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Chapter 15: Christianity in its Opening Phase
Fill in the Blank
1. A group of documents that scholars call __________ is a source of much of the original
writings related to Christianity.
2. The “common folk” or __________ were “people of the land” and the group Jesus’ family
most likely belonged.
3. The generic term for the study of ideas about the end of the world is called __________.
4. Jesus often taught using __________, homely illustrations drawn from nature and human life.
5. The early church saw tension between Christians from Jewish backgrounds and __________.
6. The __________ created written defenses of Christianity addressed to the world at large.
7. __________ is the belief in God’s final judgment of good and evil.
8. After being found guilty by the Sanhedrin, Jesus was sent to __________, who eventually
sent him to be crucified.
9. The shortest of the Gospels, though the earliest to appear is __________.
10. The __________, of early Christianity believed that members had to follow Christ and the
Law of Moses.
Multiple Choice
11. An increase in scholarly agreement about the eschatological beliefs of Jesus came about after
the appearance of __________.
a. Albert Schweitzer’s Quest for the Historical Jesus
b. Quelle
c. Gospel of John
d. Paul’s epistles
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12. In the early ministry of Jesus he made __________, the home of Simon Peter, his
headquarters.
a. Bethsaida
b. Capernaum
c. Chorazin
d. Tiberias
13. This was the supreme political, religious and Judicial body of Judaism during the Roman
period
a. Essenes
b. Pharisees
c. Sadducees
d. Sanhedrin
14. The part of the world where Jesus was born had only recently come under __________ rule.
a. Hellenist
b. Jewish
c. Persian
d. Roman
15. This group believed that strict adherence to religious practices were central to morality and
would hasten the coming of the Messiah.
a. Essenes
b. Pharisees
c. Sadducees
d. Zealots
16. At the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit presented to him in the form of a
__________.
a. a burning bush
b. a dove
c. a swirling water spout
d. an angel
17. When invited by a chazzan or a ruler, Jesus taught the people in __________.
a. their home
b. the government buildings
c. the market place
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d. the synagogue
18. According to the eschatology of Jesus, the Kingdom of God was, in part, already realized by
__________.
a. his life
b. Roman rule
c. scripture
d. the number of new converts
19. A hallmark of Jesus’ teaching is the expression “turn the other cheek” which was an
admonition against __________.
a. Old Testament teachings
b. pride
c. retaliation
d. violence
20. A central tenet of Christian belief about Jesus’ divinity was his__________.
a. crucifixion
b. ministry
c. resurrection
d. virgin birth
21. The second founder of Christianity is often considered to be __________.
a. James
b. John
c. Paul
d. Simon Peter
22. By the year 100 CE, the __________ emerged from early Christian literature.
a. Act of the Apostles
b. Bible
c. Epistles
d. New Testament
23. Written defenses of Christianity often directed to the high ranking rulers of Rome and Greece
were prepared by __________.
a. Paul
b. Simon Peter
c. the Apologists
d. the Apostles
24. The Jews found Roman rule more oppressive than rule by the Greeks because _________.
a. the Greeks took a detached approach to ruling the Jews
b. the Romans gave little consideration or acknowledgement to Jewish ideas
c. Roman punishment for minor infractions was particularly onerous
d. Roman taxes were considered particularly onerous
25. After the death of Herod the Great, Palestine was divided up amongst __________.
a. his sons
b. the Essenes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees
c. the Syrians and Hellenists
d. three Roman governors
26. Barrabas was a member of this group and was imprisoned for it
a. ‘Am ha’aretz
b. Sadducees
c. thieves
d. Zealots
27. A typical day in Jesus’ early ministry involved him __________.
a. performing miracles
b. healing the sick
c. teaching in the synagogue
d. meditating alone
28. A central tenet of Jesus’ to the people was to place morality above __________.
a. ceremony
b. government
c. the Pharisees
d. the worship of idols
29. The warning by Jesus that it be better to have “a millstone hung around your neck and be
thrown into the sea” was directed at those who __________.
a. committed adultery
b. who harmed the moral nature of another
c. who resorted to the sword or violence
d. who used the temple as a marketplace
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30. Christian communities in the beginning of the 2nd quarter of the second century, evolved
from a loosely organized group to one more centrally controlled by a single __________.
a. bishop
b. elder
c. pope
d. priest
31. An important result for the early followers of Christianity in Jerusalem related to the fact that
the apostles were followers of a dead leader and obeyed the provisions of Jewish law and this
__________.
a. allowed them to build temples
b. allowed them to preach incessantly
c. prevented the arrest of their leaders
d. prevented their persecution
32. Jesus is often depicted as being in verbal conflict with the Pharisees and the Sadducees
because of their reliance on __________.
a. Moses
b. orthodoxy
c. sacrifice
d. the prophets
33. When Jesus asked his disciples who they believed he was,__________ answered “You are
the Christ.”
a. James
b. John
c. Luke
d. Simon Peter
34. After the death of Jesus, the Christian movement in Palestine consisted of two parties.
__________ was the leader of the more conservative movement or __________ which
embraced the belief that new converts must also obey the Law of Moses.
a. James, Hellenists
b. James, Judaizers
c. Paul, Judaizers
d. Peter, Hellenists
35. Which of the following is not true of Paul’s ministry
a. he preached “freedom of the spirit”
b. he preached love with understanding and saved Christianity from non-ethical
mysticism
c. he preached that martyrdom was the surest path to heaven
d. he preached “the Lordship of Christ”