus’ place in heaven secures a mediator for humanity.

· Jesus will return in the same way that he departed—as the Son of God with a resurrection body.

Chapter Summary

This chapter focuses on the importance of Jesus’ ascension for the continuing work of the God in the world. Specifically, the ascension demonstrates Jesus’ authority, initiates the sending of the Spirit, and provides a heavenly mediator for humans before God. In addition to these ramifications of Jesus’ ascension, his presence with God comes with the promise that he will return to judge. This is not simply an assertion about Jesus’ continuing authority, but indicates the role that Jesus will play in restoring creation to the way it was meant to be.


The nature of Jesus’ ascension and subsequent return has the potential to elicit strong eschatological responses from various faith traditions. It will be imperative to disarm contention over speculation about Jesus’ return in order to properly focus on the real significance of his presence with the Father and promised return.

Essay Questions

· What does the ascension add to our understanding about Jesus?

· What is the connection between Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit?

· Which gospel author includes the most elaborate explanations about Jesus’ ascension?

· How does the worship of Jesus as God help us better understand the Gospels and the early disciples’ remembrance of Jesus?

· What is the primary metaphor for Jesus’ future return?

Helpful Links

· http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/august/why-ascension-matters.html

· http://www.newadvent.org/summa/4057.htm

Chapter 12 – Believing in the Spirit

Key Termspersonhood

Key Points

· The Spirit is imperative to each individual’s experience of God.

· The Holy Spirit is the gift of the gospel and the agent of our union with Christ.

· The Holy Spirit is a person (in the sense of divine personhood; i.e., not an impersonal force).

· The Spirit is the one who empowers believers for work in God’s mission.

Chapter Summary

It is not an exaggeration to say that the Holy Spirit is more frequently a source of division than of unity. Nonetheless the Spirit is God and must be understood as a member of the Trinity for proper worship to happen. This chapter focuses on the biblical portrayal of the Spirit and the way the Spirit contributes to God’s work in the world. The work of the Spirit must also extend beyond being an object of belief to include the spiritual experiences of all believers as participants in the mission of God.


For members of a class that are likely from different expressions of the Christian faith, it will be important to make sure that everyone has a voice to express their experience of the Spirit. Even if there is disagreement, it is important to listen carefully and seek to understand fellow believers who are seeking to know God more and participate in his mission of reconciling the world to himself—one of the primary functions of the Spirit.

Essay Questions

· What are common misconceptions about the Holy Spirit?

· List the ways that the Spirit is a person.

· Describe the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

· How is the Holy Spirit uniquely active in the life of Christians?

Helpful Links

· http://www.biblebb.com/files/spurgeon/0004.htm

Chapter 13 – Belonging to the Church

Key TermsChurch; catholic; apostolic

Key Points

· Because there is one God there is one church—all who believe are included.

· There are four marks of the church: united, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

· The purpose of coming together is to provide mutual affirmation in the faith and for collective worship.

· Following Jesus means we will be “peculiar” in the world.

Chapter Summary

This chapter focuses on the importance of the church—both with regard to its external distinctives as well as its function internally. Because God is one, and salvation is through Christ alone, the church is necessarily connected with an unbreakable bond. Despite the fact that denominations abound, there are four recognized features of the church: oneness through faith in Jesus, holiness as God’s people set apart to make God known, catholicity by being a worldwide movement, and apostolicity through connection with the authoritative witness of the apostles. These four distinctives are then seen to enable life-giving fellowship in local congregations and also require unity due to the antagonism of the world toward Christianity.


This chapter emphasizes the universality of the church and its unity despite denominational divisions. The classroom is a great place for individuals from different faith traditions to share their distinctives in the context of affirming the four basic marks of all Christian congregations (united, holy, catholic, apostolic).

Essay Questions

· What are the four marks of the church?

· Why are denominational distinctions secondary to the universal nature of the church?

· What is the primary purpose of the church gathering together?

· What sets the church apart from other groups or organizations?

Chapter 14 – Believing in Salvation, Waiting for God’s New World

Key Termsheaven; hell

Key Points

· Salvation includes events of the past, present, and future.

· Heaven is not the location of eternity; it is the temporary location for believers prior to Jesus’ return.

· There will be a new heavens and a new earth that are the Christian’s eternal destination.

Chapter Summary

The story of salvation is not something that is relegated to the past or consumed with the present or future. Rather, the past, present, and future are all essential elements in God’s work of reconciling humanity to himself. In the past God has worked to elect a people to be his witnesses; climaxing in Jesus’ incarnation, death, and resurrection. In the present, the Spirit applies the work of Jesus to all who believe. And in the future, God will complete what was begun in Jesus and continued for all who believe. This story of salvation is dependent on the “forgiveness of sins” and results in resurrection. However, this chapter also points out that “heaven” is not the location of a Christian’s eternal existence. Instead, God will recreate the heavens and the earth to be the eternal dwelling place of himself with his people.


Most of the earlier elements in the creed have at least a full line of explanation attached to them. The end of the creed, however, has a list of very significant concepts! It will be important to not brush too quickly over each of them. Thankfully, the cluster is simultaneously dependent on everything that has come before it, so the students should be prepared for the application of the creeds prior affirmations.

Essay Questions

· Why are the elements of salvation, resurrection, and eternal life clustered at the end of the Apostles’ Creed?

· What are the three tenses of salvation?

· What significant events happen during the “future” tense of salvation?

· What are the three elements of salvation in relation to sin?

· Describe the holistic nature of salvation.

