Deck 13: Paul the Letter Writer Part Four: The Pastoral Epistles and the Problem of Pseudonymous Letters

Question 1

We have documents in the New Testament that are attributed to persons who actually had nothing to do with the composition of those documents.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Paul's letters have telltale signs that they were first drafts, not later, polished final drafts.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The definition of authorship in antiquity does not differ from the modern definition of authorship.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The Pastoral Epistles have falsely attributed authorship.

Question 5

Which of the following terms means "falsely attributed author"?

A) anonymous
B) synonymous
C) pseudonymous
D) pusillanimous

Question 6

Which of the following does your textbook suggest is the most appropriate definition of "authorship"?

A) the person who actually etched the writing on the manuscript
B) the person or persons who actually composed the document
C) the person or persons responsible for more than half of the contents of a particular document
D) a document that comes from the mind and thought world of X, with X being the catalyst and brain behind the composition

Question 7

If some of the New Testament writings are pseudonymous, it makes . . .

A) a great deal of difference when it comes to honesty and truthfulness.
B) an enormous difference when reconstructing the history of Christianity.
C) a big difference when tracing theological and ethical development in early Christianity.
D) All of the above
E) no practical difference at all.

Question 8

Ecclesiology is . . .

A) a term used to refer to the study of the church.
B) a term used to refer to the study of eschatology.
C) a term used to refer to the study of ethics.
D) a term used to refer to the study of doctrine.

Question 9

Many ancient documents were . . .

A) compilation documents.
B) like modern collections of essays.
C) Both a and b
D) None of the above

Question 10

The question of the authenticity of the New Testament documents matters in terms of . . .

A) ecclesiology.
B) history.
C) ethics.
D) All of above

Question 11

Most of Paul's letters bear the earmarks of . . .

A) a rough first draft.
B) a polished final draft.
C) a trancelike utterance.
D) an unschooled peasant.

Question 12

Enthymemes are . . .

A) incomplete syllogisms.
B) complete syllogisms.
C) a form of rhetorical argumentation.
D) Both a. and b.
E) Both a. and c.

Question 13

Regarding the pastoral epistles, your author argues that "the voice is the voice of Paul, but the hands are the hands of . . . .

A) an angel."
B) God's Spirit."
C) Jesus."
D) Luke."

Question 14

A syllogism is . . .

A) an argument that employs inductive reasoning.
B) an argument that uses a major premise and a minor premise.
C) an argument built on a tertiary premise.
D) a false argument.

Question 15

The only document in the New Testament that is not really situation-specific is . . .

A) Jude.
B) 2 Peter.
C) Hebrews.
D) 2 Timothy.

Question 16

Which of the following is true?

A) The early church defrocked a bishop for writing a document in Paul's name.
B) Writers used literary practices to prevent their intellectual property from being co-opted, added to, and subtracted from.
C) Augustus condemned those who wrote in another person's name.
D) Claudius cut a forger's hands off.
E) All of the above

Question 17

Which document is likely Paul's last letter?

A) Philippians
B) 2 Timothy
C) Titus
D) Galatians

Question 18

Which of the following most likely had a hand in the composition of the pastoral epistles?

A) Luke
B) Barnabas
C) Timothy
D) Silas

Question 19

Which of the following was NOT intended as a private letter?

A) 1 Timothy
B) 2 Timothy
C) Titus
D) 3 John
E) Philemon

Question 20

The tradition that Paul himself wrote the pastoral epistles is . . .

A) early.
B) strong.
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b

Question 21

Paul wrote the pastoral epistles . . .

A) before his Damascus Road experience.
B) just before the Jerusalem Council.
C) after the Jerusalem Council and before his first Roman imprisonment.
D) after his first Roman imprisonment.

Question 22

Pauline authorship of the pastoral epistles leads to the assumption of how many Roman imprisonments of Paul?

A) none
B) one
C) two
D) three

Question 23

A repeated formula in 1 Timothy is . . .

A) "Amen, Amen, I say to you . . ."
B) "This is a trustworthy saying . . ."
C) "that it might be fulfilled . . ."
D) "after he finished this teaching . . ."

Question 24

Where is Titus ministering when Paul writes to him?

A) Crete
B) Ephesus
C) Cyprus
D) Derbe

Question 25

In Titus, Paul calls Jesus' return . . .

A) "blessed hope."
B) "second advent."
C) "revelation of Jesus Christ."
D) "end of the age."

Question 26

In 2 Timothy, Paul describes "all Scripture" as . . .

A) inspired by God.
B) profitable.
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b

Question 27

In which epistle do we find Paul's expectation of imminent martyrdom?

A) Philippians
B) 2 Timothy
C) Philemon
D) Titus

Question 28

Which was NOT a significant reason for Paul to write to Timothy?

A) to encourage him to stay in spite of difficulties
B) to remind him of areas in which he needed to focus
C) to give instructions about behavior in worship
D) to point out problems with his ministry style

Question 29

Where is Timothy ministering when Paul wrote to him?

A) Corinth
B) Crete
C) Lystra
D) Ephesus

Question 30

What is the primary critical question raised about the pastoral epistles?

A) their treatment of the role of women in the church
B) their authorship
C) where their author was when he wrote them
D) inconsistencies in their treatment of the Law

Question 31

Address the issue of pseudonymity with respect to the pastoral epistles. What arguments speak against this idea, and how do you assess them?

Question 32

How must modern notions of authorship be adjusted if we are to assess rightly the authenticity of the New Testament documents in general and the pastoral epistles specifically

Question 33

What is an enthymeme and how does understanding them help to unlock the meaning of the arguments in the Pastoral Epistles?

Question 34

Who is Timothy and why does Paul write 1 and 2 Timothy?

Question 35

What is the purpose of Titus? What are some key themes addressed in this letter?