The document presents three essay topics centered on the life and teachings of Jesus, exploring their relevance in both the first century and contemporary times. It encourages comparison of Jesus to other Jewish groups of the era while examining the political dynamics he navigated. The prompts invite personal interpretation regarding whether Jesus's teachings align more closely with his historical context or signify a departure into new religious territory.

1. Choose 1 topic to write an essay. Don't restate all the time.
Write your own thoughts. 800 words.
1. Jesus was both a person of his times and a figure whose
teachings have obviously transcended his specific context. How
did Jesus’s life and teachings better fit the first century? How
do Jesus’s life and teachings seem to apply today? Which do
you think better characterizes Jesus’s actual life and teachings?
Is it more convincing to you that the first century Jesus resists
our expectations, or that he anticipates them?
2. Jesus and the early Christians were a part of the larger Jewish
context. At the same time, they also brought a number of
innovations and new combinations. Compare Jesus’s life and
message to that of the Pharisees, Essenes, followers of John the
Baptist, Sadducees, priests, and/or the temple. How did Jesus
and the early Christians fit with these other Jewish groups?
How did they challenge them? Is it more convincing to you that
Jesus and the early Christians were part of first century
Judaism, or that they pushed to create a new religion?
3. Jesus avoided political attention for most of his life and
work. Whatever he taught, he taught it skillfully and carefully
enough that political figures allowed him to continue when
many others were crucified. And yet, at the end, he too was
crucified, but alone. Describe both the ways in which the
historical Jesus avoided political confrontation and the ways in
which he touched on politically sensitive ideas. Which gives us
a better portrait of Jesus—the one who was politically cautious,
or the rebel?