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Introduction The instructor’s manual for the volume Letters to the Church is intended to provide
useful resources to assist in teaching a course on Hebrews and the General Epistles. The material in the manual is divided into six sections.
The first section contains websites that are helpful in studying the New Testament. These are grouped into three categories: general, associations, and journals.
The second section, titled “chapter summaries,” contains six items for each chapter. 1) Key terms students will need to know. Flashcards for these key terms are available to
the students at www.zondervanacademic.com. 2) Key points emphasized by the chapter. 3) Chapter summaries that give an overview of the chapter. 4) Pedagogical suggestions related to the chapter. 5) Other websites that may assist professors in engaging the material in class. 6) Suggested essay questions, which address the main areas in each chapter.
The third section gives student learning objectives for each chapter. These sketch out what students should know after reading each chapter.
The fourth section contains chapter quizzes with ten multiple choice questions and ten true/false questions for each chapter. Answers are given in bold type.
The fifth section contains a sample syllabus with two schedules, one for M/W/F and one for T/Th. A brief course description is provided along with general intended learning outcomes for the course. The weekly course schedule gives readings from Letters to the Church and the relevant NT texts, and it also provides dates for review days, project presentations, and exams.
The final section contains a midterm and a final exam. These are both fifty questions in length and are comprised of questions from the chapter quizzes. Study guides for both the exams are made available to the students.
It has been a joy to work through Letters to the Church to prepare these educational resources. I’m grateful for the initial work of Jon Hoglund and Karen Jobes that made my job a bit easier. Letters to the Church is a wonderful textbook to assist your students this semester as they discover this oft-neglected part of the New Testament. I sincerely hope that what follows will assist you in preparing more efficiently and teaching more effectively.
Carmen Joy Imes
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Table of Contents
Suggested Websites........................................................................................................................6
Chapter Summaries and Highlights............................................................................................8
Introducing Hebrews and the General Epistles...........................................................................8Key Terms...............................................................................................................................8Key Points................................................................................................................................8Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................................8Other Media Sources/Websites...............................................................................................9Suggested Essay Questions.....................................................................................................9
Chapter 1 – Introducing Hebrews: The Book of Better Things................................................10Key Terms ............................................................................................................................10Key Points..............................................................................................................................10Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................10Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................10Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................11Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................11
Chapter 2 – Famous Last Words: Divine Revelation in Hebrews.............................................12Key Terms.............................................................................................................................12Key Points..............................................................................................................................12Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................12Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................13Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................13Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................13
Chapter 3 – The Son Is Our Great High Priest: The Christology of Hebrews..........................14Key Terms.............................................................................................................................14Key Points..............................................................................................................................14Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................14Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................15Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................15Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................15
Chapter 4 – “How Shall We Escape?” The Soteriology of Hebrews........................................16Key Terms.............................................................................................................................16Key Points..............................................................................................................................16Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................16Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................17Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................17Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................17
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Chapter 5 – Introducing the Letter from James: Prophet and Sage of the Kingdom of God....18Key Terms.............................................................................................................................18Key Points..............................................................................................................................18Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................18Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................19Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................19Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................20
Chapter 6 – A Christian Letter? Christology in James..............................................................21Key Terms.............................................................................................................................21Key Points..............................................................................................................................21Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................21Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................21Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................22Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................22
Chapter 7 – The “Royal Law”: Christian Wisdom and Ethics in James...................................23Key Terms.............................................................................................................................23Key Points..............................................................................................................................23Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................23Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................24Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................24Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................24
Chapter 8 – Jude: Jesus’ Brother Warns the Church.................................................................25Key Terms.............................................................................................................................25Key Points..............................................................................................................................25Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................25Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................26Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................26Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................26
Chapter 9 – “The True Grace of God”: Introducing 1 Peter.....................................................27Key Terms.............................................................................................................................27Key Points..............................................................................................................................27Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................27Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................28Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................28Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................28
Chapter 10 – “Christ Has Left You an Example”: The Christology of 1 Peter.........................29Key Terms.............................................................................................................................29Key Points..............................................................................................................................29Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................29Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................30Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................30Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................30
Chapter 11 – Foreigners and Resident Aliens: The Imitatio Christi in Peter’s Ethics..............31Key Terms.............................................................................................................................31
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Key Points..............................................................................................................................31Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................31Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................32Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................32Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................32
Chapter 12 – 2 Peter: An Apostle’s Last Words to the Church.................................................33Key Terms.............................................................................................................................33Key Points..............................................................................................................................33Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................33Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................34Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................34Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................34
Chapter 13 – 1 John: Reassurance for Christians in Confusing Times.....................................36Key Terms.............................................................................................................................36Key Points..............................................................................................................................36Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................36Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................37Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................37Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................37
Chapter 14 – 2 and 3 John: Notes of Grace and Truth..............................................................38Key Terms.............................................................................................................................38Key Points..............................................................................................................................38Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................38Pedagogical Suggestions.......................................................................................................38Other Media Sources/Websites.............................................................................................39Suggested Essay Questions...................................................................................................39
Student Learning Objectives by Chapter..................................................................................40
Chapter 1 – Introducing Hebrews: The Book of Better Things................................................40
Chapter 2 – Famous Last Words: Divine Revelation in Hebrews.............................................40
Chapter 3 – The Son Is Our Great High Priest: The Christology of Hebrews..........................40
Chapter 4 – “How Shall We Escape?” The Soteriology of Hebrews........................................40
Chapter 5 – Introducing the Letter from James: Prophet and Sage of the Kingdom of God....41
Chapter 6 – A Christian Letter? Christology in James..............................................................41
Chapter 7 – The “Royal Law”: Christian Wisdom and Ethics in James...................................41
Chapter 8 – Jude: Jesus’ Brother Warns the Church.................................................................41
Chapter 9 – “The True Grace of God”: Introducing 1 Peter.....................................................42
Chapter 10 – “Christ Has Left You an Example”: The Christology of 1 Peter.........................42
Chapter 11 – Foreigners and Resident Aliens: The Imitatio Christi in Peter’s Ethics..............42
Chapter 12 – 2 Peter: An Apostle’s Last Words to the Church.................................................42
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Chapter 13 – 1 John: Reassurance for Christians in Confusing Times.....................................42
Chapter 14 – 2 and 3 John: Notes of Grace and Truth..............................................................43
Chapter Quizzes...........................................................................................................................44
Chapter Quiz: Introduction........................................................................................................44
Chapter 1 Quiz: Hebrews..........................................................................................................47
Chapter 2 Quiz: Hebrews..........................................................................................................49
Chapter 3 Quiz: Hebrews..........................................................................................................51
Chapter 4 Quiz: Hebrews..........................................................................................................53
Chapter 5 Quiz: James...............................................................................................................55
Chapter 6 Quiz: James...............................................................................................................57
Chapter 7 Quiz: James...............................................................................................................59
Chapter 8 Quiz: Jude.................................................................................................................61
Chapter 9 Quiz: 1 Peter.............................................................................................................63
Chapter 10 Quiz: 1 Peter...........................................................................................................66
Chapter 11 Quiz: 1 Peter...........................................................................................................68
Chapter 12 Quiz: 2 Peter...........................................................................................................70
Chapter 13 Quiz: 1 John............................................................................................................72
Chapter 14 Quiz: 2 & 3 John.....................................................................................................74
Sample Syllabus...........................................................................................................................76
Mid-Term Exam on Hebrews, James, and Jude.......................................................................82
Final Exam on 1–2 Peter and 1–3 John.....................................................................................88
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Suggested WebsitesGeneral
• Early Christian Writings: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com• From Jesus to Christ on Frontline:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/• The New Testament Gateway: http://www.ntgateway.com• N.T. Wright Page: http://ntwrightpage.com• Oxford Biblical Studies Online: http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com• Perseus Digital Library: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/• Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (online LSJ): http://stephanus.tlg.uci.edu/ • Classics Library: http://classics.mit.edu/ • Internet Ancient History Sourcebook: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook.html • Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean: http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/• Resource Page for Biblical Studies: http://torreys.org/bible/• New Testament Exegesis Bibliography: http://www.denverseminary.edu/resources/news-
and-articles/new-testament-exegesis-bibliography-2015/ • Johannine Literature: http://catholic-resources.org/John/Bibliog-Main.html • Internet Bible Research: http://www.bible-researcher.com/index.html • Tyndale Bible Toolbar: http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/index.php?page=Toolbar
Associations• British New Testament Society: http://www.bnts.org.uk• European Association of Biblical Studies: http://www.eabs.net/site/• Society of Biblical Literature: http://www.sbl-site.org• Society of New Testament Studies: https://www.edugroepen.nl/sites/SNTS/default.aspx
Journals• Biblica: http://www.bsw.org/project/biblica• Bulletin for Biblical Research: https://www.ibr-bbr.org/bulletin-biblical-research• Catholic Biblical Quarterly: http://catholicbiblical.org/publications/cbq• Ephemerides Theologicae Lovaniensis: http://poj.peeters-leuven.be/content.php?
url=journal&journal_code=ETL• The Expository Times: http://ext.sagepub.com• Filologia Neotestamentaria: http://www.bsw.org/filologia-neotestamentaria/• Journal for the Study of the New Testament: http://jnt.sagepub.com• Journal of Biblical Literature:
http://www.sbl-site.org/publications/journals_jbl_noLogin.aspx• Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism: http://www.jgrchj.net• New Testament Studies: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=NTS• Novum Testamentum: http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/15685365• Review of Biblical Literature: http://www.bookreviews.org• Studies in Christian Jewish Relations: http://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/scjr/• Tyndale Bulletin: http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/index.php?page=tyndale-bulletin
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• Zeitschrift für die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft: http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/zntw?rskey=n3VgtJ&result=3
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Chapter Summaries and Highlights
Introducing Hebrews and the General Epistles
Key Terms
Catholic; epistle; koine Greek; Diaspora; AD; BC; Gentile; circumcision; Aaronic priesthood; Christology; Neoplatonism; Gnosticism; Johannine; pseudonymous/pseudonymity/ pseudepigrapha; amanuensis; papyrus; dialectical Hegelian philosophy; Rylands fragment; apocalyptic; Muratorian Canon; extant; occasional writings; Tatian’s Diatesseron; atonement
Key Points
• The “catholic” or general epistles were written in the latter third of the first century with a broad audience in mind that included Gentile believers.
• Persecution and heresy created a challenging situation for believers. Our understanding of these epistles depends upon an accurate understanding of the historical context and literary genres in which they were written.
• The New Testament canon was formed on the basis of an apostolic “lineage of recognition.” The idea of pseudonymous writings is both historically and psychologically untenable unless an author was a “close personal associate of the apostle” whose work was immediately recognized as authentic.
• Academic study of the Bible may require us to leave behind ideas that are not well founded, but the goal is always a deeper understanding that leads to right worship.
Chapter Summary
Unlike Paul’s letters, the general epistles appear to have been written for a broader audience. They were written during the third period of the first century, the period of doctrinal and ecclesial unification (AD 60–100). During this period the church expanded to include Gentile believers in Jesus, and the apostles wrestled with the role and purpose of the Law in Christian ethics. Toward the end of this period, Christians were experiencing persecution for their faith, which prompted reflection on how to remain faithful under pressure (see 1 Peter). Additional pressure was caused by heretical teachings which began to distort the gospel (see 2 Peter, Jude, and the Johannine epistles).
Many scholars contend that most New Testament books are pseudonymous. At the very least, we know that New Testament authors sometimes used an amanuensis. However, evidence suggests that although pseudonymity was accepted in the wider culture to some extent, forgeries were rejected by the early church, even when motivated by love for the apostle. To embrace pseudonymity in the New Testament undermines the task of exegesis by removing texts from those known to us as eyewitnesses and followers of Jesus. These men had the most motivation and ability to produce New Testament texts.
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New Testament writings are “occasional,” written to address a particular set of circumstances. The general epistles are framed by the letters from Jesus’ half–brothers, James and Jude, with Peter’s and John’s writings in between. Hebrews is thought to be written by a close associate of Paul, which explains its place at the front. The close historical association between the authors of these books undergirds their theological unity.
Other Media Sources/Websites
• RBL Scholar Series video interviews with Clint Arnold:
• “Where Do the Letters Fit in the Story of the Bible?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrgtRYkdo10
• “How Do We Read the Letters Well?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFTvJ-3xNt8
• “What Was Letter Writing Like in the Ancient World?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmQrdXWpJP4
• “Why are the New Testament Letters So Appealing?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BXRDBCSrqA
• Interview with David Bentley Hart on Gnosticim and Alternative Gospels: https://publicchristianity.org/library/accuracy-in-oral-tradition
Suggested Essay Questions
1. Compare the modern-day roles of speechwriter or ghostwriter with the ancient role of amanuensis. How are they similar? How are they different? Do we have anything today that’s equivalent to pseudonymous authorship?
2. What is at stake with the question of authorship of NT books? Does the concept of pseudonymity undermine the authority of Scripture? If so, how?
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Chapter 1 – Introducing Hebrews: The Book of Better Things
Key Terms
Neoplatonic Philosophy; apostasy; Christology; Gentile; Septuagint; koine Greek; extant; Diaspora; midrash; tabernacle; dualism; literary genre; exhortation; atonement; BC; apocalyptic; Johannine; Codex; Catholic; soteriology; Muratorian Canon; AD 70; Alexandria; Apollos; first covenant; genre; high priest; Jerusalem; Melchizedek; Nero; new covenant; Papyrus p46; priesthood; redemption; Rome; sacrifice; type/antitype/archtype; typology
Key Points
• Hebrews is important because of its weighty theological reflections on the new covenant, on Christ’s humanity, and on faithful living.
• Both author and audience are unknown, but the aim was to bolster believers under pressure. A combination of internal and external evidence suggests the message was intended for Roman Christians between AD 60 and 70.
Chapter Summary
We know little about the author and addressees from the book of Hebrews itself, but we can surmise that the author had a Jewish background and that the audience was wavering under pressure. Some external evidence suggests that it first addressed Christians in Rome. Internal clues suggest a date of composition between AD 60 and 70, with Nero’s persecution looming on the horizon but before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Using the rhetoric of ancient Greece, the author urged readers to persevere in the faith. Given its Greek literary sophistication, Apollos is a good candidate for author, but we simply cannot be sure. As for its genre, the book appears to be a persuasive sermon sent to a distant audience.
Christology is a major focus of Hebrews, and the book uniquely presents Jesus as both high priest and sacrifice for sin, the inaugurator of the new covenant. Although many have suggested the influence of Platonic dualism, the major contrast of Hebrews is temporal rather than ontological; distinguishing “before” and “after” the cross. This temporal focus extends to its symbolism. Rather than giving an allegorical reading of the Old Testament, Hebrews uses typology, focusing on types and antitypes within the plane of human history. Hebrews also highlights the certainty of a faith that trusts God for what can’t been seen, a faith that flows into action.
Though widely circulated in the early centuries of the church, the canonicity of Hebrews was questioned; it was not listed in the Muratorian Canon of the western church, but the eastern churches accepted it by the 2nd century.
Pedagogical Suggestions
• Stage a debate on the authorship, recipients, or occasion of the book.
• Have the class break into groups to create “movie” posters that communicate the key theological themes of the book.
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• Break into groups and have each group investigate a particular type/antitype from the book, reading the relevant passages from the Old Testament as well as Hebrews. Then have each group present to the class what they learned.
Other Media Sources/Websites
• Excellent animated chart/overview of the message of Hebrews (The Bible Project): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9wqN-nwSzE
• Bibledex video on Hebrews produced by the faculty of the University of Nottingham that spends a good deal of time on the question of authorship as well as major themes (7:17): http://www.bibledex.com/videos/hebrews.html
Suggested Essay Questions
1. List what you can infer about the people to whom Hebrews was originally addressed from the text of Hebrews itself.
2. To what might the title “Hebrews” refer?3. What historical evidence external to the book helps to date when it was written? What
internal evidence might indicate the date it was written?4. What are the prominent characteristics of the author of Hebrews? Who are the primary
candidates and why?5. Describe the sociopolitical situation of the people to whom the book is addressed.6. What is the major purpose of the book of Hebrews?7. List the distinctive theological themes of Hebrews. Reflect on those with which you are
least familiar.8. What factors were apparently involved in the acceptance of Hebrews into the canon?
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Chapter 2 – Famous Last Words: Divine Revelation in Hebrews
Key Terms
Dualism; Gentile; Christology; epistle; hermeneutics; Old Greek; BC; illocution; locution; prophet; revelation; Septuagint; Son; speech act theory
Key Points
• Jesus is the final, definitive revelation of God to humanity. His revelatory status derives not from what he said, but from what he accomplished through his death and resurrection. He himself is God’s word.
• Although Hebrews is ostensibly addressed to those of Jewish ancestry, the heritage of ancient Israel is extended to all believers, uniting all who place their faith in Jesus.
• The revelation of the Son is qualitatively different than OT prophetic revelation.
• The author of Hebrews quoted extensively from the Greek Septuagint. Many of these quotations are attributed to Jesus, who is portrayed as the one most qualified to express the prophetic words because he fulfilled them.
• The use of quotations from the Greek Septuagint and the attribution of those quotations to the three members of the Trinity affirm that divine inspiration extends to translations of the Scriptures in other languages.
Chapter Summary
The book of Hebrews appears to be a sermon designed for oral delivery, but it closes with personal greetings, like an epistle. It divides history into two parts: the prophets were God’s means of communication “in the past,” while the Son is the superlative and final revelation of God “in these last days.” Hebrews also divides history into two peoples: “our ancestors,” to whom God spoke through the prophets, and “us,” to whom God has spoken in Jesus. Hebrews thus overturns the age-old question of whether God really speaks (see Gen 3:1) and whether we have understood him correctly. Jesus is his definitive relation, his “word” for all humanity.
