BTheol Bachelor of Theology New Testament 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does Paul mean by 'justification by faith' in his letter to the Romans?
- God rewards believers for their moral effort
- God declares sinners righteous on the basis of faith in Christ rather than law-keeping (Correct answer)
- Christians are made morally perfect through the Spirit
- Faith replaces baptism as the initiatory rite
Correct answer: God declares sinners righteous on the basis of faith in Christ rather than law-keeping
Paul argues in Romans 3-5 that God reckons (declares) sinners righteous through faith in Christ, apart from works of the law.
Question 2: In Acts 15, what was the outcome of the Jerusalem Council regarding Gentile believers?
- Gentiles must be fully circumcised and keep the Mosaic law
- Gentiles are exempt from all Jewish practices
- Gentiles need only abstain from certain practices and idolatry (Correct answer)
- Gentiles must first convert to Judaism before baptism
Correct answer: Gentiles need only abstain from certain practices and idolatry
The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) ruled that Gentiles need not be circumcised but should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals, and blood.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the structure of Paul's letter to the Romans?
- A narrative account of Paul's missionary journeys
- A systematic theological argument followed by practical exhortation (Correct answer)
- A series of responses to questions posed by the Roman church
- A liturgical hymn collection with brief commentary
Correct answer: A systematic theological argument followed by practical exhortation
Romans moves from theological argument (chapters 1-11) about sin, justification, and salvation to practical ethical instruction (chapters 12-16).
Question 4: What is the significance of the empty tomb narrative in all four Gospels?
- It proves that the resurrection was purely spiritual, not physical
- It confirms that Jesus' body was stolen by the disciples
- It is presented as evidence that Jesus physically rose from the dead (Correct answer)
- It explains why the disciples originally did not believe in the resurrection
Correct answer: It is presented as evidence that Jesus physically rose from the dead
All four Gospels present the empty tomb as foundational evidence of the bodily resurrection of Jesus, not merely a spiritual event.
Question 5: Which New Testament letter contains the famous 'hymn to Christ' (Carmen Christi) in Philippians 2:6-11?
- Ephesians
- Philippians (Correct answer)
- Colossians
- 1 Timothy
Correct answer: Philippians
Philippians 2:6-11 contains a poetic passage describing Christ's pre-existence, self-emptying (kenosis), and exaltation, often called the Carmen Christi.
Question 6: What is 'realized eschatology' as found in John's Gospel?
- The belief that the end times are entirely future
- The view that eternal life and judgment are experienced in the present through faith (Correct answer)
- The teaching that the kingdom of God is only spiritual
- The doctrine that the resurrection happened spiritually at baptism
Correct answer: The view that eternal life and judgment are experienced in the present through faith
John's Gospel emphasizes realized eschatology: eternal life and judgment are present realities for believers now, not only future events.
Question 7: Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between 1 and 2 Thessalonians?
- They were written decades apart and address entirely different audiences
- Both address eschatological concerns, with 2 Thessalonians correcting misunderstandings about the Day of the Lord (Correct answer)
- 1 Thessalonians is by Paul while 2 Thessalonians is universally agreed to be pseudonymous
- They share no common themes and were likely written by different authors to different churches
Correct answer: Both address eschatological concerns, with 2 Thessalonians correcting misunderstandings about the Day of the Lord
Both letters deal with end-times expectations; 2 Thessalonians specifically corrects the idea that the Day of the Lord had already come.
BTheol Bachelor of Theology New Testament 5
What does Paul mean by 'justification by faith' in his letter to the Romans?