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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Of Tyconius' rules for interpreting Scripture that Augustine examined, which two relate to the subjects that Augustine recommended for study in Book Two?
(a) On the Lord's twofold body and On genus and species.
(b) On the promises and the law and On the devil and his body.
(c) On species and genus and On measurements of time.
(d) On the Lord and his body and On the promises and the law.

2. According to Augustine in Book Three, what is the purpose of Scripture in reporting the condition that affects holy men?
(a) The direct communication that holy men had with God is reported so current students will approach Scripture with the reverence it deserves.
(b) The sins of holy men are reported in Scripture so individuals never think they are too great to sin.
(c) The knowledge of law possessed by holy men is reported in Scripture to guide students to approach God's communication with the same zeal.
(d) The discernment of holy men is reported in Scripture to remind students of the work that needs to be done to understand the history and culture of holy men.

3. According to Augustine, how should misunderstood signs become understood?
(a) By committing the misunderstood words or expressions to memory.
(b) By considering how the used thing is accepted by the community.
(c) By examining the context in which things appear as signs.
(d) By examining the use of the word that appears to be a thing.

4. 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 could not be done without sinful intent at the time of Augustine's writing.
(b) They were taken by those who clearly understood God's signs.
(c) They were taken by those who recorded God's law directly from the source.
(d) They were taken by people to whom God gave his orders directly.

5. 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 history of the period that the Scripture was recorded.
(c) The original manuscripts.
(d) The original language.

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 does Augustine say the student pass through if he/she will be able to understand Scripture?

3. According to Augustine, of the different forms through which the grammar types show themselves, which is, by definition, the most difficult to interpret?

4. What are the two general confusions that Augustine says come from Christians who do not differentiate themselves from pagans?

5. What form do these grammar types take?

(see the answer keys)

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