The authority of the message of Hebrews is grounded in the Old Testament Scriptures, which are quoted more in this book than any other. The author was highly proficient in Greek, and may not have known Hebrew or Aramaic. Old Testament quotations are from the Greek Septuagint. Curiously, the author of Hebrews never presents Jesus’ words as those spoken during his early ministry, but consistently has him speaking Old Testament texts. All other quotations are attributed either to God or to the Spirit, never to the human author.
While the Old Testament authorizes and undergirds the message of Hebrews, it has been superseded with the establishment of the new covenant in Christ. The locution of OT texts is the same, but its illocutionary force has changed. The superiority of the new covenant derives from the superior sacrifice, Jesus, who makes the sacrificial laws of the old covenant obsolete. Therefore, Jesus’ status as the final revelation of God does not derive from his teachings (i.e., his words), but from his death and resurrection. He himself is the word.
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Pedagogical Suggestions
• As a class, brainstorm the differences between the prophetic revelation of the Old Testament and the revelation in Jesus.
• Assign students to find a creative way to portray the superior attributes of the Son (Hebrews 1:1–5), either through painting, drawing, musical composition, collage, dance, sculpture, graphic poster design, sewing a banner, etc.
• Break into groups to compare particular OT texts with their quotations in Hebrews (e.g., Ps 95:7–11 in Hebrews 3 and 4; Jer 31:31–34 in Heb 8:8–12; Hab 2:3–4, 6 in Heb 10:37–38; Hag 2:6 in Heb 12:26).
Other Media Sources/Websites
• Animated video on the “Image of God,” suitable for discussion of Jesus as God’s “exact representation” (The Bible Project): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbipxLDtY8c
Suggested Essay Questions
1. What three contrasts does Hebrews make as it presents Jesus as the final revelation of God?
2. What is the Septuagint? Why is it significant for understanding the book of Hebrews and other New Testament books?
3. Using the book of Hebrews, how would you answer the claim that Jesus was merely a great ethical teacher and a true prophet of God?
4. What is theologically notable about the quotations of the Old Testament books in Hebrews? How does this inform Christian doctrine of Scripture concerning the Old Testament?
5. How does the author of Hebrews both uphold the divine authority of the Old Testament and yet also relativize it?
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Chapter 3 – The Son Is Our Great High Priest: The Christology of Hebrews
Key Terms
Gentile; apocryphal; deuterocanonical; atonement; dualism; type; atone; BC; AD; Neoplatonism; Gnosticism; Aaronic priesthood; Septuagint; Christ’s Ascension; Caesar Augustus; Christology; Dead Sea Scrolls; Incarnation; Melchizedek; Son of God; tabernacle
Key Points
• Jesus’ sonship entails his representation of the Father, displaying the Father’s glory, showing what God is like, and acting as the Father’s “heir” or legal representative.
• Jesus is the incarnate word of God through whom the universe was created and by which it is sustained. He provided once-for-all the atonement for our sins and now reigns with the father.
• “Son of God” would have had clear connotations in the ancient world, marking Jesus as a ruler. Hebrews understands Jesus’ ascension as his moment of coronation.
• Hebrews presents Jesus as superior to the angels and superior to Moses.
• As high priest, Jesus is superior to the OT priesthood because of his resurrection and his sinlessness. Melchizedek provides precedent for a non-Levitical priest.
• The ascension of Jesus is the key moment in the theology of Hebrews in which Jesus’ sonship and his priesthood come to full fruition.
Chapter Summary
The book of Hebrews presents Jesus in relation to the Old Testament priesthood and sacrificial system, emphasizing his sonship and eternal priesthood. That Jesus was the “son of God” implies three things about his identity. First, he was the heir. In a Roman context, this status came into play long before the death of the ancestor, legally binding the actions of both parties to each other. Second, Jesus was the “radiance of God’s glory” (Heb 1:3), revealing that glory by embodying it. Jesus’ sonship also implied that he was the “exact representation of God’s being,” so that we can look at Jesus to find out what God is like.
In his role as Son, Jesus has done several things. God has spoken by his Son, meaning that Jesus is himself the revelation of God’s will. Jesus is the agent though whom God made the universe. Jesus also sustains all things by his powerful word. He provided purification for sins. And he completed this work so that he could reign with the Father.
Although the title “Son of God” has a long history of use in Trinitarian theology, in its ancient context (both Roman and Jewish), it already had clear connotations of rulership. The application of this title to Jesus advanced a rival claim to that of Caesar Augustus, who was also known as the “son of God” and whose birth was “good news” (gospel).
In contrast to the assumptions of Neoplatonism or Gnosticism, Hebrews teaches that Jesus is superior to the angels. His full humanity enabled him to become the perfect sacrifice. Jesus is also superior to Moses, who was merely a servant, rather than one who deserves worship.
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Many priests were involved in Israelite worship, but only one high priest. Because of his resurrection, Jesus remains the high priest for all time. Jesus’ own blood became the sacrifice, inaugurating a new covenant. Melchizedek provides Old Testament precedent for a priesthood other than the Aaronic priesthood and an analogy for Jesus’ eternality, since nothing is known about Melchizedek’s origins or his death. A robust theology of Jesus’ high priesthood is the solution to the troubled consciences of believers, for whom temple sacrifices were no longer possible or necessary.
The two primary themes of sonship and priesthood are united in Hebrews by means of Christ’s ascension. There he takes his seat on the throne and begins his rule as Messianic king, and there he presents himself in the heavenly temple as the perfect sacrifice for sin, taking up his eternal role as high priest so he can intercede for believers.
Pedagogical Suggestions
• Before students read this chapter, show them the quote from page 91 regarding Caesar Augustus, with his name removed, and discuss its meaning. Then reveal that it was not written about Jesus.
• Using images as examples, discuss the portrayal of angels in art history. Is there a biblical basis for their wings? If not, where did this tradition arise? How do modern ideas about angels compare to the message of Hebrews?
• As students enter class, play Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” (see discussion on page 111).
Other Media Sources/Websites
• For a discussion of angels in art history, with images for classroom use, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_in_art.
• For one rendition of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c.
Suggested Essay Questions
1. Which two distinctive roles of Jesus does Hebrews present, and how are they related?2. How is Jesus related to God the Father as described in the opening verses?3. What did the title “son of god” mean in Greco-Roman thought before Jesus came?
Consequently, how would the Roman occupation of Palestine and Jesus’ execution have been construed by Romans?
4. In what sense has God spoken in his Son?5. What was the function of a priest in ancient society?6. Who is Melchizedek? What was his relationship to the priesthood of the old covenant?7. Why is Melchizedek an appropriate analogy for the priesthood of Jesus?8. At what point and in what ways do the two roles of Jesus come together?
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Chapter 4 – “How Shall We Escape?” The Soteriology of Hebrews
Key Terms
Tabernacle; diaspora; apostasy; Arminianism; atonement; backsliding; Calvinism; eschatological; justification; perfect/perfection; Reformed; sanctification; soteriology
Key Points
• Those who ignore the salvation offered by Jesus cannot inherit it. All who would be reconciled to God in Christ must be personally involved in deciding to obey.
• The practice of Sabbath rest by Christians continues to acknowledge God as ruler over all things and celebrates our right relationship with God.
• Apostates are by definition hardened to God and arrogant toward what he has said by the Son. There can be no assurance of one’s salvation as long as one is knowingly committing sin.
Chapter Summary
Hebrews’ statements about the dangers of apostasy must be carefully read in context of the images used to depict salvation. The Old Testament covenants demonstrate Israel’s failure to keep God’s law despite their best intentions. Jesus inaugurated a new covenant that made obedience possible. At the same time, his death provided escape from the consequences of sin, especially death. In Hebrews, “perfection” is not a moral category, but refers to the “completion” or “fulfillment” of something. Those who “have been made perfect” (i.e., are justified) must then press on to greater personal holiness.
Hebrews portrays the promised land as the culmination of the redemptive journey where God’s people can rest. Using Psalm 95 as a model, the author of Hebrews insists that the possibility of entering that rest still exists for those who listen to God’s voice. Our practice of Sabbath rest acknowledges that the Creator God rules all things. It is a taste of the eschatological rest in which the crisis of separation from God has ended and we enjoy a right relationship with him.
The passages in Hebrews that warn against apostasy emphasize that salvation is not only a past event, but requires perseverance in holy living. The historical occasion for the book may have involved Jewish Christians who were in danger of reverting to Judaism or continuing to offer blood sacrifices, which would deny the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice. Those who would follow Jesus face a real danger of apostasy or faithlessness in reaction to the pressures of life. Much debate surrounds these passages: Arminians argue that Hebrews warns that a Christian can lose his or her salvation at any time; Calvinists argue that those in danger of walking away from the faith are not genuine believers, but only those who profess Christ without saving faith. Christians also disagree over whether the consequences for apostasy entail eternal or only temporal damnation. The bottom line is that anyone concerned about apostasy has not crossed the line into unforgiveness. Hebrews calls us to continue to grow in Christian maturity, following the example of other believers and leaving sin behind.
Pedagogical Suggestions
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• Using masking tape, mark out an “arc” on the open floor of the classroom. The arc represents a continuum of thought, with opposite opinions on each end (it’s an arc rather than a line so that students can still see one another). One side of the arc represents the position that Christians cannot lose their salvation; the other side of the arc represents the position that Christians can lose their salvation. Ask students to stand on the arc in the place the best represents their position on this issue. Then spend time asking students to explain their reason for choosing to stand there. Encourage them to use evidence from the book of Hebrews. The goal of the exercise is to listen to one another, not offer critique or persuade one another. It will work best with a smaller class.
• Ask students to work in groups to read a confession of faith from both a Calvinist and Arminian perspective and discuss the similarities and differences (see examples below).
Other Media Sources/Websites
• The Bible Project video on Sacrifice and Atonement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_OlRWGLdnw
• Statement of Evangelical Arminians on the nature of salvation: http://evangelicalarminians.org/statement-of-faith/
• Chapter 17 of the Westminster Confession, on the perseverance of the saints: http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/
Suggested Essay Questions
1. Why does everyone die?2. On what basic concept is soteriology in Hebrews grounded?3. What does it mean that Jesus became “perfect” through what he suffered?4. Should Christians observe a Sabbath day? Give reasons why and why not.5. What is apostasy? What are the questions concerning the warnings in Hebrews that are
answered differently by the theological traditions?6. From a pastoral perspective, how would you minister to someone who fears he or she has
become apostate?
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Chapter 5 – Introducing the Letter from James: Prophet and Sage of the Kingdom of God
Key Terms
Pseudonymous; pseudepigraphal; Synoptic Gospels; Gnostics; amanuensis; Judaizers; Gentile; circumcision; locutions; Septuagint; Christology; Diaspora; paraenesis; AD; BC; codex; AD 33; AD 44; AD 49; AD 62; AD 70; diaspora letter; faith and works; Luther’s opinion on James; ossuary; Papyrus p20, p23; Q-document; royal law
Key Points
• The letter concerns how to live wisely under the new covenant, especially when facing trials.
• The reference to the twelve tribes (1:1) reflects the eschatological hope for the regathering of Israel’s tribes, now taking place in those who believed in Jesus as the promised Messiah.
• The book, a diaspora letter, was most likely written from Jerusalem in the 40s or 50s by James, the half-brother of Jesus.
• The assumption that Paul and James contradict one another is unfortunate. Both clearly teach salvation by faith alone, but James describes the nature of saving faith as a faith that prompts action.
• Although James was slow to be universally recognized as Scripture, it was viewed as authoritative in the places that did know of it.
• James’ ethics derive from the “royal law” of love for God and neighbor.
Chapter Summary
Tradition holds that the book we call “James” was written by Jesus’ half-brother, Jacob. Its instruction concerns how to live wisely under the new covenant, especially when facing trials and temptations. Many men named “James” are mentioned in the New Testament. Given the author’s assumed authority, we can surmise that the author was one of these men. Jesus’ half-brother is a good candidate for several reasons: he was the leader of the Jerusalem church during the period in which the letter was likely written; the vocabulary bears some parallels with James’ speech in Acts 15; he is familiar with Jesus’ teachings in a form not found in the Gospels.
Those arguing for pseudonymity point to the elevated Greek style, the failure of the author to identify himself as Jesus’ brother, the use of certain terms also used by Gnostics, the book’s slower acceptance into the canon, and the notion that the book is correcting or counter-balancing Pauline theology. Against these claims is the possibility that the author used an amanuensis, the fact that the author saw no need to establish his credibility or parentage (i.e., he must have been well-known), and the realization that the lexemes used were in wide circulation. The book’s relatively narrow focus may explain why it took longer to recognize as canonical; however, if it had been pseudonymous, it would certainly not have been accepted. The issues
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addressed by this letter fit well with an early date, while Jews faced theological and ethical issues related to the law that were largely resolved in the following decades.
The letter of James fits the situation of the Diaspora described in Acts (8:1 and 11:19). Origen names Jesus’ brother James as the author. While Jesus’ brother did not believe he was the Messiah until after his resurrection, within a dozen years he had assumed leadership of the Jerusalem church. Since James died in AD 62, the letter was most likely written in the 40s or 50s. In 2002 an ossuary was found belonging to “Jacob, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” Though its authenticity cannot be fully proven, and it adds nothing to our understanding of the letter of James, it would be the earliest reference outside the NT to Jesus.
While the book includes some typical features of the epistle genre, it does not appear to address a particular situation. Rather, James addresses a broad range of concerns applicable to a wide audience, instructing them in how to live rightly under the new covenant. Given his appeal to Old Testament law and the assumed familiarity with Old Testament personalities, James was most likely writing a diaspora letter to Jewish Christians, calling them to covenant faithfulness. That the letter was known primarily in eastern churches may suggest a limited circulation. Although James was slow to be universally recognized as Scripture, it was viewed as authoritative in the places that did know of it. Jesus’ half-brother was perhaps not widely known outside Jerusalem because he did not travel and because he ministered in a primarily Jewish context.
Major themes of the book include persevering under trials, the proper attitude toward and use of wealth, the danger of favoritism, the importance of godly speech, the nature of saving faith, and the royal law (love for God and neighbor) as the basis for ethics. While the structure of the letter is not immediately apparent, it issues a broad call to covenant living under the “royal law” of love for God and neighbor.
Pedagogical Suggestions
• The old parlor memory game is a great illustration of James 1:22–25. Show the class a tray of objects, or project a complex picture on the screen. Ask them to look at it for 60 seconds, and then cover the tray or remove the picture. Ask a series of questions to see how well they memorized what they saw. Read James 1:22–25 together and discuss how the game relates to the Christian life.
• Ask students to identify whether there is a “canon within the canon” in their church tradition (see p. 177). Discuss the implications of emphasizing some parts of the canon and neglecting others. What would the church be missing without the book of James?
Other Media Sources/Websites
• Check here for The Bible Project video on James (not yet released as of 10/2016): https://jointhebibleproject.com/#all-videos
• Bill Mounce explores why Ἰάκωβος is translated as “James” rather than “Jacob” in English: https://billmounce.com/blog/why-Ἰάκωβος-james-and-not-jacob
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Suggested Essay Questions
1. Use a concordance to look up the verses that mention a man named James and determine for yourself how many different men are referred to.
2. What are the arguments for pseudonymous authorship of the book of James?3. What would be at stake for you if the book of James were pseudonymous?4. What is the evidence that James the Just wrote it?5. What role should archaeological evidence play in Christian faith?6. List the evidence that this letter was probably originally written to Jewish converts to
Christianity.7. What are the major themes of this letter? Which seem particularly relevant to you today?
Why?
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Chapter 6 – A Christian Letter? Christology in James
Key Terms
Christology; Q(uelle)-document; eschatology; kerygma; extant; epistle; parousia; Apocrypha; Day of the Lord; royal law; sermon on the mount; Synoptic Gospels
Key Points
• The book of James exhibits a high Christology, both explicitly and implicitly, and he assumes that his readers share that perspective.
• Unlike Paul, whose focus was soteriology, James’ primary concern is kingdom ethics.
Chapter Summary
Some have questioned the value of James for Christians because Jesus is only mentioned twice, and the Holy Spirit is never mentioned. However, James explicitly accredits Jesus as a legitimate master (Lord) for those who worship God, granting him high authority, and calls him the “Messiah” or Christ (1:1). This is remarkable, especially if Jesus really was his half-brother. James’ reference to “our glorious Lord Jesus Christ” (2:1) either sees Jesus as “glorious” (attributive), as the visible presence of God (appositional), or as one who dwells in the eschatological presence of God (genitive of sphere). James assumes his readers share this high Christology.
James’ high Christology is also evident implicitly. Although James assumes Jewish monotheism (see 2:19), he uses the title “Lord” interchangeably for God the Father and Jesus. Although he insists that there is only one “Judge,” he refers to both God and Jesus using this title (4:12; 5:7–9). James refers to the teachings of Jesus, especially to his Sermon on the Mount, highlighting content that is similar to parts of Matthew and Luke, but in forms that differ from both of them. For this reason, many scholars suspect that James had access to an earlier form of the Q-document and that he wrote prior to Matthew and Luke. James builds on these teachings as the authoritative source for ethical living. He refers to Jesus’ teaching to love God and love one’s neighbor as the “royal law,” indicating that Jesus is the source for the ethical standards of the kingdom of God. James also assumes that at Jesus’ parousia, or return, he will act as judge. This should motivate perseverance in covenant faithfulness.
