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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Augustine treat Tyconius' rules that he cites in his book?
(a) Augustine compares them to his own set of principles to point out differences and similarities.
(b) Augustine uses them to prove what he considers misguided thinking of Donatists.
(c) Augustine applies them to particular cases to the end of Book Three.
(d) Augustine merely illustrates Tyconius' rules as one of several approaches for interpreting Scripture of the day.

2. Why does Augustine claim this knowledge is required to understand what Scripture teaches?
(a) Because knowing the language, culture, and settings of the Scriptural record guides in making correct interpretations of Scripture.
(b) Because knowing the history of Israel and the prophecies concerning Christ makes a full connection between Israelite and Christian Scriptures.
(c) Because knowing the dietary and moral laws of the Nazarites aids in understanding the life and miracles of Christ.
(d) Because knowing the demands of the law of Israel helps to understand the freedom that Christians have through the atoning death of Christ.

3. How does Augustine say a student should treat any evil actions or speech from characters Scriptures praise as holy?
(a) As an announcement from God of impending judgment.
(b) As figurative language.
(c) They must be treated as a poor interpretation and a study of the language and history of the passage must be examined.
(d) As a blasphemy against God and the character's holiness must be considered as revoked by God.

4. What are some of the practices of these categories in which humans must not participate?
(a) Teaching literal spheres as figurative spheres.
(b) Using special gifts to attempt to convert things to signs.
(c) Attempting to reconcile truth with heresy.
(d) Superstition and astrology.

5. What facts of Scripture does Augustine set as the foundation for understanding it?
(a) All Scriptural history starting from creation.
(b) The context of the miracles so they can understand the purpose of God in delivering them.
(c) Objects, times, places and people referred to in Scripture and the spiritual realm of the people in Scripture.
(d) All the teachings of Christ.

6. What ethical principle of the Bible does Augustine require for students to use as a guide for interpretation of Scripture?
(a) The principle of God's authority over judgment.
(b) The principle of the omnipotence of God.
(c) The principle of original sin.
(d) The principle of love.

7. What are the mix of subjects that Augustine emphasizes in his education?
(a) Mosaic Law, dietary law, Biblical civil law, sacrificial law, and order of the Tabernacle and Temple.
(b) Rhetoric, philosophy, logic, botany, astronomy, languages and history.
(c) Dietary law, moral law, laws of separation and laws of exclusion.
(d) The history of the Pentateuch, the laws of prophets, and the writings of the Minor Prophets.

8. Based on the academic demands that Augustine places on his students, it is clear that Augustine believes what?
(a) That personal discipline and focusing on things outside of the body helps build chastity and humility.
(b) That learning as much as possible is the best way to separate the individual from the common population.
(c) That God is the master of all creation and language and the more you know of each the better you understand what God passed on in Scripture.
(d) That those who sought Augustine as a teacher will need to have conviction and determination to take on the challenges he puts before his students.

9. In Book Three, Augustine argues that since holy men from scripture receive evil language from God because of their condition, how should the passages with such language be read?
(a) Both literally and figuratively.
(b) With the understanding that God's word transcends time, so that spoken directly to holy men can be considered relevant to current settings.
(c) With sufficient references to historical data.
(d) In context with the laws that God is applying to the particular situation.

10. What is a requirement of Augustine's disciples?
(a) To use their "special gift."
(b) To understand God's revelation.
(c) To use their "inner eye."
(d) To identify signs and their role in Scriptural learning.

11. According to Augustine, how can signs become ambiguous?
(a) By containing misunderstood words or expressions.
(b) By being words that appear as things.
(c) By being used things that are also enjoyed.
(d) By being things that don't appear as signs.

12. What form do these grammar types take?
(a) Poem, metaphor, sarcasm, and hyperbole.
(b) Hyperbole, riddle, song, and parable.
(c) Allegory, enigma, parable, and catachresis.
(d) Prose, poem, dissertation, and story.

13. What does Augustine prove from the demands he expects from his students that he began defending against critics in the Preface?
(a) That Augustine does not trust his students, therefore he plans to keep them occupied.
(b) That understanding Scripture requires intense and focused study so proper interpretation can be applied and demonic misleading can be avoided.
(c) That Augustine intends to protect the integrity of his students by dominating their time.
(d) That Augustine does not respect people who believe they do not need to study.

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

15. How does Augustine state a student should consider an evil command given to its intended target?
(a) That God is becoming intolerant of defiance against his laws.
(b) As a sign that God will exercise an act of judgment.
(c) As being good for the individual or group at the time.
(d) That God requires that his will be followed.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Book Two, what is the most important knowledge a student of scripture can have?

2. By the end of Book Two, Augustine devoted much of this text to refuting critics who believe Scriptural interpretation comes simply. What does this infer of Augustine's methods of debate?

3. What does Book Three state is the purpose of God or angels using condemning terms?

4. What was the topic of Book Three?

5. What does Augustine identify as a necessary subject that a student must learn to understand Scripture?

(see the answer keys)

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