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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. Why does Mack claim the Bible was important by the end of the fourth century?

2. What happened at Corinth that made Paul nervous?

3. What is the name of the form of mythmaking Mack notes these early Jesus people were engaged in?

4. Where does evidence for the Christ cult come from?

5. What does Mack suggest the taking up of residence in Jerusalem signifies for the group?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What were the three ideas that groups gathered around that resulted in the Jesus movements?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast two of the following Gospels. Be sure to include the time of the writing, the location, the portrayal of Jesus, the use of other documents to form a basis, and the individual additions of each author to the main story line. How are the two similar, and how are they different?

• The Gospel of Mark

• The Gospel of Matthew

• The Gospel of Luke

Essay Topic 2

Describe why Mack believes his book can help view Christianity in a new way, and what he fantasizes about in terms of an honest discussion of the Bible, and Christianity as a whole. What does he think we should do, in terms of religion? Why does he think his book can help humanity begin to question Christianity as a source for social order? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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