Deck 17: Hebrews: the Sermon of the Famous Anonymous Preacher-Hebrews

Question 1

Hebrews had early and rapid acceptance into the New Testament canon.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Hebrews was written under the persecution of Nero.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Apart from Hebrews, there is almost no hint anywhere else in the New Testament of Christ's role as heavenly high priest interceding for the faithful in heaven.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The Greek term superstitio . . .

A) delineated a form of unsanctioned, unauthorized or illegal religion.
B) refers to superstitions.
C) Both a and b
D) None of the above

Question 5

"Those from Italy greet you" (Hebrews 13:24) suggests that Hebrews was sent . . .

A) from Rome.
B) to Rome.
C) from Greece.
D) to Palestine.

Question 6

According to your textbook, the ascription "To the Hebrews" most likely refers to . . .

A) Jews not yet saved.
B) Jewish Christians.
C) Diaspora Jews.
D) Palestinian Jews.

Question 7

Hebrews is . . .

A) a polemic directly attacking Judaism.
B) an argument suggesting that Christianity is the completion of Judaism.
C) an argument showing that Judaism is bad and Christianity is good.
D) an argument urging the audience to uphold the law, including Jewish traditions.

Question 8

The audience of Hebrews is experiencing . . .

A) moral corruption.
B) spiritual revival.
C) suffering and duress.
D) economic boom.

Question 9

According to your textbook, Hebrews should be dated . . .

A) around A.D. 49, during persecution by Claudius, who expelled many Jews from Rome.
B) around A.D. 64, after the persecution by Nero.
C) just after A.D. 70, when the Temple was destroyed.
D) after A.D. 85.

Question 10

Hebrews depicts the law as . . .

A) perfect.
B) not God given.
C) inadequate.
D) irreplaceable.

Question 11

The consensus of scholarship is that Hebrews was . . .

A) written by Paul.
B) written by Timothy.
C) written anonymously.
D) pseudepigraphical.

Question 12

All of the following are mentioned in Hebrews EXCEPT . . .

A) Moses.
B) Melchizedek.
C) Timothy.
D) Paul.

Question 13

Which of the following themes is found in Hebrews?

A) Covenant
B) Priesthood
C) Faith
D) All of the above

Question 14

Hebrews most likely was written in order to . . .

A) convert Jews.
B) convert Gentiles.
C) urge Christian not to leave the faith.
D) warn against false prophets.

Question 15

If we compare the Greek style of Hebrews to the Greek style of Paul's letters, Hebrews is . . .

A) much more literary (refined).
B) distinctly inferior.
C) very similar.
D) different, but neither inferior nor superior.

Question 16

A key characteristic of Hebrews is many instances of . . .

A) dissuasion.
B) disbelief.
C) exhortation.
D) hopelessness.

Question 17

As to the authorship of Hebrews, the early church was . . .

A) united on authorship by Paul.
B) divided over authorship by Paul.
C) united on authorship by Apollos.
D) divided over authorship by Apollos.

Question 18

The assumption that the first readers of Hebrews understood the Levitical rituals favors the explanation that ethnically/religiously they were . . .

A) Jewish Christians.
B) Gentile Christians.
C) Gentile God fearers.
D) Gentile proselytes to Judaism.

Question 19

An encomium . . .

A) is a rhetorical style.
B) employs elements of praise.
C) Both a and b
D) None of the above

Question 20

According to Hebrews, the heavenly "rest" of Christians is symbolized in the Old Testament as . . .

A) the Tabernacle.
B) the land of Canaan.
C) the Temple.
D) Jerusalem, or Mt. Zion.

Question 21

The Old Testament heroes of faith are listed in which chapter of Hebrews?

A) 1
B) 4
C) 9
D) 11

Question 22

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A) Hebrews presents Jesus as "better than" Melchizedek.
B) Hebrews presents Jesus as "better than" Moses.
C) Hebrews presents Jesus as "better than" the angels.
D) Hebrews presents Jesus as "better than" Aaron.

Question 23

According to your textbook, the reason that Hebrews does not mention the Temple is that . . .

A) it was no longer in existence.
B) it was written to a Gentile audience.
C) it overshadowed the beauty of the original temple.
D) None of the above

Question 24

Melchizedek's being "without beginning of days or end of life" symbolizes Christ's . . .

A) sovereignty.
B) self-sacrifice.
C) foreordained priesthood.
D) eternality.

Question 25

"Melchizedek" means . . .

A) priest of God.
B) king of righteousness.
C) peace.
D) tithe.

Question 26

"Salem" refers to the ancient city of . . .

A) Sodom.
B) Jerusalem.
C) Salim.
D) Salamis.

Question 27

In the opinion of most commentators, Melchizedek's being "without beginning of days and end of life" probably means that he was . . .

A) an angelic being.
B) an eternal, divine being.
C) a human being without genealogical record in the Old Testament.
D) a human being miraculously born and translated without dying.

Question 28

The writer of Hebrews uses primarily what type of rhetoric?

A) forensic
B) deliberative
C) epideictic
D) Asiatic

Question 29

When Greek athletes trained in the gym (and competed in the Olympic games!), they typically wore . . .

A) a distinctive Roman toga.
B) the ancient equivalent of modern underwear.
C) Nike shorts (nike is a Greek word meaning "victory").
D) nada, zip, zilch, zero (they ran in the buff).

Question 30

What did athletes who competed in an Olympic race most have in common with victims of crucifixion.

A) They both expended all or nearly all of their life force.
B) They both faced the possibility of death.
C) They both "participated" in the nude.
D) Leading dignitaries witnessed the "spectator sport."

Question 31

Discuss the relationship between Temple sacrifice and Jesus' death in the epistle to the Hebrews. How does the author use this theme to promote his view of the superiority of Christianity?

Question 32

Which individuals does your textbook note as nominees for the authorship of Hebrews? What are the pros and cons for each of them?