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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is a Christ hymn?
(a) A song specifically geared toward God.
(b) A genre of praise poetry.
(c) A genre of poetry to the angels.
(d) A song specifically geared toward Jesus.

2. Why were issues such as homosexuality a source of cultural conflict?
(a) It was not accepted by any culture.
(b) It was accepted by all cultures.
(c) It was unheard of in any culture.
(d) It was accepted by one culture, and rejected by another.

3. Where did the Jesus movement begin their change to the Christ cult?
(a) Southern Syria.
(b) Western Syria.
(c) Eastern Syria.
(d) Northern Syria.

4. What were some artifacts that helped preserve one's culture?
(a) Gestures and behaviors.
(b) Temples and cities.
(c) Books, statues, and symbols.
(d) Language and writing.

5. What do Paul's letters to the Romans represent?
(a) A defense against other missionaries.
(b) A plea for the Romans to accept Christianity.
(c) An angry accusation of lewdness and persecution.
(d) A complete statement of his religious ideas.

6. Why does Mack claim the Bible was important by the end of the fourth century?
(a) It gave the Church credentials for a role in Constantine's empire.
(b) It gave the Church credentials for a role in Jewish history.
(c) It gave the Church credentials for a role in the history of Israel.
(d) It gave the Church credentials in the eyes of early Christians.

7. What was contained in the "Jefferson Bible"?
(a) Only the Books of the Prophets.
(b) Only the teachings of Jesus.
(c) Only the sections prior to the New Testament.
(d) Only the creation myths.

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

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

10. What does Mack note causes some of the differences between the stories of the New Testament?
(a) They were written by the same person over the course of time.
(b) They were written by different people of the same group.
(c) They were written by one person, posing as different people.
(d) They were written by different people from different groups.

11. Why does Mack think putting aside conventional ideas of the origins of Christianity is difficult for some?
(a) Christians have an investment in the idea that the Church is infallible.
(b) Christians have an investment in the idea that the New Testament is true.
(c) Christians have an investment in the idea that the Old Testament is true.
(d) Christians have an investment in the idea that the New Testament is a collection of myths.

12. What concept was important to the Jewish temple-state, the Greek polis, and the Roman system of government?
(a) Virtue.
(b) Divinity.
(c) Law.
(d) Politics.

13. 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 exile gentiles from Israel.
(b) Mack claims Paul saw the Christ myth as a call to circumcise the gentiles in Israel.
(c) Mack claims Paul saw the Christ myth as a call to explained the borders of Israel to include gentiles.
(d) Mack claims Paul saw the Christ myth as a call to take over all of the the Mediterranean.

14. When does Mack claim the books of the New Testament were written?
(a) From the 50s in the first century to the middle of the second century.
(b) During the ninth century.
(c) During the life of Jesus.
(d) From the end of the second century to the end of the fourth century.

15. What does Paul ask Philemon to do with Onesimus?
(a) Receive him without punishment.
(b) Send him into exile.
(c) Punish him as God would punish him.
(d) Kill him.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Mack state that people become silent when confronted with Biblical information?

2. What became the sign of belonging to the new fellowship that became the Christ cult?

3. What problem did Paul define as the human problem?

4. What are sophists?

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

(see the answer keys)

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