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. Marcus offered the cup of wine and says into which ___________ may flow during the masses he gave.

2. The Catholic Church bases its authority on the shoes of the ___________, according to the text in this chapter.

3. The Romans believed in divine authority for __________, which eventually led to Inanaeus' death sentence for treason.

4. The ___________ of the original Greek gospels by various scholars enhanced the controversy around them.

5. __________ was far more recognized and abundant than previously thought, especially in the years following Jesus' death.

Short Essay Questions

1. Who were the Gnostics attacked by, as revealed in the Second Treatise of the Great Seth?

2. How do the Gnostic texts portray the God that is present in the story of Adam and Eve in the tale of creation?

3. What kind of suffering was focused on in the Gnostic path and the belief system?

4. What are some of the explanations that the Gnostics offered for the resurrection stories of Jesus?

5. What is a possible explanation for the burial of the sacred texts in the jar that Mohammed 'Ali found?

6. When Paul is writing in his letters, he refers to something that is 'whether it is in the body or out of the body I do not know.' What is he referring to?

7. Why was the conversion of a Christian women mentioned in a letter that Justin sent to Emperor Antonius Pius?

8. To whom did one's real allegiance belong, according to the ideas of Valentine?

9. What did the Roman Empire seem to think of the new following of Jesus and the development of Christianity?

10. What does Jesus challenge his apostles to do in order to see that he has indeed resurrected?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Gnostic gospels seem to state that it's not that becoming a martyr will lead to Heaven each time, but that the awareness of the teachings of Christ is the reward.

Part 1: Do you think that Heaven should be seen as the ultimate reward in the Christian life? Why or why not?

Part 2: Do you believe that the awareness of Christ is something that is more important than what happens when you die? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you think Christianity might change if there was no idea of Heaven or Hell?

Essay Topic 2

Looking at the Bible in a different way is not always something that people are willing to do.

Part 1: Why do you think people are resistant to seeing the Bible in a new way?

Part 2: Do you think that it's a good idea or a bad idea to look at new perspectives in the Bible? Why?

Part 3: How do you think religion might change if the gnostic gospels were considered to be true? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The scrolls themselves became scattered around the world once people realized they were of value and began to sell them to the highest bidders.

Part 1: Why do you think that people wanted the money more than the information?

Part 2: If you were living in that time and found these scrolls, what would you have done with them? Why?

Part 3: Do you think it's a good idea to get money for priceless objects? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 794 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample