28. Appendix: Topics For Further Study

Appendix Topics For Further Study This appendix is a catch-bag. All the left-over problems, really entitled to a chapter apiece, here receive mention only. It is a way of saying what it is that you have not said.

One advantage of this arrangement is that you filially finish a manuscript. Another is that your book is not so long. Still another is that it suggests that the study of the subject is not finished. Resides, it makes a scrappy list to which the reader can readily add, in the interest of completeness.

1. Jesus—a Rabbi.

Show from the records that Jesus was a teacher. By what titles was he addressed?

How did he entitle himself?

What verbs describe his work?

2. The Preparation of Jesus as Teacher. The New Testament only suggests this.

You must go to the lives of Jesus, to the four histories of education mentioned in Chapter 26 and to the Bible dictionaries. This topic is of primary importance in understanding Jesus’ work as teacher.

3. Teaching by Action. For example, setting a little child in their midst, the triumphal entry, and washing the disciples’ feet.

Some might, regard these as object lessons.

4. Accommodation.

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye can not bear them now” (John 16:12).

“If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:12.) The reticence of Jesus—the things he did not tell. This subject is closely related to apperception.

5. The Humor of Jesus.

See the author’s book, “Jesus—Our Standard,” pp. 150-154.

6. The Paradoxes of Jesus.

‘‘The first shall be last.”

Collect them all.

Consider their effectiveness as forms of speech.

Resolve them, that is, state their meaning in non-paradoxical form.

7. The Epigramsof Jesus.

‘‘Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” Matthew 6:34). Collect as many as you can find.

Why may he have used this form of speech?

8. His Use of Proverbs.

“One soweth and another reapeth” (John 4:37).

“Physician, heal thyself” (Luke 4:23). See John 16:29 What is the significance of proverbs?

Why did Jesus quote them?

9. His Use of Folk-Lore, including Weather-Lore. Is there such use?

What do you think of Matthew 12:43-45? Did Jesus make use of views for purposes of illustration that personally he did not accept?

See Matthew 16:2-3;Luke 21:11; Luke 21:25.

10. The Miracles as a Method of Teaching.

“His miracles are lessons, parables in deed.” Do you agree?

Explain and illustrate.

Why did Jesus curse the barren fig-tree?

11. Oral and Aural Methods.

Why did Jesus not write more and appeal to the eye? Is the ear a more primitive organ of instruction?

How did Jesus anticipate his teaching would survive?

12. Positive and Negative Methods. Did Jesus affirm or deny more? Did he develop or repress more?

Collect and compare his affirmative and negative statements.

Compare with Pharisaism and legalism.

13. His Eloquence.

What are the elements of eloquence? To what extent are these elements to be found in the teachings of Jesus?

“He was a man of supreme eloquence,” says one writer.

14. His Economy of Vocabulary. His art of condensation and omission. His regard for words.

See Matthew 12:34; Matthew 23:8; Matthew 5:37; John 6:68; John 15:3.

15.HisUse of Rhythmic Utterance. Not even the English translation of the Greek version of his Aramaic original can conceal it.

“We piped unto you and ye did not dance” (Luke 7:32 seq.).

“Every one that exalteth himself shall be abased” (Luke 18:14).

“Ask, and it shall be given you” (Matthew 7:7 seq.) Collect other examples.

See Farrar, “The Life of Lives.”

16. Jesus as a Dialectician.

What does this mean?

Collect examples of his dialectic.

What dialectic qualities does he possess?

See “Jesus—Our Standard,” pp. 214-228.

17. His Type of Leadership.

How many types are there? To which does Jesus belong?

See Brent, “Leadership,” Chap. VI; Learned, “A Study of Greatness in Men”; Horne, “Leadership of Bible Study Groups,” Chap. II.

18. His Living and His Teaching. Which is primary?

Why was his teaching so effective? See Acts 1:1.

19. Aids to Memory. Is it not remarkable that we have so many of the words of Jesus? He wrote nothing, neither did any of his disciples till years after his death. How do you account for this?

20. The Methods of the Disciples.

How did the men taught by Jesus themselves teach in turn?

See the Acts and the General Epistles.

Compare their methods with those of Jesus.

Here is a great field for study.

21. The Methods of Paul.

Study his deeds, words, and writings.

Contrast his methods with those of Jesus. Do the methods of Paul show that he was trained as a theologian?

22. The Origin of the Teaching Methods of Jesus. A difficult question, involving at least first-hand information concerning the synagogue schools, one of which was probably at Nazareth; keen surmise as to how the eighteen silent years were spent; familiarly with the Old Testament; and a general acquaintance with the rabbinical college in Jerusalem.