Study Guide for the Historical Jesus

RELI 25: New Testament/Christian Origins

Important Names, Terms for Exams
Apocalypticism
Cynic philosophy
dissimilarity, criterion of


Study/Discussion Questions

1. What are the criteria and considerations scholars use to try to determine who the historical person of Jesus was, what he did, and what he said?






2. How would you describe Ehrman's basic understanding of who Jesus the historical man was? What are the strengths and weaknesses of his argument?






3. Compare Ehrman's view of the historical Jesus to Fredrickson's (the reading on Sakai). Where do they overlap? What is Fredrickson's main focus, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of her argument?






4. How early believers change their views about the messiah and the significance of Jesus after his death? How diverse were those views?