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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Paul assure the Thessalonians in terms of "those who had died"?
(a) That those who died before Christ could still be saved.
(b) That those who died with God will live with God.
(c) That those who died in sin would not be with God after death.
(d) That those who died with God will never die.

2. What does Mack compare the Pronouncement Stories to in Chapter 2?
(a) The stories of the Cynics.
(b) The stories of the Egyptians.
(c) The stories of the Romans.
(d) The stories of the intellectuals.

3. What does Mack claim the kingdom of God represented?
(a) An alternative to hell.
(b) An alternative to simple death.
(c) An alternative to purgatory.
(d) An alternative to the current society.

4. Why does Mack think putting aside conventional ideas of the origins of Christianity is difficult for some?
(a) Christians have an investment in the idea that the Church is infallible.
(b) Christians have an investment in the idea that the Old Testament is true.
(c) Christians have an investment in the idea that the New Testament is true.
(d) Christians have an investment in the idea that the New Testament is a collection of myths.

5. Why does Mack claim groups are forming outside the boundaries of religion to study the Bible?
(a) They hope to find their faith.
(b) They hope to find salvation.
(c) They hope to discover fundamental truths from the past.
(d) They hope to find solutions to political issues.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Mack suggest as a reason that Mark was overly critical of the disciples of Jerusalem?

2. Why does Mack claim the Bible is constantly consulted?

3. What feature of the Jerusalem group allows readers to build a profile?

4. What three figures did Paul bring together to combat the concept that the divine spirit was all that mattered?

5. Why does Mack believe the stories in the New Testament were chosen to be included?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. What were some of the problems exporting the Athens model of society?

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

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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