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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. Which of the following did Jesus see as something that oppressed people?

2. What aristocratic Jewish historian does the author draw on to examine the Greco-Roman period?

3. Complete the following title: "The Apocalyptic..."

4. Who was the first emperor of the Roman empire?

5. Who does the spirit of God descend upon in the second act of remembrance?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the author think the gospels say that the governor executed Baptist because he criticized his sexual activities?

2. What does it mean that Jesus was an artisan?

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

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

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

6. What does the author think Jesus meant by "focus not just on personal or individual abuse of power but on such abuse in its systemic [form]."?

7. What parallels does the author draw between Augustus and Jesus' life?

8. Summarize the two quotes that open this chapter.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Jesus' early life.

1. What was Jesus' upbringing and how did it influence his teachings.

2. What evidence is there to say that Jesus' upbringing as represented in the bible is not historically accurate.

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 the Q Gospel give on Jesus' teachings? How do the Christians view the Q Gospel?

(see the answer keys)

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