A Review/Study Guide for
the New Testament
by Prof. Felix Just, S.J.
Twenty-four Questions
Seeking Brief Responses:
(Objective Part of the Final Exam)
1.
 What are the definitions & original
meanings of:
"Philosophy" & "Theology,"
"Religion" & "Faith,"
"Christianity" & "Church"?
2.
 Define & distinguish:
Bible, Testament, Apocrypha,
scripture, canon, genre, Gospel,
Acts, Epistle, Homily, Apocalypse,
etc.
3.
 Define & contrast:
primary/secondary literature,
manuscripts/print editions,
papyrus/vellum,
scroll/codex,
exegesis/eisegesis,
etc.
4.
 What are the main differences (in
language, date, divisions, order,
number & titles of books) between
the HB & the LXX?
5.
 How & why is the Old Testament
slightly different in Orthodox,
Catholic, and Protestant Bibles?
 Is the NT different?
6.
 When & by whom was the Hebrew
Bible "canonized“?
 What were the main criteria?
 [Same questions also for the NT.]
7.
 Name & describe the "seven pillars
of ancient Judaism.“
 How are these related to the main
"covenants" of the Hebrew Bible?
8.
 How are some key OT characters
(Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Moses,
David, Elijah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel,
etc.) used in the NT?
9.
 What were the main groups or
"sects" within ancient Judaism at the
time of Jesus?
 How were they different from each
other?
10.
 Name all 27 NT books in canonical
order.
 Name the 7 "undisputed" Pauline
letters in their most likely
chronological order.
11.
 Name & briefly explain the 4 "criteria
for canonicity"
 and the 10 stages (esp. 1-4!) in the
formation & transmission of the NT.
12.
 Briefly explain the "four-fold role of
the Evangelists" as authors.
 What are the "attributed" vs.
"implied" vs. "actual" authors?
13.
 How & why are the canonical
Gospels similar to "ancient
biographies,"
 and how are these different from
modern biographies?
14.
 What are the "rules of thumb" and
the "specific criteria" scholars use to
determine the historical accuracy of
Jesus traditions?
15.
 What is the "Synoptic Problem"?
 Diagram & explain the "Four-Source
Theory" preferred by most scholars
today as its solution.
16.
 What is the "theological geography"
or structural outline of the Acts of the
Apostles? How is Acts related to
Luke's Gospel?
17.
 What is the overall "literary
structure" (main sections &
subsections) of Paul’s letters & most
other early Christian epistles?
18.
 What are the particular problems
addressed and the main themes
discussed in each of the NT letters &
epistles?
19.
 What is "pseudepigraphy"?
 Why are the six deutero-Pauline
letters considered "pseudepigraphic"
by many scholars?
20.
 Name the "Pastoral Letters" & the
"Catholic Epistles."
 What do "pastoral" & "catholic"
mean?
 By & to whom were they written?
21.
 What is the literary genre of the so-
called "Letter to the Hebrews"?
 Why is it not really a "letter"?
 Who is its (implied) author?
22.
 What is the literary genre of the
"Book of Revelation"?
 What are the main characteristics of
"apocalyptic" literature?
23.
 What happened in the years 4 BC,
and AD 30, 50, 70, 90?
 Why & how are these dates & events
important for NT studies?
24.
 Why are there so many
discrepancies in NT manuscripts?
 How do textual critics determine the
most likely original readings?
Twenty-four Questions
Needing Essay Answers:
Essay Part of the Final Exam
1.
 What are the main characteristics of
"apocalypticism"?
 Why is early Christianity often
considered an "apocalyptic"
movement?
2.
 What does each of the Gospels say
about Christology and discipleship,
and how are these teachings related
to each other?
3.
 What is the basic outline of each
canonical Gospel?
 What are the major literary features
and thematic emphases of each?
4.
 How is the Fourth Gospel (John)
different from the Synoptics (Matt,
Mark, Luke) in content, chronology,
style, and theology?
5.
 How is the community life of the
early Christians portrayed in Acts 14?
 How are the apostles portrayed
throughout Acts?
6.
 What are the five main phases of
Saul/Paul's life?
 Where was he (& when & why) during
each of these phases?
7.
 Who were Paul's main missionary
associates?
 How did he relate differently to his
"full partners" vs. his "junior
associates" vs. his "converts"?
8.
 Describe some major differences
between ancient & modern times in
prisons/trials, slavery, travel, roads,
mail, etc.
9.
 What are the main differences
between the eschatology (end-time
teachings) of 1 Thess and that of 2
Thess?
10.
 How did Paul feel towards the
Christians at Philippi?
 How did they help him?
 What was the role of Epaphroditus?
11.
 Describe Paul's complex interactions
with the Christians in Corinth?
 What main issues are addressed in 1
Cor & 2 Cor?
12.
 What does Paul say about
the "resurrection of Jesus" &
the "resurrection of the body"
in general in 1 Cor 15?
13.
 Who are Philemon and Onesimus?
 How are they related to Paul, and
what does Paul want each of them to
do?
14.
 What does Paul tell his Gentile-
Christian converts in Galatia about
circumcision and other Jewish ritual
laws, and why?
15.
 How does the Olive Tree metaphor
illustrate Paul's teaching in Romans
11 about the relationship between
Jews & Gentiles?
16.
 Compare & contrast what James &
Paul say about "faith vs. works."
 Why do their teachings apparently
but not actually contradict each
other?
17.
 What is the main purpose of the
"Household Codes" in Colossians &
Ephesians?
 Which groups are mentioned in
them?
18.
 How do 1 Timothy & Titus describe
the leadership structure of local
Christian communities?
 How is it different from local church
leadership structures today?
19.
 Why & how does the Epistle to the
Hebrews justify calling Jesus a
"great high priest, according to the
order of Melchizedek"?
20.
 According to 1 Peter, how are
Christians supposed to respond to
persecutions?
 What is the role of suffering for
Christians?
21.
 What does 2 Peter say about the
second coming of Jesus, the end of
the world, and the reason for the
"delay of the parousia"?
22.
 According to the letters of John &
Jude, what were some major causes
of division within or between early
Christian churches?
23.
 What was the purpose and the
original audience of the Book of
Revelation?
 Describe its outline, content, and
main symbolism.
24.
 Name & describe some early
Christian writings that were not
included in the NT.
 How is this literature still important
today?