1History is defined as a ________ of the past based on surviving ________.
record; evidence
2The two main categories of the church are the ________ church and the ________ church.
visible; invisible
3According to 1 Corinthians 10, Israel’s failures happened as ________ for us.
examples
4Luke’s historical method included using ________ and providing an ________ account.
eyewitnesses; orderly
5The ________ dynasty ruled Judea after the Maccabean revolt, later becoming corrupt.
Hasmonean
6The ________ were known for their oral traditions that built a “fence about the law.”
Pharisees
7The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in caves near ________ in 1947.
Qumran
8The Greek translation of the OT is called the ________.
Septuagint (LXX)
9Josephus’s major work covering the Jewish revolt is ________.
The Jewish War
10The ________ Scroll, made of copper, describes hidden treasures across Judea.
Copper
11What is the definition of history according to the lecture?
Record of the past based on surviving evidence.
12What is the visible church?
The institutional church as it appears on earth with various organizations.
13What is the invisible church?
The body of all believers of all ages united through Jesus Christ.
14What characterized Samuel and Kings as prophetic history?
Focus on violation of covenant and coming judgment.
15What characterized Chronicles as priestly history?
Emphasis on proper worship and relation to priests.
16What does “warts and all” mean in studying history?
Studying the bad as well as the good, as examples for us.
17What does the universality of sin teach when judging historical figures?
All people need to repent; we should not assume why tragedy occurred.
18What lesson does John 9:1-3 provide about God’s providence in suffering?
God’s ways are often inscrutable; suffering may display His works.
19What Greek historical practice did Luke employ according to Luke 1:1-4?
Researching eyewitness accounts and providing an orderly account.
20What Hebrew historical emphasis is present in Luke 1:1-4?
Truth found in revelation from God; divine inspiration guarantees accuracy.
21Why does Luke trace Jesus’ genealogy back to Adam?
To show Christ as the incarnate God for all humanity.
22What is the evangelical approach’s awareness in studying history?
Awareness of true spiritual life behind historical events.
23What is a limitation of the evangelical approach in church history?
We will not attempt to determine the conversion of historical figures.
24What does a “doctrinally conscious” approach to history require?
Evaluating events by how they align with Scripture.
25What does Fundamentalism mean in the context of this course?
Belief in central essentials of Christianity as the basis of fellowship.
26What key difference between history and Scripture does Luke 1:4 highlight?
Scripture gives certainty; history gives likelihood.
27Why is history not the best apologetic?
It provides an uncertain basis; Scripture has ultimate authority.
28What caution must we exercise when discerning God’s providence in history?
We must do so in accord with Scripture; we cannot always discern His purposes.
29What four stages frame history according to a Christian worldview?
Creation, fall, redemption, consummation.
30Who were the Pharisees?
Strict law-keepers who added oral traditions as a fence around the law.
31Who were the Sadducees?
Aristocratic rationalists who accepted only the Pentateuch and denied resurrection.
32Who were the Essenes?
Separatists who lived a monastic life; associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran.
33Who were the Zealots?
Jewish political revolutionaries who opposed Roman rule and practiced assassination.
34What is the synagogue?
A gathering place for prayer and Scripture study that became the center of Jewish life.
35What was the Sanhedrin?
The ruling body of a synagogue; the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem functioned like a legislature.
36What is the Septuagint (LXX)?
Greek translation of the OT, produced in Egypt during the intertestamental period.
37What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Ancient manuscripts hidden in Qumran caves, including biblical copies and Essene writings.
38What is the Apocrypha?
Jewish writings from the intertestamental period, not Scripture, including history, wisdom, and fiction.
39Who was Josephus?
A Jewish aristocratic Pharisee who became a Roman historian after the Jewish revolt.
40What is The Jewish War by Josephus?
History from Antiochus Epiphanes to the fall of Masada; considered his best work.
41What is the Antiquities of the Jews?
First written history of the Jews, retelling OT and adding traditions, up to Josephus’s time.
