View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the doctrine that Augustine claims critics of human teaching defend?

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

3. What does Augustine conclude are the only things that can be enjoyed?

4. What is Augustine's perception of God's dispensation of "special gifts" of interpreting Scripture?

5. What is the second important distinction that Augustine makes in Book One?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the tasks of the orator according to Cicero?

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

3. What is the source if an individual knows more than they actually know and how does that impact Augustine's effort?

4. What are the two items that Augustine writes that students must differentiate to learn what Scripture teaches?

5. What is Augustine's view of "special gifts"?

6. What does Augustine recommend as the best method for acquiring rhetorical skill?

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

8. What are the criticisms that Augustine predicts he will face over "On Christian Doctrine"?

9. What categories does Augustine use to define spheres of natural knowledge?

10. What are the first two points that Augustine uses to begin his refutation of the critics he focuses upon in the Preface?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Augustine writes that God uses, rather than enjoys, humans and that the extent of His use of each human is based upon the depth of love those humans have for God. Detail how a student can translate their love of God to commitment to the study course that Augustine lays out. Explain how a student motivated by the love for God will respond to guidance from the sources for learning that Augustine recommends and how doing such can prepare a student to guide a community to seek proper and intelligent Scriptural interpretation.

Essay Topic 3

Compare lifestyles from the Old Testament (2,000 B.C.-500 B.C.), life in the late Roman Empire during the life of Augustine (354 A.D.-430 A.D.), and during the 21st Century. Write an analysis of how life in the Roman Empire of Augustine is similar to Old Testament times and how it is similar to the America of the 21st Century. Conclude with details of difficulties for a modern student to has for relating to the culture and life of the Old Testament and life in Augustine's Roman empire and steps a modern student would have to take to overcome those difficulties.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 881 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample