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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. How does Augustine characterize the argument that his teaching is not needed because it comes from a human source?

2. Of these influences on personal thought, which does Augustine claim Scripture teaches can lead a Christian to positive patterns?

3. How does Augustine describe humans?

4. Augustine wrote that the critics he mainly focuses on in the Preface base their positions on what belief?

5. According to Augustine, for what reason should one love oneself?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Augustine claim are the two types of signs and how are they defined?

2. Why does Augustine suggest that Christians should learn to use rhetoric?

3. What are the two subject matters into which Augustine divides the four books in "Of Christian Doctrine"?

4. What are three things that Augustine writes that humans can do with one of the items of his focus in Book One?

5. Upon which type of critics does Augustine focus his attention in the preface?

6. What does Augustine focus on in Book Four?

7. What does Augustine identify as an important consideration when determining how many ideas words or phrases from Scripture contain?

8. Augustine refutes his critics from the Preface with a common example. What was that example and how does Augustine use it to support his position?

9. What topic does Augustine address in Book Three?

10. What does Augustine identifies as three things that students need to use to develop responsible interpretations of Scripture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Book Two, Augustine begins teaching on interpreting signs in Scripture. He warns against misapplying literal and figurative language to interpret signs. Read the creation account of Genesis 1. Compare the effects on theology by considering the chapter literally and figuratively. Explain how the literal or figurative interpretation of Genesis 1 affects the interpretation of miracles and events through the rest of the Bible including, but not limited to, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

Essay Topic 2

In the Preface, Augustine explains that refusing to learn from trained and experienced human teachers eliminates an aspiring student from benefiting from communities built upon the principles of Christian love. Identify the principles of the Christian love that Augustine promotes and explain the role that the student is to take in relationship of the community and experienced and trained teachers of Scripture.

Essay Topic 3

Augustine requires his students to learn history and ancient languages in order to properly interpret Scripture. Identify and detail three reasons he makes this requirement and explain how his expectations could serve a student looking into other areas of study. Plan an order for learning the skills that Augustine recommends for responsible Scriptural interpretation and explain why you would follow the courses in that order.

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