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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 does Mack claim was the slogan for Paul's gospel?

2. What two notions was Paul caught between in the question of what to do with those already dead?

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

4. What did Paul stress was important, since they were "members of Christ"?

5. What does Mack claim is the link that gives the Christian Bible logic and force?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were the three exegetical novelties Paul came up with that had a lasting effect on Christianity?

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

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

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

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

6. 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.

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

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

9. Explain Paul's concept of the spiritual body.

10. What is the fourth 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

Explain the cultures of the Greco-Roman times in the Eastern Mediterranean, as explained by Mack in Chapter 1. Be sure to include concepts of the Jewish temple-state, the Greek city-state, and the Roman republic. What were the similarities of these groups? What were the differences? How did these cultural clashes help to form a breeding ground for new social ideas and experiments? What types of social experiments were done? How did these contribute to the creation of a new society?

Essay Topic 2

List and discuss the four "proofs" from scripture that support the idea that the history of Israel can be read as the story of the Christian God. What are the four points? What do they mean? How do they tie together to create the idea of a scripture that supports the Christian God, rather than a Jewish God? Be sure to mention concepts such as the spirit of prophesy, the logos, and the idea that the history of Israel did not end with the Jews.

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?

(see the answer keys)

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