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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. What is the first idea that the author challenges about Jesus in this section?

2. Where was the unnamed woman from?

3. Complete the following title: "The Race to the..."

4. Who does the author think may have been the true author of the Gospel of St. Mark?

5. What are the two traditional spiritual responses to evil in the world?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the two quotes at the beginning of the section comment on?

2. What effect did the patrron/client relationship have on Greco-Roman society?

3. Why does the author quote extensively from the gospel of St. Luke?

4. What does the quote at the beginning of part six comment on?

5. What does the author say about Pontius Pilate?

6. What influence does the author suggest that the Cynics had on Jesus' teachings?

7. What does the author think Jesus was an individualist?

8. Why does the author think crucifixion was the ultimate form of punishment?

9. Why does the author think Jesus' followers developed stories about what happened to Jesus' body?

10. What parallels does cross-cultural research draw between Jesus' teachings and other philosophies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following historical figures in Crossan's book and discuss how Crossan represents them in the book and why he represents that person in that manner? Are there people who would argue against Crossan's representation of that person's life?

1. Jesus Christ.

2. John the Baptist.

3. James the Just.

4. Herod Antipas.

Essay Topic 2

What are your views on Christianity after reading the book? What are the argument for and against for and against the book being anti-Christian? What are are your views on the author's argument in the book?

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following stories from the New Testament and discuss in which ways they could be said to be either metaphorical or based on myth.

1. Walking on Water.

2. The fish and loaves.

3. The resurrection.

(see the answer keys)

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