42What does “gospel” mean?
Good news.
43What does the perspicuity of Scripture mean?
Clarity; not obscure or esoteric.
44What dual role did the Hasmoneans hold?
Ruler and high priest.
45What were client kings in Roman rule?
Local rulers subject to Rome who governed on Rome’s behalf.
46Who developed allegorical interpretation that influenced later Christians?
Philo of Alexandria.
47What is the significance of the Isaiah Scroll among the Dead Sea Scrolls?
It is the oldest complete copy of Isaiah and shows careful manuscript transmission.
48How do Samuel/Kings differ from Chronicles in their historical focus?
Samuel/Kings focus on covenant violation and judgment; Chronicles focuses on proper worship and priests.
49Contrast the Greek and Hebrew historical approaches found in Luke’s writings.
Greek: critical research, eyewitnesses, order; Hebrew: revelation, divine inspiration, providence.
50What is the difference between the visible and invisible church?
Visible is the earthly institution; invisible is the body of all true believers.
51Compare the Pharisees and Sadducees regarding Scripture and beliefs.
Pharisees accepted all Scripture and oral tradition, believed in resurrection; Sadducees only Pentateuch, no resurrection.
52How does Josephus’s account of John the Baptist’s death differ from the Gospels?
Josephus says Herod Antipas executed him out of fear of rebellion, not just marital criticism.
53Differentiate history from Scripture in terms of authority.
History has no ultimate authority; Scripture is binding and infallible.
54What is the difference between The Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews?
Jewish War focuses on the revolt and eyewitness events; Antiquities is a comprehensive history from creation.
55Contrast the Maccabean revolt with the later Hasmonean dynasty.
The revolt fought for religious freedom; the Hasmoneans became corrupt and cruel rulers.
56How did Roman rule of Judea differ under Herod the Great versus Pontius Pilate?
Herod was a client king; Pilate was a direct Roman governor.
57How do the accounts of the man born blind (John 9) and the slain Galileans (Luke 13) differ in lesson?
John 9 shows God’s inscrutable sovereignty; Luke 13 stresses universal need for repentance.
58Compare the role of the high priesthood during Antiochus Epiphanes and the Hasmoneans.
Under Antiochus it was a political prize bought by bribery; under Hasmoneans it was combined with kingship.
59A student reads 1 Corinthians 10 and asks why study the failures of church history. What biblical principle applies?
Bad examples serve as warnings so we will not fall as they did (warts and all).
60If a historian claims to know exactly why a tragic event occurred, which biblical passages caution against such certainty?
Luke 13:1-5 and John 9:1-3.
61A researcher wants to prove Peter was never in Rome to refute the papacy. Why is this a weak historical argument?
You cannot prove a negative historically; use biblical arguments instead.
62A new student says, “I only want to study revivals, not the dark parts of church history.” How would you respond?
The Bible presents history warts and all; bad examples instruct us (1 Cor 10).
63A scholar claims the Dead Sea Scrolls have no value for NT studies. Which finding challenges this?
Parallels like “love your neighbor and hate your enemy” (cf. Matt 5:43) and light/darkness imagery.
64What would you say to a friend who argues history is just as authoritative as the Bible for doctrine?
History gives likelihood, not certainty; only Scripture is inspired and binding.
65A pastor illustrates with Antiochus Epiphanes. What event did he carry out called the “abomination of desolation”?
He erected an image of Zeus in the temple and offered pigs as sacrifices.
66How does the intertestamental period explain why synagogues existed throughout the Roman Empire?
The Diaspora after the exile led to synagogue worship without a temple; synagogues remained even after the temple was rebuilt.
67A student notes Luke’s Gospel has a Greek-style prologue but then shifts to Hebrew style. What does this reveal?
Luke combined Greek research methods with Hebrew divine revelation to produce an orderly, inspired account.
68Why might a Jew in Jesus’ time be suspicious of a tax collector like Matthew, given the groups studied?
Zealots saw tax collectors as Roman collaborators; having a former tax collector among disciples was provocative.
