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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. Augustine endeavors to answer many questions about what subject in Book One?

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

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

4. What basic fact do the critics discussed in the Preface ignore by discounting teaching from Augustine and others?

5. What are the two primary reasons that Augustine devotes his time to those questions?

Short Essay Questions

1. What term does Augustine apply to the subjects he recommends for study to learn Scriptural interpretation and why does he use this term?

2. What does Augustine claim an interpreter must consider regarding the author of Scripture to make a correct interpretation?

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

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

5. What inference can be made from the extensive training that Augustine recommends to interpret Scripture?

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

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

8. What does Augustine recommend to orators who use speech writers?

9. What does Augustine recommend should be the lifestyle and focus of the Christian speaker?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Augustine wrote of the unchangeable nature of Truth and Wisdom, yet many of the most useful things for learning today, (computers, smart phones, mp3 storage devices, the Internet) change at a rapid pace. Compare learning from Truth and Wisdom. Explain how things that are used for learning today can be used to validate what Augustine defines as Truth and Wisdom, as well as how they can be misused to lead someone away from those virtues.

Essay Topic 2

Book Three begins with an examination of how faith, punctuation, and pronunciation can contribute to clearing up ambiguities of Scriptural passages. Detail what steps a student would have to take to develop each of those abilities and compare the Scriptural interpreter who has developed them to one who claims "special gifts" as their source for interpretation and teaching.

Essay Topic 3

Augustine's writings on Christian conduct and practices are still influential today. Identify three principles he articulates in "On Christian Doctrine" that you consider important in Christian practices today. Write why you consider them important, what sort of affect the application of these principles have on Christianity and general society, and how you plan to implement these principles in your life.

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