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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What did the temple at Jerusalem serve as, in terms of a symbol?
(a) It was the symbol of Jesus.
(b) It was the symbol of Jewish presence.
(c) It was the symbol of God.
(d) It was the symbol of peace.

3. What is the only feature that all Christian religions have in common?
(a) Prayers to Mary.
(b) Reliance on the Bible.
(c) Alms for the poor.
(d) Prayers for the sick.

4. What does Mack call the Christian myth, in terms of its completion?
(a) An incomplete historical reference.
(b) A completed canon.
(c) A complete fictitious myth.
(d) An unfinished epic.

5. How did early Christians think of their world?
(a) As a kingdom of God.
(b) As a tomb.
(c) As a social formation.
(d) As a cosmos.

6. What was Valentinus' claim about what Christ made possible, in terms of knowledge of God?
(a) That Christ made it possible to know God by acquaintance.
(b) That Christ made it possible to know about God.
(c) That Christ made it possible to know God through scripture.
(d) That Christ made it possible to know God through apostles.

7. Who defended the centrist Christian position from those who challenged it?
(a) Justin Martyr.
(b) Marcion.
(c) Philo.
(d) Valentinus.

8. Who is the star from Chapter 13 to the end of the Acts of the Apostles?
(a) John.
(b) Peter.
(c) Jude.
(d) Paul.

9. What does Mack claim was added to John 19:35?
(a) A witness who saw blood come out of Jesus.
(b) A witness who saw Jesus rise.
(c) A witness who saw blood and water come out of Jesus.
(d) A witness who saw Jesus turn water to wine.

10. How does John portray Jesus, according to Mack?
(a) As a cosmic Lord.
(b) As the spirit of God.
(c) As a teacher.
(d) As a powerful ruler.

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

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

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

14. How did Mark portray Jesus?
(a) As a teacher.
(b) As a powerful authority figure.
(c) As a backdrop to Jewish scripture.
(d) As a God.

15. Who was the first of this group to attack centrist Christianity?
(a) Caesar.
(b) Valentinus.
(c) Justin.
(d) Marcion of Sinope.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Mack say about the letter of Jude?

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

3. Why did the literature that the early bishops threw out survive?

4. What word is used to imply the significance of the miracle stories in the Gospel of John?

5. Who first discussed the twelve disciples?

(see the answer keys)

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