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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 Mack believe the authors intended to convey by having Peter and James defend Paul's ideas about Jewish law?
(a) That the Christian message was meant for gentiles.
(b) That the Christian message was meant for Jews.
(c) That the Christian message was not meant for Jews.
(d) That the Christian message was not meant for gentiles.

2. What does Mack claim about Paul's letters to Colossians and Ephesians?
(a) They did not truly exist.
(b) They are filled with lies.
(c) They are attempts to sabotage his name.
(d) They are not authentic.

3. Who defended the centrist Christian position from those who challenged it?
(a) Philo.
(b) Justin Martyr.
(c) Marcion.
(d) Valentinus.

4. What does Mack claim is Mark's greatest achievement?
(a) That he succeeded in publishing his work.
(b) That he succeeded in creating the origins for Christian imagination.
(c) That he succeeded in tying Jesus with Moses.
(d) That he succeeded in converting the Jews.

5. What does Mack claim about Justin's treatise to the Jews?
(a) Justin never wrote it.
(b) No Jew ever listened to it.
(c) No one ever read it.
(d) It was made up by the Jews.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Justin argue to the Romans about Christianity?

2. What does Mack claim are the building blocks of the Gospel of John?

3. Whose conversion eventually led to the creation of the New Testament?

4. What does Mack claim the author of the Acts of the Apostles set out to show?

5. How did early Christians think of their world?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the significant differences between the Pauline and Johannine traditions, as discussed by Mack in chapter 8?

2. Explain Mack's discussion of when the Epistles of Peter and Jude were written. What references does he use to attempt to date the pieces?

3. Describe Mack's observations about James as an author in the first three centuries.

4. What does Mack say about the "overwhelming concern" in the Didache about the practice of alms, gift giving, and supporting those who ask for hand outs?

5. Explain the conversion of Constantine, and why it was pivotal in the creation of the Bible.

6. What two strong desires drove Christianity?

7. What are the major points of the sermons contained in the Acts, according to Mack?

8. What are the standard writing conventions used in the Acts of the Apostles?

9. What was Valentinus' story of the tragedy of the birth of the world?

10. Explain the observations Mack claims are important about Mark's use of the pronouncement stories.

(see the answer keys)

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