James is not teaching about Jesus (as do the Gospels) or reflecting primarily on Jesus’ saving work (as does Paul). For this reason, James’ message is often neglected or misunderstood. His primary concerns are ethical, and as such he provides an important bridge from the ethical tradition of first-century Judaism to the kingdom ethics preached by Jesus Christ.
Pedagogical Suggestions
• Explain to students how the Hebrew tetragrammaton (YHWH) was translated in Greek (kurios) and rendered in English translations (LORD in the OT, but Lord in the NT). Discuss the implications for New Testament exegesis. When kurios occurs in Greek, is the reference to a master or to Yahweh? When a NT writer quotes an OT text that reads
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“YHWH” in Hebrew, but kurios in Greek, what meaning should we ascribe to it? (If time allows, explain the origin of the English word “Jehovah,” which combines the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of the Aramaic circumlocution for YHWH, “The Name.”)
• Discuss how the Christological method displayed in Letters to the Church can provide an answer to groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who insist that the New Testament never clearly teaches Jesus’ divinity (see links below).
Other Media Sources/Websites
• For discussion purposes, here are links to teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses on God’s name (https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/gods-name/), the Trinity (https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/trinity/), and the identity of Jesus (https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/is-jesus-almighty/; https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20090401/is-jesus-god/).
• Interview with Darrell Bock on Oral Tradition behind the Gospels: https://publicchristianity.org/library/oral-tradition-a-reason-to-trust-the-gospels.
• Interview with Craig Keener on Accuracy in Oral Tradition: https://publicchristianity.org/library/accuracy-in-oral-tradition.
Suggested Essay Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus is mentioned so infrequently in the book of James? Does this diminish the value of James as a distinctively Christian book?
2. What is the difference between explicit Christology and implicit Christology? 3. List the characteristics of the letter of James that contribute to its Christology.4. Describe the relationship of James’s teaching to that of Jesus, especially as found in
Matthew’s gospel.5. Describe the relationship of Jesus’ teaching to the Old Testament law as it was
understood at that time?6. How would you respond to someone who claims that James is presenting generic moral
teaching that is found in many different religions? Is Jesus just another religious teacher of ethics?
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Chapter 7 – The “Royal Law”: Christian Wisdom and Ethics in James
Key Terms
Septuagint; Christology; Epicureans; Stoics; Halakhah; Mishnah; diaspora; Gnosticism; historical-grammatical; canonical; Gentiles; circumcision; atonement; soteriology; metonymy; dualism; apocalyptic; eschatology; faith and works; Golden Rule; Hellenistic Age; kingdom of God; royal law; sapiential theology
Key Points
• James focuses on the moral demands of the law as they arise from the “royal law” taught by Jesus: love God and love neighbor.
• James exhibits the approach of the Jewish Wisdom tradition in that he draws on this “royal law” as a source of moral formation and advice.
• The perceived tensions between Paul and James may be resolved by recognizing their different conceptual frames of reference. James’ point was to describe the moral responsibilities that flow from saving faith.
• Two key areas James addresses are godly speech and social justice. Both are a gauge of how seriously believers have surrendered to God’s rule in their lives.
Chapter Summary
James presents the Christian concept of a whole and unified person as the goal of spiritual maturity. The basis of his ethical reflection is the “royal law” taught by Jesus, who exhorted his followers to love God and love their neighbor in order to fulfill the entire law. Jesus and James each focus on the moral demands of the law rather than sacrificial or purity laws. James applies the moral principle of love for neighbor to the ethical problems of favoritism, slander, oppression of the poor, and other topics throughout the letter.
James’ letter has been compared to wisdom literature, but it does not utilize the features of the wisdom genre. Instead it follows the basic approach of wisdom. Prior to the New Testament era, Jewish wisdom tradition underwent two developments: (1) the explicit identification of wisdom with Torah, and (2) the idea of an eschatological afterlife following God’s judgment. The Torah wisdom tradition drew on the spirit of the Torah as a source of moral formation and advice, while the Halakhic tradition tried to specify what each individual Torah command required in any given context. The wisdom tradition further split into a more conservative stream, represented by Sirach, and one influenced by Stoic philosophy, represented by the Wisdom of Solomon, that later developed into Gnosticism.
Jesus himself had much in common with the wisdom tradition, but he proclaimed himself to be the way to life’s highest good—eternal life reconciled with God. James’ teaching has several elements in common with Jesus’ teaching: (1) a call for single-minded loyalty to God; (2) true community is marked by equality rather than hierarchy; (3) a call for courageous endurance until the final vindication and judgment; (4) a vision of God as compassionate, generous, and merciful; (5) hope for the reconstitution of Israel around the Messiah.
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Various ways of resolving the perceived tension between James and Paul on “faith and works” have been proposed. It is most helpful to recognize that James and Paul were writing from different conceptual frames of reference without any intention of directly engaging each other. James was not writing in reference to justification, but rather to describe the moral responsibilities that flow from saving faith.
James’ primary concern for his readers is the potential of double-mindedness, not being single-mindedly loyal to God. Two issues where this is expressed are speech and social action. Our words are the window of our soul. And Christians with resources must live differently than “the rich” by caring for the poor; otherwise they have not truly understood and believed the gospel.
Pedagogical Suggestions
• Choose one of the suggested essay questions below and incorporate it into your class time. Either stage a debate, use the “arc” method described under chapter 4, or give students 10 minutes in class to write their best response to the question before sharing their answers with a small group or with the class as a whole.
Other Media Sources/Websites
• Testimony of David Platt on how his church put James 1:27 into practice. This will blow your socks off! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgoF57wEQnc
Suggested Essay Questions
1. If you were asked what is life’s greatest good, what would you say? What do you think are society’s answers to that question?
2. Is James the most unchristian book of the New Testament? Defend your answer.3. Explain why many readers have seen a contradiction between James and Paul. How do
you understand the relationship between the two?4. What is the relationship between eschatology and ethics?5. Some people read the ethical teaching of James as equivalent to the teachings of other
world religions, such as Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. Do you agree? What are the similarities? What, if anything, makes the ethical teaching of James distinct from that of other religions?
6. Discuss the pros and cons of government-funded welfare for the poor versus church-sponsored assistance to those in need.
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Chapter 8 – Jude: Jesus’ Brother Warns the Church
Key Terms
Epistle; AD; Septuagint; pseudonymous; Gnostics; Christology; parousia; amanuensis; Diaspora; soteriology; eschatology; Johannine; Apocrypha; Old Greek; extant; deuterocanonical; codex; Assumption of Moses; apocalyptic; doxology; 1 Enoch; Muratorian Canon; Papyrus p72; pseudepigrapha; relationship to 2 Peter; Sodom and Gomorrah; pesher interpretation; watchers
Key Points
• Authorship, date, and audience are uncertain, but this letter was likely written by Jesus’ half-brother Jude sometime before the mid-60s AD to Jewish Christians living in or near Palestine.
• Theologically, James emphasized God is Savior and Judge, Jesus as eternal Messiah and Lord, and the Holy Spirit as the one who empowers us to overcome dangerous, natural instincts. Those who fellow their own desires end up outside God’s love.
• Jude drew on OT and pseudepigraphal works to illustrate his teaching. We need not assume that he thought of the latter as Scripture.
• Peter likely copied the flow of Jude’s argument for his second letter. However, the church debated whether to include Jude in the canon for quite some time.
Chapter Summary
We know of four men named Judas/Jude in the New Testament. The author of this letter identifies himself as the “brother of James.” Jude was most likely referring to the most famous James, leader of the Jerusalem church and Jesus’ half-brother, making Jude Jesus’ half-brother as well. The book is difficult to date. It was most likely written before 2 Peter (i.e., before the mid-60s), and if the above suppositions about the author are correct, the book would have to have been written before AD 80 (or AD 65, if Jude was an older stepbrother of Jesus).
The book was written in advanced Greek to an audience familiar with Jewish tradition. The author used the Hebrew Scriptures and an Aramaic version of 1 Enoch, rather than a Greek translation. The general address of the letter and its intention to stamp out heresy suggest that Jude expected the letter to circulate among Jewish readers who lived within the influence of the Jerusalem church, possibly as far away as Antioch in Syria.
Jude writes to warn believers of heretical teaching guided by human instinct rather than divine revelation. This teaching was driven by lust and greed, and it apparently encouraged licentious behavior. Jude corrects this misunderstanding of freedom in Christ and seeks to motivate his readers to guard themselves in this spiritually dangerous situation and to work to rescue others from false teaching.
Jude’s teaching is God-centric. He presents God as the Judge, but for those who live obediently, God is the source of salvation. Although they were probably brothers, Jude recognizes Jesus as the eternally permanent ruler of God’s kingdom, the Messiah, and worships him as Lord. Jude portrays the Holy Spirit as the transforming power that overcomes mere
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natural instincts and empowers a life lived in God’s love. Those without the Spirit lack discernment. Jude implies that it is possible to step outside God’s love by stepping outside the bounds of orthodoxy.
When Jude referred to OT characters or events, he often assumed the developing Jewish traditions about those entities. For example, by the first century, Cain had come to epitomize the wickedness of one driven by ungodly motives. Jude drew on pseudepigraphal works as well. We need not assume that Jude thought of these as Scripture. More likely, he cites them because his readers would have been familiar with them and they illustrated his theme.
Peter most likely copied the flow of Jude’s argument for his second epistle, addressing a different audience with the same concerns. Aside from 2 Peter, the earliest reference to Jude comes from the late second or early third century, and the oldest extant manuscript dates to the fourth century. Though it is listed in the Muratorian Canon, doubts seem to have persisted about its canonicity until the 6th century.
Pedagogical Suggestions
• Bring selections from the Assumption of Moses or 1 Enoch so that students can read for themselves the source of Jude’s allusions. Discuss as a class how the presence of these allusions could shape our view of the inspiration of Scripture.
• Discuss how Jude’s message counters the message of our culture to “follow your heart” or “be true to yourself.” How can we bring the message of Jude to our churches today?
Other Media Sources/Websites
• A nice reading of Jude (from the CEV) with corresponding text, background music, and background videos, appropriate to play in class before a lecture or discussion on the book’s contents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZSMZvdfrSI
• Check here for The Bible Project video on Jude (not yet released as of 10/2016): https://jointhebibleproject.com/#all-videos
Suggested Essay Questions
1. List the men who possibly could have written this letter and discuss the pros and cons of each possibility. State in your own words the argument that Jude the brother of Jesus wrote the letter.
2. What are the pseudepigrapha? Where does Jude use material from the pseudepigrapha? Why is this issue important?
3. Summarize what Jude says or necessarily implies about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Christian life. What important points of Christian doctrine cannot be read from this book?
4. What are the major points about the false Christians that Jude denounces?5. Identify a situation in today’s church for which Jude’s letter would be relevant.
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Chapter 9 – “The True Grace of God”: Introducing 1 Peter
Key Terms
Christology; Gentiles; extant; atonement; BC; codices; Muratorian canon; Diaspora; AD 49; AD 64–7; amanuensis; Claudius; household codes; Papyrus p72; pseudonymous; Roman colonization
Key Points
• Modern Western society is becoming increasingly similar to the pagan first-century Roman Empire. As a result, NT letters such as Peter are becoming more directly relevant.
• Arguments against Petrine authorship are not compelling. The letter’s content and the circumstances of the addressees comfortably fit the apostle Peter’s lifespan, location, and life experience.
• Peter’s Christology forms the basis of his teaching about Christian life. Because Jesus suffered, believers can expect to suffer as well.
• Peter’s household code elevated the status of both slave and wife, treating them as free moral agents.
Chapter Summary
The first main section of this chapter summarizes what we know of Peter’s life from the Gospels and Acts. The great irony is that although Peter dared to rebuke Jesus for predicting his suffering and death, Peter’s letters offer the clearest portrayal of Jesus as the Suffering Servant. Doubts about Petrine authorship arise from the quality of the Greek, the ecclesiastical and social situation addressed in the letter, the dependence on Paul’s (potentially pseudonymous) later works, and the remote spread of the letter’s addressees. However, 1 Peter exhibits evidence of having been written by someone whose first language was Semitic, rather than Greek. The church is likely to have developed at different rates in different areas, making it impossible to rule out a particular time period. The persecution described is sporadic, individual, and unorganized social ostracism, rather than state-sponsored. Alleged correspondences between 1 Peter and Paul’s letters turn out to lack substance; both writers draw on the Old Testament interpretive tradition, rather than on each other. Finally, Roman cities were established under the rule of Claudius (AD 41–54) in all of the areas Peter addressed, making it likely that Jews and Christians were among those forced to leave Rome and settle there. Church tradition has long associated Peter with Rome, so it is not far-fetched to suggest that Peter would have known the Christians who colonized those areas.
Peter’s Christology forms the basis of his teaching about Christian life, and Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are the heart of Peter’s Christology. Jesus’ blood inaugurated the new covenant. He is the living stone on which a spiritual temple is built, and the experience and destiny of those who come to Christ are bound up with that of Jesus. Because he suffered, believers should also expect to suffer. Peter’s reflections on Jesus as Isaiah’s Suffering Servant are the most fully developed in the NT. Jesus bore our sins on the cross, rising to victory. His death opens the way to eternal life in God’s presence. The Christian’s identity is transformed in
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Christ. A godly lifestyle is what sets Christians apart as “foreigners.” Peter’s instruction on proper household management was an apologetic for Christianity; godly living posed no threat to the Roman Empire and its ordered way of life. Contrary to Greco-Roman norms, Peter directly addressed both the slave and the wife, imbuing them with dignity as free moral agents.
The text of 1 Peter is well attested, with a complete manuscript surviving from the late-third/early-forth century. Its canonicity does not appear to have been disputed.
Pedagogical Suggestions
• Break the class into small groups and have each group read a passage from the Gospels or Acts in which Peter plays a key role (e.g. Transfiguration, Denial, Peter’s Vision). Have each group compare their passage with 1 Peter to see if they can find any natural connections. In what ways do the concerns expressed in Peter’s letter arise from his own life experience? Allow each group to share their insights with the class.
Other Media Sources/Websites
• Check here for The Bible Project video on 1 Peter (not yet released as of 10/2016): https://jointhebibleproject.com/#all-videos
Suggested Essay Questions
1. What are the reasons for dating 1 Peter beyond the lifetime of the apostle Peter? What are the counterarguments to pseudonymity?
2. Where did the original recipients of this letter live? What are the theories concerning them?
3. Write a statement describing Peter’s Christology.4. How might Peter’s instructions for the household be consistently applied with his
intended purpose in our modern setting today?
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Chapter 10 – “Christ Has Left You an Example”: The Christology of 1 Peter
Key Terms
Epistles; soteriology; eschatology; pneumatology; Synoptics; Gentiles; hermeneutic; Old Greek; extant; Sheol; apocalyptic; apology/apologetics; Apostle’s Creed; atonement; Christology; Decensus; 1 Enoch; harrowing of hell; Isaiah 53; living stone; Messiah; Nephilim; Noah; the Passion; purgatory; sacrificial lamb; Suffering Servant; watchers
Key Points
• Peter’s distinctive contribution to Christology is his presentation of Jesus’ suffering and victory as the grounds for encouraging suffering Christians to live faithfully.
• Peter’s central Christological claims appear in his “household codes,” instructing believers in how to live well in relation to others by following Jesus’ example.
• Christ’s resurrection and ascension proclaimed victory over rebellious spirits from Noah’s day.
• Peter also portrays Jesus as the sacrificial lamb whose blood atones for sin and the living stone on which all believers are built into a temple.
Chapter Summary
Peter makes a distinctive contribution to New Testament theology by presenting Jesus as Isaiah’s Suffering Servant who sets an example for all Christians who suffer unjustly. His hermeneutic involves two key pieces: (1) The OT prophets predicted the Messiah’s suffering; therefore, Peter can accept Jesus’ suffering and death as part of God’s plan. (2) Christianity is the flowering of Jewish religion, therefore OT titles and promises for Israel may be applied to both Jewish and Gentile Christians. Peter focuses especially on Isaiah 53, drawing out its significance for Christology. Like the Suffering Servant, Jesus did not sin by deceiving others, even when he was unjustly accused; he did not retaliate; he bore our sins; and healed others by his wounds.
One of the most puzzling parts of 1 Peter is the statement about Christ proclaiming to imprisoned spirits from Noah’s day (3:19–20). One possible interpretation is that Christ vicariously preached through Noah in ancient times. Another interpretation, popularized through a misunderstanding of the Apostles’ Creed, is that Jesus went to hell to preach the day after his death, giving people an opportunity to respond. However, the most likely explanation is that Peter was drawing on well-known stories about Noah’s day preserved for us in the book of 1 Enoch, suggesting that in Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, a final proclamation of judgement was made on those spirits who rebelled in Noah’s day (see Gen 6:1–7). In addition to the victor over primordial evil, Peter presents Jesus as the sacrificial lamb, whose blood atones for sin, and as the living stone, the cornerstone on which all believers are placed as they come to faith in Christ.