Helpful Links

· http://www.theopedia.com/hell

· http://ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Jesus_Resurrection.htm

Student Learning Objectives


Students should be able to:

Identify and distinguish between the creeds of the Old Testament and New Testament.

List significant passages that contain creedal statements.

Identify and distinguish opponents of creedal Christianity.

Recreate the chart outlining the Apostles’, Niceno-Constantinopolitan, and Athanasian Creeds, as well as the Chalcedonian Definition.



Identify the stages in the development of the Christian canon.

List the apocryphal and pseudepigraphal books not included in the canon.

Describe the Septuagint.

Explain the role of the “rule of faith.”

List the four criteria for discerning canonical inclusion.



Distinguish between faith and obedience.

Define faith.

Explain how faith and obedience complement each other.

Identify the connection between the gospel narrative and the Apostles’ Creed.

Explain why God’s faithfulness is central to professing the creed.

Explain why faith is not a onetime act.



Distinguish between nontrinitarian theologies (e.g., modalism).

Briefly articulate an explanation of the Trinity.

Explain the centrality of the Trinity for the gospel.

Explain the differences between the Father, Son, and Spirit.

Chapter 5 – Believing in the Son—Divine and Human


Explain the way the Old Testament anticipates and expects a Messiah.

Explain the difference between homoousios and homoiousios.

Describe the incarnation.

Articulate the importance of the hypostatic union.

Explain the reasons for rejecting alternative Christological positions on Jesus’ nature.



Explain the importance of knowing about Jesus’ life in order to properly understand his death and resurrection.

Understand Jesus’ location in the Jewish world, specifically his fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

Explain the kingdom of God and how Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection fill out Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom.

What “lordship” means for Jesus in the first-century cultural world.


Student should be able to:

Articulate the reason why virgin birth is actually referring to the virginal conception.

Explain the significance of the Holy Spirit’s activity in Jesus’ conception.

Outline the importance of the virginal conception for Jesus’ identity.



Explain the reasons why the cross is (a) a stumbling block for Jews, and (b) foolishness for Greeks.

Describe the general process of crucifixion and explain why it is a humiliating death.

Explain the way Jesus’ sacrificial death fits into God’s plan to redeem humanity (through Israel).

Explain the significance of Pontius Pilate being included in the Apostles’ Creed.



Define atonement.

Describe the general contours of the nine presented theories of atonement.

Articulate the reasons one theory should not be elevated above the others.

Relate the theories of atonement to discipleship and the Christian life.

Explain in more detail the way “in Christ” defines the life of the Christian.



Define hell, Sheol, and Hades.

Explain the significance of Jesus’ descent into hell.

Explain the relationship of resurrection to Jesus’ death.

Outline the specific ways that the resurrection is important for the Christian—both eternally and in the present.



Describe what the ascension adds to our understanding of Jesus.

Outline the results of the ascension for the present life of the believer.

Detail the significance of Jesus’ promised return.



Identify the primary roles of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.

Explain the personhood of the Spirit, with examples.

Outline the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christians.



Describe the basis for unity in the church.

Outline the four distinctives of the church.

Describe the internal and external function of the church.



Distinguish between the “tenses” of salvation.

Define and differentiate “heaven,” “hell,” and “new heavens and new earth.”

Explain how “forgiveness of sins” encapsulates multiple elements of salvation.

Chapter Quizzes


True/False

All Protestant churches include the same creed in their doctrinal statement. False

The Bible alone is sufficient for all belief. False

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 contains the earliest “creed” in the Bible. True

The distinctive feature of Jewish belief in the Old Testament is the belief in one God. True

Jesus and Paul affirmed the Shema in their teaching. True

The Shema was primarily about what God would do for Israel in the future. False

Hymns were an alternative form of creeds for early followers of Jesus. True

Gnosticism affirms belief in only one physical reality with no afterlife. False

Early Christian councils drew on pagan philosophy as much as Scripture for the formulation of a creed’s wording. False

Creeds were used as a way to identify acceptable Christian belief in a community. True

Multiple Choice

The “traditions” passed on by the apostles were primarily:

Jesus’ parables

Jesus’ teachings on the “Day of the Lord”

Jesus’ teachings and the Old Testament interpreted in light of Jesus

The Torah

The New Testament creeds contained the twin focus on:

Jesus’ death and resurrection

Jesus’ perfect life and sacrifice

Jesus’ virgin birth and death

Jesus’ death and ascension

Monotheism means:

Belief in one God among other gods

Belief in only one God

Belief in the Mesopotamian god named Mono

Belief in many gods

Docetism is the belief that:

Jesus did not have a physical body

Jesus was “adopted” as God’s son at his baptism

Jesus was created

Jesus redeems humanity from a corrupted physical body

Ecumenical, with regard to the early creeds of Christianity means:

All Christians believe the same about every issue related to God

Most Christians believe the same essential truths about God

All Christians believe in the cumulative truth of all religions

There was no significant unity in the early church

Ebionites profess the belief that:



Jesus was created


Gnosticism is the belief that:



Jesus was created


The Nicene Creed was primarily formulated in response to the teachings of:

Marcion

Arius

Apollinaris

Pliny the Elder

The Chalcedonian Definition defines:

Jesus’ birth from a virgin

That Jesus had two distinct natures

That Jesus had only a divine nature

That Jesus had two distinct but united natures

The most helpful feature of the Apostles' Creed is:

Its simple poetic form

Its concise but poignant formulation

Its incorporation of beliefs from heretics

The expanded section on Jesus’ humanity and divinity


True/False

The Shepherd of Hermas was included in many early lists of Christian Scriptures. True

Apocalyptic is one of the three categories of Scripture in the Old Testament. False

The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha are different names for the same group of texts not included in the Christian canon. False

Ignatius wrote that even illiterate barbarians professed the contents of the creed. False

The Muratorian canon is significant because it lists the authoritative books of the Old Testament. False

The persecutions of Tiberius forced Christians to identify and protect their sacred Scriptures. False

Cyril of Jerusalem expanded Jesus’ mustard-seed analogy to describe the power of creeds. True

All Baptists reject the creeds. False

Creeds helpfully eliminate some levels of division by their simplicity. True

In the early church, professing the creed was almost guaranteed to result in persecution. True

Multiple Choice

The most inexplicable food group for Australians and New Zealanders is

Mutton

Pavlova

Vegemite

Beer

Which book was almost excluded from the Christian canon?

