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

2. What does Mack believe the authors intended to convey by having Peter and James defend Paul's ideas about Jewish law?
(a) That the Christian message was not meant for gentiles.
(b) That the Christian message was meant for gentiles.
(c) That the Christian message was not meant for Jews.
(d) That the Christian message was meant for Jews.

3. What does Mack claim is the point of the Letter of James?
(a) Showing the importance of living a moral life.
(b) Showing the importance of God's will.
(c) Showing the importance Jesus' word.
(d) Showing the importance of the Christian faith.

4. How did Luke portray Jesus?
(a) A teacher of the Torah.
(b) The manifestation of obedience to the spirit.
(c) A powerful deity.
(d) A wandering prophet.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Justin argue to the Romans about Christianity?

2. What is different about Peter in comparison to Jude?

3. What does Mack claim the author of Acts found, in terms of an answer to what Christianity owed to Jewish history?

4. When does Mack claim most of the works discussed in Chapter 8 were written?

5. Who does Mack argue at the end of Chapter 8 became the beloved disciple?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Marcion of Sinope's logic, in terms of his views of two Gods, and what to do about the Jewish contamination in the gospels?

2. Describe Mack's observations about James as an author in the first three centuries.

3. What are the three themes that dominate the story of Jesus and his resurrection in the Gospel of Luke?

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

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

6. What does Mack say about the "overwhelming concern" in the Didache about the practice of alms, gift giving, and supporting those who ask for hand outs?

7. What evidence does Mack put forth that the attempts to move into mainstream Christianity worked?

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

9. How does the Gospel of John differ from that of Mark?

10. What are the four types of miracle interpretation occurring in the Gospel of John?

(see the answer keys)

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