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Pedagogical Suggestions
• At the beginning of class, give students several minutes to write privately (not to be turned in) about a time when they have suffered unjustly or been persecuted in some way for their faith. If they can’t think of a personal experience, allow them to write about the experience of someone they know. This will prepare them for a somber discussion of Christ’s example of suffering.
• Show a video clip of Jesus’ crucifixion to provide a time for reflection to close discussion of Jesus’ sacrificial suffering (see example below).
Other Media Sources/Websites
• Samaritan Sacrifice on Mt. Gerizim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC1XRB06tr4 (2:25, with commentary) or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-KPnmSj_TA (1:49).
• Video clip from “The Passion of the Christ” with the song “Worthy is the Lamb” (4:20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YknGRYPJxXQ. (warning: graphic content)
Suggested Essay Questions
1. What is Christology? If the entire New Testament is about Jesus, how is it that different New Testament writers can teach distinctively about him?
2. What is Peter’s view of the relationship between the Old Testament prophets and the gospel of Jesus Christ?
3. Explain how animal sacrifice as practiced during the time of the Old Testament is an important background for understanding Peter’s teaching about Jesus.
4. Read Isaiah 52:13–53:12 in the New English Translation of the Septuagint (NETS). What language from this passage does Peter use to describe Jesus in 2:21–25?
5. Read Isaiah 8:14; 28:16; and Psalm 118:22. What points does Peter make when he uses these passages in 2:4–10?
6. State and contrast the three approaches to the difficult passage in 1 Peter 3:18–22.7. Make a list of what the “living stone” image suggests to you about Christian identity in
relation to Jesus and to other believers.
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Chapter 11 – Foreigners and Resident Aliens: The Imitatio Christi in Peter’s Ethics
Key Terms
Gentiles; diaspora; atonement; Christology; accommodation; acculturation; assimilation; holy nation; imitatio Christi; living stones; paraenesis; people of God
Key Points
• 1 Peter is the letter that most clearly discusses how Christians are to engage the dominant society.
• Peter wants Christians to understand that the alienation and suffering they experience is part of the new reality into which they have been reborn.
• Peter urges believers to maintain moral distinctiveness without withdrawing from society, so that their lives are on display before a watching world.
• Christians of Peter’s day participated in civic duties, not to be good residents of the empire, but to be obedient to the Lord as winsome witnesses for Christ.
• Christian community is an essential part of Christian identity. Someone who attempts to live their faith only privately will never attain true spiritual maturity.
Chapter Summary
The variety of ways that Christians throughout history have engaged with or withdrawn from culture have been schematized by both Ernst Troeltsch (The Social Teaching of the Christian Churches) and Richard Niebuhr (Christ and Culture). However, neither author draws on 1 Peter, which is the New Testament letter that most directly addresses this issue. Peter’s teaching has similarities with the ancient Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca, who taught that moral living must be grounded in a system of values that touches on all possible objects of admiration or fear. Peter provides the larger story by which a Christian can make sense of his or her identity and shape moral decisions.
“New Birth” is the primary image Peter uses to describe the Christian life. As a “child” of God, we become more and more like our heavenly Father and therefore our practices become distinguishable from society at large. For Peter, it’s inevitable that social distance will result from our Christian values and priorities; as “aliens” we may experience suffering, but Peter urges us to stand fast. He exhorts believers to maintain moral distinctiveness without withdrawing from society, since our lives are on display before a watching world. As believers we are to re-form our priorities, values, practices, and customs based on the principles of God’s kingdom and not Caesar’s. This results in a “soft difference” from the world around us.
Peter also calls believers “living stones,” built on Christ as the cornerstone. This highlights Christ’s shared humanity and emphasizes the need for us to align our lives with him, joining with other believers from all time to build a temple in which God is worshipped. While believers each possess different gifts, we need each other and cannot grow spiritually apart from community.
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Pedagogical Suggestions
• Discuss as a class historic and contemporary expressions of corporate worship. Which best exemplify believers’ identity as “living stones”? What practices today contribute to our experience of Christian community and which detract from it?
• Bring in a story or video of the persecuted church and use it to spark discussion about global Christianity. Ask the class for “talking points” that Peter would use to address/encourage that church if he were alive today.
Other Media Sources/Websites
• For resources on the persecuted church, see www.opendoorsusa.org. Here is a link to a powerful Open Doors video about a woman named Fatima in Saudi Arabia who was murdered for her faith in Jesus (7:20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C23vIl0dKw.
Suggested Essay Questions
1. Think about how your parents have shaped your identity. What does Peter say about how God reshapes a Christian’s identity?
2. In what ways can a minority group relate to the dominant society (hint: the three A’s)? What ways have you observed by which minorities protect their distinctive identity?
3. Does Peter’s exhortation to “honor the emperor” surprise you? Why or why not? What would this principle look like as applied to our modern lives?
4. What principles does Peter’s “household code” exemplify?5. What is the role of suffering in Christian life today and how is it related to the suffering
of Jesus?6. List and reflect on the implications suggested by Peter’s image of Christians as living
stones being built into a spiritual house.
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Chapter 12 – 2 Peter: An Apostle’s Last Words to the Church
Key Terms
Pseudonymous; eschatology; epistles; Gnosticism; Areopagus; amanuensis; extant; apocalyptic; gnosis; Neoplatonic dualism; Stoic; BC; theodicy; Christology; Synoptic Gospels; soteriology; Rylands fragment; hapax legomena; kerygma; codex; AD 64–68; Assumption of Moses; 1 Enoch; Epicureanism; imitatio; Muratorian Canon; papyrus p72; parousia; pseudepigraphal authorship; Sitz im Leben; Tartarus; testament (genre); theodicy
Key Points
• Determination of author, date, and genre of 2 Peter is very complicated. While the apostle Peter is a strong possibility, the distinct style and vocabulary of this book present challenges.
• 2 Peter directly addresses the problem of heresy, probably in the form of Epicureanism.
• While 1 Peter is outward looking in its orientation, giving instructions for Christian living within unbelieving society, 2 Peter addresses internal issues of orthodoxy within the Christian community.
• 2 Peter most likely borrows from Jude, but also shares key characteristics with 1 Peter.
Chapter Summary
Issues of author, date, and genre are probably more complicated for 2 Peter than for any other New Testament book. The author uses a large number of hapax legomena and the style is distinct from 1 Peter, prompting many scholars to argue for pseudonymity. The author also appeals to Greek mythology and to the Greek concept of participation in the divine nature, as well as employing words common to Greek moral philosophers. Could Simon Peter have written like this? He is aware of Paul’s writings and considers them to be Scripture, though this need not imply a closed corpus. He writes about the delay in Christ’s return and refers to the death of the “ancestors,” but this could refer to the Old Testament patriarchs rather than the apostles. He confronts heresy, but this could easily be first-century Epicureanism rather than second-century Gnosticism, as some have suggested. Of all the arguments for pseudonymity, the distinct style and vocabulary of 2 Peter make the strongest argument. Still, those differences could be attributed to Peter’s use of an amanuensis.
Second Peter includes many features that suggest it is a testament: Peter’s impending death and farewell speech summarizing his teachings, his predictions, and his apocalyptic insight. Since testaments were often pseudonymous, some argue for the pseudonymity of 2 Peter. However, the original destinations of the letter were limited to those Peter knew and had previously written, and apocalyptic insight is not limited to testaments. The most distinctive “testamental” feature of the book—Peter’s impending death—is also the feature that most strongly suggests a reason for Peter himself to write the letter. Still the complex issues that must be weighed preclude certainty about the book’s authorship, genre, and date. One common
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suggestion is that Linus, bishop of Rome, heard Peter’s farewell speech and later committed it to writing.
The destructive heresy that 2 Peter opposes relates closely to Epicureanism, which sought pleasure as life’s highest good and denied prophecy, an afterlife, or a judgment. Peter counters this with clear teaching about God, whose patience accounts for the delay in judgment, about Jesus, who provides salvation from that judgment, about the Holy Spirit, who inspires the prophecy of Scripture, and about eschatology, the end times in which Jesus will reign and the earth will be destroyed and re-created. This leads to Peter’s conclusion that the Christian life that pleases God is one of growing virtue.
Peter shows knowledge of Paul’s letters, and in spite of their differences, 2 Peter is more like 1 Peter than any other NT book. They share the same greeting, some of the same rare vocabulary, the portrayal of God as Creator and Judge, the mention of prophetic inspiration, the mention of Noah and seven others, the collocation of “spotless” and “blameless,” and a familiarity with 1 Enoch. Similarities between 2 Peter and Jude are striking. Clearly one of the two borrowed material from the other and reworked it. Most scholars assume that 2 Peter borrowed from Jude.
The earliest complete extant Greek manuscript of 2 Peter is in the 4th-century Codex Sinaiticus. While we have little evidence of its canonicity prior to Athanasius’ Easter letter in the 4th century, in comparison to those books rejected by the early church, 2 Peter has a great deal more support. Though its authorship was questioned as early as the 2nd century, its authority was recognized by those aware of its existence.
Pedagogical Suggestions
• Stage a class debate about the authorship of 2 Peter and its implications for an evangelical doctrine of Scripture.
• Ask students to work in small groups to compare Epicureanism to contemporary Western philosophy. What elements are the same? Which are different?
Other Media Sources/Websites
• Check here for The Bible Project video on 2 Peter (not yet released as of 10/2016): https://jointhebibleproject.com/#all-videos
• Bibledex video on 2 Peter in context of the Catholic Epistles by the faculty of the University of Nottingham (7:51): http://www.bibledex.com/videos/2peter.html
Suggested Essay Questions
1. Discuss what is at stake for you if 2 Peter is pseudonymous in one of the ways discussed in this chapter, especially with reference to your doctrine of Scripture. Defend your opinion.
2. What message did the author apparently most wish to impart on the threshold of his death?
3. What are the possibilities for the identity of the original recipients of 2 Peter?
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4. Describe the nature of the relationship between 2 Peter and Jude. How is it best explained?
5. What does this letter say about God? Jesus Christ? The Holy Spirit?6. How does the eschatology of 2 Peter compare to that of other major religions? (You will
need to rely on sources outside this textbook.)7. How does the reception history of 2 Peter affect your view of the book as Scripture?
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Chapter 13 – 1 John: Reassurance for Christians in Confusing Times
Key Terms
Epistle; dualism; Christology; adoptionism; hamartiology; AD; extant; Rylands fragment; paraclete; Gentile; Gnosticism; apocalyptic; atonement; Platonic dualism; BC; papyri; Muratorian Canon; catholic; antichrists; Cerinthianism; Docetism; epideictic rhetoric; Erasmus; Eusebius; Irenaeus; Johannine comma; Johannine community; NA27; Papias; Papyrus p9; pericope; Polycarp; prologue; secessionists
Key Points
• Whether it was the apostle John, another elder named John, or a member of the Johannine community, the author of 1 John is an official bearer of the apostolic tradition based on eyewitness testimony about Jesus’ public ministry, death, and resurrection. Its canonicity was not a matter of debate.
• 1 John is an essay or sermon that reasserts the elder’s authority and encourages his audience to cling to their faith in the face of heretical teaching.
• To live in the “light” we must have a proper Christology, affirming Jesus’ humanity as well as his divinity. We must also deal rightly with our sin through honest confession and demonstrate love by living in obedience to God’s commands.
Chapter Summary
The “we” of the opening verses in 1 John appears to be a genuine plural (rather than an editorial plural, since the author refers to himself as “I” in other places), referring to a community of eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life and ministry. He invites his readers into fellowship with that community, sometimes referred to by scholars as the “Johannine community.” There is slim evidence that the Johannine community wrote or redacted the gospel and letters of John after his death. Multiple sources from the early church stated that John wrote the gospel while living in Ephesus. It remains a possibility that there was more than one John in Ephesus, if John the disciple and John the elder are not the same man. The letters were written sometime during the final decades of the first century.
Regardless of who wrote them (or in which order they were written), John’s Gospel and first epistle are more similar than any other pair of NT books. They share vocabulary, syntax, conceptual structures, interpretation of Jesus, dualism, stated reasons for writing, and common themes and motifs. First John does not bear the normal marks of a letter, but reads like a pastoral essay or sermon that reasserts the elder’s authority and encourages his audience to cling to the faith they already possess in the face of heretical teaching.
John is especially concerned with basing his assurance on the truth, not just in the sense of cognitive assent, but a lifestyle consistent with profession of faith in Jesus. John organizes the world into “light” and “darkness”; God and truth are light, while the worldly system of values is darkness. John calls believers to stay in the light by holding to the truth. John vigorously defends a high Christology, claiming that Jesus was fully man, the Son of God come in the flesh, and so affirming both his baptism and his death. Two examples of the type of heresy John rejected are
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Cerinthianism (which taught that Jesus was not divine but merely revealed divine truth) and Docetism (which denied Jesus’ humanity and claimed that he only seemed to be human). One consequence of these heretical views of Jesus is a distorted view of sin. First John teaches that to have reassurance of eternal life, one must deal rightly with sin by confessing it and not denying or rationalizing it. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is a rejection of the blood of Jesus as the means of grace. The love demonstrated in Christ is not an emotional high but a love expressed in obedience to God’s commands.
The earliest complete extant manuscript of 1 John dates to the 3rd century (though the Rylands fragment dates to AD 125). Some later texts include what has been called the “Johannine comma” (i.e., clause) in 1 John 5:7–8. Scholars agree that the phrase was added later. First John was known as a “catholic” epistle as early as the 3rd century.
Pedagogical Suggestions
• Divide students into groups and give each one a blank poster and some markers. Ask each to come up with a way to visually represent one or more of 1 John’s dualities (e.g., light/darkness; Jesus’ humanity and deity). Give them time to present their work to the class, using textual evidence to justify their portrayal.
• Having read the chapter, ask students to argue a position on the authorship of 1 John.
• Discuss the nature of “true love” according to our culture and according to 1 John. Compare and contrast.
Other Media Sources/Websites
• Check here for The Bible Project video on 1 John (not yet released as of 10/2016): https://jointhebibleproject.com/#all-videos
• Lyric video exhortation based on 1 John 2:6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuiSHmuslU8
Suggested Essay Questions
1. How might the referent of the pronoun “we” of 1 John be resolved? How does this bear on theories of authorship?
2. Much of what we know of John and the apostles comes from Eusebius. How trustworthy do you consider this information and why?
3. What situation apparently precipitated 1 John to be written?4. Describe the kinds of thinking that were apparently leading some in the Johannine
church(es) into error.5. Why is truth a necessary foundation for reassurance? How does the truth of Jesus relate
to sin and, its opposite, love?6. Do you think people who are not born again can genuinely love others? Why or why not?
Chapter 14 – 2 and 3 John: Notes of Grace and Truth
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Key Terms
Papyrus; epistle; antichrists; Johannine; AD; The chosen lady; Demitrius; Diotrephes; the elder; Gaius; Montanists, Montanus
Key Points
• Both 2 John and 3 John concern Christian hospitality. The former warns believers not to extend hospitality to heretical teachers, while the latter urges Gaius to continue to show hospitality to the elder and his associates.
• These letters show many affinities with 1 John, leaving no reason to doubt that the same man wrote all three.
Chapter Summary
The earliest manuscripts all title these letters as coming from “John,” though the letters themselves only explicitly mention “the elder.” Shared concerns and similarity of syntax unite all three letters. Their order in the NT may not be the order in which they were written. Most interpreters assume that the “chosen lady” and her “sister” are metaphorical references to congregations.
The primary concern in 2 John is false teachers (“antichrists”) who appeal to the church for hospitality and support. John warns believers not to assist those who have a distorted understanding of the person and work of Jesus.
The letter known as 3 John addresses a particular situation of concern, urging Gaius, a leader of the church, not to allow Diotrephes to influence him. Diotrephes refuses to extend hospitality to those brothers the elder sends, and he prevents others from showing hospitality as well. While the reason for his hostility is not known, he spreads “malicious nonsense” about the elder and his associates. The elder’s friend Demetrius delivers the letter to Gaius.
These letters were not immediately and universally accepted as canonical, and debates over authorship continue until this day. However, by the 2nd century at least part of the church accepted them as canonical. They exhibit very few text-critical issues, perhaps due in part to their limited circulation.
Pedagogical Suggestions
• If your class is small enough, have your students create and act out a brief skit replaying the contents and Sitz im Leben of 2 and 3 John. Ask them to focus on the issue of when to extend Christian hospitality. (e.g., students can play the roles of the Elder, Gaius, Diotrephes, Demetrius, the false teachers, various Christian homes, etc.)
• Discuss the concept of Christian hospitality today. How is it practiced? What has changed since NT times? What might the elder say to us today on the topic of hospitality?
Other Media Sources/Websites
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• Check here for The Bible Project videos on 2 and 3 John (not yet released as of 10/2016): https://jointhebibleproject.com/#all-videos
• Bibledex video on 3 John, providing an introduction by faculty from the University of Nottingham; 5:46): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzW_-C_GQvE
Suggested Essay Questions
1. List reasons that the addressee of 2 John may have been an individual and her family and reasons it may have been a congregation of Christians.
2. If the author of 2 and 3 John was the apostle John, in addition to being an “elder” in the sense of spiritual authority, he would also have been a very elderly man. In what ways might that have added to the tension between him and those who had gone out from the church?
3. How does studying 2 and 3 John affect your image of the early Christian church?4. What place do you give to ancient writings about the Christian church, such as the
Didache, that are not part of the biblical canon? Why?
