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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Augustine state an interpreter sometimes looks to to get the right meanings and right number of meanings from a passage?
(a) The author's intentions.
(b) The original language.
(c) The history of the period that the Scripture was recorded.
(d) The original manuscripts.

2. What is the difference between the time that God might deliver what seems to be an evil command in the Old Testament and the current time, according to Augustine?
(a) They were taken by those who clearly understood God's signs.
(b) They were taken by those who recorded God's law directly from the source.
(c) They could not be done without sinful intent at the time of Augustine's writing.
(d) They were taken by people to whom God gave his orders directly.

3. What does Augustine recommend as methods for handling the topic in Book Three?
(a) Exclusive study of Scripture and submission to the proper guidance from church officials as methods of handling the problem of book two.
(b) Seclusion from secular temptations to allow for the maturation of the "inner eye" as methods of handling the problem of book two.
(c) Strict adherence to the dietary laws of Israel and understanding of prophecy as methods of handling the problem of book two.
(d) Theological virtue and great learning as methods of handling the problem of Book Two.

4. What are the two different ways a Scriptural passage can be considered, according to Book Three?
(a) They can be considered linguistically or grammatically.
(b) They can be considered figuratively or literally.
(c) They can be considered culturally or historically.
(d) They can be considered as details of things or details of signs.

5. Since Augustine regards his disciples as "divinely instituted," what responsibility falls on his students?
(a) They have the duty to apply good social and intellectual practices.
(b) They have the duty to know the difference between things and signs.
(c) They have the duty to discover their "special gift."
(d) They have the duty to develop their "inner eye."

6. 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) In context with the laws that God is applying to the particular situation.
(b) Both literally and figuratively.
(c) With sufficient references to historical data.
(d) With the understanding that God's word transcends time, so that spoken directly to holy men can be considered relevant to current settings.

7. What hazard does Augustine state must one keep in check as they learn of the fields pertaining to Scripture?
(a) The pride develops with great learning.
(b) Eschatology against Scriptural language to prevent heresy.
(c) The consistency of what are considered to be signs against traditional interpretations.
(d) The accuracy of translations against original manuscripts.

8. What is the significance of Augustine recommending mastery of so many fields in Book Two?
(a) Attempting to absorb so much information exercises the mind and helps the student find their special gift.
(b) Broad knowledge is needed to properly interpret Scripture.
(c) Broad knowledge helps exercise the inner eye.
(d) Learning all that God has put before the student through all history helps the student better know the mind of God.

9. Augustine writes in Book Three that in order to make the type of evaluation of the command given to the intended target, what knowledge must a student of Scripture possess?
(a) Of the history of the event for which God is giving the command.
(b) Of how God makes his will manifest.
(c) Of how God used a sign to foretell his command.
(d) Of how God expects his laws to be applied.

10. What does Augustine reason, from the scriptural reference regarding the hazard of learning, that a student must be sure to develop.
(a) Care of how eschatology is applied.
(b) Sensitivity to compare signs to what is being learned from Scripture.
(c) Diligently apply Scripture properly in every case.
(d) To grow love in one's heart first and foremost.

11. What are the two categories of signs Augustine identifies in Book Two?
(a) Signs that are given through special gifts and signs that are given through angels.
(b) Signs that are things and signs that are words.
(c) Signs that can be used and signs that can be enjoyed.
(d) Natural signs and given signs.

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

13. What are the primary possessions of the student of Scripture, according to Augustine in Book Two?
(a) Illuminated truth, the inner eye, and faith.
(b) Special gifts, things, and signs.
(c) Love, illuminated truth, and the inner eye.
(d) Faith, hope, and love.

14. 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 being good for the individual or group at the time.
(c) As a sign that God will exercise an act of judgment.
(d) That God requires that his will be followed.

15. By making the demands of understanding Scripture difficult, who was Augustine criticizing?
(a) Those who believe that learning information outside of the Bible leads to heresy.
(b) Those who believe that only studying the life of Christ was sufficient to understand Scripture.
(c) His detractors believed Scripture could be interpreted easily through special gifts.
(d) Those who felt that Scripture could be interpreted through current events.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Augustine call the types of grammar used through Scripture?

2. What does Augustine prove from the demands he expects from his students that he began defending against critics in the Preface?

3. Why does Augustine claim this knowledge is required to understand what Scripture teaches?

4. Based on the academic demands that Augustine places on his students, it is clear that Augustine believes what?

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

(see the answer keys)

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