Hermenutics Test 4

What are the Gospels?

The good news before the NT

What was the gospels applied towards?

The four canonical gospels

What are the two gospels brought up in class?

The Gospel of Thomas

The Gospel of Judas

What are the non-canonical gospels?

Infancy Gospel of Thomas

The Gospel of Peter

What types of gospels do not follow the genre?

Noncanonical Gospels

In the early centuries, gospels were not viewed as a separate genere. What were they instead?

1. Biography

2. Aretaology

3. Comedy

4. Tragedy

5. Parable

What is a biography?

Not by modern standards

What is aretalogy?

Episode in the life of a divine man; this usually exaggerates the feats of famous warriors

What is a comedy?

A story with a triumphant ending

What is a tragedy?

A story where the hero is defeated

What is a parable?

The whole gospel is one long metaphor

What was the Gospel of Thomas?

a loose connection of saying of Jesus

What was the Gospel of Judas?

Jesus asked Judas to betray him

What gospel was in the Gnostic late 2nd century?

The Gospel of Judas

What is the Infancy Gospel of Thomas?

A collection of unsustained childhood stories

What is the Gospel of Peter?

Resurrection stories

What is the gospel in reality?

A theological biography

What is a theological biography?

They are historical, but the author chooses the events to fit his theme

What are the two problems with the gospels?

1. Theological - biblical faith has historical character as its foundation

2. The writers claim to be historical

What is the main issue with the gospels?

They don’t always fit our idea of history

In a sense, what are the gospel writers?

Preachers

Where is the source of authority located?

Inspired writings, not facts

What were the authors?

Historians and theologians

What is a form of gospel?

Parables

What is a parable?

An earthly story with a heavenly meaning

What does parable mean in Greek

Para - alongside of

Ballo - throw down

Are parables new?

No, II Samuel 12:1-10

What are the purposes of parables (Matthew 13:10-15)?

1. Reveal the truth to believers

2. Hide the truth from those who hardened their hearts

How were parables interpreted historically?

Allegorically

How do we interpret parables now?

1. Explore the historical settings

2. Look for the main points - usually one main truth

What should we ask ourselves when we look for the main point?

1. Ask what the teaching about the Kingdom of God is. Does it refer to the Kingdom of God?

2. Consider the key characteristics

How much of the parables have three characters?

2/3rds

Most of the rest have two

What kind of attempts have been made toward miracle stories?

Demythologize them

What ways have miracles stories been demythologized?

1. Natural explanations - walking on a sandbar

2. Myths to promote the divinity of Jesus

What did miracle stories attempt to do?

1. Attempt to show who Jesus was

2. To show the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God

What are pronouncement stories?

A self-narrative that functions to introduce a climatic saying of Jesus

How is typology different from an allegory?

There is a historical meaning in the text, but prefigure subsequent events.

What does the OT do?

Foreshadows things to come

What are the differences between types and symbols?

1. Symbols need not have any similarity to what they represent: Type resembles what they prefigure.

2. Types point forward, while some symbols do not

What is the difference between types and allegories?

Types seek links between historical events and personal allegories and find hidden meanings under the obvious meanings.

What are the characteristics of types?

1. There must be some notable point of resemblance

2. There must be some evidence of divine affirmation of the type or antitype

3. Must prefigure something in the future

Adam is a type of what?

God

What are the classifications of types?

1. A person whose life illustrates some great truth of redemption

2. A typcial event

3. A typical institution

4. Typical offices

What is the most important aspect of types to find?

Historical-cultural situations

What should we search for?

Points of compassion

What theme is the book of Acts?

Theological history

What did St. Paul determine about Luke?

Luke was a historian of the 1st rank

What are some things we must remember about Acts?

1. Acts 1:8 seems to be the them. We must ask how the various stories fit?

2. Think of Luke-Act as one unit

3. We also must recognize the significance of Pentecost

What is the turning point of Acts?

Between the Mosaic and the new Covanent.

When did Acts happen?

Transitional period

What do the Epistles contain?

1. Arguments

2. Rhetoric

3. Other genres

The Epistles are not just what?

Not just personal letters

How do we interpret the Epistles?

1. Read the letter as a whole

2. The letters must be read historically

3. Read the letters as a literary document

What is the common structure of Pauline letters?

1. Address

2. Greeting

3. Thanksgiving

4. Main body

5. Closing

6. Benidiction

A specific letter was written for particular what?

1. People

2. Time

3. Problem

What does Hebrews not have?

Doesn’t begin with a letter

What is James missing?

Doesn’t end like a letter

What is 1 John missing?

No salutation or closing

What does Hebrews call itself?

A word of exhortation

1 John and James seem like what?

Sermons

Half of the verses in James are what?

Imperatives

What are genres within the Epistles?

1. Creeds and Hymns

2. Domestic Codes

3. Slogans or sayings

4. Vice and Virtue lists

5. Diatribe

6. Letter of introduction or recommendation

7. Apologetic recommendation

8. Family letter

What is a diatribe?

Answering a hypothetical objection

Who did not write a commentary on The Revelation?

John Calvin

Why did Calvin not write a commentary on The Revelation?

He did not know what to do with it

How many different genres can fit Revelation?

3

What are the three different genres in Revelation?

1. An epistle

2. Prophecy

3. Apocalyptic

What is Revelation 1:4?

A letter to 7 churches

If Revelation is an epistle, what must we do?

We must pay attention to the historical background

If Revelation was a letter, who was it written to?

An identifiable group of believers

If Revelation was a letter, why was it written?

To encourage then during a time of persecution

What is Revelation linked to?

To contemporary events in the Roman empire

What are the 4 interpretations for prophecy in Revelation?

1. Preterist

2. Futurist

3. Idealist

4. Historicist

What does a preterist mean?

All events are in the past

What does futurist mean?

all events in the future (at least after Revelation 6)

What does idealist mean?

Symbolic of timeless struggle of good and evil

What does historicist mean?

Development of the entire church age

A conservative view believes there is a combination between what two prophecy types?

Preterist and Futurist

Symbols are what?

Warnings not literal photographs

What is the revelation?

Visions and dreams at the end of world history

Why is it important to make applications of Scriptures?

1. The Scripture repeatedly claims that people glorify God by obeying, that is applying, God’s word

2. The Bible claims that its message is relevant for later generations

How do we assure that we speak so people can hear?

1. Climb down off the academic mountain

2. Live where the people live

3. Ask the questions they are asking

What have we’ve spent the whole semester saying?

1. The first principle is to determine the original application of the passage

2. What is the application for our present time a culture?

What questions should we ask ourselves to make the right application?

1. Is there a command to obey

2. Is there an example to follow or avoid?

3. Is there a promise to claim?

4. Is there a warning to heed?

5. Is there a truth to believe?