Revelation

Epistle of Barnabas

Romans

Gospel of John

Targumim are the paraphrases of the Hebrew Bible into what language?

Latin

Greek (Koine)

Greek (Attic)

Aramaic

Which of the following was not a genre used by New Testament authors?

Biography

Apocalypse

Epic

Letters

Marcion only used one of the gospels. Which one?

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Peter

Which of the following was NOT a factor in determining the authority of a text being considered for inclusion in the canon?

Connection to an apostle

Extensive geographic distribution

Orthodox contents

Being written during the time of the apostles

Which emperor was a positive catalyst for the Christian church to establish a canon?

Diocletian

Claudius

Constantine

Alexander the Great

Which doctrine, included in the creeds, was rejected by 18th century English Baptists?

The Trinity

The sinlessness of Mary, Jesus’ mother

The Hypostatic Union

Infant Baptism

Rejecting creeds makes it easier for the Christian church to

Endure persecution

Be active in political parties

Change orthodox teachings

Accept Eastern Orthodox teachings

The continuing purpose of the creeds is to

Formulate doctrine

Summarize the story of Christianity

List heretical views

Distinguish denominations from each other


True/False

Faith in something is inherent to all humans. True

Basic human needs of food, clothing, and shelter are assumed to be met before a person can say “I believe” in the creed. False

St. Francis of Assisi said, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in [God].” False

The “facts” of faith are derived from direct revelation alone. False

Central to the creeds is a repetition of God’s faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob since these are the foundation of God’s work for Israel. False

The gospel is at the center of Jesus’ call to faith. True

The gospel that Jesus taught is the same gospel for all Christians. True

Knowledge of and proclamation of “the faith” is a requirement for deacons as outlined by Paul. True

Faith and faithfulness are identical. False

Faith as an act is more than agreeing to a list of facts. True

Multiple Choice

Faith can refer to all of the following except:

A noun

An act

Obedience

Duty

Faith impacts primarily:

Religious activities

Evangelism

Times of crisis

Every element of life

Faith is primarily directed toward:

God’s actions in the Old Testament

The Bible

The witness of the apostles

All of the above

Faith is:

Optional

Good for most situations

Only necessary in certain situations

A requirement

Faith is important

Periodically

Only once, at the moment of salvation

Always

Never

Which of the following is not a promise of God?

Salvation for those trusting in Jesus

The Spirit

Monetary provision

Jesus’ future return

Collapsing faith into obedience results in: (Select all that apply)

God’s blessing

Legalism

Duty

Fear of failure

Which of the following is not a result of faith?

Good works

Salvation

Obedience

The right to judge

A common atheistic critique of Christianity is:

Faith is blind

Reason is blind

Faith is impossible without definitive answers

Reason answers faith questions

Which disciple would not believe without seeing Jesus’ wounds?

Thomas Aquinas

Thomas

Judas Iscariot

John the Elder


True/False

Belief in the triune God is fundamental to Christian orthodoxy. True

Modalism is one way to express the doctrine of the Trinity. False

The truth of the gospel is dependent on the Trinity. True

There is only one explicit Trinitarian formula in the entire Bible. False

There is one God with three distinct persons. True

God is a Father in the same way human males can be fathers. False

Advances in language have made it possible to explain God entirely using human speech. False

A central reason for calling God “Father” is due to Jesus calling God Father. True

Praying to God as Father is a foreign concept in other world religions, even monotheistic religions. True

Omnipotence is another way of saying “almighty.” True

Multiple Choice

God is called Father in the Old Testament because

He is a man

God created and called Israel to be his people

There are no references to God as a mother figure

God is the ruler of lesser deities

All human language about God is

Dialogical

Phenomenological

Analogical

Anthropomorphological

Which of the following is not a biblical image for God’s motherly action?

A nursing mother

A hen with her chicks

A birthing mother

A joyful mother at a wedding

God is almighty, this means that God can

Do the impossible

Sin

Do anything consistent with his character

Create a rock too heavy for him to lift

Who wrote about the challenges of interpreting Genesis before Charles Darwin?

Suetonius

Augustine

Francis of Assisi

Charlemagne

God creating from nothing (ex nihilo) means that

Before God created there was nothing

God used the remainder of pieces from the Big Bang to make earth, animals, and humans

God needed to create

Evolution is impossible

The creation narrative contains

Scientific information about specifics of creation

Culturally expressed understandings of God’s creation

Summaries of the work of other gods that God then used

Nothing important about how God created

Pantheism is the belief that

God created everything

God is everything

God is in everything

God created everything he can see (e.g., panorama)

Panentheism is the belief that

God created everything

God is everything

God is in everything

God created everything that he can see (e.g., panorama)

Only God the Father is involved in creation?

