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Cleansing of the Temple Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: The Cleansing of the Temple: Biblical Accounts, Interpretations, and Artistic Depictions

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The Cleansing of the Temple: Biblical Accounts, Interpretations, and Artistic Depictions Study Guide

Biblical Narratives and Chronology

The cleansing of the Temple narrative is documented in all four canonical Christian gospels.

Answer: True

Explanation: The cleansing of the Temple narrative is documented in all four canonical Christian gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

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Jesus expelled merchants and money changers, overturned tables, and poured out money, but did not drive out livestock from the Temple.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Gospels state that Jesus expelled merchants and money changers, overturned tables, poured out money, and also drove out livestock from the Temple.

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The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) place the cleansing of the Temple event near the beginning of Jesus's public ministry.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Synoptic Gospels place the cleansing of the Temple event near the end of Jesus's public ministry, whereas the Gospel of John places it near the beginning.

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The Gospel of John specifies that Jesus used a scourge made of large ropes to drive out the merchants and animals.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Gospel of John specifies that Jesus used a scourge made of small cords, not large ropes, to drive out the merchants and animals.

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The Wedding at Cana preceded the cleansing of the Temple in the Synoptic Gospels' narrative timeline.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Wedding at Cana preceded the cleansing of the Temple in the Gospel of John's narrative timeline, not in the Synoptic Gospels.

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The cursing of the Fig Tree succeeded the cleansing of the Temple in the Gospel of John's narrative.

Answer: False

Explanation: The cursing of the Fig Tree succeeded the cleansing of the Temple in the Synoptic Gospels' narrative, not in the Gospel of John's narrative.

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In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus accused the merchants of turning the Temple into 'a market'.

Answer: False

Explanation: In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus accused the merchants of turning the Temple into 'a den of thieves'; the Gospel of John refers to it as 'a market'.

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Which canonical gospels recount the cleansing of the Temple?

Answer: All four canonical gospels

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What did Jesus use to drive out the merchants and animals from the Temple, according to the Gospel of John?

Answer: A scourge of small cords

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What did Jesus accuse the merchants of turning the Temple into, according to the Synoptic Gospels?

Answer: A den of thieves

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How does the placement of the cleansing of the Temple event differ between the Gospel of John and the Synoptic Gospels?

Answer: John places it near the beginning, Synoptics near the end.

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What event preceded the cleansing of the Temple in the Gospel of John?

Answer: The Wedding at Cana

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What event succeeded the cleansing of the Temple in the Synoptic Gospels?

Answer: The cursing of the Fig Tree

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Temple Economy and Participants

The commercial activities Jesus opposed primarily took place within the Holy of Holies in the Temple.

Answer: False

Explanation: The commercial activities Jesus opposed primarily took place in the Court of the Gentiles, the outermost court of the Temple complex, not within the Holy of Holies.

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Money changers facilitated Temple tax payments by converting foreign currency, and dove sellers provided birds for the poor.

Answer: True

Explanation: Money changers facilitated Temple tax payments by converting foreign currency, and dove sellers provided birds for the poor, particularly women, who could not afford more expensive sacrifices.

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The dove sellers in the Temple courtyard primarily provided birds for wealthy patrons who could afford more expensive sacrifices.

Answer: False

Explanation: The dove sellers in the Temple courtyard primarily provided birds for the poor, particularly women, who could not afford more expensive sacrifices.

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What was the primary function of the money changers in the Second Temple?

Answer: To convert foreign currency into accepted Temple currency for taxes and purchases

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Where within the Temple complex did the buying and selling primarily occur?

Answer: The Court of the Gentiles

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What was the specific purpose of the dove sellers in the Temple courtyard?

Answer: To provide birds for the poor, particularly women, who could not afford more expensive sacrifices.

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What did Sanders and Bart D. Ehrman note about currency conversion in the Temple?

Answer: It was conducted within the Temple precincts using Greek and Roman money.

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Historical and Scholarly Perspectives

E.P. Sanders considers it highly improbable that Jesus performed any action in the Temple during his ministry.

Answer: False

Explanation: E.P. Sanders considers it 'overwhelmingly probable' that Jesus performed some action in the Temple during his ministry.

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Maurice Casey suggests that Temple authorities likely avoided confronting Jesus and his disciples due to a lack of fear of causing a revolt.

Answer: False

Explanation: Maurice Casey suggests that Temple authorities likely avoided confronting Jesus and his disciples due to fear of causing a revolt or bloodshed.

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Scholars in the Jesus Seminar question the historicity of the Temple cleansing incident as described in the Gospels.

Answer: True

Explanation: Scholars in the Jesus Seminar question the historicity of the Temple cleansing incident as described in the Gospels, though they generally believe Jesus performed some anti-temple act.

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D. A. Carson suggests that Temple guards did not arrest Jesus immediately because the crowd disapproved of his actions.

Answer: False

Explanation: D. A. Carson suggests that Temple guards did not arrest Jesus immediately because the crowd supported his actions, potentially preventing unrest.

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Andy Alexis-Baker's grammatical analysis concluded that the original Greek text describes a violent act by Jesus against the merchants.

