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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In which city was Josephus born?

2. Which of the disciples is the only one to mention Jesus being a carpenter?

3. What was Athronges' occupation?

4. What power lines does the author say Jesus wanted to break down?

5. Who was assassinated on 44 B.C.E?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author describe the class structure during Roman times?

2. What does the author claim is the primary focus of Josephus' writings?

3. Why does the author state there is a need to search for the historical Jesus?

4. Why did the Romans want to suppress both John the Baptist and Jesus?

5. What did ancient society believe about children that were not accepted by their father?

6. What does the author say Jesus' parable about mustard seeds implicate?

7. Why does the author think Christians are uncomfortable with the idea that John the Baptist baptized Jesus?

8. What does the author say are his intentions in this book?

9. What influence does the author say he hopes his book has on Christian research?

10. What does the author say compounds the core problem of the different interpretations of Jesus' life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How much has Jesus' teaching influenced modern society? How different would it have been if John the Baptist became known as the Chosen One?

Essay Topic 2

How does the author think the gospels used the Old Testament and its prophecies for the New Testament? What are the arguments for and against the gospels mining the Old Testament for information?

Essay Topic 3

What different variation does Joseph's Gospel give on Jesus' teachings? How do the Christians view Joseph's Gospel?

(see the answer keys)

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