STUDY
GUIDE--MIDTERM II
POTENTIAL ID'S:
(PETER),
(PHILIP), (STEPHEN),
(SAUL OF TARSUS), (BARNABAS), (SILAS), (PRISCILLA), DAY OF PENTECOST,
(AGRIPPA), (FELIX), (FESTUS), FAC I*, FAC II*, FAC III*, FAC IV*
I
CORINTHIANS,
ROMANS, (II PETER), (JUDE), CORINTH, APOLLOS, AGAPE, SARX, SOMA, ANASTASIS,
(GNOSTICISM), (ENOCH), PISTIS, HAMARTIAS, NATURAL THEOLOGY, CHARIS
JAMES,
EPHESIANS,
I PETER, JAMES THE JUST, AGAPE, SOPHIA (wisdom), GLOSSA (tongue), ERGA (deeds),
PLOUSIOS (wealth) ,
MYSTERY RELIGION, EPHESUS, MYSTERIA, UPOTASSO (submission?), I PETER
APOCALYPSE, SEVEN CHURCHES, SEVEN SEALS, SEVENTH SEAL, SEVEN TRUMPETS,
MYSTERY
BABYLON, LITTLE APOCALYPSE, TWO WITNESSES, NEW JERUSALEM, MILLENNIUM
*FAC I, FAC II, FAC III, FAC IV are "Favorite Acts Characters I-IV." For these potential ID's, choose any figures who you find particularly interesting. Any of the figures in parentheses above would make good choices. You might also choose a somewhat more obscure character if you prefer.
POTENTIAL ESSAYS:
A. The Book of Acts is a key source in
understanding the surprisingly rapid growth of the early church. Comment.
B.
All political, social, and religious
organizations struggle with division. Had divisions in the early Church
gotten out of hand immediately, Christianity would have struggled to
survive. The New Testament letters (particularly Romans and I
Corinthians) show how Christian leaders handled potential divisions and
succeeded in maintaining the unity critical to the success and growth
of the church. Comment.
C. Many people in the Roman world were unhappy
both with themselves and in their relationships with other people. The
“mystery”
religions helped somewhat in this area, but the New Testament letters
(particularly James, Ephesians and I Peter) show that the church had
even more to offer in helping people feel better about themselves and
in helping them establish better relationships with other people. Comment.
D.
While Revelation is in many ways a difficult book, it is a beautiful
book as
well, and a book that goes a long way toward explaining the eventual
triumph of Christianity. Comment.