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Student Learning Objectives by ChapterChapter 1 – Introducing Hebrews: The Book of Better Things
Students should be able to:1. Explain the range of dates scholars give for the writing of Hebrews and the reasons why.2. List the evidence for identifying the various possible authors of Hebrews and why most
today do not believe it is the work of the apostle Paul.3. Explain the situation of the original readers of Hebrews and why this epistle was written
to them.4. List the literary characteristics of the book of Hebrews.5. Discuss how the original situation addressed by Hebrews compares to contemporary
situations.
Chapter 2 – Famous Last Words: Divine Revelation in Hebrews
Students should be able to:1. Understand the contrasts of continuity and discontinuity inherent in God’s progressive
revelation.2. Articulate the nature of divine revelation and the problem it presents to modern
understanding.3. Recognize the use of the Septuagint as Scripture by the author of Hebrews.4. Understand how the Old Testament, though remaining God’s word to Christians today,
has been superseded by the New Testament because the old covenant has culminated in the new.
Chapter 3 – The Son Is Our Great High Priest: The Christology of Hebrews
Students should be able to:1. Understand how Hebrews explains the significance of Jesus Christ.2. Explain the relationship of the Son both to God and to the prophets who previously spoke
for God.3. Appreciate what the term “Son of God” meant in the first century.4. Understand why the Son is superior to Moses and the angels.5. Articulate why the incarnation of the Son was necessary.6. Learn who Melchizedek was and why Hebrews compares Jesus’ priesthood to his.7. Comprehend how the roles of Jesus as Son of God and as High Priest come together in
his ascension.
Chapter 4 – “How Shall We Escape?” The Soteriology of Hebrews
Students should be able to:1. Relate the soteriology presented in Hebrews to that in the rest of the New Testament.
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2. Understand how Israel’s ancient priesthood foreshadowed the atonement that Christ achieved.
3. Explain what the author of Hebrews means about “perfection.”4. Articulate the main views about apostasy.5. Identify and explain the distinctive images Hebrews uses for salvation.
Chapter 5 – Introducing the Letter from James: Prophet and Sage of the Kingdom of God
Students should be able to:1. Evaluate the evidence for the authorship of the epistle known as James.2. Discuss how the evidence relates to the issues of when and to whom the letter was
written.3. Identify the major themes of the book.4. Reflect on how this letter to Christians who lived so long ago still speaks to the lives of
believers today
Chapter 6 – A Christian Letter? Christology in James
Students should be able to:1. Understand the implicit Christology that undergirds James’s letter.2. Identify aspects of the letter that comprise the Christology of James.3. See how the material in James relates to similar material in the Synoptic Gospels and the
Q-document.4. Better understand how Jesus was viewed in the earliest days of the church.
Chapter 7 – The “Royal Law”: Christian Wisdom and Ethics in James
Students should be able to:1. Learn how the various topics in the letter of James are related to each other and to the
gospel of Jesus Christ.2. Understand that the teachings of James, and of Jesus himself, stand in a long tradition of
Jewish moral wisdom and are yet the hallmarks of the kingdom of God.3. Examine James’s most famous statement, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26
KJV) and to understand its relationship to Paul’s teaching on justification by faith alone.4. Observe what issues James considers essential to the spiritual growth and maturity of the
single-minded Christian.5. Understand the theological basis of the ethical system that James presents.
Chapter 8 – Jude: Jesus’ Brother Warns the Church
Students should be able to:1. Learn who most likely wrote this letter.2. Identify the most likely original recipients of the letter.3. Understand the challenges presented by the letter.
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4. Reflect on Jude’s use of pseudepigraphal material in relation to your doctrine of Scripture.
5. Articulate the original significance of the letter and its relevance to the church today.
Chapter 9 – “The True Grace of God”: Introducing 1 Peter
Students should be able to:1. Understand who Peter was.2. List the evidence against Petrine authorship and its counterevidence.3. Describe the original audience of this letter.4. State Peter’s Christology.5. Understand the role of suffering in the life of a Christian.6. Read the “household codes” within their first-century historical setting.
Chapter 10 – “Christ Has Left You an Example”: The Christology of 1 Peter
Students should be able to:1. Describe what is distinctive about Peter’s Christology.2. Name and explain the images Peter uses to teach about Jesus Christ.3. Reflect on how in Peter’s thought the destiny of the Christian believer is inseparable from
Jesus’ destiny.
Chapter 11 – Foreigners and Resident Aliens: The Imitatio Christi in Peter’s Ethics
Students should be able to:1. Reflect on what factors shape one’s identity as a Christian according to 1 Peter.2. Describe how Peter’s Christian readers were to re-envision themselves in relation to the
expectations of the dominant society.3. Understand in what specific way Christians are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.4. Gain insight into Peter’s image of the living stones.5. Consider how moral transformation away from social norms and into God’s character is
the basis for faithful Christian living.
Chapter 12 – 2 Peter: An Apostle’s Last Words to the Church
Students should be able to:1. Identify the issues of author, date, audience, and purpose.2. Evaluate the arguments about the genre of 2 Peter, specifically whether it is a
pseudonymous apostolic last testament.3. Discuss the major themes and issues of 2 Peter and apply them to current life situations.4. Understand arguments concerning the literary relationship between 2 Peter and Jude.
Chapter 13 – 1 John: Reassurance for Christians in Confusing Times
Students should be able to:1. List various options for the referent of “we” in 1 John.
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2. Know the ancient evidence for authorship of 1 John.3. Learn how 1 John is similar to and different from John’s gospel.4. Understand the major themes of 1 John.
Chapter 14 – 2 and 3 John: Notes of Grace and Truth
Students should be able to:1. Learn the major theme(s) of 2 and 3 John.2. Consider how truth and love are related.3. Gain insight into the realities of a congregation in the early church
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Chapter QuizzesThese quizzes are intended to test the student’s familiarity with the content of each chapter of Letters to the Church. Included is a brief, objective quiz for each chapter consisting of 20 questions addressing the chapter’s content with the correct answers in bold.
Chapter Quiz: Introduction1) Hebrews, James, 1–2 Peter, Jude and 1–3 John were called the ______ epistles, indicating the
belief that they were addressed to the whole church.
A) GenuineB) CatholicC) UniversalD) Occasional
2) The New Testament refers to events that took place in which century?
A) 1st century BCB) 1st century ADC) 2nd century ADD) 3rd century AD
3) When we read the gospels, we are concerned with what two time periods?
A) The events of Jesus’ lifetimeB) The events taking place in the churches when the gospels were writtenC) The events of the Maccabean revoltD) Both A & BE) All of the above
4) According to Letters to the Church, the final time period in which New Testament books were written is called the Period of Doctrinal and Ecclesial Unification, and spans which years?
A) 6 BC – AD 33B) AD 33 – 60C) AD 60 – 100D) AD 100 – 135
5) How is the ancient practice of pseudonymity different from a modern example like Samuel Clemens writing under the name of Mark Twain?
A) Readers know that Mark Twain is a pseudonym.B) Ancient authors used the name of a well-respected figure from the past as their
pseudonym.C) Ancient authors did not use pseudonyms.D) Ancient authors were not as witty as Mark Twain.
6) What doctrine is called into question if someone wrote the New Testament epistles other than the person named in the opening verses?
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A) Doctrine of the TrinityB) Doctrine of Scripture with respect to inerrancyC) Penal substitutionary atonementD) Hypostatic union
7) How did the church in the 2nd century respond, when an extant letter was believed to be pseudepigraphal?
A) The church accepted pseudepigraphal letters as conveying the voice of the pseudonym.
B) The church rejected known pseudepigraphal letters.C) The church did not distinguish between pseudepigraphal and authentic letters.D) The church accepted pseudepigraphal letters as authentic, but placed them in a
separate collection.
8) What does it mean that the New Testament epistles are “occasional writings?”
A) The writers were not career authors.B) They were written in response to a specific situation.C) They were not sent out at regular time intervals.D) They were written to be applicable in many different situations.
9) Both a list of authoritative books and the authoritative texts themselves can be called _____.
A) ScriptureB) CanonC) RuleD) Testament
10) The second-century text that interweaves all four gospels into a continuous narrative is known as:
A) Tatian’s DiatesseronB) The Muratorian CanonC) The General EpistleD) The Pseudepigrapha
11) True or False? John’s letters were most likely written during the Period of Gospel Origins.
12) True or False? The “Catholic” epistles are those especially revered by the Roman Catholic Church.
13) True or False? No New Testament books were written during the lifetime of Jesus.
14) True or False? The church did not undergo a period of rapid growth until after the deaths of the apostles.
15) True or False? The Gospels are likely the first New Testament books to have been written.
16) True or False? Heresy became a problem for the early church as soon as many Gentiles came to faith in Jesus.
17) True or False? An amanuensis is the author of a book posing as a respected figure.
18) True or False? The authors of the General Epistles knew each other personally.
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19) True or False? No manuscripts of Hebrews or the General Epistles survive from the 1st century.
20) True or False? The authoritative list of texts that belong in the New Testament was not completed until the fourth century.
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Chapter 1 Quiz: Hebrews
1) What was the fundamental challenge or danger for the readers of this epistle?
A) Living through difficult persecutionB) Internal dissensions in the churchC) False-teachersD) Turning back to the old covenant
2) Hebrews draws Old Testament quotations from the Greek translation of the Old Testament. What is this translation usually called?
A) VulgateB) SeptuagintC) TorahD) Mishnah
3) Although it is not unanimous, most scholars believe Hebrews was addressed to people in what city?
A) AlexandriaB) EphesusC) JerusalemD) Rome
4) Where is the earliest quotation from Hebrews found outside the New Testament?
A) DidacheB) 1 BaruchC) 1 ClementD) Epistle of Barnabas
5) According to the Letters to the Church, since the readers of Hebrews have not yet resisted “to the point of shedding blood,” Hebrews may have been written as early as during the reign of which Roman emperor?
A) ClaudiusB) NeroC) DomitianD) Augustus
6) Which of the following has been proposed by scholars as the author of the book of Hebrews?
A) BarnabasB) LukeC) TimothyD) A and C
7) Which of the following is a distinctive theological emphasis in Hebrews not found in the Pauline epistles?
A) Justification by FaithB) Jesus as the image of GodC) Jesus’ defeat of demons and Satan
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D) Jesus as high priest
8) Which of the following best describes the genre of Hebrews?
A) A letter expressing thanksB) A sermon or oration sent as a letterC) A letter recommending someoneD) A treatise on an important topic for general discussion
9) Which word best fits this definition: “An ancient philosophical concept that divides all reality into the material world and the world of ideals”?
A) Platonic dualismB) Stoic monergismC) Apocalyptic dualismD) Pesher interpretation
10) When Hebrews interprets Old Testament people or events as pointing in some way to Christ or the church, he is engaging in . . .
A) Double-voiced readingB) TypologyC) MetaphorD) Anachronism
11) True or False? Most New Testament scholars today believe Hebrews was written by the apostle Paul.
12) True or False? The book of Hebrews was probably originally written in Hebrew.
13) True or False? The author of Hebrews did not know Greek very well.
14) True or False? In order to make sense of the book’s argument, it would have to have been written after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70.
15) True or False? Hebrews never explicitly mentions the Jerusalem temple.
16) True or False? The book of Hebrews was probably intended for oral delivery as a persuasive sermon.
17) True or False? Hebrews’ doctrine of salvation is very similar to that of the Pauline letters.
18) True or False? Hebrews is the only Christocentric book in the general epistles.
19) True or False? Most scholars today think the book of Hebrews was likely addressed to Jewish Christians living in Rome.
20) True or False? We know that Hebrews was accepted as canonical by the early church because it is listed in the Muratorian Canon.
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Chapter 2 Quiz: Hebrews
1) In Hebrews 1:1–2, God spoke long ago through the prophets, but now he has spoken to us
A) By the apostlesB) In the BibleC) By His miraclesD) By the Son
2) Hebrews 3 says that Jesus is the faithful Son over God’s house. Which Old Testament prophet is called a faithful servant in God’s house?
A) DanielB) DavidC) MosesD) Noah
3) What is Christology?
A) Theological study of the person and work of Jesus ChristB) Historical study of the life of JesusC) Practical theology of Jesus’ teachingD) Literary study of the Messiah in the Old Testament
4) Which claim in the first verses of Hebrews has been challenged since the enlightenment in western culture?
A) Reason is the basis of knowledge.B) God speaks.C) Religion produces powerful feelings.D) Christians experience forgiveness.
5) From which feature of the letter can we infer that Hebrews considered the Old Testament to be God’s speech to us?
A) Christ, in his earthly ministry, announced that the Old Testament was God’s word.B) Quotations from the OT are attributed either to God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy
Spirit.C) The example of Abel’s blood “speaking” todayD) Christians have come to Mount Zion.
6) For Hebrews, what about the Old Testament has changed with the coming of the New Testament?
A) It is no longer relevant.B) It is no longer a nationalistic document, but a universal document.C) Its purpose as God’s revelation has changed.D) Its plan of salvation is no longer valid.
7) In Hebrews, to whom are Old Testament quotations attributed?
A) God the FatherB) JesusC) The Spirit
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D) All of the Above
8) Which Old Testament book does the author of Hebrews quote more than any other?
A) IsaiahB) DeuteronomyC) PsalmsD) Ezekiel
9) Which of the following is not true of the Son, according to Hebrews 1:1–5?
A) Heir of all thingsB) Provider of purification for sinsC) Radiance of God’s gloryD) Ruled by angels
10) According to the author of our textbook, which aspect of the Old Testament has changed in Christ?
A) Its illocutionary forceB) Its locutionsC) Both A and BD) Neither A nor B
11) True or False? Hebrews contrasts God’s revelation “in the past” with his revelation “in these last days.”
12) True or False? Because Hebrews speaks of the Old Testament prophets as “our ancestors,” we can be sure that the book is written by a Jewish Christian to Jewish Christians.
13) True or False? Old Testament quotations in Hebrews draw on the Greek Septuagint.
14) True or False? Hebrews attributes quotations from the Old Testament to their human authors.
15) True or False? Israelites in the Old Testament who sacrificed animals and followed the Old Covenant were wrong to do so, since these things only pointed to Christ.
16) True or False? The book of Hebrews is full of the sayings that Jesus spoke in Hebrew.
17) True or False? The book of Hebrews teaches that God has spoken through the prophets, through Jesus, and through other great religious leaders like Mohammed.
18) True or False? The Old Testament Scriptures were translated into Greek several centuries before Christ.
19) True or False? Jesus’ ethical teachings established the new covenant and provided the definitive final revelation from God.
20) True or False? Christians no longer offer blood sacrifices because Jesus’ death was the full and final sacrifice needed.
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Chapter 3 Quiz: Hebrews
1) The New Covenant mentioned in Hebrews comes from which Old Testament prophet?
A) DanielB) IsaiahC) JeremiahD) Hosea
2) For which of Jesus’ roles was it necessary for him to become a man (according to Hebrews)?
A) Son of GodB) Prophet like MosesC) High PriestD) Judge of the world
3) What is the name of the mysterious ancient priest, whom Hebrews used to explain the priesthood of Christ?
A) AaronB) EnochC) MelchizedekD) Kedorlaomer
4) In which Old Testament books is the mysterious priest-king of Hebrews 7 mentioned?
A) Genesis, PsalmsB) Numbers, IsaiahC) Genesis, 2 KingsD) Joshua, Ezekiel
5) Which event in the history of Jesus Christ brings together his roles as Son of God and as High Priest?
A) CrucifixionB) ResurrectionC) Overcoming temptationD) Ascension
6) What are the two foci of Christology in Hebrews? Which two titles for Jesus are most important in Hebrews?
A) Son of God, Son of ManB) High Priest of God, Son of ManC) Prophet like Moses, Son of GodD) Son of God, High Priest of God
7) What did “Son of God” mean in ancient times outside the New Testament?
A) A religious person who reflected a god’s values in lifeB) A ruler given authority by a godC) A lesser deity originating from one of the main deitiesD) The second person of a trinity
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8) In the Old Testament, the expression “Son of God” was mainly associated with
A) The coming MessiahB) The Davidic kingC) The second person of the TrinityD) A and B
9) According to Hebrews 7:2, what does the name Melchizedek mean?
A) It has no meaning because it’s a proper name.B) King of RighteousnessC) Priest to God Most HighD) King of Holiness
10) According to _____________________, humans are inferior to angels in power, position, and access to God’s presence.
A) GnosticismB) The book of HebrewsC) NeoplatonismD) A and C
11) True or False? The term “Son of God” was coined by the author of Hebrews.
12) True or False? According to Hebrews, Jesus is the exact representation of God’s being.
13) True or False? Under Roman law, an heir had no benefits until the death of his father.
14) True or False? The high priest was the only one authorized to sit in the tabernacle.
15) True or False? In the ancient world, the term “son of god” referred to a ruler with delegated authority.
16) True or False? Hebrews understands Jesus’ ascension as his coronation as Messiah and his ratification of the new covenant.
17) True or False? Unlike the old covenant, the New Covenant transforms human hearts to conform to God’s standards.
18) True or False? Despite common assumptions, the Bible lists the name of Melchizedek’s father.
19) True or False. The author of Hebrews considered Melchizedek important because Melchizedek in the Old Testament was a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ.
20) True or False? According to Hebrews, the focal point of history is the birth of Jesus.
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Chapter 4 Quiz: Hebrews
1) “Perfection” in Hebrews refers to which of the following?
