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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are sophists?
(a) Paid members of the Church.
(b) Wandering teachers who offered insights and knowledge.
(c) Teachers of religious theory in schools.
(d) Believers in the Jewish faith.

2. What does Mack note the Corinthians are the first example of?
(a) A congregation gone awry.
(b) A Hellenistic, urban congregation.
(c) A congregation of Paul's disciples.
(d) A congregation of Jews.

3. What was Paul's view on circumcision for the Gentiles?
(a) Paul let the pillars of Jerusalem answer the question of circumcision.
(b) Paul felt the Gentiles should be circumcised.
(c) Paul felt there was no need to circumcise the Gentiles.
(d) Paul never answered the question of circumcision.

4. In the temple-state model of civilization, what system does the king represent?
(a) Logic.
(b) Power.
(c) Purity.
(d) Salvation.

5. What does Mack argue Paul saw the Christ myth as, in terms of the State of Israel?
(a) Mack claims Paul saw the Christ myth as a call to circumcise the gentiles in Israel.
(b) Mack claims Paul saw the Christ myth as a call to explained the borders of Israel to include gentiles.
(c) Mack claims Paul saw the Christ myth as a call to take over all of the the Mediterranean.
(d) Mack claims Paul saw the Christ myth as a call to exile gentiles from Israel.

6. What way did ethnic or cultural groups create small social units within the larger culture they found themselves in?
(a) They worked with one another.
(b) They met in government.
(c) They created fellowships and associations.
(d) They met in educational institutions.

7. Where was Jesus from?
(a) Italy.
(b) Israel.
(c) Galilee.
(d) Greece.

8. Whose stories are mimicked in the Miracle Stories?
(a) The Jewish scriptures.
(b) The Egyptian scriptures.
(c) Greek mythology.
(d) Roman myth.

9. What feature of the Christ cult does Mack claim Paul found irresistible?
(a) The concept of an unmixed social group.
(b) The concept of a group dedicated to Jesus and the Jewish codes of cleanliness.
(c) The concept of a social group with mixed ethnicity and social status.
(d) The concept of a social group of only the lower class.

10. Why does Mack claim Columbus studied the Bible?
(a) To plan his voyages.
(b) To teach his men of its teachings.
(c) To teach the natives of Jesus.
(d) To strengthen his faith.

11. What feature of the Jerusalem group allows readers to build a profile?
(a) The leaders' religions are known.
(b) The leaders' home states are known.
(c) The leaders' names are known.
(d) The leaders' political ambitions are known.

12. Why is Paul's' letter to the Romans different from his other letters?
(a) He wrote the Romans for different reasons.
(b) The letter was written in anger.
(c) The letter was not written by Paul.
(d) He wrote the Romans to ask for funding.

13. What two systems helped define the temple-state?
(a) Power and purity.
(b) Salvation and logic.
(c) Purity and salvation.
(d) Power and cruelty.

14. What is the name of the form of mythmaking Mack notes these early Jesus people were engaged in?
(a) Epic authorship.
(b) Epic revision.
(c) Epic mythmaking.
(d) Epic tradition.

15. What does Mack suggest the taking up of residence in Jerusalem signifies for the group?
(a) A religious agenda.
(b) A political agenda.
(c) A loyalty to the Pharisee.
(d) A disrespect for Jewish tradition.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Paul tone down his views of the freedom of Christians?

2. What does the term Judeo-Christian mean?

3. What are the two activities Mack gives credit to in terms of the creation of Christian beliefs?

4. When would eternal life be obtained, according the Mack's depiction of Paul's letters to the Thessalonians?

5. What does Paul assure the Thessalonians in terms of "those who had died"?

(see the answer keys)

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