True

True for the creation of earth, but not true of angels

False

False, but true of the creation of the Holy Spirit

Chapter 5 – Believing in the Son—Divine and Human

True/False

The story of Israel in the Old Testament is all anticipating Jesus. True

Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. True

Due to the Old Testament sacrifices, Jesus’ sacrifice is only relevant for those living after his death and resurrection. False

Jesus was the backup plan in light of Israel’s failures to keep God’s Torah. False

Jesus’ divinity is more important than his humanity. False

Through Jesus’ incarnation he became a priestly mediator for humanity. True

Jesus could have saved humanity without becoming human. False

Arius believed that God the Father was superior to the Son and the Spirit. True

If Jesus was created, then he could not be Savior. True

It is wrong to worship anyone or anything other than God. True

Multiple Choice

Which passage is at the heart of biblical theology?

Genesis 14–16

John 3:16

Romans 3:23

Isaiah 53:1–6

What is the Greek term for “being”?

Kyrios

Carnitas

Kephale

Ousia

The primary importance of “Sonship” language is

Reference to the virgin birth

The sibling-like relationships that all Christians share with Jesus

Conveyance of the unique relationship Jesus has with the Father

Distinguishing between members of the Trinity

At what point does Jesus become the Son of God?

Eternally

At his baptism

At his birth

At his resurrection and ascension

Who was the primary critic of Arius?

Gregory of Nyssa

Athanasius

Irenaeus

Ignatius

Athanasius’ primary defense of Jesus’ divinity was that

A nondivine creature could not redeem

Jesus was both divine and human

Jesus was eternally begotten

Israel would only believe a divine figure

Apollinarianism believes that

Through the Logos Jesus became human

Through the Logos Jesus became divine

Through the Logos Jesus became united with the Father and Spirit

Through the Logos Jesus became visible

Monophysitism believes that

Jesus has only one body

Jesus has one physical nature and one spiritual nature

Jesus’ one nature is a combination of divine and human

Jesus has two natures that never mix

Nestorianism believes that





The hypostatic union describes

The virgin birth

The unique relationship between the members of the Trinity

The equal but mixed natures of Jesus’ humanity and divinity

Jesus’ two, unmixed natures (divine and human)


True/False

The Apostles’ Creed includes a significant section on Jesus’ ministry. False

Christ is just the final section of Jesus’ name. False

There are no Old Testament passages that refer to the Messiah. False

The primary image of who Israel’s deliverer would be was of a military leader. False

Daniel 7 is the most significant Old Testament reference to “Son of God” language. False

The incarnation was the climax of Israel’s story about the long-awaited visitation of God in the coming of his messianic king. True

Covenant righteousness was a core teaching of Jesus’ ministry. True

Jesus’ suffering death was not a part of his teaching about the kingdom of God. False

The Hebrew rendering of YHWH is equivalent to the Greek word Kyrios. True

Jesus’ lordship was central to early Christian’s proclamation of the gospel. True

Multiple Choice

What is the likely reason that there is no mention of Jesus’ miracles and teaching in the Apostles’ Creed?

At the time of the Apostles’ Creed the Gospels were not yet written

There was confusion over which gospels were authoritative

There was no major controversy about his life and ministry

Jesus’ life and ministry are unimportant compared with his life and death

Included in Israel’s expectations for a messianic deliverer were all of the following, except:

Delivering Israel into a new exodus

Renewing the covenant

Redeeming creation

Defeating the Romans

The themes of Jesus’ teaching that coalesced in Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem included all of the following, except:

Reinstituting the temple sacrifices

New Kingship

Victory

Salvation for Israel

What is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament?

Psalm 23

Psalm 110

Psalm 2

Psalm 50

In Rome, Caesar was worshiped as God. What happened to Christians who refused to worship him?

They were segregated to neighborhoods away from other Romans

They were severely persecuted

They were encouraged to reconsider

They were allowed to practice their religion as long as they didn’t evangelize

The most basic definition of a Christian is one who

Confesses Jesus as Lord

Confesses Jesus as prophet

Confesses Jesus as miracle worker

Confesses Jesus as priest

Isaiah 53 is the passage used by which New Testament verse to describe Jesus’ sacrificial death?

John 3:16

Mark 10:45

Luke 13:4

Matthew 5:25

Confessing Jesus as Lord refers primarily to

A spiritual reality

A political reality

A physical reality

All of the above

Which of the following is NOT an essential element in evangelism?

Declaring the victory of Jesus

Warning of judgment to come

Identification of sins committed

Inviting people to participate in the life of Jesus

Jesus’ redefinition of the Torah included all of the following except

A law of love

Care for the poor

Institution of kosher food laws

A redefinition of murder


True/False

Jesus’ birth narrative bears some similarities to the birth narratives of Caesar Augustus. True

The doctrine of the virginal conception of Jesus is only relatively important for mapping the identity of Jesus. True

Jesus was accused of being an illegitimate child by some early skeptics. True

The virginal conception is optional for personal belief as a Christian, but is important for Christianity as a whole. False

Virginal conception protects Jesus from original sin. False

Multiple Choice

Which early Christian theologian believed Jesus passed through Mary like water running through pipes?

