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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What collection of early Christian texts does the Didache now belong to?
(a) The Apostolic Fathers.
(b) Revelations.
(c) Acts of the Apostles.
(d) The Dead Sea Scrolls.

2. What does Mack argue the Gospel of Matthew is a document for?
(a) Jewish Christianity.
(b) Christianity.
(c) The Christ cult.
(d) Judaism.

3. What was the shift in mythmaking, according to Mack, that occurred at the turn of the second century?
(a) Christians began to leave behind the gospels.
(b) Christians began to associate gospels with disciples.
(c) Christians began to disassociate from John.
(d) Christians began to attribute more writings to Jesus himself.

4. What did the Centrists seek to prove to the challengers?
(a) That the Christian God was not the same as the Jewish God.
(b) That God cared only for the Jews.
(c) That the Christian God was the same as the Jewish God.
(d) That God did not exist.

5. What did Clement argue about the "new song" of Christianity?
(a) It was based on Judaism.
(b) It was not new at all.
(c) It was an incorrect theory.
(d) It was a new, vibrant way to view God.

6. What two sources does Mack claim Matthew used for his gospel?
(a) The book of Q and the gospel of Mark.
(b) The book of Q and the gospel of the Christ cult.
(c) The gospel of Mark and the gospel of Luke.
(d) The book of Q and the gospel of Luke.

7. What did Justin argue to the Romans about Christianity?
(a) That it hurt their government.
(b) That all Christians should be exiled.
(c) That it was better than Judaism.
(d) That it actually helped them.

8. What list became the Christian Bible?
(a) The list of Eusebius.
(b) The list of Jerome's translations.
(c) The letter of Trier.
(d) The Festal Letter of Athenasius.

9. What does Mack argue the author of the letters to the Hebrews is saying?
(a) Jesus is better than the entire system of Israelite religion.
(b) Jesus is better than Moses.
(c) Jesus is better than the Roman gods.
(d) Jesus is better than God.

10. What was the core objective of the epic of Israel through the end of the second temple?
(a) The establishment of the temple-state.
(b) The establishment of the Church.
(c) The confirmation of God as a Jewish myth.
(d) The confirmation of the death of Christ.

11. Where did Justin claim the Greek philosophers received their wisdom?
(a) From the Greek gods.
(b) From Moses.
(c) From the people.
(d) From Abraham.

12. What do the sermons in the Acts attempt to do?
(a) Validate the authority of the disciples.
(b) Validate the rights of the Jews.
(c) Validate God.
(d) Validate the claims of Jesus.

13. What does Mack argue John was worried about, which resulted in his authorship of Revelations?
(a) Persecution and execution.
(b) False teachings and affliction.
(c) Sickness and affliction.
(d) False teaching and sickness.

14. What does Mack claim the Bible is the story of?
(a) God's love for the Jews.
(b) The history of the world.
(c) God's purposes for humankind.
(d) The history of Christ.

15. It is as important for the disciples to be apostles as it is for Jesus to be ___________________.
(a) God.
(b) Son of man.
(c) The Christ.
(d) Son of God.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the common core of the Jewish scriptures?

2. What was the first act in Valentinus' cosmic drama?

3. Who was the first of this group to attack centrist Christianity?

4. What does Mark's gospel do to the disciples that the story of Q did not?

5. When do scholars place the writing of the Gospel of John?

(see the answer keys)

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