1. Maccabees 1 and 2 Maccabees 6 describe the actions of the Greek ruler Antiochus IV as he tried to abolish the Jewish religion and unite his kingdom under one religion – the Greek religion. He knew the threat Rome posed and wanted to have something that united his kingdom and provided a rallying point in the event Rome attacked. Please write one good paragraph in response to this question for a total of 10 points).
2. Maccabees 6:8-11 and 7:1-42 describe some of the persecution and torture experienced by the Jews under Antiochus. Some were frightened by the government’s powers, but many were galvanized into rebellion against Antiochus. Persecution certainly continues in our world as well. Why do you think some people under persecution abandon their religion or loyalties? Why do you think some people remain faithful and die for their beliefs? What does persecution ultimately accomplish? Please write one good paragraph in response to this question for a total of 10 points).
3. The events recorded in 1 and 2 Maccabees had a major impact on Jewish thinking in the 1st century A.D. That history influenced Jewish expectations for a messiah. The term “Messiah” had political and military connotations, and Jesus challenged these presuppositions when the term was applied to him. Since the canonical Bible does not include any of this history, how should churches fill in this gap so people
will have a better understanding of what the Jews expected and why Jesus challenged their notion of Messiah? (Please write one good paragraph in response to this question for a total of 5 points).
Wisdom and Sirach both sound a lot like the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible. We tend to receive advice and pass along advice just like people always have done.
Answer these three sets of questions in a good paragraph (5 to 6 sentences) for each: (20 points overall)
1. Wisdom 2:6 contains the statement “Let’s enjoy the good things in life.” In its context it describes the attitude that those who do not worship God have, but Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Bible states several times that those who believe in God should enjoy eating, drinking, and working – the simple pleasures of life. In the New Testament Jesus was criticized because his disciples did not fast like the disciples of John the Baptist. His first miracle or sign in the Gospel of John was changing water into wine. Jesus seemed to enjoy eating, drinking, and being with people. What do you think are the simple pleasures of life that are meant to be enjoyed and why? Do you think religious people are often too austere and don’t seem to have fun? Why or why not?
2. Sirach 6:5-17 describes a fair-weather friend and a faithful friend. What do you think makes a friend a true friend? What are at least three characteristics of a true friend?
3. Sirach 9:1-9 provides advice about women. What do you think of Sirach’s advice? The role of women has certainly
changed in the last 50 years in the United States and continues to change. What do you think Sirach might say today and why?
4. Wisdom is quite different from knowledge. We might get knowledge from books or the Internet, but wisdom comes from somewhere else. What do you think makes a person truly wise?