Justin Martyr

Arius

Valentinus

Marcion

Jesus’ birth to Joseph and Mary is most significant because it

Shows God’s fulfillment of his promises to Israel

Shows the importance of marriage between a man and a woman

Shows God can use anyone to accomplish his purposes

Shows that God is committed to humanity by using humans

The activity of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ conception is

More important than the Spirit’s work in Jesus’ baptism

Less important than the Spirit’s work in Jesus’ baptism

Equally as important as the Spirit’s work in Jesus’ baptism

Coincidental and not comparable to the Spirit’s presence at Jesus’ baptism

The first hint of Jesus’ divinity is

His being born to Israelite parents, part of God’s chosen people

His being called the Son of David

His being born in Bethlehem

The virginal conception

What did the virginal conception signal? (Select all that apply)

Jesus’ defeat of Satan

God’s new creation

The defeat of Rome

The holiness of Mary


True/False

The single uncontested fact about Jesus of Nazareth was that he was crucified. True

Crucifixions were common in Judea. True

The veneration of a crucified man was a common occurrence in the Roman Empire. False

It was common for early Christians to be ridiculed for worshiping a crucified man. True

The fish became the most cherished symbol of early Christians. False

The Gospels consistently weave Jesus’ impending death into themes of kingdom, Messiah, and God’s promises. True

Pilate was considered to be a fair and just judge, evinced by his actions in Jesus’ trial. False

The Gospels are more positive about Pilate than most secular accounts. True

Pilate is included in the Apostles’ Creed for a historical verifier. True

Isaiah 53 was an important passage for defending Jesus’ divinity. False

Multiple Choice

Which Old Testament passage contains the list of curses, including the curse for someone hung on a tree?

Exodus 20

Genesis 50

Deuteronomy 21

Isaiah 6

By dying under the curse of the cross, Jesus

Took Israel’s curses upon himself

Demonstrated his innocence

Condemned Israel

Demonstrated the holiness of God

Which view of the atonement is said to perpetuate the myth of divine violence?

Christus victor

Divine exemplar

Substitutionary atonement

Scapegoat theory

According to which author is Jesus’ death a revelation of divine glory?

John

Mark

Matthew

Luke

A staurogram is the combination of which two Greek letters?

Rho and tau

Alapha and tau

Sigma and tau

Sigma and rho

What does the Greek word stauros mean?

Star

Lord

Cross

Stone

What action did Pilate make in order to distance himself from the Jew’s desire to kill Jesus?

Release Barabbas

Repair the temple

Wash his hands

Transfer Jesus to another official for judgment

Which of the following was not one of the expectations of Israelites regarding God’s promise of salvation?

The death of the Messiah

Military victory

The end of the exile

The final judgment

Which festival meal did Jesus transform into what Christians call the “Lord’s Supper”?

Festival of Booths

Day of Atonement

Passover

Hanukkah

Which Old Testament passage does Mark 10:45 use to talk about Jesus’ death?

Daniel 7

Isaiah 52–53

Exodus 20

Psalm 110


True/False

The universal church agrees about the accomplishment of Jesus’ atonement. False

The moral influence theory suggests that all Christians are now free from Satan’s custody. False

Because of Jesus’ death, the sins we commit no longer matter. False

Cruciformity primarily means that we are to imitate Jesus’ opposition to corrupt leaders. False

Because of Jesus’ current reign over all creation, Christians no longer need to be concerned with politics. False

Jesus’ atonement is basically concerned with the act of God to reconcile humanity to himself. True

The ransom theory of the atonement entails the inward change of the believer to do good. False

Penal substitution and satisfaction theories of the atonement agree on Jesus’ role of taking away God’s wrath. True

Combining theories of the atonement corrupts the qualities inherent to each individual theory. False

Cruciformity is the kind of life possible for all people, but especially for Christians. False

Multiple Choice

What is the single feature agreed upon by the early church regarding the accomplishment of the atonement?

That it was for all

That it was for the elect

That it was for a specific church

That it was for Israel

Which phrase captures a majority of the features accomplished by Jesus’ death?

Forgiveness of sins

Justification

Reconciliation

All of the above

The victory theory of atonement includes all of the following theories except

Penal substitution

Recapitulation

Moral influence

Ransom

Which of the following is not one of the qualities of cruciform discipleship?

Identity

Imitation

Resistance

Obedience

Which theory of the atonement suggests that Jesus’ demonstration of love-in-dying is to be emulated by Christians?

Satisfaction

Penal substitution

Exemplar

Governmental

As Christians, which relationship determines the most important qualities of our identity?

Mother

Father

Jesus

Pastor

Which passage is considered the “summit of Paul’s Christology”?

Philippians 2:5–11

Colossians 1:15–20

Hebrews 11

1 Corinthians 13

Where does the New Testament talk about the connection between our love for others and our witness in the world? (Select all that apply)

Matthew 5

John 13

1 John 1

1 Peter 2

Cruciform discipleship might include which of the following? (Select all that apply)

Political protest

Prison ministry

Armed resistance

Running for political office

Why did Jesus have to die?

God’s commitment to pacifism as a powerful peaceful protest

Forgiveness of sins

Critique of the injustice of Roman rule

To fulfill the figurative death of Israel


True/False

Hades is the location of eternal judgment. False

Sheol and Hades refer to the same place. True

Jesus’ descent to Hades is an important part of what identifies him with the full extent of the human condition. True

The death of Samson is used in the New Testament as a way to describe what happened to Jesus after his death. False

Jesus’ descent into Hades is a part of his victory over death. True

Jesus’ descent into Hades is a contested feature of the Apostles’ Creed. False

The reason Jesus went to Hades instead of hell is because the location of hell was a mystery. False

All Jews believed in the resurrection of the dead. False

Because of the sacrificial system, Jesus’ death would still free humanity from sin without his resurrection. False

The resurrection impacts a Christian’s ethical system. True

Multiple Choice

Where did Jesus preach good news after his death?

Hades

Hell

The Kidron valley

In Noah’s hometown

What does Jesus say will NOT overcome the church?

