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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. A Valentinian Exposition speaks of God as a ____________, and no one was before him, according to the text of this chapter.
(a) Angel.
(b) Serpent.
(c) Demon.
(d) Monad.

2. A letter to the Bishop of Rome stated the difference between ________ and priesthood, defining the reality of the Roman church.
(a) Monotheism.
(b) Laity.
(c) Gnosticism.
(d) Satan worship.

3. There is some speculation that the use of ________ was used in order to indicate that God was both Male and Female.
(a) They.
(b) We.
(c) I.
(d) All.

4. ___________ was the issue of the day for the orthodox church, according to Pagels' findings in this chapter.
(a) Truth.
(b) Writing.
(c) Doctrine.
(d) Authority.

5. Where did members of the Egyptian government eventually spot the papyri that Muhammed had given away?
(a) The library.
(b) Temple.
(c) Coptic museum.
(d) Black market.

Short Answer Questions

1. Pagels recounts how in the story of _________ that Jesus tells his disciples to reach out and touch him to show he is flesh and bones.

2. After the death of Judas, the only real candidate for succession was ____________ who had also walked with Christ.

3. What did Muhammed finally decide was worth breaking open the jar that he and his brothers found?

4. Clement of Alexandria talks of a __________ gnosis which was promoted by the Valentianians.

5. Paul's statements in his letters seem to indicate that there is a ______________ which he will go to.

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the three Gnostic interpretations of the divine that Pagels speaks of in this section of the book?

2. When one looks at the gnostic groups, what is the one thing which remains certain, according to the author?

3. Why does Pagels state that the retelling of the story of Eden becomes problematic for those who consider themselves to be Christian?

4. What made Christianity an easy reach for the masses, while also consolidating power in the Church?

5. What does Jesus challenge his apostles to do in order to see that he has indeed resurrected?

6. What did Mohammed 'Ali do when he realized there wasn't any treasure in the jar that he had found?

7. What kind of criteria would the Gnostics give as being the true definition of a Christian?

8. What did Tertullian find so horrible about those who claimed the secret gnosis?

9. What is the image that would infuriate the orthodox, the one that is described in Nag Hammadi's Apocalypse of Peter?

10. When Jesus tells Peter that he will lead her in order to make her male so that she too may become a living spirit, to whom is he referring?

(see the answer keys)

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