A) SinlessnessB) SanctificationC) Only JesusD) Completion
2) Which of the following is the best definition of apostasy?
A) The rank or position of apostleB) Renouncing one’s allegiance to ChristC) Defending the faith against philosophical challengesD) Sinning after baptism
3) Which chapters in Hebrews contain the strongest warnings against apostasy?
A) Chapters 1 & 3B) Chapters 11 & 12C) Chapters 6 & 10D) Chapters 2 & 5
4) In Psalm 95 (and Hebrews 4), what does God call the promised land?
A) My homeB) My dwelling placeC) My restD) My land
5) Which of the following descriptions of an “apostate,” based on Hebrews 6, would an Arminian affirm but a Calvinist deny?
A) A person that appeared to be a Christian from outward activities, but who later renounced Christ
B) A Jewish seeker who professed belief in Christ but later returned to JudaismC) A genuine believer, in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt, who later renounced the faith
and lost his or her salvationD) A deceiver who knowingly parroted Christian answers and was later shown to be
false
6) According to Letters to the Church, what is the “great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 11?
A) A stadium full of spectators cheering on Christians as they live their Christian lifeB) The example left by Old Testament believers showing that believers are able to
persevere to the endC) The evaluation of a Christian’s life by other believersD) The standard of conduct set for Christians today by the holiness of saints in the past
7) Whom does Hebrews use as an example of someone who rejected a blessing (Heb. 12:17) and could not gain it back?
A) King SaulB) Esau
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C) IshmaelD) Moses
8) “Sabbath” is a Hebrew term that in the book of Hebrews refers to
A) SaturdayB) SundayC) resting from one’s worksD) none of the above
9) The biblical concept of salvation refers to
A) Past conversionB) Present perseveranceC) Future deliverance from God’s judgmentD) All of the above
10) Which of the following is not a characteristic listed in Hebrews 6:4–5 to describe those at risk of falling away without repentance?
A) Possessing a clear track record of good worksB) Once enlightenedC) Tasted the heavenly giftD) Shared in the Holy Spirit
11) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, Jesus’ suffering made him perfect (Heb. 2:10) in the sense that suffering brought his role as Messiah to completion or fulfillment.
12) True or False? According to the book of Hebrews, salvation is a future event.
13) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, when interpreting the apostasy passages, one must keep in mind the original readers as Gentile Christians newly converted from paganism.
14) True or False? The concept of “rest” in Hebrews primarily concerns the need for Christians to relax on Sundays.
15) True or False? According to the book of Hebrews, if someone truly prays the “sinner’s prayer,” then they can be unconditionally assured of salvation.
16) True or False? To return from Christianity to Judaism or to continue to offer blood sacrifices constitutes a denial of the significance and efficacy of Christ’s death.
17) True or False? Only the Arminian view acknowledges that sometimes people who seem to be true believers leave the church.
18) True or False? The reason the unforgivable sin is unforgivable is because by rejecting the work of Christ, one cuts oneself off from the only means of forgiveness and salvation available.
19) True or False? Anyone worried about committing the unforgivable sin or becoming an apostate hasn’t done so.
20) True or False? Hebrews talks about a “cloud” of witnesses because it refers to people in heaven who are watching us on earth.
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Chapter 5 Quiz: James
1) According to the textbook, who wrote the book of James?
A) James, son of Zebedee, brother of JohnB) James the younger, one of the Twelve disciplesC) James, half-brother of Jesus, leader of the Jerusalem churchD) James, father of Judas (not Iscariot), one of the Twelve disciples
2) Which Reformer called the letter from James a “right strawy epistle?” (in Latin of course)?
A) John CalvinB) Ulrich ZwingliC) Martin LutherD) Martin Bucer
3) Because they use the same terms in different ways, Christian have had to reconcile James’ teaching with the teaching of which apostle?
A) JohnB) PaulC) PeterD) Matthew
4) Someone employed as a scribe to put an author’s thoughts into writing was known as a(n):
A) RedactorB) CompilerC) AmanuensisD) Apothecary
5) Who are “diaspora” Jews in the context of James’ letter?
A) “Scattered” Jews who do not live in PalestineB) “Wayward” Jews who do not observe TorahC) “Missionary” Jews, sent to other nationsD) The “lost” tribes of Jews, who were deported during the Assyrian conquest (722 BC)
6) The content and form of James is most similar to which Old Testament genre?
A) Prophetic literatureB) Historical literatureC) PsalmsD) Wisdom literature
7) In James 2:1–13, which sin does James use as an example of breaking the “royal law”?
A) AdulteryB) FavoritismC) PrideD) Gluttony
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8) Which two examples does James give of faith expressed in action in James 2?
A) Abraham and DanielB) Abraham and DavidC) Abraham and RahabD) David and Moses
9) If Letters to the Church is correct about who wrote the Epistle of James, from which region of the ancient world did he most likely write?
A) RomeB) Asia MinorC) EgyptD) Palestine
10) For James, the proper foundation for ethical behavior is
A) Love for God and neighborB) The Ten CommandmentsC) The Q-documentD) Relative
11) True or False? In the epistle of James, the rich believers are not tempted to boast about their material possessions because they have given them all away.
12) True or False? James rejects the Old Testament law in favor of a new ethical standard.
13) True or False? Most scholars today believe that the so-called “James ossuary” is a forgery.
14) True or False? Since the epistle of James uses several terms in common with the Gnostics, we can assume that the author wrote after the rise of Gnosticism.
15) True or False? James and Paul would agree that salvation comes through faith alone.
16) True or False? The book of James fits the genre of a diaspora letter.
17) True or False? If Jesus’ half-brother James is the author of this book, it must have been written before AD 62.
18) True or False? The epistle of James makes extensive use of the Synoptic Gospels.
19) True or False? It is obvious that James is addressing a particular crisis in a local church.
20) True or False? Since Paul and James agreed at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), it’s unlikely that they disagreed over the fundamentals of saving faith.
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Chapter 6 Quiz: James
1) What does shekinah mean in postbiblical writings of Palestinian and Babylonian Judaism?
A) TabernacleB) Lampstand within the templeC) Manifestation of God’s presenceD) Moses’ budding staff
2) James uses the word “Jesus” only twice. How does he most often refer to Jesus Christ?
A) SonB) LordC) ShepherdD) High Priest
3) Which title does James use for both God and for Jesus Christ?
A) TeacherB) LiberatorC) JudgeD) Son
4) The content of the earliest Christian preaching, before it was written down, is called:
A) KerygmaB) ApocalypseC) DidacheD) Eschatology
5) Which of Jesus’ teachings does James draw on most?
A) Olivet DiscourseB) Sermon on the MountC) Upper-room discourseD) Galilean ministry
6) The ________ document is a hypothetical source that stands behind the Gospels of Matthew and Luke and, in an earlier version, may have been known to James.
A) KerygmaB) Q (Quelle)C) DidacheD) Proto-gospel
7) Which of the following translations of the phrase “our glorious Lord Jesus Christ” in James 2:1 is grammatically plausible:
A) “Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Glory”B) “Our glorious Lord Jesus Christ”C) “Our Lord Jesus Christ in/of glory”D) All of the above
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8) How is the Hebrew divine name, Yahweh, usually translated in English?
A) AlmightyB) LORDC) LordD) None of the above.
9) The main focus of James’ letter is
A) EschatologyB) ChristologyC) EthicsD) Soteriology
10) What is the “royal law” that James mentions?
A) Love God and Love Your Neighbor.B) Honor the King.C) Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.D) We cannot be sure.
11) True or False? James 1:1 says that James is a servant “of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This shows conclusively that James believed Jesus was God.
12) True or False? The book of James mentions Jesus Christ more than any other of the similarly short epistles.
13) True or False? In James, Jesus shares the role of lawgiver with God.
14) True or False? James is the only book of the New Testament that does not teach the continuing existence and return of Jesus.
15) True or False? Scholars are right to assume that James was written too early to have a high Christology.
16) True or False? James uses the term “Lord” to refer both to God and to Jesus.
17) True or False? James does not appear to draw on the Synoptic Gospels.
18) True or False? James recognizes Jesus as God’s Messiah, with all of the authority and power associated with that title and role.
19) True or False? The Greek word kurios does not necessarily imply divinity.
20) True or False? We can be sure that James possessed a copy of the Q-document because he quotes from it several times.
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Chapter 7 Quiz: James
1) According to Letters to the Church, what is the unifying theme of James?
A) Justification by faithB) Explicating the Royal LawC) Controlling the tongueD) Enduring patiently in persecution
2) Which of the following is NOT a way in which Jesus transposes the Law of Sinai into the Law of God’s Kingdom?
A) Requiring that it be internalizedB) Refocusing it on moral and ethical issuesC) Intensifying obedience from mere compliance to love for othersD) Reaffirming the oral Torah as a proper expression of the Law
3) For second-temple Jewish authors, how is wisdom learned and expressed?
A) Through the sacrificial systemB) By special divine illuminationC) Through devotion to a particular teacherD) By observing Torah
4) What does the Jewish interpretive practice of Halakhah mean?
A) Specifying what each commandment of Torah requires in a given contextB) Repeating a text (like the Shema) many times so that it becomes a part of one’s lifeC) Drawing on Torah as a source for moral formation and adviceD) None of the above
5) According to Letters to the Church, the differences between Paul and James regarding faith and works are best explained by the fact that:
A) Paul misunderstood James.B) Paul and James substantially disagreed.C) Paul and James wrote independently of one another.D) James misunderstood Paul.
6) Which of the following are problem(s) James mentions in how the rich treat the poor in his letter?
A) The rich do not give food to the one in desperate needB) The rich withhold wages from the poorC) The rich refuse to give a place to the poor at the Lord’s SupperD) Both A and BE) Both B and C
7) The “Golden Rule” is
A) the principle that it is wrong to practice usuaryB) the Old Testament instruction that God’s temple in Jerusalem must be decorated with
goldC) the principle that one should love one’s neighbor as oneself
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D) a gold measuring stick discovered by archeologists at the temple site in Jerusalem
8) The book of James bases its ethics on
A) The philosophy of the StoicsB) The philosophy of the EpicureansC) The Jewish TorahD) The Sermon on the Mount
9) In the Greco-Roman culture of the first century, wisdom was
A) Defined as living toward life’s highest goodB) Considered not very importantC) Prescribed by the EmperorD) None of the above
10) During the intertestamental period, the Jewish wisdom tradition developed an explicit identification of wisdom with
A) TorahB) WealthC) KnowledgeD) Pleasure
11) True or False? In his epistle, James is satisfied with how the rich in the Christian congregation are caring for the poor.
12) True or False? Unlike Jesus, James discussed the temple rituals and purity laws, pointing out that they had been superseded in the new covenant.
13) True or False? Jesus’ teachings formed the basis of the Christian wisdom tradition.
14) True or False? Jesus proclaimed himself to be the way to life’s highest good.
15) True or False? James relies on eschatology primarily to explain the exact sequence of future events.
16) True or False? Jesus and James both envisioned a society marked by equality rather than hierarchy.
17) True or False? James used the word “faith” primarily to talk about the means for justification.
18) True or False? James is the first writer known to have used the word dipsychos, or “double-minded.”
19) True or False? The main point of eschatology in James is to motivate right living in the present.
20) True or False? James teaches that it is impossible to be wealthy and to be a Christian.
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Chapter 8 Quiz: Jude
1) According to Letters to the Church, who likely wrote the epistle of Jude (Judas)?
A) Judas IscariotB) Jude, son of James, an apostleC) Jude, half-brother of JesusD) Judas Barsabbas
2) Letters to the Church proposes a date for Jude’s letter no later than AD 80. What is the significance of that date?
A) The destruction of JerusalemB) The death of James, half-brother of JesusC) Approximate life-span for a younger brother of JesusD) The letter gives this date.
3) Jude mentions all of the following as a negative example from the Old Testament except one. Which one?
A) BalaamB) Sodom and GomorrahC) CainD) Pharaoh
4) According to Letters to the Church, Jude considers the primary sin of Sodom and Gomorrah to be
A) Lack of hospitalityB) PrideC) Sexual immoralityD) Greed
5) In Judaism, when an author interpreted an obscure ancient text as directly fulfilled in the contemporary community, this was known as
A) ApocalypticB) MidrashC) TalmudD) pesher
6) Jude quotes from which pseudepigraphal book?
A) Testament of the Twelve PatriarchsB) 1 EnochC) 4 EzraD) 2 Baruch
7) The major purpose of Jude’s letter was
A) To teach about his brother, JesusB) To warn against false ChristiansC) To teach Christian doctrineD) To preach the gospel
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8) How many men named Judas (or Jude) are mentioned in the New Testament?
A) FourB) TwoC) FiveD) Three
9) Which scenario was deemed most likely by the author of Letters to the Church?
A) Jude borrowed from 2 Peter.B) Jude and 2 Peter borrowed from each other.C) 2 Peter borrowed from Jude.D) Jude and 2 Peter show no dependence in either direction.
10) Jude’s allusion to a pseudepigraphal book implies
A) That it offered Jude a suitable illustrationB) That Jude considered the book to be canonical scriptureC) That Jude should not be considered canonicalD) Both B and C
11) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, Jude attacks the mistaken Christology of Gnosticism.
12) True or False? When Jude quotes the Old Testament, he translates the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek.
13) True or False? Jude used information from the Jewish interpretive tradition of the Old Testament as examples for his readers.
14) True or False? The term “brothers” in reference to Jesus is usually taken by Protestants to mean other children of Joseph and Mary.
15) True or False? The Gospels do not tell us the names of Jesus’ siblings.
16) True or False? Jude urges his readers to follow the leading of their heart, knowing that it will always bring them back to the truth.
17) True or False? The Greek of Jude’s letter is not very good, which is how we know he wrote in Hebrew.
18) True or False? Jude teaches that the best way to get rid of false teaching is to ignore the teachers and mind your own business – it will die out on its own, since it is not the truth.
19) True or False? Jude implies that it is possible to step outside of God’s love by stepping outside the bounds of orthodoxy.
20) True or False? Jude teaches that no new revelation will supplant that which was handed down from Jesus to his apostles.
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Chapter 9 Quiz: 1 Peter
1) According to church tradition, how was Peter the Apostle martyred?
A) Stoned to deathB) Attacked by lions in the ColosseumC) Burned at the stakeD) Crucified upside down
2) Scholars doubt that Simon Peter wrote 1 Peter for various reasons. Which of the following is NOT a reason some doubt?
A) His use of Greek is too good for a provincial Aramaic-speaking fisherman.B) His theology doesn’t correspond to Peter’s other letter, 2 Peter.C) The letter reflects a church situation after Simon Peter’s death.D) Christianity could not have reached the remote areas of Asia Minor addressed in the
letter during Peter’s lifetime.
3) Letters to the Church proposes that Peter’s addressees, the Christians in northern Asia Minor, may have been expelled or sent from which city?
A) AlexandriaB) AthensC) RomeD) Carthage
4) What term is used to describe the Roman practice of building a Roman city in a conquered area and populating it with retiring soldiers?
A) ExileB) ColonizationC) IndustrializationD) Expulsion
5) How does Peter describe his readers in 1 Peter 1:1?
A) As nativesB) As foreignersC) As patriotsD) As patricians
6) Which of the following distinguishes the “household code” in 1 Peter from Greco-Roman household codes in the 1st century? Which is distinctive to 1 Peter?
A) Peter addresses slaves and wives directly as moral agents.B) Peter admonishes wives to submit to their husbands regarding worshipping his god(s).C) Peter teaches that wives should seek company only in her husband’s circle of friends.D) None of the above distinguishes Peter from other 1st century household codes.
7) Which of the Gospels is associated with Peter?
A) MatthewB) MarkC) Luke
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D) John
8) Extant letters that contain information about early Christianity in northern Asia Minor date from the reign of the Emperor
A) AugustusB) ClaudiusC) NeroD) Trajan
9) A major purpose of 1 Peter is
A) To reveal the end times B) To evangelize northern Asia MinorC) To teach Christians to understand their new identity in ChristD) To make sure Christianity changes the social order
10) Which of the following accurately describes the persecution likely faced by Peter’s addressees?
A) SporadicB) IndividualC) UnorganizedD) All of the above
11) True or False? Based on early Christian writings, the reception of 1 Peter into the canon does not seem to have been disputed.
12) True or False? The Greek of 1 Peter shows syntactical evidence of being the author’s second language.
13) True or False? The persecution faced by Peter’s addressees was most likely that of the Roman emperor Nero.
14) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, the Peter who authored this letter is not the same Peter as Jesus’ disciple.
15) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, our chief difficulty in understanding 1 Peter derives from the fact that our modern Western situation differs radically from the first-century Roman empire.
16) True or False? During Peter’s lifetime, he had very little to do with Gentiles.
17) True or False? Peter calls his readers “foreigners” to highlight the way their faith sets them apart from unbelieving society.
18) True or False? Compared to Greco-Roman norms, Peter’s “household code” elevated the wife.
19) True or False? Relatively little is known about the apostle Peter.
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20) True or False? 1 Peter celebrates the truth that because Christ suffered, believers can avoid suffering.
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Chapter 10 Quiz: 1 Peter
1) What is the distinctive feature of Peter’s Christology compared with other New Testament writers?
A) Jesus is the divine Logos.B) Jesus is the greatest moral teacher.C) Jesus is the second Adam.D) Jesus is the suffering servant.
2) Which of the following is most significant for Peter about his readers’ current situation?