Death

The gates of Hades

Sheol

All of the Above

In the early church there was a variety of ways to express the fullness of Jesus’ experience of death, including which of the following? (Select all that apply)

Descent into Hades

Burial

Preaching to demons

Bodily decay

Which of the following cultures praised dying and looked forward to it?

Jews

Romans

Gauls

None of the Above

What is the term used by J. R. R. Tolkien to describe Jesus’ death and resurrection?

Miracle

Cosmic reversal scheme

Eucatastrophe

Trinitas ad extra

What is the title of Jesus that is proved by his resurrection?

Son of Man

Messiah

Lord

All of the above

Which passage declares that Jesus’ resurrection has given believers “new birth”?

1 Corinthians 13:1–4

1 Peter 3:21

Revelation 21:1

John 8:34

Which Reformer explained Jesus’ descent to Hades by saying it was synonymous with burial?

Martin Luther

Martin Sheen

Martin Bucer

Steve Martin

Which Reformer explained Jesus’ descent to Hades by saying it was a metaphor for the fury of God’s wrath?

John Calvin

Johannes Calibre

Theodore Beza

Maximus the Confessor

Which Roman philosopher described death as an enemy approaching from the rear?

Abelard

Quintilian

Seneca

Socrates


True/False

Jesus’ Great Commission speech marks the end of his resurrection appearances. False

The risen Jesus was immediately worshiped. True

Prayer, baptism, and healing are means of receiving benefits from God through Jesus. True

Jesus only retains his physical body when present on earth. False

Jesus’ enthronement inaugurates the end of humanity’s coreign with God over creation. False

Paul says that we are raised to sit with Jesus in the heavenly realms. True

Once Jesus leaves earth, he no longer functions as our priest. False

The Spirit empowers believers primarily for mission to the Gentiles. False

The return of Jesus is described with the biblical metaphor of a mother hen gathering her chicks. False

In Buddhist teaching, the Buddha and Jesus will together bring peace at the end of time. False

Multiple Choice

What is one of the first results of Jesus’ ascension?

Earthquakes

Angelic pronouncements of coming judgment

The sending of the Holy Spirit

The scattering of the disciples

Which gospel contains the most extensive teaching about the ascension?

Mark

Thomas

John

Luke

In what way is Jesus’ ascension connected to the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the agent that “moves” Jesus from earth to heaven

The H0ly Spirit cannot be sent to earth until after Jesus’ ascension

The Holy Spirit announces Jesus’ vindication from death to the angelic hosts

The Holy Spirit prophesied Jesus’ ascension in Joel

The “pouring out” of the Holy Spirit signals all of the following except:

The “last days”

The time of salvation through calling on the name of the Lord

The ceasing of other miraculous gifts

Proof that Jesus was anointed by the Spirit during his earthly ministry

The return of Jesus will be:

Initially secretive before being dramatically revealed

In the same fashion as his ascension

Preceded by the restoration of Israel as a world power

None of the above

The “session” of Jesus refers to the time:

Before his ascension

As he ascends (referring to the span as a “session”)

Of his entry to heaven

Of his post ascension status and activity

What is the most quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament?

Psalm 23

Isaiah 53

Psalm 110

Isaiah 6

Jesus is in the line of which priest, according to the Psalms?

Aaron

Samuel

Ahab

Melchizedek

Which of the following is NOT a result of the ascension for the life of a believer?

Sharing in Christ’s reign

Empowerment by the Spirit

United in Jesus’ death

United in Jesus’ “descent” to Hades

Revelation 19 has a vivid description of Jesus returning to earth as a:

Slain lamb

Bridegroom

Warrior

Thief in the night


True/False

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit only empowered kings and prophets. False

The spiritual renewal of all Israel would lead to the renewal of the nations. True

The divisions within the church concerning the Spirit’s activity today has the potential to split the church irreparably. True

The Holy Spirit’s work is something that should be expected in the normal experience of believers. True

The Holy Spirit is closely connected to our experience of God’s wrath. False

Reformer John Owen first described the bond that the Spirit creates between the believer and God. False

It is wrong to attribute personhood to the Spirit since God is not human. False

The council of Constantinople affirmed full deity of the Son, separate from the Holy Spirit. False

The Holy Spirit possesses most of the attributes of the Father. False

The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. True

Multiple Choice

Which prophet said that God would one day fill all of God’s people with the Spirit?

Moses

Joel

Elisha

Daniel

Who were the primary recipients of God’s sending of the Spirit in the New Testament?

Jews

Gentiles

The apostles

All believers

In which letter does Paul elaborate on the unity of the body of Christ by using the metaphors of baptism and drinking?

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Philemon

1 Timothy

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of “personhood”?

Self-awareness

Capacity for relationships

Definite preferences

Recognizable traits of character

The Holy Spirit is involved in all of the following except:

Creation

Revelation

Crucifixion

Empowerment

The Spirit is involved in Revelation in which of the following ways? (Select all that apply)

Inscripturation

Inspiration

Illumination

Conviction

What is the first experience of the Spirit’s life-giving power?

Filling for ministry

Baptism

Regeneration

Conception

Which of the following is NOT said to be empowered by the Spirit?

Saul

Samson

Jesus

Abraham

Which passage records the fulfillment of God’s promise to fill all people with the Holy Spirit?

Acts 2:16–18

Acts 10:34–43

Matthew 28:18–20

Matthew 5:13–24

Which of the following passages contains the comprehensive list of spiritual gifts?


