Deck 12: Jesus From Different Perspectives: Other Gospels in Early Christianity

Question 1

Discuss Marcion's theology and why he might use Luke and Paul as authorities for his beliefs.

Answer 1

Marcion was a ditheist: he believed that the Jewish God was just but the God of Jesus was compassionate. The Jewish God created the world and gave the Law; the God of Jesus sent Jesus to save humanity from this other God. Jesus had no connection with the Creator-God or his creation and, therefore, did not appear in physical form. Marcion was also, then, a docetist: he believed that Jesus only seemed human. Marcion claimed Paul as an authority for his views since Paul at times spoke of "his gospel" (which Marcion saw as distinct from the Jewish Law). Marcion also used a version of Luke (without the birth narrative).

Question 2

The early church wavered on whether or not the Gospel of Peter could be used in church services. Discuss ways that the Gospel could be read as "orthodox" and ways that it could reflect a docetic Christology.

Answer 2

The Gospel of Peter was popular in parts of Syria, and the bishop of Antioch, Serapion, approved its use in worship. As discussed in the response to essay question 2, Peter has many similarities to the New Testament Gospels, in particular to Matthew. These similarities may have influenced Serapion's opinion. Other early Christian leaders, though, thought that the Gospel could be interpreted as docetic: at his crucifixion, Jesus "was silent as if he had no pain" and cried out, "My power, my power, you have left me." After this, the Gospel says that he was taken up, though his body remained on the cross. Some docetists believed that the divine Christ entered into, and then left, the human Jesus. The Gospel of Peter may reflect this type of docetism.

Question 3

The Gospel of Thomas contains 114 sayings of Jesus and contains no narrative. Why is it understandable that a Gnostic Gospel would consist only, or principally, of sayings?

Answer 3

According to Gnostics, salvation comes only through knowledge (gnosis). Stories about Jesus' life, deeds, and death, therefore, are relatively unimportant in a Gnostic Gospel. Thomas claims to record the authentic teachings of the risen Lord-teachings that, if properly understood, bring salvation. While it is clear that for the New Testament Gospels and Paul, it is Jesus' death and resurrection that bring salvation, for a Gnostic who believed Jesus cannot be tied to or participate in the material world, Jesus' death (if conceded to fall under the type of docetism discussed in the response to essay question 4) would be unimportant for salvation.

Question 4

The Gospel of Thomas is a sayings Gospel without a central narrative.

Question 5

Marcion used an edited version of the Gospel of John as his starting point.

Question 6

The Gospel of the Nazareans was very similar to the Gospel of Matthew.

Question 7

The Gospel of Thomas includes many sayings that also appear in the Synoptic Gospels.

Question 8

In the Gospel of Judas, Judas is the only disciple who knows who Jesus truly is.

Question 9

Which of the following is not labeled a "Jewish-Christian" Gospel?

A) The Gospel of the Nazareans
B) The Gospel of the Ebionites
C) The Gospel of the Hebrews
D) The Gospel of Thomas

Question 10

The Gospel of the Ebionites and the Diatesseron are both:

A) Jewish-Christian Gospels
B) Gospel harmonies
C) Used by Marcionites
D) Nag Hammadi texts

Question 11

The Gospel of the Philip recounts a tradition in which the disciples of Jesus were:

A) Jealous of Mary Magdalene
B) Killed for their beliefs
C) Taken to heaven during a period of prayer
D) Sent to the four corners of the earth to preach the Gospel

Question 12

Marcion used which of the following Gospels?

A) The Gospel of Matthew
B) The Gospel of Thomas
C) The Gospel of Luke
D) The Gospel of the Hebrews

Question 13

The Gospel of Peter was found:

A) In the Dead Sea Scrolls
B) In the Nag Hammadi library
C) In a monastery library
D) In a monk's tomb

Question 14

The Gospel of Peter could be read as supporting a:

A) Montanist position
B) Docetic position
C) Jewish-Christian position
D) Pharisaic position

Question 15

Which of the following does the Gospel of Thomas not mention?

A) Jesus' resurrection
B) The divine spark
C) Jesus' twin brother
D) The duality of flesh and spirit

Question 16

Revelation discourses:

A) Narrate the resurrection of Jesus
B) Narrate the secret teachings of the risen Jesus
C) Narrate apocalyptic visions
D) Narrate aspects of Jesus' public ministry

Question 17

Which of the following is not a revelation discourse?

A) The Apocryphon of John
B) The Apocryphon of James
C) The Proto-Gospel of James
D) The Epistle of the Apostles

Question 18

An "apocryphon" is:

A) A secret book
B) A Gnostic aeon
C) Another term for the resurrection
D) A reference to Jesus' second coming

Question 19

In the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Jesus does all of the following except:

A) Preach the love of God and of one's neighbor
B) Kill a child
C) Raise a child from the dead
D) Break the Sabbath laws

Question 20

In the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Jesus is rebuked for ___________ on the Sabbath.

A) healing a leper
B) running in the synagogue
C) making clay sparrows
D) defying his elders

Question 21

The name of the evil Creator-God in the Apocryphon of John is:

A) Yahweh
B) Ialdabaoth
C) Seth
D) Zeus

Question 22

One stark difference between Q and the Gospel of Thomas is that:

A) Q expects the future coming of the Son of Man.
B) Thomas does not include a Passion narrative.
C) Q was written in Greek; Thomas was written in Coptic.
D) Thomas was only known in Egypt.

Question 23

Which of the following is not a Gospel known from antiquity?

A) The Gospel of Jesus
B) The Gospel of Thomas
C) The Gospel of Peter
D) The Gospel of the Ebionites

Question 24

In the Gospel of Judas, Judas says Jesus has come:

A) To suffer and die for the sins of mankind
B) From the realm of Barbelo
C) As a witness against the Pharisees
D) By means of a virgin