View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the term "Christ" imply?
(a) That Jesus was approved by God.
(b) That Jesus was the son of God.
(c) That Jesus was God.
(d) That Jesus was mortal.

2. What two Gods from different cultures were seen to be the same?
(a) Osiris and Isis.
(b) Philo and Alexandria.
(c) Athena and Zeus.
(d) Hermes and Thoth.

3. 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) A complete statement of his religious ideas.
(d) An angry accusation of lewdness and persecution.

4. Why did Paul tone down his views of the freedom of Christians?
(a) He did not want a repeat of the out of control behaviors at Corinth.
(b) He wanted to tie down Christians to make them more holy.
(c) He was reverting back to his Jewish roots.
(d) He was told by God to tame the behaviors of man.

5. What does Mack claim happens when a person brings in a Biblical position to an argument of social discussion?
(a) All thinking and reasonable discussion stops.
(b) People become angry.
(c) All religious history is brought up.
(d) People become bored.

Short Answer Questions

1. What way did ethnic or cultural groups create small social units within the larger culture they found themselves in?

2. Why does Mack think putting aside conventional ideas of the origins of Christianity is difficult for some?

3. What does Mack claim is the purpose of the Miracle Stories of Mark?

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

5. Where did the Jesus movement begin their change to the Christ cult?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is the catch-22 Mack finds when discussing the New Testament and the origins of the Christian Church?

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

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

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

7. Why does Mack believe early Christians were excited about the concept of the kingdom of God?

8. Explain the three myths merged in Philippians 2:6-11.

9. Explain why Paul is so important to views of Christianity, according to Mack.

10. Describe the two major aspects in which the Christ cult differed from the Jesus movements.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,277 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample