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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who were the Judaizers?

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

3. What does Carsten Thiede claim about the Magdalen fragments?

4. What does Mack believe the figure of Jesus became with the Pronouncement Stories?

5. What was contained in the "Jefferson Bible"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain why Mack believes Galilee was the perfect place for social experimentation.

2. What are the four types of material within the letters to the Corinthians?

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

4. Explain Mack's view of how the writings of the New Testament were chosen, and why these choices created centrist Christianity.

5. 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.

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

7. Explain the findings of Carsten Thiede, Mack's response, and what this argument shows.

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

9. What are the four features of the Christ myth Mack claims are a result of the involvement of God?

10. What were the three ideas that groups gathered around that resulted in the Jesus movements?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the Acts of the Apostles, in detail. What was the point of this document? Who is believed to be the author? When was it written? What stories are contained within the Acts, and what is their purpose to modern Christianity? What literary styles did the author use to create a cohesive history of gospel cohesiveness? What did the speeches within Acts attempt to convey, and were they successful? How did Acts relate to Judaism? Be sure to include information contained in the book in your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the three ways in which Paul fought the super apostles at Corinth. Be sure to include all three of his arguments, including the idea of an old and new covenant, the Adam-Jesus comparison, and the use of allegory to turn the old covenant into the story of Christ. How did Paul use each of these arguments? What were the arguments? Be sure to include details from the book to explain the arguments, and to support them.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Mack's three arguments about why the Bible has survived unquestioned throughout history. Why does he say this has happened? Be sure to discuss Mack's views of the Bible as an oracle, the Bible as the ritual text of Christianity, and the Bible's function as an epic for the American dream. What are each of these, and why do they help to position the Bible in a high, unquestionable place of power?

(see the answer keys)

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