Question 1

Most ancient documents were produced for an elite minority, not for the general public.

Accepted Answer

Most ancient documents, including religious texts, legal codes, and literature, were produced by and for an elite minority who were literate and had the resources to commission or create such works, leaving the majority of the population, who were illiterate, without access to these documents.

Question 2

The New Testament documents were read aloud by lectors who were literate readers familiar with the document and read it to the congregation.

Accepted Answer

In early Christian communities, lectors were indeed literate individuals who read the New Testament documents aloud to the congregation, as many members of these communities were illiterate and relied on oral transmission to learn the teachings.

Question 3

The primary source of information in the Biblical world was oral communication, not written texts.

Accepted Answer

In the Biblical world, oral tradition was the primary means of transmitting knowledge, stories, laws, and cultural practices, as literacy rates were low and written texts were less accessible to the general population.

Question 4

Every English translation is already an interpretation of the Greek original text.

Accepted Answer

Translations inherently involve interpreting the original text's meanings, nuances, and contexts, which can vary among translators, making each English version an interpretation of the Greek original.

Question 5

An oral culture is a culture in which a large part of the communication takes place by written text.
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Accepted Answer

An oral culture is one in which most communication occurs through spoken word rather than written text.

Question 6

The most common writing material in the New Testament world was . . .&#10;A) parchment.&#10;B) papyrus.&#10;C) clay tablets.&#10;D) pressed onion skins.

Accepted Answer

Papyrus was the most common writing material in the New Testament world, made from the pith of the papyrus plant. It was widely used in ancient times for writing documents, letters, and literary texts.

Question 7

Approximately what percentage of people in the ancient world could read and write?&#10;A) 10-20&#10;B) 30-40&#10;C) 40-60&#10;D) 70-90

Accepted Answer

Literacy rates in the ancient world were generally low, with estimates suggesting that only about 10-20% of the population could read and write. This was largely due to the fact that education was a privilege of the elite, and many societies did not see the need for widespread literacy.

Question 8

An unrolled scroll containing the entire Gospel of Luke would measure about . . .&#10;A) 3 feet.&#10;B) 8 feet.&#10;C) 20 feet.&#10;D) 60 feet.

Accepted Answer

Ancient scrolls, like those that would contain the texts of the New Testament, were made from papyrus or parchment and could be quite lengthy. The Gospel of Luke is one of the longer books in the New Testament. Scholarly estimates based on the length of the text and the typical size of ancient writing materials suggest that a scroll of Luke could be around 20 feet long. This estimate takes into account the average number of words that could be written in a column, the typical width of columns, and the standard height of scrolls.

Question 9

Papyrus is . . .&#10;A) vegetable matter.&#10;B) animal skin.&#10;C) hardened clay.&#10;D) dried liver membrane.

Accepted Answer

Papyrus is made from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge. It was used in ancient Egypt and other Mediterranean societies for writing long before paper became available. It is indeed vegetable matter.

Question 10

The primary reason that most ancient documents used a continuous flow of letters most likely was because it was . . .&#10;A) faster to read.&#10;B) more understandable to less educated people.&#10;C) more entertaining.&#10;D) more economical.

Accepted Answer

The primary reason most ancient documents used a continuous flow of letters, known as scriptio continua, was because it was more economical. This method saved space on expensive writing materials like papyrus, parchment, or vellum, allowing more content to be fit into a smaller area.

Question 11

Why were libraries in antiquity most likely loud places?&#10;A) They were usually built next to gyms.&#10;B) They were usually built next to restaurants.&#10;C) Patrons frequently dropped the clay tablets.&#10;D) Patrons almost always read out loud.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why were libraries in antiquity most likely...

Question 12

The author describes the New Testament as . . .&#10;A) a holy book.&#10;B) a memoir.&#10;C) a will.&#10;D) a collection of Christian writings.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The author describes the New Testament as...

Question 13

This introductory textbook prioritizes . . .&#10;A) the New Living Translation (NIV).&#10;B) the Common English Bible (CEB).&#10;C) the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).&#10;D) the Greek New Testament.

Accepted Answer

The answer of This introductory textbook prioritizes . . .&#10;A)...

Question 14

What holds pride of place as the single most influential book in all of history?&#10;A) The Power of Positive Thinking&#10;B) Think and Grow Rich&#10;C) The Koran&#10;D) The Bible

Accepted Answer

The answer of What holds pride of place as the...

Question 15

In what sense does the author use the word &#34;rhetoric&#34; in this chapter?&#10;A) hollow, insincere speech&#10;B) persuasive speech&#10;C) flowery speech&#10;D) memorizable speech

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what sense does the author use...

Question 16

Why was oral communication the preferred medium in the ancient world? What significance does that have for our understanding of the New Testament?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why was oral communication the preferred medium...

Question 17

Explain the challenges that the writing process presented to authors in antiquity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the challenges that the writing process...

Question 18

Explain the challenges that the writing process presents to readers and interpreters.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the challenges that the writing process...

Question 19

Assess the general value of translations of the New Testament texts

Accepted Answer

The answer of Assess the general value of translations of...

Deck 1: The Texture of the Text of the New Testament