Answer: False

Explanation: Andy Alexis-Baker's grammatical analysis concluded that the original Greek text does not describe a violent act by Jesus against the merchants, suggesting that common English translations may add complexities not present in the source Greek.

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Most historians agree that an event of this nature took place, though some scholars suggest the Gospel accounts might refer to two separate incidents.

Answer: True

Explanation: Most historians agree that an event of this nature took place, though some scholars suggest the Gospel accounts might refer to two separate incidents due to differing details and placement.

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What is E.P. Sanders's perspective on the historicity of Jesus's actions in the Temple?

Answer: He considers it 'overwhelmingly probable' that Jesus did something in the Temple.

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What do scholars in the Jesus Seminar question regarding the Temple cleansing incident?

Answer: The historicity of the incident as described in the Gospels

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According to D. A. Carson, why were Jesus's actions in the Temple not immediately met with arrest?

Answer: The crowd supported Jesus's actions, potentially preventing unrest.

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What is the nuance in the historical consensus regarding the cleansing of the Temple event?

Answer: Most historians agree it happened, but some suggest accounts might refer to two separate incidents.

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Theological Interpretations and Critiques

Origen, a 3rd-century theologian, denied the historical accuracy of the Temple cleansing and interpreted it metaphorically as the soul being freed from earthly concerns.

Answer: True

Explanation: Origen, a 3rd-century theologian, denied the historical accuracy of the Temple cleansing, interpreting it metaphorically as the soul being freed from earthly concerns.

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In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus accused the Temple authorities of victimizing wealthy Roman officials.

Answer: False

Explanation: In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus accused the Temple authorities of victimizing the poor and widows, not wealthy Roman officials.

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John Dominic Crossan argued that Jesus's action was primarily intended to cleanse the Temple of financial corruption.

Answer: False

Explanation: John Dominic Crossan argued that Jesus's action was primarily intended as a protest against the institution of animal sacrifice and transactional forgiveness, rather than solely financial corruption.

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The Toledot Yeshu claims Jesus entered the Temple alone to perform a ritual cleansing.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Toledot Yeshu claims Jesus entered the Temple not alone, but with 310 followers, and portrays him as stealing the 'shem hamephorash' from the Holy of Holies.

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John Calvin used the cleansing of the Temple story to justify his role in the Crusades.

Answer: False

Explanation: John Calvin used the cleansing of the Temple story to defend himself when accused of complicity in the burning of Michael Servetus, not to justify his role in the Crusades.

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Theodore of Mopsuestia believed the event was non-historical and that Jesus only spoke to the merchants, not using a whip.

Answer: False

Explanation: Theodore of Mopsuestia believed the event was historical and that Jesus whipped animals but only spoke to the merchants and overturned their tables.

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How did Origen, in the 3rd century, interpret the cleansing of the Temple event?

Answer: Metaphorically, seeing the Temple as the human soul

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What deeper socio-economic critique does Marvin L. Krier Mich suggest regarding Jesus's actions?

Answer: Jesus was critiquing the Temple establishment's cooperation with the aristocracy in exploiting the poor.

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What does John Dominic Crossan argue was Jesus's primary intention during the Temple cleansing?

Answer: To protest the institution of animal sacrifice and transactional forgiveness

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What does the Toledot Yeshu claim about Jesus's entry into the Temple?

Answer: Jesus entered the Temple with a large group of followers.

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How did John Calvin relate the Temple cleansing to his own life?

Answer: He used it to defend himself when accused of complicity in the burning of Michael Servetus.

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What specific accusation did Jesus make regarding the Temple authorities and widows, according to Mark and Luke?

Answer: They stole from widows and charged them high prices for sacrifices.

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Artistic Depictions and Legacy

El Greco is an artist recognized for creating multiple artistic representations of the cleansing of the Temple.

Answer: True

Explanation: The artist El Greco is recognized for creating multiple artistic representations of the cleansing of the Temple.

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Rembrandt's 1626 artwork depicts Jesus driving out money changers using only harsh words.

Answer: False

Explanation: Rembrandt's 1626 artwork depicts Jesus driving out money changers with a whip, positioned in the top left of the composition.

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The mosaics in Monreale Cathedral depict Jesus blessing the tradesmen who were present in the Temple.

Answer: False

Explanation: The mosaics in Monreale Cathedral depict Jesus banishing tradesmen from the sacred space, not blessing them.

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The cleansing of the Temple is a rarely depicted event in the history of Christian art.

Answer: False

Explanation: The cleansing of the Temple is a commonly depicted event in the history of Christian art, often appearing within cycles illustrating the Life of Christ.

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Which artist is noted for painting several versions of the cleansing of the Temple?

Answer: El Greco

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What does Rembrandt's 1626 artwork show regarding Jesus's actions in the Temple?

Answer: Jesus driving out merchants with a whip, positioned in the top left

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What does the artwork from the Monreale Cathedral mosaics show regarding the cleansing of the Temple?

Answer: Jesus banishing tradesmen from the sacred space

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What does the artwork 'Casting out the money changers' by Giotto illustrate?

Answer: Jesus expelling individuals involved in commerce from the Temple

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