Deck 1: What Is the New Testament the Early Christians and Their Literature

Question 1

Compare and contrast the views of God, Jesus, and salvation held by two of the following groups: adoptionists, Marcionites, Gnostics.

Answer 1

Adoptionists were strict monotheists who believed that the Jewish God created the earth and gave humans the Law. According to these Christians, Jesus was a righteous man who was adopted by God at his baptism. At that time, Jesus was empowered to perform miracles and to preach God's word. Salvation came from Jesus' death as a willing atoning sacrifice.
Marcionites were ditheists: they believed that the Old Testament God (the God of the Jews) was just, and that the New Testament God (the God of Jesus) was forgiving. Jesus was sent from the forgiving God to save people from the Jewish God. Jesus was not affiliated with the Creator-God, and therefore he could not have a flesh-and-bone body. Marcionites, then, adhered to a docetic Christology.
Gnostics were polytheists. For this group of Christians, the Creator-God-the God of the Jews-was evil; he created the world in order to imprison the divine spark. Gnostics believed that knowledge (gnosis) set this divine element free and returned it to the heavenly realm. In Gnostic Christianity, Jesus was the teacher who brought this saving knowledge from the true God.

Question 2

In what ways did the proto-orthodox Christians agree with adoptionists, Marcionites, and Gnostics?

Answer 2

The proto-orthodox believed (like the Jewish Christians) that Jesus was fully human and (like Marcionites and Gnostics) that he was fully divine (like Marcionites and Gnostics). They believed that Jesus taught salvation, but they disagreed with Gnostics that Jesus' teachings were secret and accessible to only a select group of people. In sum, the proto-orthodox believed that Jesus was one being, not two, both human and divine. They believed that Jesus taught his disciples the truth and these followers, in turn, recorded Jesus' teachings and passed them on to others. According to these Christians, a straightforward reading of Scripture reveals the truth necessary for salvation.

Question 3

Early Christianity was essentially unified in belief. Pick a side of this resolution and argue for it using as many specific examples from the text as possible. Keep in mind that the most persuasive arguments anticipate (and answer) counterarguments.

Answer 3

Students should discuss the varieties of Christianities presented in this chapter: Jewish Christians, Marcionites, and Gnostics. There are certainly similarities within these groups (regarding, e.g., the importance of Jesus and the production of texts), but there are also striking differences concerning the nature of Jesus, God, and salvation.

Question 4

A variety of Christian groups, some of which were subsequently labeled "heretical," used the books of the New Testament. How did the process of canonization limit possible interpretations of these books and make them acceptable to orthodox Christians?

Question 5

The book of Acts is attributed to Paul.

Question 6

The Nag Hammadi library features writings from the Marcionites.

Question 7

The earliest surviving Christian literature is written in Hebrew.

Question 8

According to some Gnostics, the Old Testament God was evil.

Question 9

Which early Christian group believed in two Gods: the just God of the Old Testament and the merciful God of Jesus?

A) Gnostics
B) Proto-orthodox Christians
C) Jewish-Christian adoptionists
D) Marcionites

Question 10

What is the name of a collection of second-century proto-orthodox writings?

A) Nag Hammadi Library
B) New Testament
C) Pentateuch
D) Apostolic Fathers

Question 11

What Christian group lived in Palestine and taught that Christians should keep the Law?

A) Jewish-Christian adoptionists
B) Gnostics
C) Marcionites
D) Proto-orthodox

Question 12

According to the Jewish-Christian adoptionists, Jesus was:

A) God
B) Moses
C) A man
D) A phantasm

Question 13

According to Marcion, the Jewish Law:

A) Was good
B) Did not bring salvation
C) Continued to be binding after Jesus' death
D) Didn't exist

Question 14

Gnostics believed which of the following brought salvation?

A) Jesus' death
B) Jesus' resurrection
C) Knowledge
D) Martyrdom

Question 15

Jewish Christians thought which of the following was a heretic?

A) Jesus
B) Paul
C) Matthew
D) Peter

Question 16

The Jewish-Christian adoptionists used a version of which of the following books?

A) Romans
B) Acts
C) Revelation
D) Matthew

Question 17

Which of the following thought Jesus' body was a phantasm?

A) The Apostolic Fathers
B) Marcionites
C) Jewish-Christian adoptionists
D) Nehemiah

Question 18

Second-century Jewish Christians taught that every Jewish law had to be observed except:

A) Circumcision
B) Kosher food laws
C) Observing the Sabbath
D) Animal sacrifice

Question 19

Jewish-Christian adoptionists believed that Jesus was "adopted" by God at his:

A) Birth
B) Death
C) Trial
D) Baptism

Question 20

Some Gnostics believed that which of the following happened at Jesus' baptism?

A) He was adopted.
B) He illustrated that baptism brought salvation.
C) The divine Christ entered Jesus' body.
D) Nothing

Question 21

Who established the first canon?

A) Marcion
B) Gnostics
C) Proto-orthodox Christians
D) Paul