For each of the following questions, choose the best answer. If you answer incorrectly, try again. You will be given partial credit for answering on the second try. Only ten questions will be displayed in this session, but there are more than ten questions in this set. To see the other questions, take the quiz multiple times.
Which of the following is not something that is true of virtually all pseudonymous writing from the time of early Christianity?
The pseudonymous work is a forgery intended to misrepresent the views of the writer in whose name it is written.
The author writing under an assumed name claimed to stand within the tradition associated with that name.
The writer appealed to the name of an outstanding figure from the past to gain credibility and to claim authority for the views he or she expressed.
Which of the following best describes scholarly views on the authorship of Colossians?
The overwhelming majority of New Testament scholars are convinced that Paul wrote the letter, but a vocal minority challenges that traditional view.
While Colossians is frequently considered deuteropauline, it has a stronger claim to be a genuine Pauline epistle than most other letters considered deuteropauline.
Hardly any scholar today considers Colossians to be a genuine Pauline letter. The evidence against Pauline authorship is overwhelming.
Roetzel thinks that Colossians was written
by Paul
about twenty years after the death of Paul
over one hundred years after Paulís death
In the letter to the Colossians (2:8) the author writes:
"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, "
What did he probably mean by philosophy?
Clear, logical thought or speculation
The field of study which focuses on clear, rational thinking
An infatuation with wisdom that involved religious rites designed to bring revealed knowledge
Which of the following best expresses the point of the ìChrist Hymnî in Colossians 1:15-20?
All powers are subject to Christ who is the image of the invisible God.
While the cosmic forces may have power now, Christ will one day gain the upper hand in the battle against them.
In order to faithfully serve Christ, the Colossians must be careful not to offend the elemental spirits.
Which of the following best expresses the view of the mystery in Colossians?
Jews and Gentiles now worship together in the same Church. The wall of hostility between them has been broken down.
Christ dwells in you and is your hope of glory.
Christ reveals secret knowledge making it possible for Jews and Gentiles to have the same understanding of God.
Which of the following best describes the relationship between Colossians and Ephesians?
While the language of the two letters is very similar, their contents are vastly different, with virtually no overlap.
The language, style, and content of the two letters all differ markedly.
A large amount of what is found in Colossians also appears in Ephesians.
Which of the following is not one of the reasons that many scholars think Ephesians is deuteropauline? (One of the following statements is untrue, and therefore cannot be a reason for thinking Ephesians is deuteropauline.)
The language and style of Ephesians are unusual for a pauline letter. The letter has unusually long, complex sentences and a fair amount of unusual vocabulary.
There is no emphasis on the nearness of Christís return. In fact, temporal categories are replaced by spatial ones in the authorís thinking.
In Ephesians the term Church (ekklesia) usually refers to the universal church rather than the local congregation.
The letter to the Ephesians presents the apostles as the foundation of the Church, whereas Paul emphasized his independence from the other apostles.
The letter to the Ephesians is missing from the oldest list of Paulís letters.
Which of the following best expresses the view of the mystery in Ephesians?
Jews and Gentiles now worship together in the same Church. The wall of hostility between them has been broken down.
Christ dwells in you and is your hope of glory.
Christ reveals secret knowledge making it possible for Jews and Gentiles to have the same understanding of God.
What event took place in 66ó70 CE that greatly hightened tensions between non-christian Jews, Jewish Christians, and Gentile Christians and could have provided the need for a letter like Ephesians?
A Jewish rebellion against Rome was crushed by the Roman Legions.
The Romans began a persecution of Christians whom they had formerly viewed as a Jewish sect.
The Romans blamed both Jews and Christians for the burning of Rome.
Which of the following best expresses the point of the "whole armor of God" passage in Ephesians (6:10-17)?
Christians should be ready to attack the forces of evil and destroy them.
Truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Spirit are protective forces that will defend those who possess them against the powers of evil in the world.
The word of God is a weapon with which the Christian can fight off Godís enemies.
Which of the following most accurately expresses the effect of the household codes in Colossians 3:18-4:1 and Ephesians 5:21-6:9?
They demonstrate that Paul was an amazing misogynist committed to the prevailing social hierarchy. They demand that women obey their husbands and give masters absolute license in the way they treat their slaves.
While they reflect the cultural values of the time, they also challenge some of what was commonly taught by placing restrictions on husbands and masters and by avoiding the language of obedience for women.
They overturn the common assumptions about social hierarchy by granting strong rights to women and demanding that masters free their slaves.