69If someone claims the Apocrypha is inspired Scripture, how does the lecture classify it?
As Jewish intertestamental writings that are not Scripture, though useful historically.
70What modern Jewish festival originates from the Maccabean revolt?
Hanukkah (Feast of Lights).
71A historian argues Alexander the Great visited Jerusalem and learned of Daniel’s prophecies. How would you evaluate this?
It is a legend; he probably never went to Jerusalem.
72Why was Herod the Great disturbed when the Magi asked about the “King of the Jews”?
The Roman Senate had given him that title; any rival king threatened his rule.
73How does the account of the man born blind guide our interpretation of suffering in church history?
It teaches that God may allow suffering to display His works, and we cannot always discern His purposes.
74If a student says, “We should only focus on the spiritual, invisible church in history,” why is that insufficient?
Church history must deal with the visible institution as well, because we don’t know who belongs to the invisible church.
75A student asks, “Why did God allow the Reformation?” Based on the principle of causation, how would you respond?
God uses human means and instrumentality; examine both divine providence and historical causes.
76In studying a corrupt medieval pope, how does the principle of “universality of sin” shape our assessment?
It reminds us that all are sinners in need of repentance, and we should not judge self-righteously.
77A classmate cites Josephus as always reliable for OT history. What caution would you give?
Antiquities is dependable only when it duplicates the OT; elsewhere he inserts traditions and personal views.
78What event allowed Josephus to predict Vespasian’s rise and later gain Roman patronage?
Josephus prophesied that Vespasian would become emperor after being captured.
79From which period is Josephus’s Antiquities considered most dependable?
From Herod the Great onward.
80What four major Jewish groups arose in the intertestamental period?
Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots
81List three types of literature found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Biblical manuscripts, Jewish literature/commentaries, Essene community documents
82Name three types of content found in the Apocrypha according to the lecture.
History books, wisdom literature, pious fiction
83List the four stages of the Christian worldview framework for history.
Creation, fall, redemption, consummation
84What two major historical works did Josephus write?
The Jewish War, Antiquities of the Jews
85List three characteristics of the Essenes.
Separatists, near-monastic life, copied and stored Dead Sea Scrolls
86What two biblical patterns of history are seen in Samuel/Kings and Chronicles?
Prophetic history (covenant violation, judgment), priestly history (proper worship)
87What event in Josephus parallels Acts 12 and describes Herod Agrippa I’s death?
Herod accepted worship, then lingered five days before dying.
88Who does Josephus identify as “that Egyptian” in a parallel to Acts 21:38?
An insurrectionist leader with many followers, though details differ from Acts.
89Which New Testament figure’s death is recorded by Josephus but not in the Bible?
James the Just, brother of Christ, stoned by order of the high priest.
90According to Josephus, which Roman commander tried to restrain soldiers during the destruction of Jerusalem?
Titus.
91What is the Testimonium Flavianum?
A passage in Josephus’s Antiquities that briefly describes the ministry of Christ.
92What is the most common scholarly view on the Testimonium Flavianum’s authenticity?
Josephus wrote about Christ, but later Christians added explicitly Christian phrases.
93How did Josephus view history in contrast to the Greek cyclical view?
Linear and teleological, moving toward a goal under God’s providence.
94What was Josephus’s apologetic purpose in writing history?
To defend Judaism and explain God’s reasons for judgment to the Roman world.
95What Jewish institution became a teaching center and starting point for Paul’s missionary work?
The synagogue.
96Which Greek contribution gave the early church a common language for the NT and the Septuagint?
The universality of the Greek language.
97Which Roman era of peace and stability facilitated the spread of the gospel?
Pax Romana (30 BC–AD 180).
98What Roman legal right did Paul invoke to avoid scourging and appeal to Caesar?
Roman citizenship.
99How does Acts 1:1 define a Gospel?
“All that Jesus began both to do and teach.”
100Why must the Christ of faith equal the Jesus of history for Christianity?
