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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What problem did Paul define as the human problem?
(a) The power of sin.
(b) Greed.
(c) The power of false idols.
(d) Pride.

3. What does Mack claim the kingdom of God represented?
(a) An alternative to purgatory.
(b) An alternative to the current society.
(c) An alternative to hell.
(d) An alternative to simple death.

4. What was the Stoic recommendation for personal virtue?
(a) That man could learn what was naturally right.
(b) That man could never learn what was naturally right.
(c) That man could only pretend to know what was naturally right.
(d) That man should avoid what was naturally right.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. When does Mack claim the books of the New Testament were written?

2. Why is Paul's' letter to the Romans different from his other letters?

3. What role did women play in associations?

4. What notion does Mack believe generated enough excitement to influence the formation of different Jesus groups?

5. What does Mack note is mythmaking on a cosmic scale, in terms of the Christ hymn in Philippians 2:6-11?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain why social tension began to mount within the new mixed society of Greco-Roman times, and how these groups tried to keep their culture.

2. What were Paul's arguments against the concept that Christians had to follow Jewish law, if they were claiming to be Jewish?

3. What are the three features of the text that indicate the Christ myth is based on the martyr myths?

4. What is the fifth Jesus movement discussed in the book, and what is/are the primary components of the movement's teachings?

5. What myths did the concept of the death and resurrection of Christ draw upon?

6. Explain what was meant by Jesus in referring to his body as the bread, and his blood as the wine.

7. What three factors surfaced as questions to answer that would help the different culture's relate to one another, and why were they important?

8. Explain how Mack views the authors of the literature in the New Testament.

9. What did Paul mean by "freedom from the law", according to Mack?

10. Describe the concept of the polis.

(see the answer keys)

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