View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What feature of the Christ cult does Mack claim Paul found irresistible?

2. How many layers of the Gospel Q exist?

3. What does Mack say the Christ cult laid the foundation for?

4. Why does Mack think putting aside conventional ideas of the origins of Christianity is difficult for some?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What three factors surfaced as questions to answer that would help the different culture's relate to one another, and why were they important?

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

5. Describe the temple-state.

6. Explain why Paul is so important to views of Christianity, according to Mack.

7. Explain what was meant by Jesus in referring to his body as the bread, and his blood as the wine.

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

9. Explain the three myths merged in Philippians 2:6-11.

10. What is the third 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, in detail, Paul's letters to the Romans. Why did it differ from other letters? How does Paul explain the human problem that the gospel answers? How does he describe the Christ myth? What does he say about the resurrection? How did Paul tie in the Greek concept of self control? How did he change the view of apocalypse to fit the Greek concept?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the Didache, in detail. What is it? Where was it located? What is it a part of, and why? What does it contain? What features does Mack note are of particular interest? How does the Didache relate to Judaism? Why is this important to understanding the state of Christianity in the early second century?

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)

This section contains 1,311 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample