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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. Why were the revisions of the scriptures not convincing before 70 C.E.?
(a) They could not match the logic that the epic was for Jesus.
(b) They could not match the logic that the epic was for the Roman empire.
(c) They could not match the logic that the epic was for the Greek state.
(d) They could not match the logic that the epic was for the second-temple Jerusalem.

2. Whose conversion eventually led to the creation of the New Testament?
(a) Eusebius.
(b) Caesar.
(c) Jerome.
(d) Constantine.

3. 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 blood and water come out of Jesus.
(c) A witness who saw Jesus turn water to wine.
(d) A witness who saw Jesus rise.

4. What does Mark's gospel do to the disciples that the story of Q did not?
(a) Worships them.
(b) Ignores them.
(c) Names them.
(d) Kills them.

5. What does the gospel of Matthew argue Jesus' teachings were based on?
(a) The gospel of Mark.
(b) The Torah.
(c) The gospel of Luke.
(d) The gospel of Q.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. Who was the leader of the empire who tried to have his images placed in the temple of Jerusalem?

3. What collection of early Christian texts does the Didache now belong to?

4. What does Mack claim about Paul's letters to Colossians and Ephesians?

5. How many miracles occur in the Gospel of John?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the conversion of Constantine, and why it was pivotal in the creation of the Bible.

2. What are the three concerns underlying the treatise to the Hebrews?

3. What are the standard writing conventions used in the Acts of the Apostles?

4. What were the four ways of reading the scripture that supported the Christian inclusion of Jewish scripture in their religion?

5. What was Valentinus' story of the tragedy of the birth of the world?

6. Explain Mack's discussion of when the Epistles of Peter and Jude were written. What references does he use to attempt to date the pieces?

7. What two strong desires drove Christianity?

8. Explain the observations Mack claims are important about Mark's use of the pronouncement stories.

9. What are the major points of the sermons contained in the Acts, according to Mack?

10. Describe the situation in the empire since the reign of Caligula, in terms of the political mood of the Jews.

(see the answer keys)

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