If Jesus did not exist historically, Christianity collapses; faith is tied to real events.
101What phrase in Jude 3 indicates the faith is not evolutionary?
“The faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
102Why is Jesus’ birth dated to 4–6 BC despite the AD dating system?
Herod the Great died around 4 BC, and he ordered infants up to two years old killed.
103What is the likely time frame of Jesus’ earthly ministry based on Luke 3 and John 2?
AD 27–30.
104What fraction of archaeological evidence remains according to Yamauchi’s five-step reduction?
Only a fraction of what survived, was surveyed, excavated, examined, and published.
105What 1961 find confirmed Pontius Pilate’s governorship under Tiberius?
The Pontius Pilate inscription at Caesarea.
106What archaeological discovery contained an ossuary of the high priest Caiaphas?
A 1990 find in Jerusalem.
107What pattern of gospel expansion does Acts 1:8 outline?
Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth.
108What was the central doctrinal issue at the Council of Jerusalem?
Justification: whether Gentiles must follow the law to be saved.
109What event in AD 70 increased the distinction between Jews and Christians?
The destruction of Jerusalem.
110What three criteria are used to evaluate the reliability of a tradition?
Chronological proximity, geographical proximity, number of witnesses, inherent likelihood, corroborating details.
111What did Papias claim about the origin of Mark’s Gospel?
Mark wrote based on the preaching of Peter.
112What two false teachings are named among the seven churches of Revelation?
Nicolaitans and Jezebel.
113Why were Christians accused of being “atheists” and unpatriotic?
They refused to worship the Roman gods or offer incense to the emperor’s divinity.
114What vile rumor contributed to persecution of early Christians?
Accusations of incest and cannibalism (eating babies).
115Which Roman emperor blamed Christians for the great fire of Rome?
Nero.
116Which philosopher-emperor persecuted Christians as disobedient atheists and lawbreakers?
Marcus Aurelius.
117Name the Christian apologist martyred under Marcus Aurelius.
Justin Martyr.
118What test does a Christian fail by refusing to burn incense to Caesar?
The emperor worship test.
119What term describes Nero’s persecution in terms of geographic scope?
Localized mainly to Rome and central Italy, not empire-wide.
120How does Josephus’s account of Herod Agrippa’s death complement Acts 12?
Both describe divine judgment after accepting worship; Josephus adds a five-day delay.
121What does the legend of Nero playing the lyre while Rome burned illustrate?
It is probably untrue but shows Nero’s reputation and the need for a scapegoat.
122How did the destruction of Jerusalem affect the relationship between Jews and Christians?
Christians fled, and by the end of the 1st century Jews declared no Jew could be a Christian.
123Contrast Jewish and Roman persecution of early Christians.
Jewish persecution was earlier and religious; Roman persecution was later, often for atheism or disloyalty.
124How does the “linear” view of history differ from the Greek “cyclical” view?
Linear sees history moving toward a God-ordained goal; cyclical sees endless repetition.
125Why might some scholars prefer Josephus over Luke, and what counters that view?
They claim Luke borrowed from Josephus, but conservative dating (AD 60s) makes borrowing impossible; differences show independence.
126Differentiate between the faith “delivered” (Jude 3) and an evolutionary view of Christianity.
Delivered faith is fixed and complete from the start; evolutionary view sees beliefs developing and changing.
127What three cultural streams shaped the setting of the NT world?
Jewish religion, Greek intellect/language, Roman government/peace.
128List the five fractions of archaeological evidence according to Yamauchi.
Fraction that survived, surveyed, excavated, examined, and published.
129Name three significant archaeological discoveries that illuminate the NT era.
Dead Sea Scrolls, Pontius Pilate inscription, Galilee Boat, Ossuary of Caiaphas.
130List two reasons Christians were deemed unpatriotic by Romans.
Refusal to worship Roman gods, refusal to offer incense to the emperor’s divinity.
131Name three Roman sources that mention early Christianity.
Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, and imperial correspondence.