A) Divisions in the churchB) Present persecution for their faithC) Challenges from pagan philosophyD) Temptation to return to Judaism
3) Which title does Peter give to the agent who inspired the prophets (1 Peter 1:11)?
A) The Father of our Lord Jesus ChristB) The paracleteC) The Spirit of ChristD) The Divine Effulgence
4) According to Letters to the Church, which member of society does Peter use as a paradigm for all Christians?
A) PrinceB) Slave C) HusbandD) Son
5) According to Letters to the Church, the Jewish writing that likely forms part of the background for understanding how Jesus preached to the “spirits in prison” is
A) 1 EnochB) 1 MaccabeesC) BaruchD) Psalms
6) In Christian tradition, the idea that Jesus descended into Hell between his death and resurrection is often referred to as
A) SoteriologyB) The harrowing of hellC) The parousiaD) None of the above
7) Judging from archeological evidence, which Old Testament figure was apparently well-known even in pagan Asia Minor?
A) AbrahamB) David C) Moses
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D) Noah
8) Which of the following is NOT an image for Jesus Christ in 1 Peter?
A) Sacrificial lambB) Righteous teacherC) Living cornerstoneD) Suffering servant
9) Which of the following is NOT an element of Christ’s crucifixion that Peter develops?
A) Jesus was verbally abused.B) Peter denied Jesus three times.C) Jesus did not retaliate.D) Jesus entrusted judgment to God.
10) Peter’s reference to Jesus as the “living stone” implies
A) Jesus is the cornerstone.B) Jesus is rejected.C) All believers are built on Jesus.D) All of the above
11) True or False? The book of 1 Peter does not make a distinctive contribution to NT theology in comparison with other NT epistles.
12) True or False? The phrase “the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” is covenant language that alludes to the Sinai covenant.
13) True or False? We know that Peter is writing to Jews because he addresses his audience using Israel’s OT titles such as “kingdom of priests” and “holy nation.”
14) True or False? Peter believed that the message of the OT prophets was intended for Christians living after the Messiah had come.
15) True or False? Peter taught that slavery was incompatible with Christian theology.
16) True or False? When Letters to the Church says that for Peter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a hermeneutical event, it means that the resurrection gave Peter important ethical directions.
17) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, the phrase in the creed, “he descended into hell,” was originally equivalent to the phrase “he was buried.”
18) True or False? Today most New Testament scholars believe that between the crucifixion and resurrection Jesus preached the gospel to those in hell.
19) True or False? The book of 1 Enoch may help us understand 1 Peter because it describes the depravity of rebellious spirits as that which provoked Noah’s generation to sin that led to the flood.
20) True or False? 1 Peter is unique because it is the only NT book to think of Jesus as the sacrificial lamb.
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Chapter 11 Quiz: 1 Peter
1) Letters to the Church proposes that 1 Peter is the primary New Testament book to address which of the following issues?
A) The Christian’s engagement with the dominant societyB) The relationship between Adam and ChristC) Justification by faithD) Christ’s atonement and the cessation of animal sacrifices
2) Which of Niebuhr’s classic categories from Christ and Culture does 1 Peter promote?
A) Christ against cultureB) Christ of cultureC) Christ the transformer of cultureD) None of the above
3) Which of the Apostle Peter’s contemporaries also wrote about the failure of legalism?
A) NeroB) JosephusC) SenecaD) Cicero
4) Which image does Peter use to describe when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ?
A) TransformationB) New birthC) ResurrectionD) Resolution
5) Which term does Peter use to describe the Christian’s position in the world?
A) NativeB) Resident alienC) ConquerorD) Mercenary
6) According to Peter, which of the following should be done “for the Lord’s sake” and not merely out of civil obligation?
A) Submit to the emperorB) Pay taxesC) Obey the lawD) Serve in the Roman army
7) Which image does Peter use to describe the Christian’s place in the church?
A) Members of the body of ChristB) Thanksgiving sacrifices in the tabernacleC) Soldiers in the Lord’s armyD) Stones in the temple
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8) Which of the following is the significance of the image of believers as “living stones”?
A) Believers must be squared to the cornerstone, Jesus Christ.B) Believers are naturally “hard headed” and stubborn.C) Just as a stone is permanent, so a believer’s faith is permanent.D) Believers share identical gifts and abilities in Christ.
9) Peter’s “household code” is counter-cultural for which of the following reasons?
A) Women and slaves are given full autonomy.B) Children are ignored.C) Women and slaves are addressed as moral agents.D) Men are expected to lead the home.
10) According to Letters to the Church, the new birth creates social distance between believers and the wider society in which area(s)?
A) Distance from the old way of lifeB) Distance from the transitory nature of the present worldC) Eschatological distanceD) All of the above
11) True or False? We know that Peter primarily addressed Jews rather than Gentiles in his letter because he called them “foreigners.”
12) True or False? According to Peter, Christians should not be surprised when they are persecuted.
13) True or False? Both Peter and Seneca were killed by the Emperor Nero for their Christian faith.
14) True or False? Seneca taught that in order to live morally, one needed a system of proper values that touches on all possible objects of admiration or fear.
15) True or False? Peter encourages believers to live apart from pagan society.
16) True or False? In 1 Peter, Peter counsels the Christians to resist persecution by standing up for their rights as Roman citizens.
17) True or False? Peter expects unbelievers to see the truth about Christ through a Christian’s visible good deeds.
18) True or False? By “soft difference,” Letters to the Church means that Christians will follow certain practices of speech, dress, and schedule that distinguish them sharply from the surrounding non-Christian world.
19) True or False? The image of believers as “living stones” implies that community is an important aspect of Christian identity.
20) True or False? Peter encourages believers toward social and political activism.
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Chapter 12 Quiz: 2 Peter
1) When a book is attributed to one person but written by another, we call this
A) ApocryphalB) Deutero-canonicalC) PseudepigraphalD) Inspired
2) When biblical interpreters focus on the Sitz im Leben of a given passage, what are interpreters most interested in?
A) The poetic features of the passageB) The situation of the assumed source of the passageC) The intention of the original authorD) The place of the passage in the canon
3) When interpreters of 2 Peter call it a “testament,” what do they mean?
A) 2 Peter gives a testimony about Christ.B) 2 Peter tests its readers with questions and commands.C) 2 Peter gives the last words of the apostle Peter.D) 2 Peter addresses a concrete situation in the readers’ lives.
4) What is the unique name used in 2 Peter for the underworld prison to which the Greek Titans were cast?
A) HadesB) GehennaC) TartarusD) Abyss
5) Which significant word does 2 Peter 3:16 use to describe Paul’s letters?
A) HolyB) InspiredC) ScripturesD) Testament
6) According to Letters to the Church, it is likely that 2 Peter confronts the heresy of
A) GnosticismB) MontanismC) StoicismD) Epicureanism
7) Many scholars argue that someone other than the apostle Peter wrote 2 Peter. Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons they give for this belief?
A) The author knows that he is about to die.B) The author summarizes his ethical instruction.C) The author gives apocalyptic predictions.D) The author writes to those who have received both his letter and the apostle
Paul’s letters.
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8) The use of the term Tartarus in 2 Peter indicates that this letter was written to people who were familiar with
A) Jewish apocalyptic literatureB) The SeptuagintC) Greco-Roman mythologyD) Stoic philosophy
9) Which of the following does 2 Peter cite as characteristic of the heresy he is writing against?
A) Proposing the apostolic testimony are fabricated storiesB) Denying that the Day of the Lord will comeC) Encouraging a licentious lifestyleD) All of the above
10) Much of Second Peter is verbally identical to which other New Testament book?
A) MarkB) JudeC) 1 PeterD) Philemon
11) True or False? The style, vocabulary, and syntax of 2 Peter are very different from 1 Peter.
12) True or False? The concept of the believer’s participation in the divine nature is found throughout the New Testament.
13) True or False? Because Gnosticism was not fully developed until the second century, 2 Peter could not have been written before that time.
14) True or False? John Calvin acknowledged the difference in vocabulary between 1 Peter and 2 Peter but still affirmed that Peter authorized the writing of both letters.
15) True or False? The early church only rejected pseudonymous letters that were motivated by greed.
16) True or False? Second Peter shares several features with the ancient testament genre.
17) True or False? Some scholars attribute the book of 2 Peter to Linus, bishop of Rome.
18) True or False? Epicureanism warned people to beware the final judgment.
19) True or False? Second Peter draws on Jude, but shows no awareness of Paul’s letters.
20) True or False? Second Peter exhibits a very strong Greek literary influence.
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Chapter 13 Quiz: 1 John
1) Which best describes how the author of 1 John wanted his epistle to be read from 1 John 1:1–4?
A) As instruction for ordering the churchB) As testimony to the word of truth about Jesus ChristC) As a testament, the last words of a notable personD) As an introduction to the basic teaching of the faith
2) According to Letters to the Church, which of the following best describes the “we” in the first four verses of 1 John (e.g., “what we have seen and heard”)?
A) “We” = “I”B) “We” = “you and I”C) “We” = “my colleagues/community and I”D) None of the above
3) Which of John’s epistles is NOT in the form of a typical Hellenistic letter?
A) 1 JohnB) 2 JohnC) 3 JohnD) All three letters are in the typical form of a Hellenistic letter.
4) According to Letters to the Church, which of the following was the most likely reason for writing 1 John?
A) To reassure the readers of the truth despite the departure of someB) To confront Jewish legalism in the churchC) To reconcile two individuals in the church who had a personal disagreementD) To encourage the believers to stand in the midst of tribulation
5) Which church father provides the earliest witness that the apostle John wrote the Gospel attributed to him?
A) Clement of RomeB) OrigenC) AthanasiusD) Irenaeus
6) Which heresy claimed that Jesus was a pure spirit and only seemed to have a human body?
A) ArianismB) AdoptionismC) DocetismD) Ophism
7) What is “the Johannine comma”?
A) John’s peculiar use of the comma to divide complete sentencesB) A superscription attributing 1 John to the apostle JohnC) A verse added to the Latin translation of 1 John not found in early manuscripts
John’s explanation for why he wrote 1 John
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8) Which city is traditionally believed to be the home of John when he wrote the Gospel and letters?
A) EphesusB) AntiochC) RomeD) Troy
9) Which of the following is “the sin that leads to death”?
A) Premeditated murderB) Failure to obey God’s commandsC) Rejection of Jesus’ atonementD) Believing something other than the truth
10) Which of the following is NOT one of the heretical claims about sin that John rejects?A) Sin doesn’t affect my relationship with God.B) Love is the opposite of sin.C) I am without sin.D) I have not sinned.
11) True or False? In 1 John, the “world” is always understood negatively, as the world in subjugation to sin.
12) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, “God is love” means that wherever someone is loving, God is there.
13) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, the idea of a “Johannine Community” is built on very slim evidence.
14) True or False? John is primarily concerned with the spiritual realities concerning Jesus, rather than his earthly life.
15) True or False? John’s Gospel and the book of 1 John have very few similarities.
16) True or False? First John is one of the clearest examples in the New Testament of the epistle genre.
17) True or False? The author’s main point is not to confront heresy, but to reassure faithful believers that they know the truth about Jesus.
18) True or False? John rejects conceptual dualism because of its Greek influence.
19) True or False? Docetists believed that Jesus only seemed to be human.
20) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, the “Johannine comma” should be rejected.
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Chapter 14 Quiz: 2 & 3 John
1) How does the author refer to himself in 2 and 3 John?
A) The apostleB) The elderC) The bishopD) John
2) Personal letters like 2 and 3 John were usually written on what material in the ancient world?
A) ParchmentB) Clay tabletC) PapyrusD) Vellum
3) According to Letters to the Church, who is the “chosen lady” in 2 John?
A) The woman in whose house the church gatheredB) The church as a group of Christians in one placeC) The elder’s wifeD) The universal church as all Christians everywhere
4) Which practical issue of Christian life is the dominant concern in 2 and 3 John?
A) Paying taxesB) Eating food sacrificed to idolsC) Showing hospitality D) Serving in the Roman military
5) To whom is 3 John written?
A) To Demetrius, bishop of the churchB) To Onesimus, owner of the slave DiotrephesC) To Diotrephes, urging him to return to the faithD) To Gaius, urging him to care for Demetrius
6) Compared to other surviving documents from the ancient world, 3 John is most like
A) A diaspora letterB) An apostolic decreeC) A letter of introductionD) 3 John is not like any other surviving document.
7) What errant belief of the Montanists eventually earned them the label “heretical”?A) Jesus only seemed to be humanB) Rejection of apostolic authorityC) Denigration of the Old Testament as ScriptureD) Denial of the Holy Spirit’s ability to reveal truth
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8) What was the cause of hostility between Diotrephes and the Elder?A) The letter does not say.B) Doctrinal disagreementsC) Personality conflictD) Both B and C
9) Who was Demitrius?A) The associate pastor of Gaius’ congregationB) The brother of DiotrephesC) The elder’s amanuensisD) The man who delivered the letter to Gaius
10) Which of the following does NOT represent the teaching of 2 and 3 John on hospitality?A) Hospitality is a spiritual gift given to some believers.B) Hospitality should always be extended to those who preach the gospel.C) Hospitality should never be extended to those who preach a false gospel.D) Neither A nor C
11) True or False? “Antichrists” in 2 John are the associates of the Antichrist, the end-time political ruler who will force everyone to take the mark of the beast.
12) True or False? Second John warns its readers not to extend hospitality under certain circumstances.
13) True or False? Second John expresses the elder’s strong disapproval of the recipients’ beliefs.
14) True or False? Third John warns its readers not to extend hospitality under certain circumstances.
15) True or False? The overarching issue in both 2 and 3 John is that of spiritual authority.
16) True or False? The idea of absolute or exclusive truth was just as unpopular in the first century as it is today.
17) True or False? The fact that none of the letters known as 1, 2, and 3 John name the author implies that he was not widely known.
18) True or False? The early church universally acknowledged 2 John and 3 John as canonical.
19) True or False? Debates about the authorship of 2 and 3 John have continued throughout church history until today.
20) True or False? Both 2 John and 3 John are riddled with textual uncertainties.
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Sample Syllabus
I. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE COURSE
This course introduces the content of the New Testament books of Hebrews and the General Epistles (James–Jude).
II. COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To increase knowledge of the background, content, major themes, and theology of Hebrews and the General Epistles
2. To improve skills identifying and evaluating possible interpretations of biblical texts
3. To develop a greater love for God in Christ through study of Hebrews and the General Epistles
III. TEXTBOOK
Karen H. Jobes. Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.
IV. COURSE OUTLINE
The following outlines provide a schedule of class discussion and lecture topics based upon the chapters of Letters to the Church. The first outline assumes a M/W/F format and the second a T/Th format.
Students are expected to have the appropriate reading assignments read prior to the class period in which they will be discussed. In class students will be expected to know the key terms and be conversant in the content of the reading. On review day, they should be able to answer any of the discussion questions found at the end of the chapters for that unit.
M/W/F Schedule:
SESSION LECTURE AND DISCUSSION TOPICS ASSIGNMENT
1 Introduction to Hebrews and the General Epistles
2 Background questions for studying NT epistles Introduction (pp. 1–22)
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3 Hebrews Introduction Ch. 1 (pp. 23–55). Read the whole epistle in one sitting.
4 Hebrews Introduction, part 2
5 Hebrews: Divine Revelation Ch. 2 (pp. 57–77);Genesis 1–3
6 Divine Revelation, part 2 Hebrews 10; Psalm 40
7 Christology of Hebrews Ch. 3 (pp. 79–113)
8 Christology, part 2 Hebrews 1, 7
9 Soteriology of Hebrews Ch. 4 (pp.115–143)
10 Soteriology, part 2 Hebrews 6, 10
11 Review, discussion, or student presentations on Hebrews
12 James: Introduction Ch. 5 (pp.145–181). Read the whole epistle in one sitting
13 James: Introduction, part 2
14 Christology in James Ch. 6 (pp.183–200)
15 Christology in James, part 2
16 Wisdom and Ethics in James Ch. 7 (pp. 201–232)
17 Wisdom and Ethics in James, part 2
18 Review, discussion or student presentations on James
19 Jude Ch. 8 (pp. 233–266)
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20 Scripture and Pseudepigrapha in Jude
21 Discussion, or student presentations on Jude
22 Review on Hebrews, James, and Jude
23 Midterm Exam on Hebrews, James, and Jude
24 1 Peter: Introduction Ch. 9 (pp. 267–298). Read the whole epistle in one sitting.