Ephesians 4:11–13

Romans 12:4–8

None of the above


True/False

The church is treated more like the content of theology than the packaging. False

The church is not where Christians meet or what they do. True

True Christians are “Churchians.” True

A Christian’s identity is exclusively determined by their membership in the body of Christ. True

The church is part of God’s plan of reconciliation and restoration on earth. True

God has more than one place for his people. False

Israel is replaced by Gentiles. False

The unity of the church is symbolized by the sacrament of marriage. False

The church is holy (i.e., free from sin). False

The Roman Catholic Church is a part of the universal church. True

Multiple Choice

The church is:

A building containing any number of Christians

A building containing more than three Christians

A group of any number of Christians, regardless of the building

A group of Christians in a building

Christian identity is determined:

On a corporate basis as a member of a church

On an individual basis as a member of a church

Both (a) and (b)

Neither (a) or (b)

It is part of God’s plan to create a worldwide family, since the time of:

Adam

Abraham

David

Jesus

Which of the following is NOT a biblical title for the people of God?

Elect

Remnant

Empire

Kingdom

Which of the following are included in the list of four basic descriptors of the church? (Select all that apply)

Holy

Catholic

Orthodox

Apostolic

In which letter does Paul call the recipients “holy” and “sanctified” despite their acceptance of sinful behavior?

Romans

2 Corinthians

1 Corinthians

Galatians

The church is universal except in the sense that it is divided by which category?

Race

Time

Geography

None of the above

What is one of the primary functions of apostolic authority?

Passing on authority in local churches

To guard and transmit the gospel

To instruct the church in godly living

All of the above

What is the “common good” of local church attendance?

Sharing a meal

Spiritual nourishment

Church discipline

Social outreach

What is the primary distinction between the church and other organizations?

Authoritative teaching

Fellowship meals

Worship of Jesus Christ

Excellent music


True/False

Salvation in the past tense doesn’t begin until after the fall. False

Salvation is a process in the present. True

The completion of salvation begins with Jesus’ ascension. False

Forgiveness of sins is the best summary of the entire process of salvation. True

Heaven refers to the eternal state of all believers. False

Heaven is a place of longing for the future. True

Resurrection redeems us from our bodies. False

The soul is immortal. False

Only believers are resurrected. False

Hell renders its occupants “less than human.” True

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not part of the “present” process of salvation?

Glorification

Growth in holiness

Inner transformation

Likeness with Christ

Which of the following themes is not part of the “future” process of salvation?

Judgment

New earth

Sanctification

Kingdom

God intends to:

Bring heaven to earth

Remake earth and join heaven to it

Remake heaven and earth and join them

None of the above

“The end” begins with

Final judgment

The destruction of earth

Jesus’ return

The salvation of all the earth

Which of the following descriptions is NOT true of the Christian view of resurrection?

Resurrection is an escape from creation

Resurrection is different than everlasting life

Resurrection results in being in heaven

None of the above

Which passage in the Old Testament first comments on resurrection?

Isaiah 53

Isaiah 65

Psalm 23

Psalm 2

Which book in the Bible first refers to the eternal state in temple imagery?

Revelation

Ezekiel

Genesis

Habakkuk

Which of the following is NOT an image of the new heavens and new earth?

New temple

New Israel

New Jerusalem

New kingdom

In which passage does Paul encourage believers about those who have already died?


1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

Ephesians 5:24–32


Which of the following is a biblical image of hell? (Select all that apply)

Fiery

Eternal

Torment

Lonely

Midterm Exam

True/False

All Protestant churches include the same creed in their doctrinal statement. False





Creeds helpfully eliminate some levels of division by their simplicity. True



The gospel is at the center of Jesus’ call to faith. True

The gospel that Jesus taught is the same gospel for all Christians. True




Jesus’ divinity is more important than his humanity. False

Modalism is one way to express the doctrine of the Trinity. False

The truth of the gospel is dependent on the Trinity. True



Virginal conception protects Jesus from original sin. False

The Apostles’ Creed includes a significant section on Jesus’ ministry. False

Covenant righteousness was a core teaching of Jesus’ ministry. True


Multiple Choice

The “traditions” passed on by the apostles are primarily:

Jesus’ parables

Jesus’ teachings on the “Day of the Lord”

Jesus’ teachings and the Old Testament interpreted in light of Jesus

The Torah

The New Testament creeds contain the twin focus on:





Monotheism means:

Belief in one God among other gods

Belief in only one God

Belief in the Mesopotamian god named Mono

Belief in many gods




Jesus was created


Which book was almost excluded from the Christian canon?

Revelation

Epistle of Barnabas

Romans

Gospel of John

Which of the following was not a genre used by New Testament authors?

Biography

Apocalypse

Epic

Letters




Orthodox contents


Faith is primarily directed toward:

God’s actions in the Old Testament

The Bible

The witness of the apostles

All of the above

Which of the following is not a promise of God?

Salvation for those trusting in Jesus

The Spirit

Monetary provision

Jesus’ future return

Collapsing faith into obedience results in: (Select all that apply)

God’s blessing

Legalism

Duty

Fear of failure


Dialogical

Phenomenological

Analogical


Which of the following is not a biblical image for God’s motherly action?

A nursing mother

A hen with her chicks

A birthing mother

A joyful mother at a wedding

God is almighty. This means that God can

Do the impossible

Sin

Do anything consistent with his character

Create a rock too heavy for him to lift

Who wrote about the challenges of interpreting Genesis before Charles Darwin?

Suetonius

Augustine

Francis of Assisi

Charlemagne


Genesis 14–16

John 3:16

Romans 3:23

Isaiah 53:1–6

The primary importance of “Sonship” language is

Reference to the virgin birth

The sibling-like relationships that all Christians share with Jesus

Conveyance of the unique relationship Jesus has with the Father

Distinguishing between members of the Trinity

Who was the primary critic of Arius?

