Historical Jesus
Use the source to answer the following questions. Choose the best answer.
Group 1
Judea, under Roman rule in the first century CE, was a region rife with political unrest and religious tension. As Bart D. Ehrman explains, 'The Romans ruled Judea through a combination of military force and local collaboration, including Jewish leaders who cooperated to maintain their own positions of power.' Heavy taxation, Roman military presence, and local Jewish leaders working under Roman authority created widespread dissatisfaction among the Jewish populace. Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish religious teacher, 'proclaimed a coming Kingdom of God that subverted the existing social and political order,' challenging both Roman authorities and Jewish leaders through his teachings and parables.
Ehrman, Bart D. Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium. Oxford University Press, 1999, pp. 123–125.
Question 1a
Which of the following most directly explains why Jesus’s teachings were seen as a threat to Roman authorities?
His critiques of religious leaders
His challenge to the Roman imperial order
His rejection of Jewish law
His emphasis on spiritual salvation over political rebellion
Question 1b
Which of the following best describes the relationship between Roman authorities and local Jewish leaders in Judea?
They were in constant open conflict over religious practices.
Jewish leaders were completely independent of Roman influence.
Jewish leaders collaborated with Roman authorities to maintain order.
Roman authorities were subordinate to Jewish religious leadership.
Group 2
Jesus’s parables served as a powerful tool for teaching spiritual lessons by drawing on familiar, everyday experiences. As John Dominic Crossan explains, 'Parables are subversive stories. Their goal is to challenge and overturn conventional wisdom, inviting listeners to see the world—and the Kingdom of God—in a radically new way.' For example, the Good Samaritan tells the story of a Jewish man who is attacked but then helped by a Samaritan man.
Crossan, John Dominic. The Power of Parable: How Fiction by Jesus Became Fiction About Jesus. HarperOne, 2012, p. 3.
Question 2a
Why were parables an effective teaching method in ancient Judea?
They were written in Greek, making them accessible to Roman officials.
They used everyday situations that were relatable to diverse audiences.
They focused exclusively on the Jewish elite.
They avoided any moral or spiritual lessons.
Question 2b
The Parable of the Good Samaritan challenges societal norms by emphasizing which of the following themes?
The importance of strict religious observance
The rejection of Roman authority
Compassion across social and ethnic boundaries
The superiority of Jewish religion over Roman law
Group 3
"And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, 'It is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer," but you make it a den of robbers.'"
Matthew 21:12-13, ESV
Question 3a
Why did Jesus overturn the tables of the money changers in the Temple?
To protest the Roman occupation of Judea.
To criticize the commercialization of a sacred space meant for worship.
To reject the practice of paying taxes to the Temple authorities.
To encourage rebellion against Jewish religious leaders.
Question 3f
What does this event reveal about Jesus’s relationship with Jewish leaders?
He was aligned with their interpretation of Jewish law.
He supported their cooperation with Roman authorities.
He challenged their authority and practices.
He had large following which threatened rebellion
Group 4
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown, it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
The Parable of the Mustard Seed, Matthew 13:31–32, NRSV
Question 4a
What does the Parable of the Mustard Seed symbolize in the context of Jesus’s teachings?
The importance of agricultural practices in ancient Judea
The growth of God’s kingdom from humble beginnings to great significance
The need for strict adherence to Jewish law
The rejection of the Roman Empire’s authority
Question 4b
How might early Christians have interpreted the Parable of the Mustard Seed?
As a call to political rebellion against Roman rule
As a reassurance that their small community would eventually grow and flourish
As a critique of traditional Jewish religious practices
As evidence of the superiority of Roman governance
Group 5
"Crucifixion was a punishment in which the caprice and sadism of the executioners were given full rein. It was universally recognized as the most humiliating and painful form of execution, reserved primarily for political agitators, violent offenders, slaves, and those who had no rights."
Martin Hengel, Crucifixion in the Ancient World and the Folly of the Message of the Cross, Fortress Press, 1977, p. 51
Question 5a
Why was crucifixion an effective tool for Roman governance?
It unified diverse religious groups under Roman law.
It publicly demonstrated the consequences of defying Roman authority.
It allowed local leaders to enforce their own laws.
It was used exclusively for Roman citizens.
Question 5b
What does the Roman use of crucifixion suggest about their priorities in the provinces?
They prioritized religious harmony above all else.
They sought to eliminate dissent and maintain order through fear.
They aimed to empower local leaders to enforce Roman law.
They focused exclusively on economic reforms over political control.
Group 6
"In the centuries following Jesus’s crucifixion, interpretations of his death evolved. Initially, Roman authorities were held responsible for his execution, as crucifixion was a Roman method of punishment. However, as Christian communities distanced themselves from Judaism, later Gospels increasingly placed blame on Jewish leaders. By the Middle Ages, the stereotype of 'Christ-killers' was used to justify widespread persecution of Jews."
Frank Flinn, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies at Washington University in St. Louis
Question 6a
Which of the following best explains why later Gospels placed more blame on Jewish leaders for Jesus’s death?
To align Christianity more closely with Jewish traditions
To reflect the growing tension between early Christians and Jews
To emphasize unity between Jews and Christians
To avoid criticizing Roman authorities
Question 6b
The long-term consequences of shifting blame for Jesus’s death included which of the following?
The widespread acceptance of Judaism in Christian-dominated societies
Hostility and persecution of Jewish communities in Europe
The establishment of Judaism as the state religion of the Roman Empire
The unification of Jewish and Christian religious practices
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