25 1 Peter: Introduction 2
26 Christology of 1 Peter Ch. 10 (pp. 299–322)
27 Christology of 1 Peter, part 2
28 Peter’s Ethics Ch. 11 (pp. 323–352)
29 Peter’s Ethics, part 2
30 Review, discussion, or student presentations on 1 Peter
31 2 PeterCh. 12 (pp. 353–394). Read the whole epistle in one sitting
32 2 Peter
33 Review, discussion, or student presentations 2 Peter
34 1 JohnCh. 13 (pp. 395–436). Read the whole epistle in one sitting
35 1 John, part 2
36 2 John Ch. 14 (pp. 437–450)
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37 3 John
38 Review, discussion, or student presentations on John’s letters
39 Review of 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John
40 Review of Hebrews, James, and Jude
Final exam Final Exam
T/Th Schedule:
SESSION LECTURE AND DISCUSSION TOPICS ASSIGNMENT
1 Introduction to Hebrews and the General Epistles
2 Background questions for studying NT epistles Introduction (pp. 1–22)
3 Hebrews Introduction Ch. 1 (pp. 23–55). Read the whole epistle in one sitting.
4 Hebrews Introduction, part 2
5 Hebrews: Divine Revelation Ch. 2 (pp. 57–77); Genesis 1–3
6 Divine Revelation, part 2 Hebrews 10; Psalm 40
7 Christology of Hebrews Ch. 3 (pp. 79–113)
8 Christology, part 2 Hebrews 1, 7
9 Soteriology of Hebrews Ch. 4 (pp.115–143)
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10 Soteriology, part 2 Hebrews 6, 10
11 James: Introduction Ch. 5 (pp.145–181). Read the whole epistle in one sitting
12 James: Introduction, part 2
13 Christology in James Ch. 6 (pp.183–200)
14 Christology in James, part 2
15 Wisdom and Ethics in James Ch. 7 (pp. 201–232)
16 Wisdom and Ethics in James, part 2
17 Jude Ch. 8 (pp. 233–266)
18 Midterm Exam on Hebrews, James, and Jude
19 1 Peter: Introduction Ch. 9 (pp. 267–298). Read the whole epistle in one sitting.
20 1 Peter: Introduction 2
21 Christology of 1 Peter Ch. 10 (pp. 299–322)
22 Christology of 1 Peter, part 2
23 Peter’s Ethics Ch. 11 (pp. 323–352)
24 Peter’s Ethics, part 2
25 2 Peter Ch. 12 (pp. 353–394). Read the whole epistle in one sitting
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26 2 Peter
27 1 John Ch. 13 (pp. 395–436). Read the whole epistle in one sitting
28 2 John Ch. 14 (pp. 437–450)
29 3 John
Final exam Final Exam
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Name: _______________________
Mid-Term Exam on Hebrews, James, and Judewith answers
Each question is worth two points.
1) Hebrews, James, 1–2 Peter, Jude and 1–3 John were called the ______ epistles, indicating the belief that they were addressed to the whole church.
A) GenuineB) CatholicC) UniversalD) Occasional
2) According to Letters to the Church, the final time period in which New Testament books were written is called the Period of Doctrinal and Ecclesial Unification, and spans which years?
A) 6 BC – AD 33B) AD 33 – 60C) AD 60 – 100D) AD 100 – 135
3) How did the church in the 2nd century respond, when an extant letter was believed to be pseudepigraphal?
A) The church accepted pseudepigraphal letters as conveying the voice of the pseudonym.
B) The church rejected known pseudepigraphal letters.C) The church did not distinguish between pseudepigraphal and authentic letters.D) The church accepted pseudepigraphal letters as authentic, but placed them in a
separate collection.
4) Although it is not unanimous, most scholars believe Hebrews was addressed to people in what city?
A) AlexandriaB) EphesusC) JerusalemD) Rome
5) According to the Letters to the Church, since the readers of Hebrews have not yet resisted “to the point of shedding blood,” Hebrews may have been written as early as during the reign of which Roman emperor?
A) ClaudiusB) NeroC) Domitian
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D) Augustus
6) Which of the following best describes the genre of Hebrews?
A) A letter expressing thanksB) A sermon or oration sent as a letterC) A letter recommending someoneD) A treatise on an important topic for general discussion
7) From which feature of the letter can we infer that Hebrews considered the Old Testament to be God’s speech to us?
A) Christ, in his earthly ministry, announced that the Old Testament was God’s word.B) Quotations from the OT are attributed either to God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy
Spirit.C) The example of Abel’s blood “speaking” todayD) Christians have come to Mount Zion.
8) For Hebrews, what about the Old Testament has changed with the coming of the New Testament?
A) It is no longer relevant.B) It is no longer a nationalistic document, but a universal document.C) Its purpose as God’s revelation has changed.D) Its plan of salvation is no longer valid.
9) Which Old Testament book does the author of Hebrews quote more than any other?
A) IsaiahB) DeuteronomyC) PsalmsD) Ezekiel
10) The New Covenant mentioned in Hebrews comes from which Old Testament prophet?
A) DanielB) IsaiahC) JeremiahD) Hosea
11) For which of Jesus’ roles was it necessary for him to become a man (according to Hebrews)?
A) Son of GodB) Prophet like MosesC) High PriestD) Judge of the world
12) What did “Son of God” mean in ancient times outside the New Testament?
A) A religious person who reflected a god’s values in lifeB) A ruler given authority by a god
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C) A lesser deity originating from one of the main deitiesD) The second person of a trinity
13) Which of the following descriptions of an “apostate,” based on Hebrews 6, would an Arminian affirm but a Calvinist deny?
A) A person that appeared to be a Christian from outward activities, but who later renounced Christ
B) A Jewish seeker who professed belief in Christ but later returned to JudaismC) A genuine believer, in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt, who later renounced the faith
and lost his or her salvationD) A deceiver who knowingly parroted Christian answers and was later shown to be
false
14) According to Letters to the Church, what is the “great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 11?
A) A stadium full of spectators cheering on Christians as they live their Christian lifeB) The example left by Old Testament believers showing that believers are able to
persevere to the endC) The evaluation of a Christian’s life by other believersD) The standard of conduct set for Christians today by the holiness of saints in the past
15) Whom does Hebrews use as an example of one who rejected a blessing (Heb. 12:17) and could not gain it back?
A) King SaulB) EsauC) IshmaelD) Moses
16) “Sabbath” is a Hebrew term that in the book of Hebrews refers to
A) SaturdayB) SundayC) Resting from one’s worksD) None of the above
17) The biblical concept of salvation refers to
A) Past conversionB) Present perseveranceC) Future deliverance from God’s judgmentD) All of the above
18) True or False? No New Testament books were written during the lifetime of Jesus.
19) True or False? An amanuensis is the author of a book posing as a respected figure.
20) True or False? Most New Testament scholars today believe Hebrews was written by the apostle Paul.
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21) True or False? The author of Hebrews did not know Greek very well.
22) True or False? The book of Hebrews is full of the sayings that Jesus spoke in Hebrew.
23) True or False? The Old Testament Scriptures were translated into Greek several centuries before Christ.
24) True or False? Hebrews understands Jesus’ ascension as his coronation as Messiah and his ratification of the new covenant.
25) True or False? Unlike the old covenant, the New Covenant transforms human hearts to conform to God’s standards.
26) True or False. The author of Hebrews considered Melchizedek important because Melchizedek in the Old Testament was a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ.
27) True or False? According to Hebrews, the focal point of history is the birth of Jesus.
28) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, Jesus’ suffering made him perfect (Heb. 2:10) in the sense that suffering brought his role as Messiah to completion or fulfillment.
29) True or False? According to the book of Hebrews, salvation is a future event.
30) True or False? According to the book of Hebrews, if someone truly prays the “sinner’s prayer,” then they can be unconditionally assured of salvation.
31) True or False? To return from Christianity to Judaism or to continue to offer blood sacrifices constitutes a denial of the significance and efficacy of Christ’s death.
32) True or False? The reason the unforgivable sin is unforgivable is because by rejecting the work of Christ, one cuts oneself off from the only means of forgiveness and salvation available.
33) True or False? Anyone worried about committing the unforgivable sin or becoming apostate hasn’t done so.
34) According to the textbook, who wrote the book of James?
A) James, son of Zebedee, brother of JohnB) James the younger, one of the Twelve disciplesC) James, half-brother of Jesus, leader of the Jerusalem churchD) James, father of Judas (not Iscariot), one of the Twelve disciples
35) Who are “diaspora” Jews in the context of James’ letter?
A) “Scattered” Jews who do not live in PalestineB) “Wayward” Jews who do not observe TorahC) “Missionary” Jews, sent to other nationsD) The “lost” tribes of Jews, who were deported during the Assyrian conquest (722 BC)
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36) If Letters to the Church is correct about who wrote the Epistle of James, from which region of the ancient world did he most likely write?
A) RomeB) Asia MinorC) EgyptD) Palestine
37) James uses the word “Jesus” only twice. How does he most often refer to Jesus Christ?
A) SonB) LordC) ShepherdD) High Priest
38) Which of Jesus’ teachings does James draw on most?
A) Olivet DiscourseB) Sermon on the MountC) Upper-room discourseD) Galilean ministry
39) What is the “royal law” that James mentions?
A) Love God and Love Your Neighbor.B) Honor the King.C) Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.D) We cannot be sure.
40) According to Letters to the Church, the differences between Paul and James regarding faith and works are best explained by the fact that:
A) Paul misunderstood James.B) Paul and James substantially disagreed.C) Paul and James wrote independently of one another.D) James misunderstood Paul.
41) During the intertestamental period, the Jewish wisdom tradition developed an explicit identification of wisdom with
A) TorahB) WealthC) KnowledgeD) Pleasure
42) True or False? Since the epistle of James uses several terms in common with the Gnostics, we can assume that the author wrote after the rise of Gnosticism.
43) True or False? In James, Jesus shares the role of lawgiver with God.
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44) True or False? James relies on eschatology primarily to explain the exact sequence of future events.
45) True or False? James teaches that it is impossible to be wealthy and to be a Christian.
46) According to Letters to the Church, who likely wrote the epistle of Jude (Judas)?
A) Judas IscariotB) Jude, son of James, an apostleC) Jude, half-brother of JesusD) Judas Barsabbas
47) Letters to the Church proposes a date for Jude’s letter no later than AD 80. What is the significance of that date?
A) The destruction of JerusalemB) The death of James, half-brother of JesusC) Approximate life-span for a younger brother of JesusD) The letter gives this date.
48) Jude quotes from which pseudepigraphal book?
A) Testament of the Twelve PatriarchsB) 1 EnochC) 4 EzraD) 2 Baruch
49) The major purpose of Jude’s letter was
A) To teach about his brother, JesusB) To warn against false ChristiansC) To teach Christian doctrineD) To preach the gospel
50) True or False? The Greek of Jude’s letter is not very good, which is how we know he wrote in Hebrew.
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Name: ______________________
Final Exam on 1–2 Peter and 1–3 Johnwith answers
Each question is worth two points.
1) Scholars doubt that Simon Peter wrote 1 Peter for various reasons. Which of the following is NOT a reason some doubt?
A) His use of Greek is too good for a provincial Aramaic-speaking fisherman.B) His theology doesn’t correspond to Peter’s other letter, 2 Peter.C) The letter reflects a church situation after Simon Peter’s death.D) Christianity could not have reached the remote areas of Asia Minor addressed in the
letter during Peter’s lifetime.
2) Letters to the Church proposes that Peter’s addressees, the Christians in northern Asia Minor, may have been expelled or sent from which city?
A) AlexandriaB) AthensC) RomeD) Carthage
3) Which of the following distinguish the “household code” in 1 Peter from Greco-Roman household codes in the 1st century? Which is distinctive to 1 Peter?
A) Peter addresses slaves and wives directly as moral agents.B) Peter admonishes wives to submit to their husbands regarding worshipping his god(s).C) Peter teaches that wives should seek company only in her husband’s circle of friends.D) None of the above distinguishes Peter from other 1st century household codes.
4) Which of the Gospels is associated with Peter?
A) MatthewB) MarkC) Luke D) John
5) What is the distinctive feature of Peter’s Christology compared with other New Testament writers?
A) Jesus is the divine Logos.B) Jesus is the greatest moral teacher.C) Jesus is the second Adam.D) Jesus is the suffering servant.
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6) According to Letters to the Church, which member of society does Peter use as a paradigm for all Christians?
A) PrinceB) Slave C) HusbandD) Son
7) According to Letters to the Church, the Jewish writing that likely forms part of the background for understanding how Jesus preached to the “spirits in prison” is
A) 1 EnochB) 1 MaccabeesC) BaruchD) Psalms
8) Which of the following is NOT an image for Jesus Christ in 1 Peter?
A) Sacrificial lambB) Tighteous teacherC) Living cornerstoneD) Suffering servant
9) Peter’s reference to Jesus as the “living stone” implies
A) Jesus is the cornerstoneB) Jesus is rejectedC) All believers are built on JesusD) All of the above
10) Letters to the Church proposes that 1 Peter is the primary New Testament book to address which of the following issues?
A) The Christian’s engagement with the dominant societyB) The relationship between Adam and ChristC) Justification by faithD) Christ’s atonement and the cessation of animal sacrifices
11) Which image does Peter use to describe when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ?
A) TransformationB) New birthC) ResurrectionD) Resolution
12) Which term does Peter use to describe the Christian’s position in the world?
A) NativeB) Resident alienC) ConquerorD) Mercenary
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13) True or False? The book of 1 Peter does not make a distinctive contribution to NT theology in comparison with other NT epistles.
14) True or False? Based on early Christian writings, the reception of 1 Peter into the canon does not seem to have been disputed.
15) True or False? The Greek of 1 Peter shows syntactical evidence of being the author’s second language.
16) True or False? The persecution faced by Peter’s addressees was most likely that of the Roman emperor Nero.
17) True or False? Peter calls his readers “foreigners” to highlight the way their faith sets them apart from unbelieving society.
18) True or False? 1 Peter celebrates the truth that because Christ suffered, believers can avoid suffering.
19) True or False? We know that Peter is writing to Jews because he addresses his audience using Israel’s OT titles such as “kingdom of priests” and “holy nation.”
20) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, the phrase in the creed, “he descended into hell,” was originally equivalent to the phrase “he was buried.”
21) True or False? Peter taught that slavery was incompatible with Christian theology.
22) True or False? We know that Peter primarily addressed Jews rather than Gentiles in his letter because he called them “foreigners.”
23) True or False? According to Peter, Christians should not be surprised to be persecuted.
24) True or False? Peter encourages believers to live apart from pagan society.
25) True or False? The image of believers as “living stones” implies that community is an important aspect of Christian identity.
26) True or False? Peter encourages believers toward social and political activism.
27) When a book is attributed to one person but written by another, we call this
A) ApocryphalB) Deutero-canonicalC) PseudepigraphalD) Inspired
28) When interpreters of 2 Peter call it a “testament,” what do they mean?
A) 2 Peter gives a testimony about Christ.B) 2 Peter tests its readers with questions and commands.C) 2 Peter gives the last words of the apostle Peter.
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D) 2 Peter addresses a concrete situation in the readers’ lives.
29) Which significant word does 2 Peter 3:16 use to describe Paul’s letters?
A) HolyB) InspiredC) ScripturesD) Testament
30) According to Letters to the Church, it is likely that 2 Peter confronts the heresy of
A) GnosticismB) MontanismC) StoicismD) Epicureanism
31) Which of the following does 2 Peter cite as characteristic of the heresy he is writing against?
A) Proposing the apostolic testimony are fabricated storiesB) Denying that the Day of the Lord will comeC) Encouraging a licentious lifestyleD) All of the above
32) Much of Second Peter is verbally identical to which other New Testament book?
A) MarkB) JudeC) 1 PeterD) Philemon
33) True or False? The style, vocabulary, and syntax of 2 Peter are very different from 1 Peter.
34) True or False? Because Gnosticism was not fully developed until the second century, 2 Peter could not have been written before that time.
35) True or False? The early church only rejected pseudonymous letters that were motivated by greed.
36) True or False? Second Peter shares several features with the ancient testament genre.
37) True or False? Some scholars attribute the book of 2 Peter to Linus, bishop of Rome.
38) True or False? Second Peter exhibits a very strong Greek literary influence.
39) Which of John’s epistles is NOT in the form of a typical Hellenistic letter?
A) 1 JohnB) 2 JohnC) 3 JohnD) All three letters are in the typical form of a Hellenistic letter.
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40) According to Letters to the Church, which of the following was the most likely reason for writing 1 John?
A) To reassure the readers of the truth despite the departure of someB) To confront Jewish legalism in the churchC) To reconcile two individuals in the church who had a personal disagreementD) To encourage the believers to stand in the midst of tribulation
41) Which heresy claimed that Jesus was a pure spirit and only seemed to have a human body?
A) ArianismB) AdoptionismC) DocetismD) Ophism
42) True or False? In 1 John, the “world” is always understood negatively, as the world in subjugation to sin.
43) True or False? According to Letters to the Church, the idea of a “Johannine Community” is built on very slim evidence.
44) True or False? John is primarily concerned with the spiritual realities concerning Jesus, rather than his earthly life.
45) How does the author refer to himself in 2 and 3 John?
A) The apostleB) The elderC) The bishopD) John
46) According to Letters to the Church, who is the “chosen lady” in 2 John?
A) The woman in whose house the church gatheredB) The church as a group of Christians in one placeC) The elder’s wifeD) The universal church as all Christians everywhere
47) Which practical issue of Christian life is the dominant concern in 2 and 3 John?
A) Paying taxesB) Eating food sacrificed to idolsC) Showing hospitality D) Serving in the Roman military
48) To whom is 3 John written?
A) To Demetrius, bishop of the churchB) To Onesimus, owner of the slave DiotrephesC) To Diotrephes, urging him to return to the faithD) To Gaius, urging him to care for Demetrius
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49) Compared to other surviving documents from the ancient world, 3 John is most like
A) A diaspora letterB) An apostolic decreeC) John is not like any other surviving documentD) A letter of introduction
50) Which of the following does NOT represent the teaching of 2 and 3 John on hospitality?
A) Hospitality is a spiritual gift given to some believers.B) Hospitality should always be extended to those who preach the gospel.C) Hospitality should never be extended to those who preach a false gospel.D) Neither A nor C
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