UCBP 101

Biblical Perspectives

D. R. Bains

SPRING 2001

General Test Guidelines

Tests consist of three types of questions:

Short Answer

There will be a variety of short answer, fill in the blank, multiple choice, true false, etc. questions. (Like the quizzes). The information you are responsible for her will be taken from the list of terms, chronology, and geography sections of the study guide.

Identification

There will be a few key terms for which you will need to write detailed identifications. These will be taken from the asterisked terms on the list.

How to write an excellent identification: Suppose you were asked to write a brief, one-paragraph description of this term for an encyclopedia. What is the information you would want to get across as essential to someone who knows nothing or very little about the subject? In order to do this, you must not only be able to relate facts, but also to interpret them. Ask yourself: Why should anyone consider this important? What is its significance? Why care about this? Why is it important for understanding the Bible or its interpretation? Some of terms on the list are closely related to each other, so with minor changes one identification may serve for more than one term. With this in mind, you should try to relate each term a few other terms in your identification.

Essay

Essay questions will draw on the concepts and readings. Some essays will ask you to explain the differences and relationships between passages of the Bible. When detailed intertextual analysis is required the texts of the passage will be given.

How to write an excellent essay: First, read the question carefully. Make sure you understand what you are being asked to write about. Make sure you answer all parts of the question. In formulating your answer, stick to the facts. You are being asked to interpret a certain problem (or problems), but this does not mean you are free to make broad generalizations. Defend your arguments with concrete proofs, using specific examples from the Bible and other readings. The way to success here is to strike a careful balance between narration and analysis. Without the proper narration of the facts you cannot hope to present a convincing analysis. Without some sort of interpretation of the basic facts, you cannot home to show you have gone beyond the basics.

Mid-Term Exam

You are responsible for the following:

Chronology:

You should know the dates for the following events. Consult class notes, charts on page 48-49, 130, and various references in text

Period of the Patriarchs

Exodus

Establishment of the Kingdom

Division of the Kingdom / Death of Solomon

Fall of the Northern Kingdom / Israel / Samaria to Assyria

Fall of the Southern Kingdom / Judah / Jerusalem to Bablyonia

Edict of Cyrus end of the Babylonian Exile

Rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem

Ministry of Ezra and Nehemiah (range of dates)

Antiochus IV in Jerusalem

Judas Maccabeus restores the Temple

Geography:

You should be able to identify the following places on an unmarked map. Consult maps on pp. 42, 55 110 of textbook or in HarperCollins Study Bible

Territories/Regions: Judah, Israel, Aram, Assyria, Babylonia, Philistia (i.e. the territory of the Philistines), Egypt, Canaan, Sinai

Cities/Rivers: Jerusalem, Samaria, Dan, Euphrates R., Tigris R., Bablyon, Ur, Red Sea, Jordan R., Beer-sheba, Nile R., , Dead Sea, Sinai Peninsula

Key Terms
You are responsible for detailed identifications of asterisked terms.

self text

intertext (intertextuality)

macro-level intertext

micro-level intertext

*social text

*interpretative triangle

*chain of tradition

typology

*Apocrypha

*Septuagint (LXX)

*canon

Pentateuch / Torah

Tetrateuch

Prophets

Writings

*Westminster Confession

*Baptist Faith and Message Statement

*tradition

reason

experience

Apostles

Bishops

*Deuteronomic Theology

*Deuteronomistic History

Priestly Ideology

Exsultet

Eucharistic Prayer

*Exile

Assyrian Empire

Bablyonian Empire

Persian Empire

Greek Empire

Israel

Judah

Zion Theology

*Ezra (person)

*Nehemiah (person)

Festival of Booths

*Sabbath

*Intermarriage (in Ezra)

*Canaanite Religion, Baal, El

*prophet

Joshua (in Haggai)

Zerubabbel (in Haggai)

*wisdom

Satan (in Job)

*Messiah

*Kingship

oracle

Messenger Formula

*eschatology

prophetic

apocalyptic

Hellenism

*ex eventu prophesy

Maccabees

*Antiochus IV Epiphanes
*"abomination that makes desolate"

*Divine Adopition

*sacred kingship

*Chonicler

*Davidic Promise / Covenant

*"ways of a King"

*Royal Psalms

*Divine Sonship

Son of Man

*Immanuel

*Qumran

Dead Sea Scrolls

*Messianism

*pseudonymous authorship

 

Topics for essay, short answer, and general question.