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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. What should be the nature of the relationship between humans and God according to Augustine?

2. What is the main difference between the system of learning that Augustine advocates and that advocated by the critics he focuses on in the Preface?

3. What was the third type of criticism that Augustine suggests "On Christian Doctrine" would face?

4. What does Augustine encourage his critics to remember in the Preface?

5. What does Augustine recommend to avoid the negative influences on individual thought?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. 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?

4. What Christian virtue does Augustine claim that can keep negative traits in check?

5. What does Augustine claim is one of the causes of a sign's ambiguity?

6. How does Augustine suggest interpretations of Scripture should affect the subject about which he wants to answer many questions and how should that affect the student seeking to interpret Scripture?

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

8. To what sect of Christianity did Tyconius belong and and why is it ironic that Augustine references his rules of interpretation?

9. About what subject does Augustine want to answer many questions in Book One and for what two reasons does he want to answer them?

10. How does Cicero detail an orator speaking in proportion with the gravity of the subject matter?

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

Augustine devotes the preface to answering criticism he expects to receive from a sect known as the Donatists. Compare Augustine's position to what you know of the Donatists from the preface (those who believe that "special gifts" were necessary to interpret Scripture). What are the benefits of the two beliefs? What are the disadvantages of each? Which system of interpretation do you consider more beneficial to the general public and particularly to the growth and development of the Christian Church. Explain your answer.

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