Gregory of Nyssa

Athanasius

Irenaeus

Ignatius

Athanasius’ primary defense of Jesus’ divinity was that

A nondivine creature could not redeem

Jesus was both divine and human

Jesus was eternally begotten

Israel would only believe a divine figure






Monophysitism believes that





Nestorianism believes that










The themes of Jesus’ teaching that coalesced in Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem included all of the following, except:

Reinstituting the temple sacrifices

New Kingship

Victory

Salvation for Israel


Psalm 23

Psalm 110

Psalm 2

Psalm 50


Justin Martyr

Arius

Valentinus

Marcion

The activity of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ conception is

More important than the Spirit’s work in Jesus’ baptism

Less important than the Spirit’s work in Jesus’ baptism

Equally as important as the Spirit’s work in Jesus’ baptism

Coincidental and not comparable to the Spirit’s presence at Jesus’ baptism

The first hint of Jesus’ divinity is

His being born to Israelite parents, part of God’s chosen people

His being called the Son of David

His being born in Bethlehem

The virginal conception

What did the virginal conception signal? Select all that apply.

Jesus’ defeat of Satan

God’s new creation

The defeat of Rome

The holiness of Mary

Midterm Exam Study Guide


List significant passages that contain creedal statements.

Identify and distinguish opponents of creedal Christianity.

Recreate the chart outlining the Apostles’, Niceno-Constantinopolitan, and Athanasian Creeds, as well as the Chalcedonian Definition.


Identify the stages in the development of the Christian canon.

List the apocryphal and pseudepigraphal books not included in the canon.

Explain the role of the “rule of faith.”

List the four criteria for discerning canonical inclusion.


Distinguish between faith and obedience.

Explain how faith and obedience complement each other.

Identify the connection between the gospel narrative and the Apostles’ Creed.

Explain why God’s faithfulness is central to professing the creed.


Distinguish between nontrinitarian theologies (e.g., modalism).

Briefly articulate an explanation of the Trinity.

Explain the centrality of the Trinity for the gospel.

Chapter 5 – Believing in the Son of God—Divine and Human

Explain the way the Old Testament anticipates and expects a Messiah.

Explain the difference between homoousios and homoiousios.

Articulate the importance of the hypostatic union.

Explain the reasons for rejecting alternative Christological positions on Jesus’ nature.


Explain the importance of knowing about Jesus’ life in order to properly understand his death and resurrection.

Understand Jesus’ location in the Jewish world, specifically his fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

Explain the kingdom of God and how Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection fill out Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom.


Articulate the reason why the virgin birth is actually referring to the virginal conception.

Explain the significance of the Holy Spirit’s activity in Jesus’ conception.

Final Exam

True/False













The fish became the most cherished symbol of early Christians. False

Isaiah 53 was an important passage for defending Jesus’ divinity. False

Penal substitution and satisfaction theories of the atonement agree on Jesus’ role of taking away God’s wrath. True

Combining theories of the atonement corrupts the qualities inherent to each individual theory. False

Hades is the location of eternal judgment. False

Sheol and Hades refer to the same place. True

Jesus’ descent into Hades is a contested feature of the Apostles’ Creed. False

The Holy Spirit’s work is something that should be expected in the normal experience of believers. True

It is wrong to attribute personhood to the Spirit since God is not human. False

The church is not where Christians meet or what they do. True

The unity of the church is symbolized by the sacrament of marriage. False

The soul is immortal. False

Hell renders its occupants “less than human.” True

Multiple Choice

The New Testament creeds contain the twin focus on:








Jesus was created





Orthodox contents



Dialogical

Phenomenological

Analogical



Genesis 14–16

John 3:16

Romans 3:23

Isaiah 53:1–6












Psalm 23

Psalm 110

Psalm 2

Psalm 50


Justin Martyr

Arius

Valentinus

Marcion

Which Old Testament passage contains the list of curses, including the curse for someone hung on a tree?

Exodus 20

Genesis 50

Deuteronomy 21

Isaiah 6

Which view of the atonement is said to perpetuate the myth of divine violence?

Christus victor

Divine exemplar

Substitutionary atonement

Scapegoat theory

Which Old Testament passage does Mark 10:45 use to talk about Jesus’ death?

Daniel 7

Isaiah 52–53

Exodus 20

Psalm 110

Which phrase captures a majority of the features accomplished by Jesus’ death?

Forgiveness of sins

Justification

Reconciliation

All of the above

The victory theory of atonement includes all of the following theories except

Penal substitution

Recapitulation

Moral influence

Ransom

Which passage is considered the “summit of Paul’s Christology”?

Philippians 2:5–11


Hebrews 11

1 Corinthians 13

Which passage declares that Jesus’ resurrection has given believers “new birth”?


1 Peter 3:21

Revelation 21:1

John 8:34

Which Reformer explained Jesus’ descent to hell by saying it was a metaphor for the fury of God’s wrath?

John Calvin

Johannes Calibre

Theodore Beza

Maximus the Confessor

What is one of the first results of Jesus’ ascension?

Earthquakes

Angelic pronouncements of coming judgment

The sending of the Holy Spirit

The scattering of the disciples

The “session” of Jesus refers to the time:

Before his ascension

As he ascends (referring to the span as a “session”)

Of his entry to heaven

Of his post ascension status and activity

What is the most quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament?

Psalm 23

Isaiah 53

Psalm 110

Isaiah 6

Which prophet said that God would one day fill all of God’s people with the Spirit?

Moses

Joel

Elisha

Daniel

Which passage records the fulfillment of God’s pr

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