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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. The Gnostic texts call God _________ for punishing Adam and Eve for obtaining spiritual wisdom from a serpent.
(a) Merciful.
(b) Right.
(c) Joyous.
(d) Jealous.

2. In the Apocryphon of John, the ____________ was the Holy Spirit as a part of the Holy Trinity.
(a) Mother.
(b) Light.
(c) Son.
(d) Father.

3. Which of the three principals in the Holy Trinity is genderless, according to Pagels' observations?
(a) God.
(b) Light.
(c) Holy Spirit.
(d) Jesus.

4. What did Muhammed not want to do when he first found the jar during the dig with his brothers?
(a) Touch it.
(b) Break it.
(c) Sell it.
(d) Give it away.

5. Tertullian noted the way that _______ were so eagerly accepted in all facets of church society with great horror.
(a) Men.
(b) Women.
(c) Boys.
(d) Children.

Short Answer Questions

1. The Gnostics considered themselves to be ____________, not believers and were despised by orthodox theologians.

2. What did the brothers devour as a part of their avenging of the death of their father by a murderer?

3. In Christianity, Judaism and in Islam, God is the king, lord, master, judge, and ____________.

4. Paul says that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of __________" in one of his statements about the resurrection.

5. Jesus says that he will lead Mary, make her _______ so that she too may become a living spirit, resembling the others in the room.

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the Roman Empire seem to think of the new following of Jesus and the development of Christianity?

2. What did Iranaeus think about the idea of monotheism of the Valentinians and its place in the faith?

3. What is the Christian creed some believe was created in order to exclude Marcion?

4. What did Hippolytus, great enemy of the agnostics, accuse Callistus of?

5. 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?

6. What were Muhammed 'Ali al Summan and his brothers digging for when they made the important discovery?

7. What does Pagels speculate united the Gnostics, as diverse as they were in the world?

8. The Gnostics did not stress the idea of obedience to authority, so what did they choose to stress in their communities?

9. After the death of Judas, the only true candidate for succession was which apostle?

10. What does Jesus tell Thomas when Thomas requests that Jesus give him directions on how to get to the next level?

(see the answer keys)

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