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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Book Three.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are the two general confusions that Augustine says come from Christians who do not differentiate themselves from pagans?
(a) Signs are treated as things and things are treated as signs.
(b) Students will attempt to win supporters to their views and Christian community will be broken.
(c) Individuals will be led to worship the creation rather than the Creator.
(d) Emotions will become the focus of worship and Christian community will crumble.

2. What Scriptural passage does Augustine use to remind the reader of "On Christian Doctrine" of the condition that affects holy men?
(a) "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
(b) "And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children that He raised up Jesus."
(c) "'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'"
(d) "Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah, through all his prophets and every seer, saying, 'Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through my servants the prophets.'"

3. Why does Augustine claim that Christian students fall into the trap that prevents them from separating themselves from pagans?
(a) They read Scriptural passages according to their own cultural and historical biases.
(b) They do not have the discipline to understand that seclusion is intended for purging human weakness and not for self-absorption.
(c) They are too eager to misapply signs to inappropriate events and situations.
(d) They consider their ability to absorb knowledge as a special gift that makes them closer to God.

4. What are subjects that Augustine identifies that 'must be learned'?
(a) Measurements of all kinds, alphabets, history, medicine and astronomy.
(b) The miracles of the Church immediately after the ascension of Christ, the languages of the Roman Empire, and the laws of Israel.
(c) The manifestations of creation throughout Scripture, every perspective of eschatology, the application of minor prophets to community.
(d) Dietary laws of Israel, miracles of the Pentateuch, and the sermons of Christ.

5. According to Augustine in Book Two, in order for the student to become an effective teacher, what two skills must the student master?
(a) Navigation and philosophy.
(b) Arts and sciences.
(c) Prophecy and signs.
(d) Logic and rhetoric.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the most important step Augustine's students must take to avoid the trap he sees in interpretation?

2. What is ironic about the fact that Augustine referred to Tyconius' "Book of Rules" as being useful for the interpretation of Scripture?

3. What facts of Scripture does Augustine set as the foundation for understanding it?

4. What are the two categories of signs Augustine identifies in Book Two?

5. What basic fact do the critics discussed in the Preface ignore by discounting teaching from Augustine and others?

(see the answer key)

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