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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. What two Gods from different cultures were seen to be the same?

2. What do Paul's letters to the Romans represent?

3. In the temple-state model of civilization, what system does the king represent?

4. What does the passage in Romans 3:21-26 say about why Jesus' death was effective?

5. What does Mack note the Corinthians are the first example of?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Paul link Christianity to the Greek concept of self control?

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

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

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

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

6. Describe the temple-state.

7. 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.

8. What does Mack say about the Bible in early American history?

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

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

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

Compare and contrast two of the following Gospels. Be sure to include the time of the writing, the location, the portrayal of Jesus, the use of other documents to form a basis, and the individual additions of each author to the main story line. How are the two similar, and how are they different?

• The Gospel of Mark

• The Gospel of Matthew

• The Gospel of Luke

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the ideas of Marcion of Sinope to the ideas of Valentinus. Who were these individuals? What were their arguments against the centrist concept of Christianity? How do their arguments differ? How are they similar? Combined, how did their ideas influence the rest of the world? How did their ideas lead to the concept that the Jewish scriptures were "really" about Christians?

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